Campgrounds are very different from your typical neighborhood or apartment complex. You find people in them that you would never meet otherwise, and this is a good thing!
As we traveled and stayed in the different campgrounds, we met up with many different couples, singles, and families, often finding something in common with them, despite our many differences. Our commonalities spark conversations, while the differences keep us talking. Fortunately for us, we are open to the idea that others may be different, in thought and action, and therefore, they have the right to live as they do until they begin to infringe on my rights or the safety and well-being of others.
That said, we had great neighbors in California that owned farms on which they legally grew “medical” cannabis. While I would never be lighting up with them, I learned a lot from them about gems and rocks that we could find along the beaches we planned to visit.
While in Pennsylvania, we encountered a dead-ringer for the Fonz, and he rode off on his motorcycle in his leather jacket after talking to us for a long time about his experiences in Vietnam.
Down in Florida we made lifelong friends who had a special needs son. He was filled with joy, and when we took them to Disney for a day, his excitement filled us all with more joy than we could ever imagine.
In Oregon, we met up with couple we realized will be on the exact same Alaskan cruise we are taking in May. They were bikers who roared out of the park each morning to ride the mountains until sunset, and while I would never straddle a bike and go 70 MPH over asphalt (or any other surface), they were the most gracious of people and invited us to share a ride to the cruise ship when we got to their hometown just outside Seattle.
In Florida and again in San Diego, we met up with both homeschoolers and unschoolers. These families engaged their children in real life lessons, and also addressed core fundamentals while traveling the country. More importantly, the children learned that possessions were not as important as finding joy in what you have, inside and out. While I would be the first one to “teach” these parents the importance of a solid education for all children, they taught me lessons!
Traveling the country has taught us many lessons. But the most important lessons we have learned in our adventure is to look beyond the peeling paint on the old trailer, and see the incredible resources within. You never know what you might find!
Happy Teaching!
Michele