NGA 2.0 ~ Painting New Paradigms

Four years ago, we took a major leap and made the decision to sell our home and over 90% of all our possessions to travel the country full time while still working remotely... we called it our Next Grand Adventure (NGA). 

Before leaving Illinois we made a vision board composed of images and phrases that represented some of our aspirations for this new way of life.  To be candid, we were both excited and intrepid... our choice defied the path that most of our peers were taking during the third quarter of life. 

Covid changed everything... for most of the population and certainly for the two of us. Among many other changes, it meant that we no longer could meet clients in person, which in our case was both a curse and blessing.  Though missing individual contact, the situation  allowed us to conduct business online - from anywhere in the country. At the time, this was a radical thought for us!

We were also evaluating that while we are no longer "spring chickens," we still had a lot of desire to explore our country as life learners - not tourists. And, we both wanted to find our 'forever community' somewhere within the USA. Without knowing the term, this combination of factors moved us toward being "digital nomads" as a lifestyle.

As we thought through the different options for living on the road, we strongly considered buying an RV to travel in. Eventually, we chose not to go that route (all puns intended!) because our research showed that we'd have all the related maintenance of a second home while having to stay in designated areas (RV parks, etc.) rather than live as a temporary local. We also considered Airbnb, Vrbo, etc. but concluded that we'd be staying in a house and neighborhood that was never meant to be a "home." We even investigated the option of long term cruises, connecting from one ship to another across the globe, but we decided that it wouldn't fit our our dual purpose of nomading and finding our new community. In the end, we chose to become a member of TrustedHousesitters.com. Our research showed that it was and is the highest rated housesitting association available, allowing us to establish a series of base camps around the country to explore as "temporary locals" via housesitting. 

One of the images on our vision board in 2021 was Acadia National Park in Maine. It would take us four years to check that one off the list (this past July) based on available house sits. And, we had a sort of epiphany toward the end of that six week adventure up and town the coast of Maine. 

We realized that we no longer were "trying on" a nomadic life, we are living it! During the course of the past four plus years we have traveled coast to coast a few times, completing over 40 sits ranging from a couple weeks to over two months.  We cared for dogs, cats, fish and birds of every shape and size. We've stayed in small urban condos to estate-sized mega mansions.  We've weathered quarter-sized hail storms, wildfires, tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, mountain snow drifts (higher than our car), fog thicker than pea soup, and rain so heavy we couldn't see past the wiper blades!   Yes, we believe we are seasoned road warriors at this point.  

When we meet fellow travelers they often ask us where we're been. That question prompts one or the other of us to answer with a line from one of Johnny Cash's songs, "we're been everywhere man!"  It was toward the end of our Maine sit that we actually took in the reality of all this.  We had become bonified digital nomads (we both still coach and consult with clients cross country and internationally). Mission accomplished!  Never ones to rest on the past, it was now time to redefine our Next Grand Adventure... Version 2.0! 

And so we launch into our next phase (we aren't ready to come off the road), we're utilizing our new insights and settings to bring more clarity to a new vision board (work in process) that focuses more on what we want to be as we vintage toward the Fourth Quarter of Life.  We both still enjoy (love!) collaborating with clients, so retirement isn't in the short term plan, though who and what we focus on with clients is evolving. Our experiences have seasoned us to provide more insights for clients focusing more on gratitude, health and the courage to keep evolving with a proactive and positive vibe both personally and professionally.   

During this first sit into NGA 2.0, we had occasion to find ourselves smiling from the inside out - it was just as we were painting our new paradigm - quite literally during an online water color class that one of Phyl's clients had invited us to join. To be candid, the thought was somewhat intimidating! Neither of us had dabbled with paints since grade school, and yet in the spirit of the evening, we embraced the experience... and were so proud of our creations. P's client has a wonderful way of providing new experiences and this was a wonderful one for each of us - while our pieces certainly aren't going to make the cut for any art exhibit, we legitimately can now claim being water color artists! 

The evening took us back to one of our trips with our grandkids in Oklahoma visiting  a children's museum.  It was filled with experiential exhibits, and they even got to paint with water colors.  There was a sign on the wall that affirmed to the parents that we all should live more fully and experience more color in our lives - even if, and maybe particularly because, it's not what you might do traditionally.  So, in the spirit of our childhood book explorations, we suggest that next time y'all stop in a local diner, order that 'different' meal and ask for the crayons and drawing mats that are usually reserved for the kiddies while you're at it - who knows, your work just might end up on the fridge (ours did)!  

To be continued...