Announcement and need support :)

[Scott & Heather]

Once again, thank you so much for the congrats! Heather and I are enjoying reading them together every evening   Reading your responses, I want to make two points:

1. Heather is way more into bus full-timing than I am. She was born and raised in the same house her parents still live in 30 years later. At this stage in our lives, I couldn't pry this bus out of her cold dead fingers. You think I'm kidding, but I'm serious. She absolutely loves this. I mean, seriously loves this. She's making up for all the lost time in her life she didn't travel.

2. Those of you who say you are "out of touch" cause of your age....I have utmost respect for you. The more gray hair...or the less hair I suppose too, the more respect I generally have for you. At one time, you were our age...you were having your first kids, facing your responsibilities head-on. We are just another generation. I know everyone thinks we are all way different...but we are all human...same hearts, same skin and bones, and pull our pants on one leg at a time. It's time our generation realizes the wealth of knowledge many of you passed on to us that led us to where we are today, technologically, socially, etc. Some change is good, some bad, but someday, I'll be the grandpa, watching another generation live through another exciting era for them....and I hope I never feel "out of touch" or irrelevant. I've met a bunch of you personally at the rally or traveling by, and I can honestly say, thank you for passing your skills, knowledge, and stories down to us. I know nothing about raising kids, but I do know I will teach them to value the generations that preceded them. Generations who fought wars, made laws, made history, and all wrote a page in the book of this world. I'm just another paragraph on the page...hoping I leave a mark...and somehow positively influence the next generation to leave theirs. And, because I'm a Christian...my faith leads me down that road. This is why I'm on here soaking up your opinions, thoughts, and kudos. You gents impress me every day. 

[RJ]

I know nothing about raising kids. . .

Darned things don't come with an Operator's Manual, that's for sure!!

[niles500]

RJ - LOL and although many are willing to provide "tech support", I still can't find anyone who offers a warranty on the darn things 

[Lostranger]

Hello Scott and Heather,

I wish to add my congratulations to the chorus. Bringing a baby into the world is one of God's greatest blessings, and I celebrate both the attitude and the mobility with which you approach the situation.

We home schooled six—some for 13 years, most for the majority of primary and secondary. The socialization your child will receive will be more in line with that which took place during the bulk of human history. One of the few points of agreement I have with Hillary Clinton is that it DOES take a village to raise a child. She may have been referring to a government entity that replaces parents—I did not read her book and will not put words in her mouth—but my take on that traditional African proverb is that a village is necessary to supplement and support the work of good parenting. As recently as the 1950s and 60s, in the community where my mother still lives, neighbors knew each other well and took some responsibility for keeping each other's children out of trouble. That's a perspective I came to appreciate as an adult in the same way that I came to appreciate the reality that segregating children with mostly their specific age group for the bulk of each weekday provides a type of socialization that reinforces many of the worst aspects of human nature: cliques, bullying, materialism, ruthless competition, loss a sense of value for those who are not the prettiest and the smartest. Our current public education system is primarily designed to produce "good consumers" and to provide babysitting so that both parents will be more likely to have "careers" and dramatically increased "household buying power."

We have only three years experience in full-time mobile living, but the "village" associated with this lifestyle has proven itself time and again. I see a bit of arrogance and hot headedness online, but the full timers we actually meet are usually wonderful. In addition, the non-mobile folks we tend to meet along the way tend to be the kind you want to visit as often as possible. We've found that the attraction of the "big bus with the chimney" is a wonderful opening with many, and others are attracted when they see and smell us baking fresh bread or steaming jambalaya in a Dutch oven. I can tell without meeting you that you folks are well suited to making new friends and treasuring new experiences, and those things will be a blessing to your child.

I do, however, feel the need to offer one parental caution. Children often reject that which becomes most familiar. Here's an example:

A girl in my neighborhood refused to eat vegetables. She ate bread, meat, cheese, pasta and the like, but she would not eat peas, carrots, corn, potatoes and so on. She now has three daughters. Two of them are vegetarians.

Heather is a prime example. She WANTS to live differently than did her parents. This sort of thing WILL happen to you. Try not to let it bother you. My children currently range from 20 to 36. All but one have children of their own. Each of them has come to appreciate SOME of the things I find valuable, but each has also rejected many of my choices, and those rejections often appear intentional and capricious. If I chose to focus on those differences, I might be denied the steadily strengthening relationships Bev and I currently enjoy with each of our children. Don't be surprised if your child eventually longs for bricks, mortar and a picket fence.

The brilliant philosopher and horse farmer, Wendell Berry, claims that it is part of a child's job to reject his or her parents values and decide for themselves what is and is not important. Once that occurs, then a parent and child can build an adult relationship on a foundation of mutual respect. In spite of what many of my Christian friends think, my experience is that I cannot force any person to believe and act as I do, even if that person spent twenty years or so in my home.

So, Scott and Heather, our prayer for you will be for a successful pregnancy, a safe and speedy delivery, a healthy child and a large measure of faith, wisdom and love. You give that kid a growing up experience that affirms the value of not doing exactly what everyone else does. I do believe that concept is at the heart of the teaching of a certain Galilean carpenter.

Faithfully yours,

Jim

[DKO]

Sean said, "Will we ever get tired of this lifestyle?  I highly doubt it."

The thing I love about that is that IF we do get tired of this mobile bus based lifestyle we can always go back to the house and job and stationary life that all the naysayers "demand" we "ought" to have for ourselves and provide for our children. Some day we might do it but how many of them will ever have the guts to try this life?

Davy

[Scott & Heather]

Well said Jim. Well said. Good stuff right there...

Davy, this is true. Any time we want to, Heather and I can settle down....of course, I'll point out that this phrase means something different to everyone. My music touring allows us to stay in one spot for 5-7 months at a time. Here in Texas, we will be parked in the same spot for an entire year...we still do some traveling via car or airplane away from the coach, but for the most part, we are here in Texas for a year. So we do have some semblance of "settled down" in our lives. We have great friends here who are like family to us, and the lady who runs the RV park here is the mom of the owner...she takes us out to eat once or twice a week just cause she loves to...we get free wrist bands to the water park down the road cause her son owns that too. Her other son is an OBGYN and constantly wants to know how things are going with the pregnancy and tells us if we need him, he's a cell phone call away. They all have attended my concerts, some have visited our bus, and all are already telling us we can't leave in a year lol. So yes, I believe it does help to have a village. This kid is gonna have grandmas, grandpas, aunts, and uncles galore. Heather's parents love having a mobile hotel and are traveling and seeing more of the country than ever before now that we are on the move. It's pretty cool stuff. Geoff made a good point: buses don't go up in value, so we are on the Dave Ramsey cash plan and saving $$ as we go. I think we will pick up a piece of land at some point (I know Sean and Angie have discussed this too) as an investment/place to call home/park the bus/build a log home someday??? Also, this year, we are starting a SEP (self employed pension) that should help things a little when we can no longer work someday. Until then, we just hang on...this is the ride of a lifetime. Will share news on little one as it comes. Find out the gender pretty soon here hopefully.

[Gordie Allen]

Not much to add to all this great advice. We are at the other end of the road of life. We raised our two boys in rural Michigan. They lived in a house we built ourselves in the middle of the woods. Teri stayed home with them until the youngest was in first grade. We took a two week backpacking trip every year from the time the youngest was five until they were out of high school. There were years we had to borrow money to "go on vacation". I said we were buying something that was priceless and it made more sense than borrowing to buy a car. They chose to live in big cities. Chad (42) has lived in DC, Cairo Egypt, Manhattan and Brooklyn. Paco (39) moved to Silicon Valley. Although growing up in the woods was with "back to the Earth, hippy" parents they found a lifestyle that they enjoy in the big city. Chad and his wife just moved to San Francisco this year. We began building our bus three years ago at age 65. We sold our business, retired and thought we'd travel part time. We have since decided to sell our home of 35 years and live full time in our bus. We spent this winter in Half Moon Bay - 20 minutes from our boys and two grand daughters. Building the bus, even at this age, has allowed us to see our kids and grand-kids more than once a year. We have lots of close friends in Michigan, so we will spend a few months every summer back home. As Forest Gump quoted his mama, "Life is like a box of chocolate, you never know what you're going to get." It never ceases to amaze me, the wisdom and support found on this forum. You've got a virtual village here that creates friends and mentors you've never met. The ones we have met didn't disappoint us. Congratulations on starting your own family! With as much thought as you have obviously put into this, I'm sure you'll make the right decisions along the way.

[Scott & Heather]

Gordie,

Sounds like you guys are enjoying this new stage. I grew up in Eau Claire, MI for part of my life...that's home to me

[Midwilshire]

You gotta follow the truth in your heart, not the concerns of others. 

We're full-timing and homeschooling as well.  The kids are now 7 and 5.  We full-time because it's fun and economical.  We homeschool because we want our kids to love learning and to avoid some of the nonsense that goes on in public schools.  The book Hard Times in Paradise set us on the homeschool path.  The bus started with my hairbrained idea, a google search, this site, and an ebay auction, in that order. 

Yeah, we get jokes from friends, raised eyebrows from my family, and Gigi's parents secretly try to talk her out of both the bus and the homeschooling when I'm not around.  But we honestly enjoy our path know its right in our hearts.   

I used to take a little offense at the judgment I perceive from friends and family.  But I'm starting to feel just a tad sorry for them, since none of them have ever risked stepping outside the norm to experience life.  If they had, however, I might place a bit more credibility in their opinions. 

Is the bus forever?  No, we'd like a farm in about 4 years.  But for now, we're loving life.  And so should you.     

[Scott & Heather]

Love it. Thankfully, our parents are pretty on board with our lifestyle. They visit often so we have sleeping arrangements for 6 if need be. I'll add that we didn't start out full timing because we just wanted to see the world, it's literally my job/career. So I would have to switch careers if we wanted to settle. Not averse to that, but yeah, in our case, full timing is a necessity more than novelty at this point.


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[Brett G]

Very Cool.  Having kids is just one of those things that's truly gratifying and amazing.

[RJ]

Scott & Heather -

Be aware that a lot of things related to raising kids is not apparent until you are one!

Such as with infants:

When getting ready to go out somewhere for the evening, the later you're running, the greater the chances of a #2 diaper!   

In the above situation, the more expensive the clothes you're wearing, the more explosive and runnier the #2!   

With toddlers?

The chances of the toast landing jelly-side down is inversely proportional to how long ago you mopped the kitchen floor! 

With 3-year olds, backing the car out of the driveway means they have to go to the bathroom, well after they've been buckled into their car seat and asked several times before doing so.

See what you get to look forward to?   

[Scott & Heather]

Lol!! This made my day!!! Thanks RJ. I'm gonna wear plastic bags over my clothes now 



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