Crossing The Border

Skidaway Island State Park

June 14, 2009

Skidaway Island State Park

Savanna, GA

We arrived here on June 8th after a smooth trip going East on I-10, then North on I-95. The only problem arose on a twenty mile stretch N. of Brunswick, GA. Heavy construction in both directions with narrowed lanes and too many concrete barriers too close to the road. In a 35 ft. motor home that can be tricky driving. Every large passing truck creates a wind draft that makes the unit drift to the right. Thankfully, we made it through without scraping a barrier.

Crossing the border out of Florida was a major turning point. It was a symbolic passage into a new life; which can leave your mind in a twist. We no longer have a fixed space of residence, but a mobile one. It takes the mind a little time to adjust to that change in thinking about residency. We saw it when we would tell people of our plans to live full-time in an RV. They would become silent and turn their eyes slightly upward as they thought about it. Usually we would get responses like, "Oh, so you'll be back after the Summer?" or "Where will you really live?". They just couldn't grasp the concept of no fixed place. This, unfortunately, was not helped by the resort owner who, for his own professional face-saving motive, floated disinformation that we were only taking a sabbatical and would return in a few months. We made sure that tidbit of false information floated about as long as a cast-iron turd.

Skidaway Island State Park is beautiful and very nature oriented. Located on a barrier island of the same name, it is ecologically a delta area where fresh waters combine with tides from the Atlantic creating nutrient-rich tidal marshes and estuaries. The woodlands are thick with oaks, maples and pines accented by cabbage palms and Spanish moss. The bird population is extremely diverse. We were fortunate to spot a Painted Bunting during one of our hikes. Another nice touch to the surroundings has been a mature doe who has casually walked by our site on several early mornings.

To say the procedures here are laid-back would be an understatement. At check-in you simply drive around and pick a site that isn't already occupied. If you arrive after the office is closed you can still stay and pay the next day. Instead of a ranger on weekdays at the front entrance, there is a sign stating that the $5.00 vehicle fee can be left in the collection boxes at the parking areas. But it's that kind of atmosphere that makes this place comfortable. It's quiet, the staff friendly, other campers respectful and there is a wifi hot spot by the office. Except for several muddy sites, it's a nice place to hang. The only big drawback has been the heat. This time of year it is a sultry, oppressive HOT that begins early and makes moving around in the afternoons almost unbearable.

We have also been crossing borders the past two weeks on more personal levels; namely adjusting to our new home and redirecting time outside of a daily work schedule. Make no mistake. There is still daily work to be done, but now our time is not structured by someone else.

The adjustment to living in the RV has not been difficult. Because of living and working together at the resort, we were already comfortable with being around each other constantly. This, we found through research, can be a major problem with those who try this lifestyle and have not been around someone 24/7. The other major transition problem other found difficult was a reduction in living space. Again, because of the resort, this also has not been an issue. The studio unit we lived in had almost the exact same square footage as our RV; just a different layout. A few problems have cropped up like a leaky toilet valve and ants, but both were easily remedied. So far, so good.

The nice thing about this way of live is that it makes you think ahead. Think about living without the conveniences of municipal water, sewer and electrical systems. What if you were three miles from the nearest store and your only way there was by walking? How would you plan meals for seven days if it was not convenient to make a quick trip to the store by car? We have water and electrical hook-ups at all sites. Dump stations for our black and gray water tanks. We could go to the nearest store in the RV. But once you reach a site, set things up and fold out the awning it is easier to not move unless absolutely necessary. So we make sure that our gas tank is filled for use of the generator, if necessary, that the LP tank is full for running the frig and stove and buy enough supplies for the length of our stay. Like I said, it makes you think ahead, but in a good way. It makes life much easier in that it allows the time to enjoy life around you in a more relaxed manner.

I'm sure there will be more adjustments to come, but by crossing these borders we have learned a great deal more about new places and ourselves. It's a nice, new and adventurous expedition into previously unexplored territories.

Photographs by Debbie

copyright 2009 Lane A Geyer