Our May Plans
In Our New Plan, we shared that we’d sold our home and planned to move out before the end of May.
The two weeks after that post were hectic. We packed items for storage, sold a few more, gave as much to our kids as they could take, and donated the rest.
While clearing out the house, Andy was also looking for his next nursing assignment. We needed a location close enough to home so we could drive back the weekend before closing. He was offered and accepted a job in central Iowa, starting May 6, two weeks before we needed to sign the final papers. Things were falling into place.
By the first of May, our house was almost empty and ready for the new owners.
There were still a couple of piles on the sun porch that needed to go to the storage unit and local thrift store. Both garages and the laundry area in the basement still had stuff in them, but we were coming back in two weeks to finish over the weekend.
On Friday morning, May 3rd, after attending a talent show at our granddaughters’ school and saying our goodbyes, we pulled out of our RV port for the last time. We were heading to Ledges State Park in Iowa for a weekend of camping before Andy’s assignment started the following Monday.
A Muddy Beginning
It had rained almost every day that week, and the ground was saturated. After pulling out of the port, we got stuck in the mud on the driveway. It took some maneuvering to get down our hill to the street. By the time we pulled into the street, the truck and RV were splattered in mud.
Ledges State Park also received several inches of rain that week. Backing into our spot was harder than pulling out of our driveway.
If we went off the pad, we would be in the mud. Unfortunately, there was no option for backing in other than to go off the narrow pad a bit.
Ledges State Park is located about 15 miles east of Ames, Iowa. Despite the mud, we enjoyed our quick weekend there by driving the Canyon Trail, doing a little hiking, and relaxing at the campfire in the evening. We even talked about taking a day trip there after Andy started at the hospital.
A Different Kind of Campground
On Sunday morning, we pulled out of our spot at Ledges and drove to nearby Boone, Iowa. There are not many RV parks with full hooks in the Boone/Ames area, and the only one we located within a decent drive to the hospital was at the Boone County Fairgrounds. We had never stayed at a fairground campground and had no idea what to expect.
Our site was at the end of the campground – the very last spot. The manager had put us there due to the size of our RV and length of stay. There were only three other RVs in the park, and they were all towards the front. There was no camp host or manager on site.
The Week Begins
Andy went to the hospital Monday morning, and I got to work organizing the RV. We brought several tubs from the house with us to finish reviewing and sorting the contents.
The storage tub under the dining table was the first one I wanted to tackle. It contained the contents of several of our dresser drawers. I dragged it across the floor into the bedroom, bent my legs, used my arms and legs to lift it, dumped the contents out on the bed, and started sorting the clothes into piles.
On Tuesday, I went grocery shopping. Andy needed cold medicine, and we needed food. My right hip started hurting as I pushed the cart through the store. I blamed it on all the driving we had done.
Wednesday morning, my right leg hurt, and I was dreading walking the dogs. The grass nearest our site was very muddy and crossed with deep tire tracks filled with water. It was a slow, painful process, walking the dogs across the gravel to patches of dry grass.
Meanwhile, back in Kansas City
While I was struggling to walk the dogs, our neighbor in Kansas City was sending Andy pictures of the tree that had fallen on our shed.
Remember that muddy yard that tried to trap our truck? Up the hill from that spot, one of our leaning locust trees fell over, landing on our shed.
Add that to the list of things to get done before closing.
Since there was nothing I could do about the tree, I spent Wednesday researching and calling the various mail services in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. We decided to change our residency to South Dakota after our house was sold. After picking Your Best Address (YBA), I began the process of opening our mailbox.
By Wednesday evening, I was using a cane to walk around the RV.
On Thursday, I spent a good portion of my morning with a heating pad and ice packs. In the afternoon, I drove to the library to use the internet. The fairground campground did not have WiFi, and I didn’t want to use all our data working on the blog. I parked the car as close as I could to the front entrance, then walked slowly and carefully towards the door with my laptop bag over my shoulder.
Andy joined me at the library after work. He hadn’t been there very long when his phone rang. Seeing it was his recruiter, he walked outside to talk. When Andy returned a few minutes later, I knew something was wrong by the look on his face.
Unexpected News
The hospital ended his contract. Andy has been working as a travel nurse since October 2017, and this was the only time a contract ended early. We knew that could happen but never thought it would. We were in shock.
Back at the RV, we discussed our possibilities. Rather than immediately looking for another assignment, it made more sense to go back to Kansas City to take care of the fallen tree and finish moving. After stopping by the fairground office to let them know we were leaving Sunday morning, we took the donations I had been piling in the RV to the Goodwill and had a nice dinner at a local restaurant.
Getting Stuff Done
On Friday, we completed our paperwork for YBA and drove into town to get it notarized and mailed. After another quick stop at the Fairway Grocery Store to pick up some Iowa chops and steaks, we headed back to the fairgrounds.
We previously contacted our closing agent to ask about signing our papers on Saturday, May 18, explaining that we would only be in town that weekend. Since they don’t do Saturday closings, we needed to arrange to sign the papers remotely.
On Friday morning, I called our agent and set the closing for Tuesday, May 14, making it easier for both us and our agent. We spent the rest of the afternoon researching South Dakota residency requirements.
I also spent time with a heating pad and ice packs, researching what could be causing the pain in my leg. It was like nothing I had ever experienced.
Saturday Hay Auction
On Saturday morning, trucks pulling trailers loaded with bales of hay drove to our end of the campground. They unloaded the hay on the gravel, taking up several of the campsites and the nearby field.
The manager had told us hay auctions would be held in the area behind the campground on Saturdays. But, due to all the mud, they decided to hold the sale in the campground that day.
Out our side window, we watched as the auctioneer and the crowd walked from one stack of hay to another, selling and buying hay. Sadie stood on the arm of the recliner, watching the buyer’s dogs through the window.
We were blocked in and glad we hadn’t planned to leave that morning.
When the auction was over, the buyers started loading their hay. About that time, we noticed horses in the corral near the restrooms. Sadie was VERY excited by these large animals and started barking at them through the window. Max was not interested.
After walking the dogs and trying to contain Sadie’s excitement by the corral, we drove to the library to use the WiFi for some of our research and downloads.
A Quick Sightseeing Stop
Before heading back to the campground, we drove to the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad & James H. Andrew Railroad Museum to walk around and take a couple of pictures.
The next morning, we left Iowa and drove to Smith’s Fork Campground on Smithville Lake, north of our home in Kansas City. After setting up, we just relaxed.
A Very Busy Week
Over the next five days, our feelings about the contract ending changed.
Monday – The Tree
After looking at the tree, Andy decided to hire a tree service. He got two estimates and hired a local service for the job. I stayed in Smithville on Monday, doing laundry and resting my leg.
Tuesday – Closing
On Tuesday, we went to the title company for our scheduled appointment. Signing the seller’s papers felt good. However, while we were discussing the proceeds, we learned we would need to work with our bank to get the payment deposited into our trust account.
Wednesday – Coming and Going
On Wednesday, in addition to cleaning the house and making a donation run, we spent time at our bank working out the details for our deposit. It took two trips to get all the paperwork they needed and the accounts open.
Primo’s Lawn & Tree Service arrived Wednesday morning and worked most of the day removing the tree. We were happy with the results.
Thursday – Getting closer
On Thursday, we were back at the house, once again working on the garages and basement. The next morning was trash day. This was our last chance to remove what we didn’t want. By this time, we were done with donations. We would be using several of the “extra bag” trash stickers.
Friday – The Chapter Ends
We were at the house early, loading our truck for the last delivery to our oldest son. Some of the items in the load were things they didn’t pick up before we took off for Iowa, and they had planned to get them when we were back. Some of the items were things they didn’t know they were getting. Ian told me to bring what I wanted, and he would get rid of what they didn’t want.
After dropping off the items and making plans to meet on Sunday for dinner, we drove back to the house to load the truck with the last storage unit delivery.
We split up. I went to the post office to pick up our hold mail and change our address to the mail service in Sioux Falls. My next stop was the Google Fiber Space store to return our box and cancel our service.
Andy snapped the final pictures of the house, left the keys behind, and took the last load to our storage unit. We were officially moved out of our home.
The Next Chapter Begins
As the week went on, we became more and more convinced that the contract ending was a blessing in disguise. We would not have pulled this off if we had only been in town for less than two days.
While all of the work was going on, Andy was also looking for his next contract. On Wednesday, while the tree was being cut down, Andy was interviewing for his next job. Hired on the spot, his next assignment in Bryan, Texas, would start May 28th.
On Monday morning, May 20th, we left our RV at Smith’s Fork and drove to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to become residents.
After arriving, we got our driver’s licenses and the tags for the Subaru and F350. Andy applied for his South Dakota Nursing License, completing all the necessary tasks. Max and Sadie didn’t seem to mind all the stops. They received plenty of treats and enjoyed our overnight stay in a pet-friendly motel.
On Tuesday morning, we made a quick stop at the local Grand Design dealer for the unloaded vehicle weight on our Solitude, one of the licensing requirements. Then, we headed to the Minnehaha Court House to get the tags for the RV. There were no lines, and we were back in the car and headed to Missouri within 20 minutes.
A little after 3 PM, we were at our site in Smithville, unloading the car and getting ready to travel the next morning.
We are now residents of South Dakota. Our home is our RV. This journey would not have been possible without the love we have for our Lord and each other. We don’t know how we would have taken care of everything at our house if Andy’s contract had not ended, and for that, we are grateful.
We took our time driving to Texas, spending one night in Guthrie, Oklahoma, and two in Sangeen, Texas.
Since we have been in Bryan, we’ve been working on enhancements/changes to our RV home. Our next post will include some of those changes.
Peggy Staver, the author of this blog, is a freelance copywriter specializing in outdoor recreation and hospitality. You can contact her at PSCopywriting.com. The majority of photos are taken by Photography by Andreas. Visit his portfolio here.
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An update on my leg pain – after struggling to walk in early May, I was still healing when we arrived in Texas. I am happy to say that within a week of living here, my pain was almost gone.
What a journey you guys have had. Be careful with your back I have a bad back and the Dr. told me I had arthritis in my spine. I use to have sciatica but somehow it’s gone. Very painful. I had to give up line dancing and pickleball because of it. I have to baby it. Stretching does help but haven’t done it in the trailer because of space.
It is a little tight to do yoga in the trailer. I don’t pick up anything heavy anymore.
Peg and Andy…What an up and down time you two went through. I hope all begins to smooth out now. Karen and I are sending you good vibes!
Thanks. So far so good.