Finally (sort of) Hitting the Road

I spent the month of May at my daughter, Shylene's house, helping take care of her two babies (6 months and 21 months) while she was looking for a new nanny for her children. It was a delightful time and I was so grateful to have the freedom to help my daughter in this way. And she admitted, "I know I gave you the hardest time about quitting your job and I was the first one to take advantage of the opportunity."

Wondering how to make RV Life with Kids Work? Check out: Full-Time RVers Guide to Schooling

Before I left Shylene's, embarking on my true adventure and new life, I was able to finally find my new furry companion. I had been looking for a Maltipoo (Maltese/Poodle mix) doggy because they were small and did not shed. I discovered that they were quite in demand and therefore quite pricey. I looked on Craigslist near Walnut Creek, CA where Shylene lived. I saw this very adorable little doggie billed as a Pomeranian but I knew wasn't. I decided to go see her and made an appointment to visit an hour away in San Jose to meet her. After meeting Dolly, at first I was not going to take her for many reasons; she had a limp which the current owner could not explain why, she was 1 1/2 and not yet spayed, had only had a rabies shot that the current owner knew of and had no record of, she was bigger than I had wanted and was definitely a shedder, and they were asking more money for her than I felt was fair. However, once I met her and spoke with the current owner and found out that she had been shuffled around and had experienced 4 owners already, and learning that she was currently being left outside all day while the owner was at work, I decided that I had to rescue this little girl from her current situation. So, I decided to buy Dolly and have her be my travel companion on my new adventure.

Related Reads: Keeping your Pet Healthy and Safe while on the Road

Dolly (in picture) has proven to be a wonderful dog and companion. Although she is a small dog, that I eventually found out is a mix of Papillion and Pomeranian mix, and often afraid of the noise and movement of the RV, she has adjusted well and we have become so attached and in love with each other that she has realized that although we don't have a "home" like other dogs may have or she may have had in the past, she knows me as her "home" and wherever I go, she wants to be there.

Related Read: RV Travel Tips for Pet Owners

It is interesting to note that when we are visiting a "real" house, she will often want to stay in that place rather than the RV but she also wants me to stay in there as well. But, we are bonded and enjoying each other's company. She clearly has a human to care for and be with her more than any other owner she has had and I'm so happy and grateful to provide this and to have her with me. She is my friend and the one I talk to and enjoy on a daily basis. She makes me smile many times during the day and is comfort when things are going as I had hoped.

Related Read: Bring Along Your BFF-Best Furry Friend

End of June I spent a few days in Portland Oregon and visited with my youngest daughter, Sherissa and my cousins, Cherie and Gail each from a different side of my family. Cherie was one of my cousin's that ran when my Hobo grandfather started to tell his stories

Read all about my freight train hopping Grandpa in: Looking Back – Why Become a Full-time RVer?