A Fresh Start

“What you’ve done becomes the judge of what you’re going to do – especially in other people’s minds. When you’re traveling, you are what you are right there and then. People don’t have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road.”
William Least Heat Moon, Blue Highways

If you believe in past lives, I must have been an explorer in mine. I’m happiest on the road, whether it’s a two hour car trip or a 10 hour plane ride, it doesn’t matter. What is most important is viewing the new: visiting a place I haven’t seen before. As a young girl, I’d pour over National Geographic Magazines dreaming about jetting to far off places as a reporter or photographer. I knew I wanted to travel before I knew anything else about myself.

As most graduating young adults were grabbing their backpacks and heading to Europe, I was hesitant because I was a lone female without a financially supportive family. I met my husband just before college graduation. I didn’t have a plan other than working to save money, which was difficult with the cost of living in Toronto. I had no idea how I would afford to travel, I just knew I was going. So when my husband-to-be presented a plan to build his career while having children and then travel as a family, I was willing to wait a few years. The five year plan stretched into fifteen years before I realized I’d been duped; there was never any intention to travel extensively. I felt betrayed.

Today, I am back in control of my destiny and have found myself in a financial position with an income to expense ratio similar to my post-college year. It’s a second chance at a fresh start, but this time will be different. I have a three year plan that involves an RV and a lot of tomorrow’s on the road.

I’m inviting you along for feedback and advice as I slowly work my plan and determine what type of RV I’ll need, how I can budget for it and the important items to consider before setting my cruise control for the future.