Final thoughts
Well, I have been very lazy since getting home 3 weeks ago- sorry it has taken me so long to do a wrap-up of our 79-day trip! So here are some random thoughts and advice if you are planning something like this:
1- Have a clear idea of what you are trying to accomplish. Is your trip for fun and sight seeing? Relaxing? Is it to find real estate? A combination? Make sure everyone on the trip is on the same page regarding the purpose of the trip. Our main purpose was to explore areas to see where we wanted to move to, and we made some progress (South Carolina is #1, Tennessee is #2, several states are OUT…).
2- Be flexible. We started looking at lots that were rather rural and 2-5 acres, and once we started looking we realized we don’t want to be tied to that much land, (sorry Jerry, kiss that riding mower goodbye) and would like to be in a neighborhood, perhaps with lots up to an acre or 2- where we can get to know people. We also want to be closer to town so we can make a quick trip to the grocery store or Costco. Also, things may happen to affect your plans- weather may get in the way (i.e. rain or wind- we had so much rain during the first half of the trip, and there was wind in Albuquerque that affected our ability to take the Sandia Peak tramway), or things you want to do may be closed (most things in Texas were close don Sunday), so you may have to adjust your plans. It’s ok, you’ll still have a great time!
3- Research real estate before you go! We were surprised at how expensive houses and land are in Tennessee! Of course, it depends on where you are (smaller towns are cheaper), and what you are looking for (flat vs. hills), but we were surprised at the prices for what we are looking for (a flat lot so we can build a single story house). Flat lots are hard to find in TN, and they are much more expensive! Realtor.com can be a great resource for houses, condos, land, etc.
4- Have some fun! We did do some sightseeing, but almost the entire trip was go-go-go, either looking at real estate or going from sight to sight, and that is exhausting! when we finally got to Reno, our last stop, it was to see if we wanted to live there, but the landscape was WAY TOO desert, the weather was way too hot, and we were way too tired- so relaxing at the resort pool was fantastic!
5- Be open. Try new things (food, activities, places, etc.) and meet people. We met some very nice people on our trip, as you read, including people from California and even Bakersfield.
6- Research and plan. We had almost all of our campground reservations made when we left home- but we still needed to get something for a couple single-night stays. We also had a list of attractions we wanted to see in places we were staying for multiple days. While we were planning we forgot about Memorial Day and 4th of July, so we had to adjust our plans and change some reservations so that we weren’t traveling over holiday weekends! Luckily we caught that while we were still in the planning stage.
7- Take your time. In camping there is the Rule of 3’s- drive no more than 300 miles in a day, arrive by 3:00, and stay at least 3 days. We did very well with arriving by 3:00, and most days drove no more than 350 miles. We spent at least 5 days in areas we wanted to seriously consider, and some locations were to just spend 1 night and then drive the next day to our destination. It worked, but it was tiring! Also, if you are looking for somewhere to move, spend some time there! You can’t get a clear picture of a place and whether it is a good fit for you in just a couple days. Make a list of things you must have and another of things you would like to have- and include how far away from your home is acceptable- this will help you to evaluate places as you search. Visiting more than once, and in different seasons/weather may keep you from making an expensive mistake. Also, don’t be too quick to make a decision- and it’s ok to NOT make a decision at all- especially at the beginning of your trip/search.
8- I can’t believe I forgot this- bring your own wifi! As you can see from MANY of the posts, wifi was spotty- even when we could connect, we would often get kicked off several times during a session. In fact, the connection was so bad in Idaho that I finally went to Starbucks to post! sometimes I would write up the post in WORD, and the copy and paste when I could connect. And when the connection was bad, pictures took a long time to download to the computer, and then to the blog- and some never did download at all!
We wish you luck in your adventures, and welcome your comments or questions. Watch for our next trips… Utah National Parks, and a return to South Carolina and Tennessee- and possibly adding North Carolina!