Family Tour USA

We are a family of five who decided to just "chuck it all" a few years ago. We realized that our lives had become tipped horribly out of Balance. We had too much "stuff", worked too many hours yet never seemed to have much to show for it; worse, we had too little time for enjoying our days as a young, growing family. No matter what "new and improved" gadgets we acquired, they rarely helped and more often than not became more bricks in the wall of stuff that we were burying ourselves under. In a moment which we refer to as the Epiphany, it became clear that what was lacking in our lives was Simplicity. This Epiphany led us to sell, give or throw away a multitude of lifetimes' accumulated possessions - including our house; buy a 33' camper and truck to pull it with and go off to discover America! And in doing so, live a simple, more self-sufficient lifestyle that was focused on being a family, together.

The trip lasted over a year and a half and, as you can imagine, changed our lives. We eventually settled here in Connecticut, and have been trying to maintain the amazing elements of our Simple lifestyle as well as we can in our new home. It isn't easy. Through former habits, good meaning donors or just strokes of Fate we are accumulating again, but now we keep a watchful eye and begin to understand how it happens and find ways to moderate it even if we can't control it. The old stresses have returned at times, and though nothing good lasts for ever, we are adapting what we learned to our new surroundings, old habits and all. However, from time to time the 'bug' rears up from its sleepy place and bites me squarely on my duff. It is at these times that I realize that good things can last forever - if we choose them to. They change form, save a bit of the old and open up the space for the brand new - that is what adventure is all about! Right?

So, now that it is 6 years later I am moved to write these following words (with a giddy tear in my eye!): "Here we go again!"