Eustis, Florida 79 Degrees -Sunny
While arctic weather bore down on our family and friends in
Iowa, we put on shorts and short sleeves, threw swim suits in a beach bag (just
in case) and headed to Eustis to visit old friends who are wintering in an RV
park there.
As we drove the 45 minutes to their place, I couldn’t help
but think how odd it is that we are 20 miles apart all summer, but it took us
both travelling 1200 miles to Florida to see each other. The phrase “So close,
but yet so far” came to mind. The origin of the phrase is vague. Even after a
Google search I don’t know who to credit for it. None the less, it fit today.
Kathy and Charlie are people I’ve known for a long time. When my first husband
passed 21 years ago a sort of wall went up in my life and now years later. I relate
to things in terms of before and after that event. This special couple are part of a very small select
group of very important people to me that I still see. They knew me then and
have accepted the life I created after ‘then’.
Anyone, who has had a major event define their life will understand. But
I digress.
One of the many cool things about this wonderful nomadic, sometimes unpredictable, life is you may find yourself in proximity to someone special at a time you least expect. We came Southeast from Iowa this winter, expecting to spend Nov-Feb in Plains GA and then possibly go to Alabama for another gig with the USACE. All the while, being very detached from anyone or anything familiar. Instead we spent three weeks in Plains and fled to Florida where we are in an unfamiliar place, but within an hour of several familiar people. In the meantime, we have met John and Barb from Tennessee, Chuck and Julie from Maine and Keith and Karen from Texas via Ohio. We are in the company of new friends daily, but not far from old friends.
Spending today with Kathy and Charlie made my heart happy
and warm. We don’t see each other often, but there is something to be said
about quality versus quantity. We had a wonderful visit and made plans to have
more visits before the winter ends and we all eventually make our way back to
Iowa, after it thaws out. Ben and Rhonda are just 45 minutes south and we hope
to get back to Weeki Wachee to see them at least one more time before we all
meet again at Saylorville to do our summer volunteer gig.
As we navigate our third year on the road. we are realizing
the perks of the ever expanding web of people that you meet and get to know. Like
a family tree expanding with each generation, the full time RV Family tree
expands each year as you travel to different areas and meet new people. You run
into old friends on the road and are always meeting new people, that will
become old friends in time. We will likely go back to Texas next winter and see
friends we made the first two years. Old friends in terms of this life. Who
knows how many new people we will meet? We know there will be a new couple in
volunteer village this summer. They could very well become great new friends.
When you travel and reach out to new people the possibilities are endless. Like
I say all the time,” its’ about the people” Old friends are a treasure, they
warm your heart and bring tears to your eyes when you connect. New friends are
wonderful, and bring tears to your eyes, when it’s time to say goodbye for who
knows how long, maybe a few months maybe a few years. The nice thing is we know
at some point our paths will cross. Like a giant spider web. When you are mobile
the opportunities unfold daily.
Until next time…
No comments:
Post a Comment