Stumbling upon Unlikely RV’ing Girlfriends

I immediately regretted my seating choice in Camping World’s waiting room.  Just as I settled in – Ms. Big Mouth who sat next to me began spurting her RV repair nightmares like wet burbs from a baby.

• 

REALLY?

Hanging out with women like her was NOT my idea of “living the RV dream”.  I cringed wondering if repair shops and rude customers were about to be my new normal.  Would every week be filled with caustic conversations and oily smelling service facilities? 

HOMESICK

Suddenly I missed my girlfriends back home in a way that surprised me.  I yearned for polite conversations with MY women who (most of the time) saw life in the positive.  My emotional energy reserves hit a new low in that waiting room. Sigh.

I loved the idea of being an RV’ing nomad but WHERE was my new tribe of energizing girlfriends?!

LORI

Luckily a few months into our RV life we landed at Lake Conroe, Texas.  I recall walking Penny early that first morning and noticed a woman headed my way with a big smile and two pups on leash.  While the dogs sniffed each other’s rear ends, Lori and I exchanged the usual camping mantra of-where-have-you-been-and-where-are-you-going.

But then something happened.

MESSINESS

As I listened to Lori’s solo RV’ing story my admiration for her bravery soared.  For instance, not only did she renovate her super cool Airstream named “Daisy”, but her life included escaping an abusive relationship, enduring numerous eye surgeries, managing her insulin dependent diabetes, and undergoing major back surgery.  Lori refused to back down from her ambitious travel goals just because a few “nuisances” happened!  Instead?  She unapologetically pointed to her bedrock of faith that sustained her through the messy times of life.  

GIRLFRIEND GLUE

Ah…I was refreshed and inspired by my new-found friend.  Even though our travel plans took us to opposite sides of the country, the glue of our shared beliefs and outlooks have kept us in touch throughout these past five years.  In fact, we were able to reunite last month as she and her fiancé’ (such a great story!) have a “new to them” Airstream and are continuing nomadic adventures.    

THE VAGABROADS

It’s not often that you see three women traveling together- let alone in an RV. Well, a few years ago I biked past Jean, Sheila, and Gretchen on my way to the trash dumpster and had to stop to hear their story.  I soon realized why they are called the Vagabroads.

DROP THAT GUY!

But first, a bit of info on how they met.

Sheila and Gretchen had been close friends since high school but they met Jean in a funny way.  The story goes that Gretchen was dating a guy whose housemate was his female cousin named Jean.  Although Gretchen and the guy eventually broke up- this trio proudly announced “we dropped the boyfriend but gained Jean as a lifelong friend”. 

A few years ago they entered the RV world when Jean decided to sell her California home and move into a 5^th Wheel RV. Naturally she invited her besties (Sheila and Gretchen) to travel along for months of adventure.  They had a blast doing several road trips for a couple years, but Jean “burned out” when repairs and overwhelming responsibilities of living in an RV got the best of her. {The good news is Jean sold the RV and bought a new home in Sheila’s neighborhood.}

CREATIVITY THROUGH COVID

The story doesn’t end here. Enter the COVID-19 craziness of 2020 and International trips planned by this trio that had to be dropped. What would have been devastating for some, these gals embraced as the challenge of travel during a pandemic. Sheila and Gretchen decided to purchase a used RV earlier this year as a safe way to continue their nomadic antics.  Meanwhile, Jean and her two dogs were invited by another girlfriend to stay in her Park model here at The Voyager RV Resort here in Tucson.  I was thrilled to meet up with them again!  We hiked, shopped, went out for lunch, and enjoyed adult beverages while socially distancing.    

I’m always energized by the vagabroads.  They’ve added joy to my RV lifestyle and their creative plans inspire me to “think outside the box” when life is feeling ho-hum. 

KIM

Recalling the unlikely story of how Kim and I met always makes me smile.  Many years before John and I ventured into the RV life we held a weekly meeting at our home called a Life Group.  Kim’s daughter Emily just happened to be in our group.  One weekend I invited some gals to a weekend women’s retreat in Minneapolis and Emily asked if her mom (from Green Bay) could join us.  I had fun getting to know Kim that weekend, not knowing the UNLIKELY way we would reconnect a few years later.

HAVEN’T I KNOWN YOU DECADES?

Last year Emily contacted me saying her mom and dad were interested in RV’ing and would I connect with them to answer a few questions?  I emphatically responded “it would be my pleasure!”.  To make a long story short, a few months later Kim and her husband Norton included The Voyager RV resort in their RV travel plans so we could meet up.  We immediately hit it off with this couple whose love of travel and hiking rivaled ours.   Again, I feel so blessed having this couple to hang out with.  It feels like we’ve been friends for decades instead of less than a year. 

SO UNLIKELY!

Oh, and a few months ago we have again begun a “virtual” Life Group that meets each week and are thrilled Kim and Norton joined.  Bonus for us they’ll soon return to The Voyager to reclaim their spot three sites down from us! 

GRAB YOUR CARDS

I hope these unlikely Girlfriend stories inspire each of you to cherish the special people who add value to your life.  The photo below shows the personal cards I’ve collected from RV’ers these past 5.5 years. Yes, we’ve met hundreds of people in our nomadic life but every now and then special Unlikely girlfriends have dropped into my lap. I’m so grateful for the depth and richness they’ve added to my life.     

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Please take a joy-filled moment to share how you met a new friend in a weird/wacky way/unlikely way.  In this crazy season of COVID we all need infusions of happiness (along with injections of vaccines!)

Love and Joy,

Gretty