The Vagabond Summer

Vagabond: [vag-uh-bond] adj. 1. wandering from place to place without any settled home; nomadic. 2. leading an unsettled or carefree life.

The definition for vagabond can really go two ways. On one hand, it can be viewed negatively with words like vagrant, or tramp, or drifter. On the other hand, it can be described as someone who embraces a life of travel and exploration, rejecting a fixed, conventional lifestyle for a more nomadic and free-spirited existence. This perspective highlights the adventurous, independent, and self-reliant aspects of a vagabond’s life.
Let’s go with that last definition, shall we? 😉 Because if last winter was “The Winter of Waiting”, then currently the Gibsons are in “The Vagabond Summer”.

Upstate New York was to be our home for the next two years. We anticipated finding a church, getting to know our neighbors, and having out-of-town guests visit us for a change. Plans were in place to go to festivals and hockey games, to explore wineries in the Finger Lakes and take the train to New York City. Given our nomadic lifestyle, being planted in one location for an extended time felt like a dandelion wish come true, a chance to settle in, to put down a few roots, shallow though they need be.

And then… PLOT TWIST!

The month of May brought an unexpected turn of events – Barry needed to leave his job. We weren’t really planning on that, and I admit, we took a day to adjust to how things were going to change (which might have included whiskey and ice cream and Oreos…).
Then the next day we got up and washed our faces and got to work. We cancelled subscriptions, and Barry applied for jobs. We adjusted our budget to reduce our expenses, and I looked for remote work. We tapped into outside resources, and Barry applied for more jobs.

And we prayed. We focused on God’s faithfulness and goodness, and it means so much to me that we are on the same page as a couple. Remembering all the times and ways God has shown up before has helped us approach this challenge without being overcome by worry and anxiety and fear. We are trying to stay grounded in Him, and in our identity in Him, and I think that has empowered us to think creatively about our future and be open-minded about some outside-the-box possibilities.

It is August now and our last two months have certainly been “vagabond-ish”, wandering from place to place. Our landlord in New York was sympathetic and allowed us to end our lease without penalty. A month after his last day, we packed up our things into a tiny U-Haul and drove back to Chattanooga to put them in storage with the rest of our belongings. We stayed and visited about 10 days, then headed to North Carolina to commandeer the guest room of with our best and oldest friends while Barry continued his job search and navigated various interviews. On off days we were able to go to a Jimmy Buffet musical, and a jazz piano club, and do some Jeeping and hiking.

Then about 3 weeks into our 5 week stay there, I had a crazy idea…

I like adventures,
and I’m going to find some!
-Louisa May Alcott

I know Barry has to brace himself a bit when I approach him with the following words,
“So, honey… I had an idea…”
But my ideas are usually pretty amazing, so it all works out in the end! 😂

After a phone call with a family member in Oregon, I suddenly thought, “What if we went on an epic road trip? What if, instead of sitting in a house applying for jobs, and having interviews, and applying for more jobs… what if we drove around the country and stayed with our family and friends along the way? What if we could explore some of the vast landscapes and iconic monuments of our country? What if we could make some new memories with people who are important to us? What if we made the most of our “in between” time – and were still able to continue the job search on the road? What if we had a few adventures and stories to tell when this summer is over? What if?”

See, I told you my ideas are amazing! 😉 A few days spent processing all of my what-ifs and working out logistics, and a plan was made. Hearts overflowing with gratitude, we bid farewell to our North Carolina besties to begin our expedition. Starting from our “basecamp” in Chattanooga, we are driving the Jeep in a giant loop around the USA, visiting our tribe in Indiana, the West Coast, and Texas. Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, and the Redwoods are all on the route. Six weeks and nearly 7000 miles later, we will end up back in Tennessee.

IF we make that far. We are holding this trip loosely, knowing that at any stop along the way Barry could get a job offer that we want to take, at which point we will turn around and hightail it to wherever we need to be. Either way it’s a win. And even if we find a job next week, we have still been vagabonds this summer, in the best possible way.

To follow our journey, my Facebook and Instagram will have all the pics and videos, and you can subscribe to this blog for the real-life tales of a crazy idea.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
-Robert Frost

Til next time, shine bright friends!
~Dawn 🌻