What went well
Scary as it was, leaving my career really brightened up my life.
The process and logistics of downsizing my possessions was difficult but it was accomplished and it was worth every bit of the effort. I never realized what a burden things could be.
Reducing my bills is mostly completed.
Selling my house. This was stressful but finally came together on Halloween.
Plumbing repairs completed.
Address changes were time consuming but easy. I think I got them all.
Purchasing the RV was easy. Taking ownership of the RV and moving into it turned into an almost two month adventure in staying with family and repairs that had to be made before I would accept delivery. I’m in it now though.
What didn’t go well and have to wait until 2015 (I guess that makes them new year goals.)
Leaving town is more difficult than I thought it would be. It’s some strange form of stuckness. It could be mental, emotional, situational, spiritual, a mixture, or something else entirely.
Of course plain logistics get in the way.
I’m still trying to get the towing package completed and trying to get a tag.
Visiting my daughter. I really wanted to take the RV up there for a month before it was cold weather. That didn’t come together.
I also wanted to be in New Orleans the last half of December. It wasn’t in the cards.
Repairing the rental property has been and is still a long, slow process. Curlee and Moe are doing a good job but they are slow. The floor is a mystery looking for the right detective. Or, it sure is hard to find someone knowledgable to fix this problem.
Applying for social security is a work in progress. It’s been frustrating so far. The government tries to make it easy, but it’s still an ordeal.
What I’ve learned
Walking by faith rather than by sight has been reinforced. It seems I forget and have to relearn that periodically.
Related to this is my mindfulness practice and remembering to live in the illusive now. That too has been reinforced.
I’ve learned I am better off with less stuff. As I emptied that big house, the empty space became creative space. As I emptied my life of the responsibility for stuff, that empty space became creative space.
I’ve been reminded of the importance of friends and family. Loving and being loved is so important. We are social animals.
My gratitude practice has really paid off in increased happiness.
I had many opportunities to practice grooving with the changes during 2014. I feel sure 2015 will be filled with change practice too.
2015 Plans
I plan to spend the first part of 2015 on the gulf coast roaming from New Orleans to Florida. When the weather warms up I’ll be back in Alabama to take care of routine doctor stuff and car tags. Then it’s up to Memphis and across to Oak Ridge. It will be fun to spend a month with my daughter. After that there are some vague notions of exploring the east coast floating around in my head.
Redoing the CrackingMyEgg site is a strong possibility. It’s a new year in a rolling home it’s seems time for a site update.
You can look forward to travel/photo blogs of my adventures. I will be devoting a lot of time to photography and hopefully blogging.
There is some talk of a video project. I’ll keep you posted.
You know plans are always subject to change.
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Dec 31, 2014 @ 18:53:05
a busy year. ending well and the new one beginning well too.
Dec 31, 2014 @ 19:12:36
It’s exciting and scary. 😀👍
Dec 31, 2014 @ 22:59:40
Logistics always take us on a different road than the one we might have planned. The trick is to keep that road from becoming a tiresome loop. Laissez les bons temps roullez!
Jan 01, 2015 @ 06:48:04
Oh yes, the tiresome loop. I know it well.
Jan 01, 2015 @ 10:40:38
What were you doing as a profession before you left?
Jan 01, 2015 @ 11:25:54
I was a college professor. I taught computer science, political science, and was a division chair for a while.
Jan 01, 2015 @ 15:16:17
I love your optimism JR. And how you take your life and its challenges. Happy New Year to you.
Jan 01, 2015 @ 18:31:58
Thank you. 😀
Jan 02, 2015 @ 10:48:39
just that one phrase “…i am better off with less stuff…” is a discussion in itself. interesting, isn’t it, the energy contained in stuff and how it affects one. and the clutter factor. if the dishes are stacked or not. piles of clothes or stacks neatly folded/hung.
i’ve gotten to where the ‘quietest’ room is the one with the least stuff in it and i go there to relax.
an interesting read, as always, sir.
Jan 02, 2015 @ 10:58:31
Thank you.
This experience has really change my perception of and relationship to stuff and empty space.
You are so right about the clutter. My RV is cluttered as I bring things in and find them a home. Some things don’t find a home, they go to charity or the trash. Some things never make it from the storage place.
Jan 02, 2015 @ 15:36:50
ah. i found the quote, (but not the source) that, is my reference, & puts this into perspective, for this packrat: “If it does not nourish your soul, get rid of it.” simple and profound.
even if thee went straight from the rv, back into a house, you have been gifted the experience. n’est pas?
Jan 03, 2015 @ 06:54:17
That is true. I’ve have lived in the RV. I have been gifted the experience.
Jan 02, 2015 @ 17:28:12
I enjoyed reading this! You’ve had a lot of changes since I was last diving in the blogosphere. I hope 2015 brings peace and contentment with the changes of scenery!
Jan 03, 2015 @ 06:56:33
Thank you. Yes, things picked up speed in the last months of 2014. Traveling will be good for me. But you know. You travel. Traveling is good for everyone.