Hi, thanks for stopping by! I’m Jeanne, intrepid daydreamer, sharing my thoughts and experiences about this Happy Life we all seek. Join the discussion, challenge my thoughts, share your wisdom!
THEY CALLED ME CRAZY. In 2003 I took an early retirement, sold my home and whatever wouldn’t fit into my small RV (recreational vehicle), loaded up myself, one daughter who was still at home, and my dog, and hit the road.
Fortunately, not everyone thought I was nuts. My kids were all for this new adventure of mine — only because by God I drilled into their heads that as soon as my nest was empty, I would be living on the road, and they gave me their blessing.
Free at last, I said to myself — free from the headaches of home ownership, free from having too much stuff (thank you, George Carlin for your insights), free to live a simple, uncluttered life as I wander the country. But NOT free to retire, mind you: social security isn’t enough for anyone to live on, so I just changed jobs. I became what’s known as a “workamper.” Workampers live in RVs and travel around the country doing seasonal work, mostly (but not only) at campgrounds.
After working for too many years in the corporate world, I couldn’t wait to get my hands dirty with real dirt instead of corporate politics! I took campground jobs cleaning bathrooms and cabins, mowing and weed-whacking and trimming trees, pressure washing and staining cabins, serving up ice cream on Saturday nights, dressed in a cow costume complete with udders!
And then:
I landed my dream job! I’d never have believed that any campground anywhere would have the need for a fulltime gardener/landscaper! And yet this fell into my lap in 2007. Located near Hagerstown MD, campground owners who had over a 20-year period built extensive (I mean EXTENSIVE) gardens in the campground, found they’d created a monster and couldn’t take care of them. Aha, they really needed me as much as I wanted them.
Now, for awhile at least, instead of wandering around the country, I return to Maryland every March and do what I love best until November. I love the dirt under my nails, I’m proud of the callouses on my hands and knees (body armor you know), I’ve made friends with the bees so they don’t sting me, and I literally bask in the compliments I get from all our campers!
So what did I do before this dream came true? In a nutshell, I
- grew up in New Orleans
- spent seven years in a convent
- married, had three children (my best work ever)
- moved to North Carolina
- returned to Louisiana*
*This is when my retirement dream began. I nurtured it, fell asleep thinking about it, researched it, met others doing it . . . I simply DREAMED A HAPPY LIFE.
Wow Jeanne – what an incredible inspiration!!!
You truly did create your life. You turned your dreams into reality – how absolutely amazing is that! And yet this is so real and so possible for all of us. It just takes a choice.
I applaud you for your changes. You will always be an inspiration to me and so many out there – thank you!
And continue enjoying your beautiful dream of a happy life that you get to live out!
Evita, lovely Evita –thanks so much for your applause
and for even thinking that I might inspire others — gives me goosebumps and makes my inner self REALLY feel like life is worth living! Truth is, we all got somethin’ that’ll inspire others (like you do, for example)!
Hi Jeanne,
It’s a pleasure to meet you and learn a little more about your background. Isn’t this blogging thing great?
I enjoyed your story – how you packed it up and hit the road. You know, I did that when I was young and oh, what an experience it was. I can envision you in the “garden”, happy as can be, living your dream and now writing about it.
It’s great having you in blogosphere. I’ll be seeing you again soon.
P.S. Come November, where will you head out to?
Hi, Barbara! Thanks so much for checking in! So you’ve done it too — isn’t it a great feeling, to venture into the unknown, with our greatest security being our faith?!?
Usually I go to Louisiana and park my trailer in a friend’s yard and just chill out. But this fall has a different twist: my 35-year-old daughter, divorced and with no children, has left corporate America and purchased a motorhome, and asked me to join her for a six-month tour of the southwest! She’s already set up a “travelog” site for it. Needless to say I think it’s the opportunity of a lifetime, since we share so many beliefs and dreams!
Still looking for critique of this new blog . . . see you soon!
Hi again Jeanne,
Your trip this fall sounds fabulous. What fun you gals will have making memories as mother and daughter. When you start the “travelog”, please let me know so I can “follow you”. Have you, or will you also be “tweeting” along the way?
As for a critique of your blog. I LOVE it. Your authenticity shines through, I got to catch up on your previous posts, and it’s easy on the eye.
Just keep doing what you’re doing – writing about living your dream. The rest, including traffic, will fall into place.
Barbara —-will definitely keep you posted on the travelog.
Tweeting? I haven’t gotten into that, haven’t even looked at it — maybe I’m afraid of it, LOL!
Your critique = music to my ears, thank you SO MUCH for the encouragement!