When you are traveling in an RV with limited storage space, you give a lot of thought to what you really want to bring along. I knew that I was going to be wearing sneakers a lot, so I only brought a few pairs of shoes. Since we have the capability of doing hand-washing and will occasionally have easy access to laundromats, I didn’t bring very many clothes. So far, I haven’t missed a single piece of clothing that is sitting in my bedroom closet.
At home, I love to cook and have several drawers of utensils, but here, we have two small propane burners on our cooktop where our one pot and our one pan jostle for space when we cook something that requires using both at the same time. We brought only the basic kitchen utensils. Also, we try to plan our tasks carefully so that we don’t bump into each other as we each attempt to get something done in the tiny kitchen (an effort that we affectionately call the “galley dance”).
I find it so interesting how accustomed we have become to having a lot less stuff around us in our tiny, shared space. We did a pretty good job of planning when we were packing, as there have only been a couple of small things that we forgot to bring or didn’t think of packing, and we’ve been able to stop at pharmacies or grocery stores to pick them up. A shower cap! Claritin-D for allergy relief as we pass through farmland and cattle country! Chap stick with sunscreen for Roger!
Living minimally also causes me to find comfort in some of the things that I take for granted at home. On the occasion when we go through a town that has a Starbucks, I love that I can get a vanilla latte that tastes exactly the way my vanilla lattes taste at home, and I savor every sip. Getting internet access and cell coverage are not things that we can count on as we pass through enormous unpopulated areas and small towns, so seeing a bar or two on our cell phones, instead of the words “No Service,” is a relief, and finding an RV park with a good Internet signal is a source of celebration as we write blogs and then try to post them on our website. Another small comfort: Our RV has a small shower that is very cramped. When we stay at occasional hotels, and I can stand under a cascade of water in a full-sized shower, I appreciate it so much.
What is the best small comfort of the trip, you might ask? Roger may have a different opinion, but for me, it’s this: On every Sunday since we left La Cañada, we have been someplace that has had either HBO or a strong Internet signal for us to stream Game of Thrones. Fingers crossed that we are as lucky next Sunday so that we can watch the series finale.