[AlwaysLearning] life on the road (LONG)
[email protected]
Back in February Darin quit his job and went to school to learn how to drive
semi trucks. He got hired by a great company out of Springfield, Missouri and
is now on the road with a trainer and will get his own truck at the end of his
training period. (90 days) Since he left for school and then started with
this company we haven't seen him for more than two or three days every few weeks.
We did expect this and the kids are adjusting to it, better than Darin and I
are at this point.
Right now we are at a big decision point. None of us like it here in our town
and have been wanting to move for some time. We have a few options. One, we
(the kids and I) can move to Springfield and we would be able to see Darin a
little more and we would be in a town that has lots more to offer than the one
we live in now. And we can take turns going with Darin on runs as the company
allows one rider at a time in company trucks. Or two, Darin can get his own
truck (expensive, but the company offers a great program to get your own truck
and work for them making even more money than as a company driver) and we can
all go with him.
We have met two different families that do this. One family has a small child
that isn't "school age" and they all go together with the plan that when
their son reaches school age she and the son will find a home in Springfield so he
can go to school. The other family has kids our kids ages and they sold
everything, have a mail box at the company store, (to establish residency in
Missouri because of lenient hsing laws there) and they do school at home on the road
and their kids love it. Although the mother of that family did express the
concern about us being unschoolers, but we get that from school at home folks
anyway. <g>
We are split on this decision. Darin and I both realize that living in a
truck is unconventional, the trucks are big, but not that big, the kids would have
to give up lots of things and we would too. But we would all be together and
that is really what we all want the most. OTOH, Springfield has lots to offer
and I would love to live in that area. We have looked into the cost
differences, between a house payment, utilities, etc... and living in the truck (truck
payments, food on the road, we would have a small fridge in the truck) and the
costs are about the same, living on the road being slightly (read not much)
cheaper. Darin would make almost three times as much as an owner than as a
company driver. But the costs aren't what is making the decision difficult because
even now in his training period Darin is making twice what he made before. I
guess the difficulty in the decision boils down to logistics, comfort, living
that close to each other ... and things like would we be depriving the kids of
things that they would have living in one place vs. the opportunity to see all
sorts of places in the US and Canada, the ability to drop a load off and say
we like it here, lets hang out for a few days before we call and say we are
ready to take the next load. Like Darin said, if the kids and I didn't like it,
it's not like we couldn't get a place to live.
I am wondering what some of you would think, presented with an idea like this?
~Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
semi trucks. He got hired by a great company out of Springfield, Missouri and
is now on the road with a trainer and will get his own truck at the end of his
training period. (90 days) Since he left for school and then started with
this company we haven't seen him for more than two or three days every few weeks.
We did expect this and the kids are adjusting to it, better than Darin and I
are at this point.
Right now we are at a big decision point. None of us like it here in our town
and have been wanting to move for some time. We have a few options. One, we
(the kids and I) can move to Springfield and we would be able to see Darin a
little more and we would be in a town that has lots more to offer than the one
we live in now. And we can take turns going with Darin on runs as the company
allows one rider at a time in company trucks. Or two, Darin can get his own
truck (expensive, but the company offers a great program to get your own truck
and work for them making even more money than as a company driver) and we can
all go with him.
We have met two different families that do this. One family has a small child
that isn't "school age" and they all go together with the plan that when
their son reaches school age she and the son will find a home in Springfield so he
can go to school. The other family has kids our kids ages and they sold
everything, have a mail box at the company store, (to establish residency in
Missouri because of lenient hsing laws there) and they do school at home on the road
and their kids love it. Although the mother of that family did express the
concern about us being unschoolers, but we get that from school at home folks
anyway. <g>
We are split on this decision. Darin and I both realize that living in a
truck is unconventional, the trucks are big, but not that big, the kids would have
to give up lots of things and we would too. But we would all be together and
that is really what we all want the most. OTOH, Springfield has lots to offer
and I would love to live in that area. We have looked into the cost
differences, between a house payment, utilities, etc... and living in the truck (truck
payments, food on the road, we would have a small fridge in the truck) and the
costs are about the same, living on the road being slightly (read not much)
cheaper. Darin would make almost three times as much as an owner than as a
company driver. But the costs aren't what is making the decision difficult because
even now in his training period Darin is making twice what he made before. I
guess the difficulty in the decision boils down to logistics, comfort, living
that close to each other ... and things like would we be depriving the kids of
things that they would have living in one place vs. the opportunity to see all
sorts of places in the US and Canada, the ability to drop a load off and say
we like it here, lets hang out for a few days before we call and say we are
ready to take the next load. Like Darin said, if the kids and I didn't like it,
it's not like we couldn't get a place to live.
I am wondering what some of you would think, presented with an idea like this?
~Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 4/9/2004 3:08:03 PM Central Standard Time, Dnowens@...
writes:
I am wondering what some of you would think, presented with an idea like this?
~~~
I've always wanted to drive a truck. I figure if something catastrophic
happened to my family, I'd just go off and drive a truck for the rest of my life,
drive my grief away.
That said, I don't think any of my kids could tolerate long hours on the road
day after day as a lifestyle. For a week or two or a month or a summer,
maybe? My kids would be asking, "what about baseball?" and "what about my
friends?"
It's not like you'd get to stop at Dinosaur World every time you came across
it, is it? I need lots of alone time, too. I don't think it would be for us.
Tuck
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
writes:
I am wondering what some of you would think, presented with an idea like this?
~~~
I've always wanted to drive a truck. I figure if something catastrophic
happened to my family, I'd just go off and drive a truck for the rest of my life,
drive my grief away.
That said, I don't think any of my kids could tolerate long hours on the road
day after day as a lifestyle. For a week or two or a month or a summer,
maybe? My kids would be asking, "what about baseball?" and "what about my
friends?"
It's not like you'd get to stop at Dinosaur World every time you came across
it, is it? I need lots of alone time, too. I don't think it would be for us.
Tuck
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Diane
Wow! What a big decision. I can see how you can "try" the one traveler
at a time option and see how that works for a while, but it sounds like
if you do the buy a truck option you are going to be locked in to it,
right?
I personally couldn't imagine choosing the option of all traveling
together if there were no "home base" to come to. As much as I love to
travel, I spent a month basically with no home to go to, and it was a
horrible thing, and something I never want to repeat. If that option
could be combined with a home base where people could stay, say, during
baseball weeks, or when they're sick I think it could be manageable.
If it were my family I think I'd plan on working with the company's
truck for a few months, then trying to spring for a small house or
apartment combined with the extra income of owning the truck. But not
burn any bridges unnecessarily.
But your family may be different--it's hard to know for someone else.
:-) Diane
Dnowens@... wrote:
at a time option and see how that works for a while, but it sounds like
if you do the buy a truck option you are going to be locked in to it,
right?
I personally couldn't imagine choosing the option of all traveling
together if there were no "home base" to come to. As much as I love to
travel, I spent a month basically with no home to go to, and it was a
horrible thing, and something I never want to repeat. If that option
could be combined with a home base where people could stay, say, during
baseball weeks, or when they're sick I think it could be manageable.
If it were my family I think I'd plan on working with the company's
truck for a few months, then trying to spring for a small house or
apartment combined with the extra income of owning the truck. But not
burn any bridges unnecessarily.
But your family may be different--it's hard to know for someone else.
:-) Diane
Dnowens@... wrote:
>Right now we are at a big decision point. None of us like it here in our town
>and have been wanting to move for some time. We have a few options. One, we
>(the kids and I) can move to Springfield and we would be able to see Darin a
>little more and we would be in a town that has lots more to offer than the one
>we live in now. And we can take turns going with Darin on runs as the company
>allows one rider at a time in company trucks. Or two, Darin can get his own
>truck (expensive, but the company offers a great program to get your own truck
>and work for them making even more money than as a company driver) and we can
>all go with him.
>
M. Dalrymple-Lepore
I would be very tempted, personally. Yes, in some ways it would
probably be hard-- but it sounds like a once in a lifetime adventure to
me, something you probably couldn't consider if the kids were older.
I'm just marveling over the vast opportunity for interesting
experiences.
And, worst case scenario, you can change your mind, no?
probably be hard-- but it sounds like a once in a lifetime adventure to
me, something you probably couldn't consider if the kids were older.
I'm just marveling over the vast opportunity for interesting
experiences.
And, worst case scenario, you can change your mind, no?
On Apr 9, 2004, at 4:03 PM, Dnowens@... wrote:
I am wondering what some of you would think, presented with an idea
like this?
[email protected]
In a message dated 4/9/04 07:58:57 PM Central Daylight Time,
tuckervill2@... writes:
That said, I don't think any of my kids could tolerate long hours on the road
day after day as a lifestyle. For a week or two or a month or a summer,
maybe? My kids would be asking, "what about baseball?" and "what about my
friends?"
It's not like you'd get to stop at Dinosaur World every time you came across
it, is it? I need lots of alone time, too. I don't think it would be for us.
#########
Exactly some of the things we have been debating. Alone time, not being able
to stop just any old time, friends... It's not like we would be in a mobile
home! Here in our current town, the kids just don't have that may friends. Sad
but true. Although we realize that going out on the road would prevent making
friends in a new town. We have been discussing going out with Darin six to nine
months out of the year. Darin doesn't want us with him during the winter
months as he will be doing most of his runs through the West over the Rocky and
Sierra Nevada Mountains, and into Canada, although he will do some East Coast
runs too. Then the kids and I would either rent a place or stay with my folks,
or visit other family. He gets two to three days off every ten to fourteen days
and he can save his days up by working through four or five weeks and then
taking a week off. That way we could do extra things like stopping at Dinosaur
World. <g>
In a message dated 4/10/04 08:09:58 AM Central Daylight Time,
si1verkitten@... writes:
I would be very tempted, personally. Yes, in some ways it would
probably be hard-- but it sounds like a once in a lifetime adventure to
me, something you probably couldn't consider if the kids were older.
I'm just marveling over the vast opportunity for interesting
experiences.
And, worst case scenario, you can change your mind, no?
#############
That is what I am thinking, I doubt the kids would want to do something like
this here in three or four years. I also want to have another baby and I
really doubt I would want to lug an infant around in a truck, especially since
there isn't anywhere to put a car seat! And what baby would want to sit in one day
after day?
I guess the one thing is that so many times in the past we have never been
able to afford to do some of the things the kids and I want to do. I have always
wanted to go to the conferences and could never afford it. I traveled all
over as a child and really miss that, I still have that itchy foot! Now I see the
way for us to do things like conferences, and traveling. I could tell Darin
to schedule a run to what ever city the conference was being held in and he
could drop us off! And we would have the money to do it!!!
The biggest thing is I'm still madly in love with my husband. I think I love
him more now than I did when we got married! I miss him so much it hurts. The
kids are so attached to him too, probably more to him than me even! I just
don't want our missing Darin so much clouding our judgment.
~Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
tuckervill2@... writes:
That said, I don't think any of my kids could tolerate long hours on the road
day after day as a lifestyle. For a week or two or a month or a summer,
maybe? My kids would be asking, "what about baseball?" and "what about my
friends?"
It's not like you'd get to stop at Dinosaur World every time you came across
it, is it? I need lots of alone time, too. I don't think it would be for us.
#########
Exactly some of the things we have been debating. Alone time, not being able
to stop just any old time, friends... It's not like we would be in a mobile
home! Here in our current town, the kids just don't have that may friends. Sad
but true. Although we realize that going out on the road would prevent making
friends in a new town. We have been discussing going out with Darin six to nine
months out of the year. Darin doesn't want us with him during the winter
months as he will be doing most of his runs through the West over the Rocky and
Sierra Nevada Mountains, and into Canada, although he will do some East Coast
runs too. Then the kids and I would either rent a place or stay with my folks,
or visit other family. He gets two to three days off every ten to fourteen days
and he can save his days up by working through four or five weeks and then
taking a week off. That way we could do extra things like stopping at Dinosaur
World. <g>
In a message dated 4/10/04 08:09:58 AM Central Daylight Time,
si1verkitten@... writes:
I would be very tempted, personally. Yes, in some ways it would
probably be hard-- but it sounds like a once in a lifetime adventure to
me, something you probably couldn't consider if the kids were older.
I'm just marveling over the vast opportunity for interesting
experiences.
And, worst case scenario, you can change your mind, no?
#############
That is what I am thinking, I doubt the kids would want to do something like
this here in three or four years. I also want to have another baby and I
really doubt I would want to lug an infant around in a truck, especially since
there isn't anywhere to put a car seat! And what baby would want to sit in one day
after day?
I guess the one thing is that so many times in the past we have never been
able to afford to do some of the things the kids and I want to do. I have always
wanted to go to the conferences and could never afford it. I traveled all
over as a child and really miss that, I still have that itchy foot! Now I see the
way for us to do things like conferences, and traveling. I could tell Darin
to schedule a run to what ever city the conference was being held in and he
could drop us off! And we would have the money to do it!!!
The biggest thing is I'm still madly in love with my husband. I think I love
him more now than I did when we got married! I miss him so much it hurts. The
kids are so attached to him too, probably more to him than me even! I just
don't want our missing Darin so much clouding our judgment.
~Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
Hello Nancy and all -
Nancy, thank you so much for sharing of yourself while you consider your
options!
You said that your kids just don't have that many friends in your current
town - what a plus! I'm always telling my kids that anything that is a perceived
negative can be a perceived positive, too!
Nancy wrote: "The biggest thing is I'm still madly in love with my husband. I
think I love him more now than I did when we got married! I miss him so much
it hurts. The
kids are so attached to him too, probably more to him than me even! I just
don't want our missing Darin so much clouding our judgment. "
I think what you wrote here is especially beautiful! Your family has a lot
of love and wants to be together! Perhaps 'trying to have judgment' is
clouding your Judgment! I'm listening to Indigo Girls and one of their songs ends
with ".....And the greatest gift of all is to know love...."
Being on the road can be hard. Being home without him can be hard. So the
potential difficulties are similar perhaps - which scenario allows for the
potential joy?
Only you and your family can look at all the bits, but the pieces you've
shared lead me to think, perhaps, that things could be pointing to this
opportunity as being real for your family right now. No attachment to where you are
now? A strong desire to be together as a family? An awareness of the temporary
nature of this opportunity (in terms of children's willingness and your
desire to have another child)? The existence of family/friends who can host you
for extended stays?
Best wishes, Nancy - imo - sounds scary and exciting!
Jane
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Nancy, thank you so much for sharing of yourself while you consider your
options!
You said that your kids just don't have that many friends in your current
town - what a plus! I'm always telling my kids that anything that is a perceived
negative can be a perceived positive, too!
Nancy wrote: "The biggest thing is I'm still madly in love with my husband. I
think I love him more now than I did when we got married! I miss him so much
it hurts. The
kids are so attached to him too, probably more to him than me even! I just
don't want our missing Darin so much clouding our judgment. "
I think what you wrote here is especially beautiful! Your family has a lot
of love and wants to be together! Perhaps 'trying to have judgment' is
clouding your Judgment! I'm listening to Indigo Girls and one of their songs ends
with ".....And the greatest gift of all is to know love...."
Being on the road can be hard. Being home without him can be hard. So the
potential difficulties are similar perhaps - which scenario allows for the
potential joy?
Only you and your family can look at all the bits, but the pieces you've
shared lead me to think, perhaps, that things could be pointing to this
opportunity as being real for your family right now. No attachment to where you are
now? A strong desire to be together as a family? An awareness of the temporary
nature of this opportunity (in terms of children's willingness and your
desire to have another child)? The existence of family/friends who can host you
for extended stays?
Best wishes, Nancy - imo - sounds scary and exciting!
Jane
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]