Two of our three sons recently came to visit us while we were out west.  They flew into Las Vegas and drove into Utah to stay with us for almost a week.  We spent the time visiting Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon.  All three locations are amazingly beautiful and really should be on everyone’s bucket list.  We had a great time telling them stories of our travels and an even better time seeing the sights together.  They were eager to bring us up to date on their lives and the things that we’ve missed while on the road.  We really enjoyed their visit and were sorry to see them go.  Unfortunately our third son had other obligations and couldn’t make the trip. 

Our three sons are single bachelors living in, and taking care of, our New York home while we are on the road.   We really miss our boys.  We are a very close family and being away from them and the rest of our family and friends has been difficult at times.  Going on the road and being away from our boys was something we talked about for a long time before we retired.  We love traveling and seeing the country and while I am glad we made that decision it has not always been easy.  There have been times when I wondered “what were we thinking.”  Retirement is supposed to be a time to relax and enjoy life, family and friends.  The truth is life on the road is not always easy or relaxing and being homesick can often be overwhelming. 

Living in a small home that doubles as your transportation is challenging.  We’ve driven thousands of miles bouncing our home down all types of roads. This has taken a toll on the motorhome and us.  We’ve had a few mechanical issues and sometimes they test your patience and maximize your stress level.  It’s during those times that I ask “Is it all worth it?”  But then I think of all the friendly people we’ve met and all the stories we’ve shared.  I remember all the great places we’ve visited and all the beautiful country we’ve seen.  It really has been an amazing adventure.  And I am truly blessed to be experiencing it with my best friend, my wife. 

We are now slowly heading east back to Florida.  We will spend a month there before driving home to be with our family and friends for the holidays.  We’ll then head back to our motorhome in the Florida Keys and spend the rest of the winter relaxing.  Then it’s time to get back on the road and continue our amazing adventure.