There are times, when coincidences happen and things line up in a certain way, and I tell myself, it’s meant to be! I was disappointed when that happened, but now this is happening and it’s even better! Or, I can’t pass up this opportunity because look at how things came together!
It can be about little things. Like on Monday I was frustrated with myself that I didn’t workout, because on Tuesday I had less flexibility in the afternoon to do so. But then on Tuesday there was a brand new Sim 60 bike boot camp waiting for me – it had been filmed that morning! – and I thought, see! If I had worked out yesterday this wouldn’t have been there. It was meant to be!
It can also be about big things. We’ve been talking about maybe going to Death Valley over the break. I wanted to go before Christmas, because those days of anticipation can be looong, even with older kids. Also, it’s more fun to be home AFTER you have received your gifts, when you have new LEGO sets to build or video games to play. The husband was less interested in a trip before Christmas because his parents would still be out of town, and they are our go-to cat carers when we’re away. With all that has been happening with Serval, a having someone who knows them at the house once a day seemed like the best bet.
We talked a lot about it, and I was starting to think maybe we should just skip the trip. I was feeling pretty bummed out about the prospect of two long weeks at home with the kids, fighting them on screen time and doing their chores. I texted my good friend to see if she had anything planned over the break – sometimes they invite us to stay at a friend’s place in Grass Valley – and she wrote back saying they were going to Death Valley after Christmas! I couldn’t believe it. I hadn’t mentioned my possible plans to her, and she already had those same plans set and ready.
So I started looking into it again. She had reservations at a spot inside the park called The Oasis, which has a hotel, motel and camp ground. There was no availability at the hotel or motel for the dates my friend would be there. All the AirBnBs nearby were actually 1.5-2 hours away. I had looked at the camp ground before, but there was no tent-only area and the prospect of tent camping between RVs did not seem ideal. Also, it gets COLD in Death Valley at night in December. Our tent is not rated for cold weather.
Then I thought… but what if we were also in an RV? I’ve wanted to rent an RV since I was little. My cousin and I talked about renting an RV and driving around the country for YEARS when we were younger. My aunts still like to reminisce about our plans; we talked about it constantly. We could rent a camper van – something not too big – and camp at the same spot as our friends. We’d have access to showers, a pool (it gets into the mid-high 70s in Death Valley in December), a restaurant and a general store. The camp ground has no hook-ups, so it doesn’t make sense to take something bigger with more amenities (which I wouldn’t want to drive all the way down to Death Valley – it’s an 8-9 hour drive). Also, with a smaller camper van, it wouldn’t be a bummer to drive it around the park, which is REALLY big.
Oh, and the dates line up so the in-laws can take care of the cats. How perfect is that?
Anyway, I am definitely telling myself the story that, THIS WAS MEANT TO BE! Which makes me a little worried that I’m not considering all the issues. Can I be clear minded about something when I’m telling myself this story? I’m not sure. But! Maybe the most important thing is embracing an opportunity to have an adventure with friends. It’s cool that it could potentially work out, and it checks off a few different boxes that have been floating around unchecked for a long time. The kids are getting older and there is only so much time we have left with them before they start their own lives out in the world. Surely a trip in a camper van to Death Valley will be a cool memory to have.
…
Okay, so I rented the camper van. We’re doing it. And I’m excited! I think this will be great way to try something I’ve always been interested in doing, while going to a place I’ve always wanted to visit. And we’ll be hanging out a bit with our friends too!
If you have any tips for first time camper van drivers/users, please let me know! I could use all the advice I can get!
Do you ever tell yourself stories about “meant to be”? Have you driven a camping van or motor home?
Humans do this “It was meant to be” thing. And, who knows, maybe it was. It sounds absolutely wonderful and I am totally excited about your trip and hope to get pictures and stories.
Should be wonderful. Have not done rental camper myself though have had friends who owned and rented them but no advice from me about it all.
Wishing you a wonderful time.
Looking forward to an advice words from your readers or, after trip, from you.
We humans do like to tell stories don’t we! I kind of love that about us, I just wish more of the stories we told served us and our fellow humans, instead of the opposite.
No really, no. I am a grinch and tend to lean toward “this sucks” or “good for me!”
We have 10 days off for the Christmas break and I feel like it’s not enough to travel. NYC day trips- for sure but no road trips. Reasons: our France trip from last summer wore me out lol, we are saving for the upcoming Russia/Asia trip this coming summer, and I’d rather go away in the spring like we did to the outer banks.
To be clear I have PLENTY of “this sucks” moments. All the time. It’s just when things line up a certain way that I tell myself this story. You did a LOT of traveling this summer! A month in France with two small kids would wear me out too. And your travel to Russia was intense as well. Understandable that you want to stay close to home this winter break. Day trips to NYC sound absolutely lovely.
Oh gosh. this is relatable. I am good at telling my kids when I job interview leads to a rejection or a college application gets rejected – you’re gonna land right where you belong. I’m not always great at taking my own advice. I was so bummed to move to a new house 45 min away from where I’d grown up (mostly) and years later I ended up marrying ‘the boy next door’ to that house we moved to.
I hope the RV trip turns out to be so much fun. I love that your friends will be there. That would make it so worth it to me.
*I need to add you to my blog roll. soon, I will get that done!
Yay, that sounds like it DID all work out in the end. I am excited for you. I have not rented or traveled in a camper van. Not sure if I would like it (but I know lots of people LOVE it).
I love that your situations worked out so well for you! Excited for your trip with your friend.
I cannot make myself believe that things happen for a reason, because if that is true then I have to accept that the horrible losses I have survived were on purpose somehow. NO. Ugh, I struggle with acceptance and surrender.