Am I Really Asking Too Much From a Seller?

If you want to sell your RV, I have a few suggestions for you:

1 – Return phone calls – I can’t find out more, or make an appointment to see the rig without talking to you.

2 – Empty all holding tanks (especially if you admit to not using the rig for two years – pretty gross otherwise).

3 - Fill fresh water tank so that buyer can test plumbing and water pressure – call me picky, but I need to see the systems for myself.

4 – Have batteries charged. I won’t buy a rig that I can’t fully test out.

5 – Make sure there is enough gas in the tank so that the generator will start (it doesn’t do me any good to know that it ran really well last week).

6 – If you know a potential buyer is traveling 150+ miles to see your rig…..don’t hire someone to clean it on the day and time said buyer is going to show up. Wading through puddles of water (inside and out) and over hoses isn’t fun - I don’t dare sit on the cushions or even take it on a test drive….jes’ saying.

7 – Don’t tell me how many miles are on the tires when I specifically ask how old they are….it’s recommended that tires be replaced every 4-6 years – remaining tread doesn’t matter if the side walls blow out (BTDT).

8 -  and here’s the classic – don’t post fuzzy pictures….I won’t usually follow up on your ad, no matter how great you say it is, if I can’t clearly see what you’re selling.

If you follow the above suggestions, you can make it very easy for me to want to make an offer….and isn’t that why you posted it to begin with?!? I want to buy, but you’ve got to meet me half way.

Meet Roz Savage – Has She Made a Difference in Your Life?

All of my life I’ve been attracted to small things. I cherished my tiniest deck of cards, and a wee set of game dice; the smallest seashells were the ones that I coveted.  I drooled over small (and fast) cars and think that living in a tree house is some sort of perfect heaven. As an adult I’m fascinated by the challenge and efficiency of tiny studio apartments. I once lived in a large three level Tahoe- style house on three acres and dreamed of building a one room guest cottage to spend my days in. I've always thought living on a boat would be fantastic . . . (but never a rowboat - that just never crossed my mind).

I’ve experienced larger things throughout my life, but my fascination has always been how small and compact and pared down can I go and still maintain quality of life . . . which of course leads to the question of just what is quality of life?

I’ve followed Roz Savage’s remarkable journey across an ocean or two in her tiny row boat – the sheer logistics of it grabbed my interest right away. How in the world can she survive (and I’m not talking just physically) within the small confines of her world? What are her bare essentials? How does she cope with the solitude and isolation? I read each blog post with relish as I discovered another piece of her thought process.

If you know anything about Roz at all, you know she is rowing to raise global awareness of the damage our civilization is imposing on our oceans. 

That’s the big picture, but that can’t be the primary reason for her remarkable quest, can it? It has to be about more than that, doesn’t it? What makes a human eschew a traditional life and embark on a remarkable life? What makes an idea pop into one’s head and not let go? What makes risking it all seem so necessary and worthwhile?

Now, I will state right up front that I do not equate my adventures with the courage and abilities of Roz Savage. Nope, she stands with very few in that court. But I’ve been inspired by her journey to tap into my own Inner Source and take bold steps (for me) to follow what my heart says is important – to find and embellish my own sense of passion.  

I am driven to see just how small of a footprint I can function within and still find my joy and purpose in life.  I do not crave a monk’s sparse existence – I love my clothes and shoes too much to leave them behind. I love my computer workings and drawing supplies too much to want to build a life without them. I know what matters to me . . . my task then,  is to make them all work together.

How do I physically live the smallest I can and still have the most I want out of life? That’s my definition of living large in the first place. I’m working that puzzle out, and I find that I often think “If Roz can do that, then surely I can do this.” I don’t compare our journeys – but I do draw on her amazing inner strength when mine flags. Her quest has obviously sparked something in me – and the stories of others should do just that - it’s our shared ethos our interconnectedness in this universe. As a very wise woman often states "A rising tide lifts all boats."

We can’t all be Roz Savage, but we can all find our passion and push our limits. Let her story amaze you. Let it inspire you, let it help you take action to find out what really matters to you and go for it – do not look at what she’s done and compare yourself – look at what you can do and prepare yourself. With her world record completed, I’m sure Roz is asking herself right now the very same thing you could be asking yourself – what’s your next step?

I'm a Recovering Control Freak

I am a recovering control freak – there are no twelve step programs for me (that I know of), so I’ve had to go it alone. All my life, I’ve always felt most comfortable being in charge and knowing what was going on at all costs - having goals and accomplishments felt safe. Luckily my abilities made this work well for me, but it’s also prolonged my need to be in control, which isn’t ultimately in my best interest if I want to grow as a person.

I’ve released just about everything in my life that brought me comfort – things (it's just stuff), careers (financial security) and ideas (past habits and behaviors). Not because I want to punish myself, but because I want a life of freedom that can only come from letting go.

For me, the need to control gives up freedom – being willing to let go liberates it. If this sounds counter-intuitive to you, just consider how freeing it feels to clean out your closets or a cupboard, or a spare room full of stuff you’ve forgotten you had…..letting go IS freedom.

It isn’t all fun and games – sometimes it’s the scariest thing imaginable….but that is part of the process too. What would you do if you had nothing holding you back? That is a worthy concept to spend some time with today – and when you get a glimpse of what is fundamentally important to you, consider what your next step could be…. It doesn’t hurt to think about it, but be forewarned – once a thought is released, it can never go back into the box……enjoy considering A Life Without Limits - it's your turn, who will you become?

ROAD TRIP!

I’m feeling bored and antsy so I know it’s time to get on the road – when I am driving, my heart is singing. I’ve made appointments to get my car ready for serious winter travel. I’m creating a time line and lining up friends to visit along the way. If you read my last post, you know that I am soon homeless and will be living out of my car….. but I’m going to find a way to do it with dignity – ha ha!

It’s not entirely by choice because I never thought it would take me this long to find a motorhome to begin my next planned adventure of full time RV living. But it has. In the meantime, my spirit needs a shot of adventure though to keep from feeling too stuck, so I’m going to hit the road for a couple of months.

First stop is Portland – love that town….hoping to cruise around the Pearl District for a day, visit a few friends and head on to Seattle to finally meet, in person, a Facebook friend who has recently moved there. This amazing person has opened her home to me to stay for a few days, and I can’t wait to get out and explore her new city with her. Casual talk of ferries, and islands and fall leaves is more than enough to get my car pointed North.

After Seattle, I’m trying to decide the route to get to San Luis Obispo (Coast 101 or I-5?) where I will spend Thanksgiving with my family. Then on to Ventura to connect with a dear friend who is moving out of California soon – one last, all night gab fest is definitely in order!

From there, I’m hoping to continue south to Orange County to catch up with more family. Now if I had my RV, this would be the starting point for a winter down south, out of the cold and rain – I’d move on over to Palm Springs and even as far as Tucson, AR, but unless my rig materializes while I’m on the road (and it could), I’m not sure where I will hunker down for the winter.

For now, I do not have any plans further than the holidays – and that’s OK too. Being free to move about the country feels good - most of the time, and practicing letting go of schedules and routines is a good thing to do as well. That funny feeling from Inner Source is telling me to let all expectations go;  let the need to know go;  let the need to be in control go –only then will I truly see the possibilities that lay ahead for me. Only then will I know what my next step is.

So I’m off to wrap up what turned out to be a short stint in San Francisco and step boldly where no Zan has ever gone – living A Life Without Limits – literally!!

Not The Year I expected At All

How Comfortable Are You With the Unknown?

I’ve been happily making plans for the next two months and am blown away by how fast this year has come and gone.  It was just over 12 months ago that I decided to make some major changes in my life and move to San Francisco - where I planned to put down roots and build community.

What has really evolved is that in the process of letting go just enough to make that move happen, I’ve discovered that an unencumbered, free-form life suits me. Honestly, in the 6 months that I’ve been in San Francisco, I’ve been away more than there, and I love the freedom that I’ve been experiencing: Go a while, stay a while, veer off track to a bright and shiny new place. Living life in the moment has been pretty wonderful and I’m just not ready to give that up.

So what does that mean to me? More change. This is my final weekend in San Francisco as I pack a few remaining boxes that are going into storage. Believe it or not, I hate moving – but I love going to new places. That’s where living full time in an RV seems so perfect for me…having my ‘stuff’ with me, yet being able to travel at whim.

But there is no RV in my immediate future but I can feel the restlessness of wanderlust coursing through my veins. So instead of waiting, I’ve decided to just go. I have a wonderful car that is so much fun to drive – but that means that I will be living out of my car for a while.

Sounds so down-and-out and desperate doesn’t it? Yeah, I’m battling that judgment too….have I gone so far off track that I’m now drifting aimlessly into an abyss? When I do my Inner Source checks and balances my answers are yes – and no. Not much solace there!!

So I’m doing the only thing I know how to do right now. I’m planning a road trip to visit old friends, meet new friends and just go where adventure will take me. Luckily I have good friends to visit – wistfully, I wish I had more, but a good friend can happen in an instant, so who knows what I will find on the road.

I choose to think that this is exactly what my next step should be – to keep putting one foot in front of the other, stay open and live freely. Maybe the universe has a great plan for me that is so totally out of my ability to interpret right now that I need to just free-fall for a while.

As the saying goes: ‘Leap and the net will appear’, (but honestly?, right now I can’t help but add ‘I hope’ to the end of that saying!!). Here’s to living adventurously and living A Life Without Limits!

Comfort Food

One does not need to be stressed out to need and deserve some good old-fashioned comfort food. One of my very favorites is my mouth watering,  Killer Chili. Made just to my liking (and apparently a lot of others too) it’s something I always look forward as fall approaches.

The days around here remain warm, but the mornings are crisp with just a hint of fall in the breeze. THAT always makes me crave single pot meals and chili is one of the best to feed not only my taste buds, but my soul as well.

Tonight, I am feasting on a big bowl of chili – along with some gluten free cornbread (well, it has spelt, but that barely counts)…..adventuring in the kitchen is one of my favorite pastimes: I wonder how well my recipes will translate to full time RV living? 

Do I see a kindle recipe book in my future? 

Housesitting?

I love the first few minutes of waking up - my mind is always uncensored and very active. This morning I woke up to the word “housesitting”. Now this is not a new concept to me – it’s always appealed to my adventurous spirit. It seems that there could be a lot of fun to be had by doing this. One could live in more square footage than a hotel, tent or RV. One could have a built-in friend to play with if the house comes with a pet or two. One could enjoy visiting a different area and always find something new to explore. One would certainly have low overhead.

That made me wonder if there is a service that matches homes with available sitters. Then, of course, I didn’t limit myself to just the United States – I envisioned places all around the world. I know how to dream, don’t I? [and, yes, there are services that I am currently researching lol].

As a home and pet owner in years past, whenever I traveled I dreaded boarding my pets – it was expensive and I knew they hated it – and honestly, the issues around boarding played a part in how often and how long I would be gone. I would have LOVED to have had a ‘housesitting agency’ to call and have someone who is already checked out come live in my house while I was off traveling.

In this day and age, leaving a house unattended can be a security risk as well. So . . .  while I continue my search for the PMoHo (Perfect Motor Home) – I am also entertaining this idea of jumping from house to house – only just not on wheels and not in my name. I don’t know, it’s still percolating, but it’s kinda fun to explore the possibilities – if any of you know of an agency (or know of someone who would love to open their house in exchange for pet and plant care) let me know – these early morning plans often have real roots to them. Hope your day is filled with adventurous attitudes too.

I Had This Funny Thought

As I’m sitting here waiting for the perfect motorhome (PMoHo) to appear on any one of the multiple listings that I check daily, I can’t help but second guess my plans. My Inner Source tells me that my next great step is to live on the road full time. To live free, and unencumbered and just follow my heart. That idea I do not question…whenever I picture myself in that life, it feels right – it’s who I want to be – it makes my heart soar. Even when I put my intellect to work on all sides of the possibilities, it’s a ‘go’ from all systems.

However, I also believe that when we walking the right path, things tend to flow with ease, yet my process seems to have hit a wall which makes me stop and wonder why? Of course, I may need to accomplish a few more lessons before I embark on this journey, but a funny thought also occurred to me: Someone out there is not listening to their Inner Source telling them to sell their RV. Someone dropped the ball in my universe.

I can easily see how we are all interconnected in this big, wonderful universe. What we do impacts others. When we are each living our dreams, we are sending out a flowing energy that can contribute to the dreams of others. When we are holding back – it stands to reason we might be impeding someone’s journey as well. My bold step sends a ripple into the thoughts and dreams of others to start thinking of their own dreams – that much I ‘get’. But I think someone is holding back on me.

So while I hope fervently for my perfect RV to appear, I hope even more that the person who currently owns it is listening closely to their heart. The bottom line might just be that when you follow your dreams, it is quite possible that you are allowing someone else to follow theirs too. 

So … Hey, you out there! It’s time to let go and move on to your next journey so that I can move on to mine. Or I guess a nicer way to put it is: Ready when you are.

Decorating my Non-existent Home

I know it's crazy - but I'm having a ball decorating my new (as yet non-existent) home on wheels. To battle the frustration of not finding the perfect rig (yet), I've taken to preparing for some awesome new upgrades and make-overs. I've seen enough rigs in my size and price range to know that they all share some common components. Primarily a bed - full or queen is still unknown, but it will have a bed (not a pull out couch or an over-the-cab bed that requires a ladder). A bed needs sheets, and blankets and pillows and....etc. One of the best ways to feel special and pampered is to sleep in yummy, luxurious bedding - so I've been out scouring great deals on new sheets, pillows, duvet covers and other goodies. I intend for my bed, (which may be the extent of my bedroom) to be as welcoming as possible - lacking space, I will make up for it with layered luxury.

Space in cupboards will also be at a premium, but cooking with quality pans is another thing that I don't want to give up. My beloved Calphalon is too big and too heavy and doesn't stack very orderly. So my task was to find something that will be a joy to cook on, but not prohibitive to store. I went to my favorite TJMaxx and found a nice quality set of pots that will nest - they are not handle-less, but have small handles on both sides (this makes for maximum stack-ability.) I now have a small and medium sauce pan, a small oval roaster and a medium Dutch oven - all fitting inside each other. Pretty excited about this find.

I may or may not have a couch in my new rig - but I've discovered a stash of heavy weight upholstery linen in my storage boxes that will be perfect for a couch or club chair. I always do slip covers so that I can keep as clean as possible - I love to be relaxed and casual in my own home, and knowing I can wash any dirt or spills allows me to enjoy my environment.

So you see, I'm filling my time well - and as soon as the RV appears with my name on it - I will be ready to do the personalized changes right away....my new home, done my way, heading to parts unknown and Loving the Adventure.

Sorting Versus Choosing - BIG Difference

Not my new home, but pretty cool none-the-less!!

It's Saturday morning and there are no motorhomes on my list to go see (yet). I'm getting pretty good at narrowing the field down by asking the right questions beforehand. It's occurred to me that I'm asking for too much, but because it's the beginning of my search, I think I should have very high standards. It's not easy to keep them high though: a great priced one makes me think of compromising - or a great one that is loaded with goodies tempts me to go over my budget. The perfect one has not appeared on my radar (yet).


I am not used to the sorting process - only the choosing process, and let me assure you, there is a BIG difference!! I keep reminding myself that this just might be the primary lesson to be learned right how - how to sort.


I look back on my life and I realize that I usually chose from what is at hand, NOT from doing a ton of research, waiting and dreaming. Oh, I dreamed plenty, but I think I always opted for what felt like the easy way. Now, I don't regret my lifelong method - it's what has made me 'lucky' over the years but I"m willing to learn a new way to approach the rest of my life - more of an "I'm worth it" belief rather than to simply accept what comes to me. I"m learning to know, with clarity what I want....to ask for it, and to stand my ground and wait for it.


This probably seems like such a subtle difference in words - but in feeling, it is momentous. I am surprised, and proud of my new-found sorting skills. But, yes, I still battle the frustration of "I want it, and I want it now!"