Reading your "8 Lessons From Life On The Road" and simplicity = freedom calmed me down. Two of our dear friend's mantra is "Less is More" as it seems yours to be. They are the full-timers who first introduced us to the idea of full-time RVing and invited us to come spend a week in the Keys last November. Zell and Cindy are their names. Hope to cross thier path in the next two weeks as they head south to Florida. If you had told me we would stay for three months I would have thought your were out of your mind. Never heard of Howard and Linda. Thought our friends had lost their minds when they quit their jobs and sold their home just as you two did. The squirrel cage that had been spinning in my head the last few days finally slowed when my thoughts went to their smiling faces and cooking fish we had caught outside under the stars. 

For you see, I had been forgetting don Miguel Ruiz's 2nd Agreement, "Don't Take Anything Personally". I had been taking personal inventories of several people that had wronged my wife and me during the first year of our full-time RVing journey. I let their actions rob me of going to the beach to see a sunset tonight. Little or no sleep for the past three days. I had lost my center and my peace. They were living "rent free" in my head. And I was the one responsible.  My current wounds were self inflicted. Getting back to what the lifestyle is all about would return to a calmer center.

Your photos calmed me down even more and I went back to my drive through The Bad Lands National Park with Doodlebug at my side. Meeting four RVers in a motor home and Evin posing with them on one of the four Harleys they were towing on a trailer behind them. I went on the forum of our brand of 5th wheel and shared some of my highlights of our first year in a post asking questions about truck and RV choices. As soon as I started reading your thoughtful words and got lost in your photos the good times enjoyed this first year captured my attention instead of the negative. Sleep and rest will come be my friend tonight. I'll let them back into my space. 

I just got out of my chair and opened a cabinet door and in a simple physical act took out at piece of wood that is painted a nice shade of green and SIMPLIFY  is carved into its face. I thought of time in Abiquiu and kayaking on the Rio Grande with Jerry, Paul, Alice and Evin. Though of my friend Paul and our hikes in the forest near Taos. Back to Fayette State Park on Lake Superior or fishing with dear friends JR and Di in Copper Harbor. Kayaking with Evin, Howard and Wayne on Blackwater Lake in northern Florida watching bald eagles fish. Having Wayne take me to a tree he knew I would like to share a photo of with Howard and others on my blog. Taking a walk along a woodland path with Evin and our pups in Yellowstone. Evin sitting on the curb with Doodle and Bumble as Eddie stands of all fours giving his best high, happy pose and being glad to be alive.

In ways, I need to do a new post on my blog www.puppypaths.blogspot.com with my 10 favorite photos from our first year. The problem is that on some days or during some weeks I take thousands of photos. How much freedom do I give up with such a task. The time could be spent taking my next top ten phots or reading your words again or don Miguel's. Or as I am doing now, writing my own. Anne, thank you for your sharing and guiding me to peace.

Evin and I leave from Marathon tomorrow for a week or more at Huntington Beach State Park to meet 30 or so other RV-Dreamers at the 2nd annual Carolina Clan Rally. Wish the two of you could be with us. You both will be with us in spirit. Hope our paths cross. Welcome to RV-Dreams. Safe travels and thanks for sharing some of your peace and wisdom.