Living Life in the Slow Lane

took my little camper with me as I toured the Petrified Forest National Park

I'm waking up every day filled with awe and gratitude for this life I am privileged to live. Since my last blog post one month ago, I have traveled over 1600 miles, which is somewhat high for sustainable full-time living... at least for me. I'm trying to give myself a break for now, though, as I navigate this lifestyle and find my sea legs! ...and move away from colder climates as winter approaches. 

So grateful for the opportunity to experience the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta!

One of the discoveries I am most excited about is the benefits derived from "living life in the slow lane"! Literally. When I drive on the highways and even the country roads, I'm never in a hurry. I love being the slowest vehicle on the road... it's so much more relaxing than always trying to pass the next guy. I'm gentle with the gas pedal and try to avoid any kind of fast acceleration. That's not to say I'm driving unsafely. With a 75 mph speed limit, I'm usually cruising at about 65... which is the upper edge of safety for my little one axle trailer. 

I'm normally getting passed up on the highway by these bigger guys!

The clearest benefit of my leisurely cruising speed is the improved gas mileage... I'm getting upwards of 17 or more mpg when I'm towing!!! (around 22 when I'm not!) I had nightmares of excruciatingly low efficiency when I read other's experience of getting 12 mpg with a similar truck... ouch. It's truly remarkable how big an impact leisurely driving has on the bottom line. 

Let me spell it out. If I drive 1600 miles at 12 mpg, that is 133 gallons... at 17 mpg, it takes only 94 gallons to go the same distance. That's a savings of 39 gallons! ...about $100. :)))  Wooohooo!! So slowing down, relaxing, and enjoying the ride is helpful any way you look at it! 

with a smaller trailer, I'm easily able to back into any camp site :)

As I continue on this journey, I love my little camper more and more. It's easily managed by me and tows like a dream... it tracks beautifully behind my truck and there is almost no sway when it's windy or when big semi's pass me. Driving is actually a joy, which I am so very grateful for... I love to drive and towing has not dampened that experience for me. Of course I must be more mindful of road conditions and not driving into a place I can't get out of, but my little Casita is perfect for me. <3 

Exploring the Gran Quivira Ruins in New Mexico

I have experienced much diversity and beauty in my travels so far. When one has time to stop in small towns and explore areas in more depth, it's amazing the things you get to see! I'm still cultivating a flow for what I do and where I go... even when I think I know what's next, it often changes in the blink of an eye. 

I wasn't certain where I would be camping after my visit to the Petrified Forest... I checked out the "free campground" at the gift shop just outside the south entrance of the park and decided to stay for the night. I was a little nervous about being all by myself here, but it was awesome!! 

I have learned to not be attached to any of my ideas about planning. My only rule of thumb is that I at least have a destination in mind before starting the engine. It can always change, but even if all I know is that I'm gong to pull over at the next rest stop, that's good enough for me. Often, even when I think I know, everything will change. I'm grateful to have the freedom and ability to follow my flow wherever it takes me. I'm definitely getting used to this way of life!!

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As a reminder, please follow me on my RV Facebook page and on my Instagram page for more regular updates and photos if you'd like to see more of my day to day journey! 

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Here are some more pics of my various adventures...

Taking time to explore the area around my campground... Storrie Lake State Park in New Mexico

The Rio Grande River near Albuquerque 

Taking time to make new friends... in Trinidad at the One Raggio Art Gallery 

Exploring my creativity... an abstract Casita magically appeared from a few swirly lines! 

hiking at Lathrop State Park in Southern Colorado

pull-through campsites are nice, but I'm totally not intimidated by backing in!

even when exploring in my truck, I love to slowly cruise the backroads and not be in any hurry

visiting my amazing friends in Albuquerque who where so wonderful to take me to the  Balloon Fiesta

view from the dam overlook at Bluewater Lake State Park in New Mexico

one of my favorite shots from the Crystal Forest Trail at the Petrified Forest NP

The view of the Painted Desert took my breath away

sunset from my current campground <3 

One Month Of Living and Traveling In My Casita Camper

It's been exactly one month since I moved into my little Casita camper in the driveway... it feels like lifetimes ago. It's hard to believe that so much can happen in such a short period of time. 

Wifi is a rare commodity out in the campgrounds and remote areas I've been staying. Right now I am at a sweet little country market in Hasty, Colorado on the SE plains as I compose my first blog post on the road. I'm feeling welcome and right at home as I share space with the kind local people. :) 

My current parking spot at John Martin Reservoir State Park

I am having many amazing experiences as I venture out in fits and starts on this journey... first to the NE plains where I battled mosquitoes until I was driven out and back in the direction of Denver.  Then taking one more pass through town as I said goodbye again to family and friends, and dropped off some excess cargo that was unneeded and weighing me down.

One of the best things I did was trade in all my heavy old camera equipment and buy myself a new-fangled fancy mirrorless camera that is super small, lightweight and can do amazing things!! I cannot express how excited I am to be taking real pictures again with a real camera that is capable of doing things an iPhone camera simply cannot do.

It's an Olympus OM-D E-M10 mark ii with a Tamrom 14-150 zoom lens

So much has happened... so I will try and share some of the awarenesses that have revealed themselves to me during this last month. 

Me and my house!

What Have I learned?

• I have learned that when I follow flow and guidance, I can accomplish anything, and that things always turn out okay and usually way better than my fear was imagining.
• Living and traveling with no agenda is different than being on vacation everyday, but even more amazing since I don't have to get anywhere within a certain period of time.

Urban camping at a friend's house

• Even though I'm still getting used to the concept of needing to find a place to park every day, I love having my house with me everywhere I go!
• I adore my cute little camper and I can't imagine having anything more perfect for my needs. 

My bed is the coziest bed I have EVER slept in!!!

• When I'm not feeling well, it's okay to rest, take it easy and not DO anything. <3 
• Whatever this is all costing me is SOO worth it! lol (although I am trying to be very conscientious about my spending)
• I'm not really getting lonely and I enjoy my solitude... but social media helps me feel connected and never alone. And I so appreciate my wonderful friends who reach out with texts and phone calls to say hello and check on me!
• I love experiencing wildlife in it's natural habitat! It makes me a little giddy and full of awe and gratitude.

The deer have been fairly tame and mostly friendly.

My most exciting wildlife encounter!

• There are always nice and friendly people in the world. <3 
• I feel so snugly and safe in my camper... I have not had one moment of being afraid! 
• I'm getting super good at backing up my trailer!!

Following the road unknown and discovering my fortitude

• I love being in new places all the time... I'm cultivating the sense of when to stay and when to go. 
• I like State Parks for camping... and although I've done without, I'm getting spoiled having electricity! 
• I'm doing about as well as I imagined I would.... and am excited to see what's next  :)))

Bye for now!!! 

Oh, by the way... my blog posts are quite random and far between, but I post almost every day on my Facebook group page. So if you don't want to miss any of my adventures, please follow me here:

My HugHealer Facebook Page

Here are a few more of my favorite photographs so far:

Crescent moon over Lake Pueblo

Sun setting over Lake Pueblo

I loved these birds beautiful song... at John Martin Reservoir State Park

John Martin Dam - it was gigantic! 

*PHOTO ART* …A New Form of "Messages from the Universe"!

4x4 tile/coaster

5x7 notecard

I recently contemplated the question: what would I like to do if money wasn't my motivation? The thought came to me (from where?!) …wouldn't it be fun to make art from my photographs and essentially give it away for free!?!

So I began brainstorming and realized this would be a wonderful new phase of my Messages from the Universe social creative project. I've been giving away envelopes with a "message from the universe" and a symbolic token of abundance (usually a $1 bill) to random people I have the pleasure of encountering throughout my daily activities for well over a year (since January 2014)... and have distributed far more than 1000 envelopes and about $2200.

It's time to take it a step further and create hand made one-of-a-kind photo art with unique messages to extend inspiration, connection and hope out into the world in the form of a 5x7 notecard or a 4x4 tile/coaster (for now). Each piece will express a unique positive message that I hope will reach the right person who needs that particular reminder or guidance from the Universe.

I have opened a Hug Healer etsy account and will be posting new items regularly to be made available on a first come/first serve basis (one per person, please) to anyone who needs a lift for themselves or a gift for a friend... for a low price to cover my shipping and handling.

Click here to view current available artwork

My mission and intention is for people to go inward and ask themselves: What gift do I possess that I can share with the world? How can I extend my treasure? What can I do to brighten someone's day? Not only someday, but now in this present moment… a smile or a hug is a perfect start! 

We are all connected and what is good for you is also good for me. We expand into more joy as we share and extend love without conditions or expectations. Happiness is contagious! Spread the love and pay it forward!!


If you feel additionally moved to share and contribute to the continuation of my "Messages from the Universe" project, financial support and expressions of appreciation are welcomed and gladly accepted… just click the "donate" button below. :)

Another way to participate in my project is to request a "pay-it-forward" bundle of 5 envelopes and 5 message from the universe cards where you can insert your own dollar bill and extend the inspiration to anyone you feel move to share with!

pay-it-forward bundle

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What is your unique gift to extend into the world?