Perspective

Since we moved into our current house, even though we have an excellent landlord, my mantra has been: "After this, I don't want to rent anymore." I didn't know how that was going to be possible, but I wanted something that was completely mine. Something I could paint, modify, and just generally customize to my heart's content. Thing is, I never suspected that I would be doing that in an RV!

So, we've owned Harvey for about two weeks now and we are up to our eyeballs in demo and renovation. Each time we think we are undertaking a simple task, it multiplies into a multi-step PROJECT, but we are making progress and we are so excited about what it will become: our home! Although we waffled a bit because of time constraints (hello 5 weeks!), we've decided to go ahead and completely paint the interior and pull up the carpet and replace with wood laminate (see previous statement about multi-step serious projects).

What we've done so far* (an incomplete list):
- replaced the battery
- cleaned out all of the random odds and ends that were inside
- taken down weird accordion doors in shower and bedroom
- taken down all window treatments including weird carpet valances
- washed all windows
- caulked exterior of all windows
- caulked all roof attachments
- removed all -- ALL -- vinyl wallpaper and rotten wood (this happened yesterday and is HUGE)

*picture/detail post soon for all of demo!

Still to go:
- re-seal roof
- check working status of all appliances and generator
- caulk exterior seams
- re-attach bathtub unit to wall
- remove all old caulk from tub (ugh. time consuming!)
- re caulk tub/shower unit
- rip up all carpet (Nick started in the bathroom yesterday!)
- install new wood laminate floor
- GooGone all walls to remove sticky residue
- bleach mildewy wood and let dry
- caulk all seams, patch all holes
- sand everything
- prime & paint interior
- nest & pack!

Of course, the last step is my favorite and I have been scouring Pinterest for cute and practical ideas. I am trying to keep my decorating budget under $350, which means basically a new duvet cover, some throw pillows and fabric for simple curtains. This whole process has already had a steep learning curve (and budgeting curve) and I'm sure living in Harvey will provide us with even more opportunities to learn and change our minds about stuff.

For a bit of perspective, here's a video tour of our house now. I made this for my aunt Kathy about a week before our land lord informed us he would be selling our house, which prompted our whole western adventure to begin with. (In the video each time I say, "Kathy" just imagine I'm saying your name. :) It is a 3 bedroom 1 and 1/2 bath with a full attic, full basement, and garage. You could say that we're downsizing. A bit.

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Best Dollar I Ever Spent!

So, for those of you stumbling onto this from the great blue yonder, I'll give you a short-ish synopsis of what lead us to this grand adventure mobile.

Nick and I have a happy little life where we cook and eat a lot of good food, walk our doggies (Milo and Scout) and dream of an off grid homestead. In pursuit of that dream, we had decided (only about a month ago) to sell or store pretty much everything and take off to the west coast for a year of nomadic living looking for our little patch of ground. Since Nick is a nurse and I am a sign language interpreter, we both can work pretty much anywhere, so we had been planning to spend several 3-6 month stints in various places (starting in Oregon). The only catch is that I am obsessed with having a home that feels like mine. Moving so frequently (I've never lived someplace more than 5 years in my life, and have moved homes every year since I graduated from college), I am an expert at moving and re-establishing myself, but I am quite honestly tired of it. A naturally anxious person, nothing makes me panic more than the feeling of being unmoored. So, while I was feeling anxious about this great nomadic journey, I had settled on the fact that Nick and the boys (dogs) are my home and I would leave up to the universe how and where we made our many temporary homes.

Fast forward to a week ago. We were at my mom's cabin in North Carolina visiting when her husband looked at Nick and I and said, "Do you want an RV?" Nick and I looked at each other with wide somewhat disbelieving eyes. Um, yes? Nick had already floated this idea to me in passing a couple of weeks previous, but I had dismissed it immediately because the start up expense would deplete our precious savings. Greg (stepdad/mom's husband) went on to inform us that his mother had an RV she wanted to get rid of and would basically give it to us (well, sell it to us for a $1 to make it legal). Immediately, I jumped out of my skin with relief and excitement. Our own little snail shell? A home we could take with us wherever we went? Perfection.

We drove to South Carolina the next day to pick it up. It was in amazing condition for being 20 years old and having sat for 4 years. We polished up the outside, got a new battery, and put some air in our tires and drove home to Rochester (with a stop in Kentucky to visit my aunt and uncle!) and it made the trip without a hitch.

I had been mulling over what to name our new home for a week when it came to me just as I was falling asleep: Harvery. Home sweet Harvey.

Before we cleaned him up. The driver's side panel, which you can't see, was green!

Working hard.

Learning all the things.

So much potential!

Doggies at home.

Interior photos from when we first got it. Phew. Lots of work to be done, but a good beginning!

Ready for adventure!