"Our preconceived notions of how we think things should be are sometimes very different than what we actually need. We have to be open and patient enough with ourselves to realize this." - Jamie Gadberry.
I looked up the actual definition of sea legs. I've heard the expression and know what it means in general, but I have never seen the actual definition. It means to "be able to walk calmly and steadily on a tossing ship, or to become accustomed to a new or strange situation." That is what Fern and I are doing, getting accustomed to new and strange situations outside our comfort zone!
Case and point... This was our next stop after leaving the beautiful Swan Lake campground. We drove almost 6 hours and about 350 miles to Dickinson, North Dakota. Obviously, I still needed to improve in picking out campsites. I had yet to learn that so many were closed in October for the season.
We rolled into town as the sun set, and I had prepaid for this pull-through site. It wasn't exactly as I had pictured in my mind, but Fern and I are adaptable these days. It was next to the dumpster, which was a convenient amenity. 😊
It had a bonus of a train going past every 30 minutes. Little did I know this would be a theme in my life for a while. 🚂 The temperature dropped to 30 degrees, so I was grateful to have electrical hookups and a bathroom. I didn't get much sleep between the train, traffic, early morning garbage truck, dogs barking, and screaming kids. I remember sitting there in the dark thinking,
“Hmmm, I don't know about this. I might be a little too far outside of my comfort zone."
I didn't wake up with that calm, peaceful feeling I had felt the previous morning. I doubted myself and wondered if I had what it took to do this. Needless to say, I kept my camper hooked to the car and left bright and early in the morning!
What we learned from this experience is that life will not always be Swan Lake along our journey. We have to adapt, be brave, and go with the flow. Oh, and purchase earplugs, and sleep with pepper spray beside the bed!
Today will be a better day!
Stay Wild 🌿
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