Sometimes when I work on a project in the RV my distractions are from within, at times when my distractions should be from the natural world outside. RV living has its challenges.
I’m a fair weather girl so those outings are sometimes delayed by rain or strong winds. Even though we have a house on wheels and can move around with the weather, we often find ourselves in places that have a week of “winter.” So far, in Texas, that meant a day of extreme worry about an impending ice storm that never arrived. I’ll take it.
As a writer and creative, getting out for walks is important for my mental health. I’m sure that is true for you. Am I just a wimp? Should I grab my little rain gear that I have and duck from the rain pounding against my face?
I don’t think so.
Living in an RV, I don’t have a lot of extra gear to match different weather. When we lived in Alaska (in a house) we had the right clothes for the climate. They always said, “It’s not too cold, you just don’t have the right clothes.”
There were closets dedicated to those big heavy coats with multiple layers and boots that weighed ten pounds. And then the sock drawer and long underwear.
It would be hard to live in a tiny house in places with real winter.
I am where I want to be. Don’t want to buy snow boots, big coats, or rubber puddle jumpers. There is nowhere to store them for the other 360 days a year.
My wardrobe is more like an experiment with layers, starting under the shirt and ending with a sweater. That is the lifestyle I chose. We measure the season by how many loads of laundry we take to the laundry room each week. Jeans and multiple layers take up much more room than simple summer wear. And take up much more of our time. Drag.
However, I do love winter scenes. We are thinking of finding a cabin in the mountains next December so we can see winter through a big picture window. If a path is built, we can take a walk. But I am not buying snow boots.
There Is So Much Life Above, Below, And Within — Introduce Yourself.
Take a walk and don’t forget to look up
You might be thinking I don’t like to go outside. That is not the truth at all. I just need to know I will not slip into a deep puddle or get beat to death by hail. Shivering or dodging rain is not relaxing to me. And I walk to clear my head and relax.
My walks begin with focusing on life within. A natural rhythm in a walk helps calm my monkey brain and allows me to just let go of all the distractions my brain seem to think are important. All the thoughts at once!
First, I take a deep breath and remind myself that I don’t need to do everything. And then I remind my ego that I am insignificant in this universe. If things don’t get done, it won’t change the rotation of the earth or where it sits in the solar system.
At my age, my gaze first goes to the ground. I don’t want to fall and break a hip (❁´◡`❁). My attention changes from the next thing on my to do list, to the colors of the soil and all shapes of gravel, rock, and boulders.
I think to myself, “The plants are greening up. Spring is here already.”
I hear the crunch of the dirt and the sound of a songbird. Now my gaze has moved to the sky. I see a small bird sitting on top of a leafless tree about 20 feet above me. Its silhouette looked like a painting, and then if flew away, bringing me back to reality.
While looking up I see that the morning fog is turning into white billowing clouds. Shade comes and goes as they change their shapes. I hear and see the wind.
The path I chose today took me down to the river. At first, I saw a stroller at the bottom of the hill, so I knew there were others there. A young father was holding the hand of his 2 year old as they waded in the water. I think it may have been too cold because the young one was unhappy.
On my way back I saw mom holding the baby and dad in the river with an older sister. She seemed to like it a lot.
What I saw was a happy family enjoying a day by the river. A Tuesday.
I am guessing they live full time in the RV and do remote work. This is the lifestyle that allows life to happen. It warmed my heart. And it reminds me why we live this way.
Indeed. Life is above us, below us, and within us.
