Re-used Tinsel

It began with a clear glass bottle. I saw the vision in my head and proceeded to make it reality. A few snapped twigs, some re-used tinsel, and my new ornaments completed the ensemble. My Christmas tree was complete! Enjoy the picture!

The holiday season was filled with joy as my sister came to visit. Now you maybe thinking to yourself, “Where did she stay? Certainly not with you in the fifth wheel!” I can proudly announce that we all fit comfortably in the Jayco with many thanks to Mal’s adventurous spirit. We even had room for the copious amount of presents she brought along with her!

It was a fun-filled week with Mal, traveling all over Houston, Galveston, and even San Antonio where we explored Texas’ Shrine of Liberty: the Alamo. Mal was ecstatic when coming across a rifle belonging to her lifetime hero, Davy Crockett. Her visit was so much fun that I’d recommend it to anyone!

Christmas Day was relaxing and enjoyable. Danny and I gathered around our twig tree and presents, excited to tear the paper open. Later on, we put other people to work as we played games at Dave n Busters.

The day after Christmas was one to remember. I almost lost complete hope in living in an RV. Let me recall the events for you… I woke up late, basking in the sunshine seeping through my bedroom window. I sleepily trudged to the bathroom to wash my face before putting a cup of joe on. My perfect morning came to a screeching halt. Turning on the faucet proved to be an ordeal, flushing the toilet was a big no-no, and taking a shower was out of the question.
Ask me why.
The water was not hooked up! I asked Danny if it was working for him before he left for work; he replied in the affirmative. I am a daughter of Ron Hojnacki, so I thought to myself- “I can fix this.” I stamped outside in my bare feet to look at the connection which was in order. I slid underneath the camper to check the pipes which were in order. I jiggled the pump and hose. Then I went back in to test it. I don’t know why, but I flushed the toilet first… It sputtered water and kicked back all the liquid in the bowl onto the bathroom walls. It was here that I texted Danny: “This is strike two on RV living.”
Eventually, I got the situation under control; yet I had to shower and get ready in the main building of our resort. Another text to Danny: “Call me spoiled, but there’s something nice about showering and washing your hands in your OWN home.” Needless to say, I wasn’t feeling our way of life that day.

A much needed update on our job situation: Danny has a job! He is a surety bond underwriter and is loving it so far. He even gets to wear jeans to the office! I have completed my teaching certification course and am currently looking for a position in an elementary school. We are so blessed to be in our current situation; I just need to remember that when days like December 26th come around!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Dan and Chels!

P.S. My mother-in-law came up with the genius idea of having you, the reader, ask me questions. Any question about our life, rv living, Texas… It will help with my writer’s block! Just leave a question in the comment section below. Thanks!
~Chelsea

Deer in the Headlights

The past two weekends have been full of traveling and fun with friends. One was spent exploring the medieval grounds of Houston’s Renaissance Festival; the next was spent walking wide-eyed down Bourbon Street and celebrating a friend’s wedding day in Atlanta.

The biggest part of both these weekends for me was being away from my new “house.” The feeling of real water pressure on my back in the shower was lovely! Getting ready for the wedding was actually fun, not having to squeeze in and out of the bedroom. Yet, on our return, I somehow felt at peace and glad to be back to my home sweet home!

All of those feelings shattered to a million pieces last night.

A massive thunderstorm hit the Houston area around 6 am, bringing with it many high powered gusts of wind. Having no clue of the mini typhoon about to hit, I left towels and bathing suits out on the patio which is/was covered by the awning. I woke up to a terrible crash of thunder, looked outside and noticed the awning flailing about in the deluge. Quickly waking up Danny, we decided the awning needed to come down before anything more happened. When Danny opened the door, he was almost hit with a metal pole which holds up the center of the awning. With rain pelting our pajamas, Danny dug for his tools while I held onto the edge of the flying flapper. One gust of wind later, it was out of my hands and crashing into the fifth wheel. We decided to leave it lying against the side; then began the battle with the door. The wind wouldn’t let Danny back in! I don’t remember how many times I repeated “please Jesus”, but it helped get him back in. I’ll admit that my eyes did not close for a very long while, and I questioned this simple living!

Many people ask me how it is different living in a fifth wheel versus an apartment. I usually say that it’s pretty much the same; last night changed my answer a bit. An apartment doesn’t sway with each gust of wind that smacks the side of it; an apartment door lets you in without any hassles.
But in the light of day, I see how strong my Jayco really is. The awning can be fixed, there were no leaks inside, and it’s sitting exactly where it was yesterday. It’s all about keeping a positive perspective.

(Also, I’d like to take this moment to brag about my husband’s quick thinking and strength. He saw I was a deer in the headlights, so he grabbed the horns and took control, even comforted the poor shaking doe after the terror was over.)

Adventures Abounding

The vast expanse of land, otherwise known as Texas, has become our home for a while- we even have the license plates to prove it! Yet, this new territory brings confusion and chaos abounding. Take for instance today.

Danny and I needed to mail a few things back to our homeland of New York. We set out to the post office only to find the backwoods shanty had closed at 1:30. What kind of town closes their only source of communication with the outside world at 1:30? I’ll tell you- the hillbilly town of Cut-n-Shoot!

We continued our excursion into the larger city of Conroe. Because of a slight misreading of directions on my part, we ended up at a much different post office than we imagined. This one was connected to a gas station- I even have a picture to prove it. Upon entry, our misfortune continued in learning that this one had closed at 2:00! We begrudgingly set our gps for a different one, and finally mailed our package after 2 hours of driving aimlessly.

I must say that my aversion to New York is slowly lifting, partly due to our post office adventure, but mostly due to the days wasted at the dmv.

The truck and car needed to be registered and inspected in Texas. Danny thought he had all the paperwork filled out and ready to be processed at the dmv once he made it through the endless coil of a line. Not so. The kind lady at the window gave him more paperwork that needed to be signed by his parents (who are in New York). Then and only then could he continue the process of registration. Thankfully, my father in law was understanding and quick about returning the paperwork- we returned to the dmv and waited in line again. Then…. Just kidding- it worked this time!

Needless to say, stress and anxiety were high during some of these times. I sometimes think it would have been better to remain in New York. Then I catch myself and realize how awesome this current adventure is!

The timeline of my life has been all over the place ever since graduating high school. From college in two different states, to traveling through Europe, to teaching English in South Korea, to getting married, to buying a fifth wheel and moving to Texas, I’d say my adventures have yet to cease!

I encourage you to dream big and never settle for the norm. Be different, live an adventure, and pursue happiness. I know I’ve found it…

Pictures from the remodel

Headed into the Unknown

September 23, 2013

Some say we are crazy; others say we are inspirational. I say we are just smart.

Danny and I decide to purchase a fifth wheel after seeing a family member’s way of life doing the same. Before buying our new home, our days were filled with much debate, doubt, and indecision. We figured looking at a couple trailers wouldn’t hurt. As the future became clearer, we realized that a few years of simple living in a small space, such as an RV, wouldn’t hurt our finances; instead, we would come out making a profit. (Those of you who know Danny are aware of how much this played into his final decision!)

We purchased out fifth wheel late in August of 2013 and began remodeling the entire inside. The previous owner had taken care of it; we wanted to update and modernize it. Danny’s parents allowed us to park in their driveway; we began the renovation by ripping up all the old carpeting. Once this was complete, the camper seemed to smell a TON better! With the gracious help of both our families, we completed the remodel in just 5 short, but tiring days.

The longest drive of my life began the very next day; I was glad to be sitting for a time instead of laboring like we had the previous days. We set out later in the day, only to make it to the border of New York and Pennsylvania. Our trucks alternator had blown! Luckily, my father is skilled in such areas; he volunteered to meet us early the next morning to replace it. After a night of restless sleep in a state trooper’s parking lot, we journeyed out into the large state of PA. This time we made it all the way to Kentucky where we stopped to see Danny’s sister. No hiccups that night, praise God! The next night was not so fortunate as the truck battery died. We slept on a side road; in the morning, we jumped the truck and crawled to an autozone where we replaced it. That day, we made it to our campground in Texas after a hot and grueling afternoon spent driving.

Our fifth wheel has been treating us well! Upon arrival, Danny had to become handy in les than an hour, lest we would die of heatstroke. The air conditioner wasn’t working in the 98 degree heat. Many other obstacles had to be tackled; I praise God daily for giving Danny the ability to figure out each problem that has been presented.

An excerpt from my diary: “I think it was the third day we had been set up in Country Place when I decided it had to go. It was hot, annoying, and HOT. Plus, it just didn’t mesh with RV living. So I donated it! 10 inches of it chopped, yet it wasn’t enough. I might have to go shorter! Hair is just too much to deal with in this town. Ain’t nobody got time for that!”

From Country Place, our current campground, the grand city of Houston looms about 45 minutes to an hour away. It’s sprawling metropolitan houses and employs millions, being the third largest city in America. So many people, so many cars=traffic. Yuck.

The new RV resort we will be moving to at the end of the month is about 10 minutes from the medical center in Houston. Sitting on a small lake with a beautiful pool and grill area is our new place to call home. Hopefully we will have nice neighbors like we do here in Cut-n-Shoot, although I’d prefer if they had more than two teeth.

We are both currently unemployed, but Danny has been in touch with a recruiter who seems promising. I may be able to teach after a year of getting certified; I am meeting with an agency who will tell me exactly what I need to do.

Next up on our list of things to do: become Texas residents and register our cars and trailer! (Also, I may invest in a solid pair of cowgirl boots, what do y’all think?)

So here’s looking up! Cheers to and from the large state of Texas!

Chelsea