So what happens when the American Dream turns out not to be your dream? Or more specifically a dream that's within your grasp? You dream a new dream, that's what.
I've begun writing this particular blog post before, but it always turns out a bit maudlin when I try to put into words why my husband and I are embarking on this new life. So, I'll keep it short and sometimes-not-so sweet. Growing up, I had a pretty good idea of what my future would (should) look like. It looked a lot like what everyone's ideas looked like...family, children, careers. An altogether mature, rock steady life. Sometimes, the universe has other plans.
Children are not a possibility for us. Furthermore, due to a variety of issues and tensions within my somewhat complicated family, Norman Rockwell holidays and get-togethers are awkward, if not impossible. And careers? Well, I think we all know what the economy did to the romantic notion of retiring with a gold watch.
So what do we have? An amazing relationship, full of love and humor and goofiness. My husband's a musician and I write, so we have a house full of creativity and beautiful music. A ridiculously close relationship with my parents. Freedom. Dreams.
At some point, we realized we were trying to fit the square peg of our reality into the round hole of the American Dream. We don't have the same obligations as most people our age. We rent. The company my husband works for is headed south (or, more accurately, India and China). We don't have the worry of supporting children or supporting a mortgage.That is where the new dream takes shape.
We bought a 24 foot camper. For $500. It looks much like you would expect a $500 camper to look. It has not been remodeled or, I suspect, cleaned since 1978. We are gutting the poor beast and doing a total remodel, complete with flat screen TVs (yes, plural), an electric fireplace, mosaic tile in the "kitchen," and a better mattress than we currently sleep on in our 1300 square foot home. When it is complete, we are moving in.
By moving in, I mean MOVING IN. As in Home Sweet Home. Luckily, Phil and I are about the only couple I can imagine happily cohabitating in an 180 square foot dwelling. We will travel and see all the places and things we've dreamed about. We will have a home base, i.e. campground, wherever our home finds us. We will live rent and mortgage free, find jobs that don't break our backs and spirits, and see the world (or the contiguous 48 states anyway). Eventually we would like to build our own home, our own way, but that is not the point of this dream.
The dream is this: to live life, to have experiences rather than things, to spend the most amount of time with our most loved partner. I work in a nursing home, and I see everyday how illusory the idea of time is, how quickly it sneaks up and snatches away your possibilities. I want to live my "retirement" now, while I'm still able to enjoy it.
Is it the responsible thing to do? Probably not. Luckily, we are responsible only for ourselves. Our only responsibility is to be happy, to love and to fill our lives with color and magic. Maybe it will all be grand mistake...or maybe it will be biggest, craziest, happiest adventure we can imagine.
