Final Sunset, Prince Edward island

Yes it is true I am finally and slowly heading west. It was very hard to leave Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. I really enjoyed my time there.

Barbara, Janet and Spencer the dog.

What made it even harder to leave was that I met another solo woman Roadtreker at the last campground I stayed in. Barbara and I hit it off and neither of us wanted to say so long this morning. She is living in her RV 6 months out of the year. The other 6 months, in the winter she lives in a 5th wheel in St Augustine, FL. She sold her house that she loved and got rid of all her possessions except what would fit in the RV and plans to travel until she cannot do it any more.

I have learned a few things from Barbara. When she goes somewhere she stays in the same campground for several nights. She doesn’t rush to go see everything. She sets up home in each campground she stays in. Some places she may stay for a month or more. I see her as truly knowing how to live on the road full time.

I have considered doing the same thing yet have been hesitant. I have actually sat in each room of my house and attempted to figure out what items I could see myself living without. It is an interesting process. Some items I can let go of right away. There are others that I have an emotional attachment to. For example the entertainment center in the living room is something that Jim and I were planning to keep for the rest of our lives. It is a beautiful piece of furniture. When I look at it I think of Jim and myself yet when I ask myself if I got rid of the emotions could I let it go. The verdict is out.

So much for the idea of non-attachment. I am still processing on much of the philosophy of Buddhism. Still working on enlightenment.

How do people, one day, let go of all those things that are in their homes? Barbara is not the only one I know that has done this. My friend, Cat, also did the same thing. She sold her home, got on a bike and took her two dogs on a cross country bicycle trip. Now she lives in a Fifth Wheeler and is traveling the USA.

I would love to be able to take that jump. It is not that I want to live in my small and cute Roadtrek but I would like to experience the sense of freedom of letting go of stuff. I don’t know if I ever will. It is something I have pondered on for quite some time. I keep thinking I could rent a storage space and put the things I want to keep in there. Maybe that is a first step. There is nothing wrong with doing things in stages. Step A, Step B, Step C.

Taking the Confederation Bridge from Prince Edward Island to New Brunswick.

Tonight I am in Moncton, New Brunswick. I am moving northwest towards the St Laurence River. My plan at the moment is to work my way around the northern sides of the Great Lakes. I have never been there. It seems like a good enough reason to go there.

As I head west I will have a lot of time to ponder non-attachment.

So today I guess I am thankful for my “stuff” and considering letting go of it.