Update on Current Status and Future Plans

Many people have asked how I am doing with the government reopening and how the shutdown, and its conclusion has impacted my future plans. Here are the answers:

Work: I am back to work full-time and have received full back-pay. It has been stressful getting everything moving again and facing new deadlines around the holidays. Some work was very well planned so the deadlines hit before the holidays. Unfortunately, the shutdown pushed all those deadlines back so we are now in crunch time on critical work over the holidays.  I am thankful to be back but still a little stressed and overwhelmed.

Future travel plans: I have decided that I need a little break from the road. I have learned a lot in my first few months on the road full-time and would do this trip a little differently with that new knowledge. For those who are curious, the biggest lesson learned is to spend more time in each place for two reasons:

• Moving frequently is exhausting. The best part about the RV is I always have the comforts of my own bed, my own couch, and all my favorite items with me. And while it is certainly easier than moving apartments or houses, relocating still takes work. Mostly, it takes planning to figure out where I want to go, how long I want to be there, and where I want to stay. We all know as exciting as vacations are, it can be a little stressful and exhausting getting ready for them and recovering from them. Moving every week or two meant I was almost constantly in a phase of getting ready for or recovering from a move. Longer stints in a place reduce that decision fatigue and travel burnout.
• I need more time to explore an area without cramming or stressing than you would on vacation. On vacation, you have all day to explore and a plan to eat out more and escape the tasks of daily life. Being on the road full-time means I need to make space for working full-time during the week and practical life tasks like grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, and laundry. All this means I have fewer and shorter time windows to explore where I am. Staying longer allows me to see everything and keep up on day-to-day life.

So I am heading back to Colorado Springs in mid-December to take a break, reset, and plan a new adventure starting Summer 2026 implementing everything I have learned so far.

I must admit that another factor influencing my return home is Nala’s surgery bill. For those who may have missed the headline: In late October, the door to the RV didn’t latch one night and Nala went on an adventure by herself. She ended up eating some things she shouldn’t have (it was a few things that weren’t easily identifiable but got all tangled up in her gut so she couldn’t pass them) and needed emergency surgery. Thankfully, the surgery went well and she recovered fantastically. But as most pet owners know, emergency vet bills can be quite pricey. When I am in Colorado Springs, I work some nights and weekends at a local dog training center. Going back to the Springs will also allow me to earn some extra money to pay off that big bill.

In conclusion, there are no new destinations for the next few months, but I have lots of stories to catch you up on and there will be more adventures in the future. So stay tuned because there are still some great posts coming your way.