It’s only been a month since I started this retirement adventure. And I’ve moved 3 times.  Not finicky, all is going according to plan – 2 nights dry camping or “boon-docking” at my daughter’s, 4 days and nights in the forest to unwind and now have settled into my holiday home on the Sandy River, in windy east county Portland.  Some things I’m discovering have morphed into some learning or lessons about this adjustment for this Wandering Spirit (the rig, now aptly named), as follows:

1. You will always have to move something to get what you need.
2. It isn’t where you thought you packed it.
3. When turning on the hot water, it’s the other direction or other handle.
4. Training your dog to travel comfortably on the couch/lounge area means ownership of space. You may be allowed to use ¼ of that space if you are also willing to share that ¼ space with the dog (lots of snuggle time).
5. Don’t place the dog’s water bowl in the cat’s exit path from the litter box. This will reduce the number of times you need to wash the bowl during the day.
6. What you thought were good storage solutions are subject to change after you lifted and/or moved those solutions a few times. (On to plan B, a shopping trip to Ikea – soft, squishable containers work better).
7. Your bed will always look like it was made by a 4-year-old.  On a good day, it may look like a 5 year did it.
8. It is no longer “my bed”, it is “community bed” and you are allotted 1/8 to 1/14 of it, depending on preferred sleeping configuration for the cat and the dog for the night.
9. Wearing a bicycle helmet for when you are working under the slide-out in the storage bay looks ridiculous, but it helps.  Enough said.
10. If you are a stick in the mud kind of person, pull the rig forward a few inches until the jack releases.  Consider this free advice, it cost me $425.
11.  Long handle grabbers are your friend.  As are step stools for the height and reach impaired.  Same goes for the bending over or reaching under the table for the mid-section impaired (if you know what I mean).
12. A good smoke alarm will let you know when you are cooking a steak, eggs, or making applesauce– well just about anything really. Best to bundle up and open all windows, vents and doors unless you like fire drills.

So, the adventure begins.  And I am learning every day.  Good thing I’ve got a little time to figure it all out before I hit the road.