I’m not going to lie: I’ve been suffering from some real head trash lately regarding our RV trip. With less than 4 months before our departure date, the reality and risks of this drastic change in lifestyle are sinking in. Here are my top three topics of internal dialog.
1) The cost of gasoline
Last summer we took our first “big” RV trip: a 3-week trip around Lake Superior. It was pretty painful filling up the tank at $2.65/gallon, and now that gas is over $3/gallon and expected to keep rising (thanks, Middle East!) I’ll be looking at about $150+ per fill-up. Ouch!
Yep, we did a lot of driving during those 3 weeks…almost non-stop, in fact, so of course we burned through a lot of gas! Part of the benefit of taking a year is to take it slow. Travel on the weekends, chill for a week, take side trips in the car. If gas prices double, we’ll just go half the pace. Jon, gas will always be “too expensive”; get over it.
2) Business uncertainties
I just landed a sweet new client that I know would not have hired my company had I not been able to meet with them face to face. If I were out on the road, this would unfortunately have been a big fish that got away.
First of all, you don’t know that; you’re assuming that. But for the sake of argument, let’s say you’re right and you would not have gotten this project. Would you go hungry? Could you not make payroll? Did your future hinge on landing this client? Has your future ever hinged on one client? Of course not. And remember all the other clients? Yes, that’s right: the majority that don’t care where in the world you are. Accept the fact that you might lose a couple local business opportunities. You should be casting your net wider than that anyway.
3) Phone and internet uncertainties
I live and die by my internet and phone connection. What if I’m some place where I can’t get internet or cell reception?
(Sigh)…we’ve been over this. Look, you have just 2, mayyybe 3 days a week where you need to have cell and 3G internet service. The rest of the week you can get by with pretty spotty coverage. But you’re missing the bigger point: simply plan your destinations around locations that have the connectivity you need when you need it. Save the remote destinations for the weekend trips when you shouldn’t be working anyway. It may be hard to imagine, but 3G and cellular coverage actually do exist outside of Indianapolis.
So there it is, the conversation that plays over and over in my head. But now it’s out of my head. I’m done worrying about this!