Writing Your Full-timing Book

I'm feeling a bit philosophical today.  A combination of things have come together leading to this entry.

For a couple of weeks now I've been unable to get the song "Unwritten" out of my head.  It's a 2007 song by British singer Natasha Bedingfield.  You've probably seen her perform it on TV or heard portions on commercials.  But I've only recently really listened to the lyrics.

Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield

"Unwritten"

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Oh, oh, oh

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

The part that keeps replaying in my mind is "Feel the rain on your skin, No one else can feel it for you".

That's sort of what I want to convey to all those planning for full-time RVing.  We've gotten several emails recently looking for general advice or the "straight answer" on full-timing.

We've done our best to try to explain what full-timing is like for us.  But it is not for everyone and all those that full-time do it differently and for different reasons.  When it comes down to it,

"No one else can feel it for you, Only you can let it in"  :)

But there is more to the song for those nearing full-timing.  Full-timing is indeed like writing a new book about your life.

The full-timing thought enters your mind.  But where do you start?

"Staring at the blank page before you"

Soon you embark on tons of research - perhaps on the internet.  You raise the window that has become cloudy with the mundane aspects of every day life and silenced the real you.

"Open the dirty window, let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find" 

You get your voice back and something inside you starts to change as you consider the possibilities.

Hey, maybe we can really do this.  You move forward.  As time passes, it starts to become a reality.  You have reservations but finally let yourself go.

"Reaching for something in the distance, So close you can almost taste it, Release your inhibitions"

You've made the decision and now you start telling friends and family.  The reactions vary and some say you are crazy.  How can you give up the security of what you have?  You muster up the courage to respond.

"I break tradition, sometimes my tries are outside the lines,  We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way"

With butterflies, second thoughts, and unbridled excitement, you move forward.  You've reached that point where you are "going through the motions" in your old life and your full-timing life is foremost in your mind.  You are ready to

"Live your life with arms wide open, Today is where your book begins"

And here is the best part.  The past is the past.  You can live your life differently if you choose.  Life can take any course you want.  The future is unknown and exciting.

"The rest is still unwritten"

Like I said, this song has been replaying in my head for awhile.  Unlike my old life, I pay attention to these things now.

Still, I couldn't figure out what I was supposed to do with it.  Then the new emails came in seemingly asking us to sum up full-timing in a quick email response.  And then we went to Chimney Rock where we learned that each new generation left the comforts of their tribe for new, unknown lands and lives.  Hmmm.

The pieces started to fit and today is the culmination of several days of thought.  I don't know if it makes any sense, but it felt good to write it.  :)

And for some reason, I feel the need to end with this quote that inspired us as we started considering this "crazy" full-timing notion.

"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us!"
-- Joseph Campbell

Have you started "writing" your new book about your new life, the life that is waiting for you and is not predetermined, but rather .... still unwritten?

---

Comments

[Dee Walter]

Thanks. You're exactly right and we're on the way. What a great song and thanks for publishing it.
Dee

[RodI]

WOW!
What profound thoughts!
You can make this apply to any activity that you tell yourself you can not accomplish. Because life is still unwritten.

[Robbie Simons]

Howard,

Great post, you really put a nice perspective on our reasons for fulltiming; those reasons are very difficult to explain to others contemplating a lifestyle change.

We are constantly asked about our lifestyle, and so many people come up with reasons not to be fulltimers. For those people, I suggest they stay in their current situation. For those people who have some adventure and are willing to educate themselves with the experiences of people who have done this change, they will find that simpler things in life are the best, and the rest is just baggage.

When we sold our stick house, we realized that we were giving up the “American Dream” for “OUR” dream. Life has never been better.

[Marty Hill]

Wow, there is a pretty strong current beneath those calm waters....very appropriate. Marty

[Artful Adventurers]

Wow... I think you summed it up alright. Well put, too, Howard.
I have tried to be honest with people concerning our fulltime experience... it's not all the time rosy... as I'm sure you both would agree. But the alternative... we have been there and done that. I can't imagine missing out on our adventures. I have a feeling these memories and photos are going to be of great comfort to us in our old age.
One platitude seldom uttered from senior citizen-dom is "I wish I would have traveled less."
A very nice post.
Thanks for your time and effort at putting it into words,
Mark and Bobbie.

[foxriverguy]

Howard & Linda,

Great journal entry.

We started writing our own book almost 3 years ago. Now we have less than one year remaining before we begin our new life. At times we grew impatient with the seemingly slow passage of time, but on reflection the nearly 3 years has enabled us to learn much and accomplish more. The next 12 months will be busy, but not hectic.

Having just recently purchased our motorhome has helped make the start of our new life very real and so some of the anticipation has dissipated. It is now close and real.

Your openness as to the finances involved has helped immeasureably.

Thank you for all you do.

George & Sandy Stoltz
Fox and Cookie Queen

[Ken]

Howard, this is one of the best posts you have had. Keep them coming.

[Mike and Gerri Jones]

Wow!! What a perfect song (lyrics) to describe the fulltime lifestyle and the process of "beginning." Thanks!
Gerri

[Darrell]

Very insightful, Howard.

In this "new" economy that we find ourselves a lot of people are questioning their life time values and seeking inner peace in these troubling times. Fulltime RVing does not guarantee inner peace but nothing in life really does.

Fulltime RVing simplifies life and helps those who like adventure to feel fullfilment. If you are the type of person that likes the "same old, same old" then this lifestyle will not be for you. There is absolutely nothing wront with living a life that is orderly and routine, however, for those of us who want adventure and do not want to settle into a routine this is a great lifestyle. It is a much simplier way to live while you grow closer to nature and the beauty that lies before us - those things that I never noticed while working in the corporate world.

I'm slowly beginning to set aside that desire for "doing" and to enjoy "being". Just to sit and watch the sun set over a mountain top, or to sit in a kayak while listening to a babbling stream, or to lay on my back counting the stars as they "pop" through the dark sky, or to sit under the awning listening to the birds as they wake up in the morning, or to smell the sweet forest just after a fresh rain, or to . . . . . . . it never ceases!!

Again, thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. It certainly does help to put things into perspective. Now, for those trout! :-)

[millcreek271]

Great message once again, Howard! There must have been a philosophical air about the weekend (maybe something in the mountains: we are in Yellowstone for the summer.) We just completed our first 6 months on the road. Yesterday, we too tried to summarize our thoughts about full-timing. We came to the conclusion that there is something about moving, traveling, and learning something new at every place that creates opportunities that we never would have planned or imagined, when we were in our stick house or sitting in our cubicle office.
The journey provides the chance and the magic.

[Sandra]

Wow, Howard, deep!

[Paul]

Wow, exactly what I needed to hear today. Thank you Howard.

[John Hatch]

WOW!! Howard, you've done it again, excellent post, that's what keeps us going. See you on the road in 2009.

Stay Safe
John and Bridget

[Boris and Natasha]

As future fulltimers just back from a much-too-short three-day weekend away, all we can say is this makes LOTS of sense. Thanks Howard for the timely message.

[Arlene & Larry]

This really touched us Howard. While we sit here anticipating fulltiming as soon as the house sells, and I admit sometimes it gets us a little down, and wonder if buying the new MH etc was done in haste, and are we doing theright thing.
BUT reading this struck a cord and lit our "heart light" as ET would say! It touched us deeply, and brought us back to reality as to what we truly want out of our retirement...Fulltiming for certain, and "snap out of it" came to mind...Be patient and it will all come to pass, and we can be out there writing our unwritten pages....

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it

...and it will all be worth while.
Thanks for all the beautiful journal posts...but this one was so very special, and we needed it today.
Great job buddy.
Arlene & Larry

[Debbie Smith]

I can't believe the timing of your journal....it is just what I needed. I am growing impatient with the waiting, just like George and Sandy Stoltz said in their comments. Maybe that's why I'm married to a pragmatist. But I know it's all part of the journey. Thanks.

[Barney]

By far and away the best ever about choosing your own life. Thank you.

[Arlene Sullivan]

Wow, Howard, deep...
I actually loved it. How true it is. Thanks for sharing.

[Fred Wishnie]

Masterful!
You continue to shine the light deeper into the darkness of the fulltiming myth.
Thanks,
Fred

[Bob and Lynda]

Bravo my friend! This piece surely will resonate with those among us who are reflective about meaning in their lives.

Interestingly, I have just started a piece entitled "Are You Living The Right Life?" Its basic premise is that only each of us can define the right life from self knowledge attained through continual learning. As my friend Lee Thayer would say,"It's always the cook, never the recipe."

Yet, most people I know live a life defined by some combination of their culture, their parents and significant others, their education, etc. They create a recipe from these external sources. As a result they often live lives of "quiet (or not so quiet) desperation" because it is not truly their life - the right life.

From the earlier comments you have obviously sparked some deep thinking. Serious thought is the prelude to meaningful action. Keep up this thought provoking work!

See you Labor Day week.

Bob

[Camille Pronovost]

I have always loved Natasha's song and also Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway". Both speak to living the life you dream of. We love the life we created by becoming fulltimers six years ago. And because we were only in our mid-forties, many family members and friends thought we were crazy. But we have no regrets.

[A Howeth]

Great post Howard.

One of my favorite thoughts is that I would rather come to the end of my days, being sorry for things I have done, that sorry for the things I didn't do. Full timing is one of those things!

[CrusinSusan]

Hi! What a great post. I just found your site, and I have to say I'm right behind you! About to feel the ". . . rain on my skin. . ." too!

Hope we meet up down the road!
---CrusinSusan.blogspot.com