I’m convinced there isn’t a person on the planet who didn’t suffer in some manner due to Covid – some paid the ultimate price with their life. For others, it was job loss, food insecurity, financial stress, not being able to visit an elderly parent or grandparent, postponed weddings, virtual graduations, no visits with new babies, cancelled vacations, isolation from friends, or having to watch Joe Exotic.
Like all hardships we endure, we are ultimately stronger because of it. This is not just hyperbole. It’s the loss of something (time, freedom, education, prosperity, friendship) that strengthens our resolve and reminds us that life cannot be taken for granted.
Living in the Bay Area was a blessing and a curse. It is one of the most beautiful metropolitan areas in the world. Within hours of where we lived we could be skiing the Sierras, watching the sunset over Half Moon Bay, sipping world class wines in Napa, walking the Golden Gate Bridge, listening to a lecture at Berkeley, or a attending a world class concert/play/opera/symphony in San Francisco. The cost of this convenience though is that like us, most people living there, work 50-70 hours per week and have a daily commute of 1-3 hours. It’s grueling and frankly, leaves little time for these activities let alone the time to spend with out of town family, which is all Doug and I have.
For this reason it’s always wonderful when we can spend time with family and the RV (particularly during Covid) afforded us that opportunity. It allowed us to spend time while socially distancing. It was, and still is, the silver lining that ironically we spent more quality time with family and distant friends in our 4 months of 2020 RV travel than we’d probably spent in the prior 13 years while working in the Bay Area.
Over the three to four weeks we spent looping through Colorado, at least a week of that (off and on) was spent camped in my stepmom, Sue’s, driveway. We had great wifi, local TV stations, access to her laundry and more importantly, time with her and my dad. Wonderfully long happy hours followed by relaxed European style dinners in her backyard. Conversations about politics, religion, recent books, great movies, good television shows, life experiences, iPhone use and apps. We ate, drank, talked, shared, reminisced, and wholeheartedly laughed. We enjoyed each other’s company and the warmth that only family can provide.
Prior to our first east to west “loop” of the state we were able to connect with my brother who was in the final stages of selling his home in Longmont, CO. To be able to help a little bit in the final packing and cleaning, take a leisurely walk, and enjoy a couple of meals out with him was wonderful. He had, Karma (his bird dog that has since passed) with him and was even able to convince my nephew, Taig, to drive down from Nederland, CO for a meal.
The final load
Karma
At the end of the loop, we met up with my sister who was in town from LA doing a photoshoot at Paint Mines Interpretive Park. She was able to spend some time with us back in Centennial, CO to visit my dad and Sue.
Paint Mines 
We were fortunate to have this time together with my dad, Sue, my sister, my brother and my nephew and we all knew it. It lifted our spirits and gave us hope that we’d return to this post Covid. It strengthened our resolve to find joy in everyday things like a great cup of coffee or an afternoon walk with your dog, to appreciate the precious days we are given, and to create opportunities to spend as much time together as possible. What a wonderful gift and one of the best parts of our travel in Colorado!
