Gypsy Research

Research and Planning!

Step 1 is to see if my family will even HAVE me! So my first move is to contact everyone and see how many are on board.

Step 2 is to think about where I'd like to go and when. For instance, I don't think I want to experience Chicago in the winter months, I've done that enough here just 3 hours away. 

Step 3 is to start selling me things. So I'm getting rid of my Halloween stuff now so I don't have to wait until next year. Then there're things like compiling down to a couple pair of dress shoes, dresses, etc. Despite having many pairs of sweat pants, I still wear the same four. So, the other MUST go! And my aspiration of using a cake tupperware container, mostly for baking cakes for potlucks, is gone so that can go too. I won't, after all, ever need my own dishes or pots and pans so they're out also. If I was to set roots someplace in a year it'd be worth it to hold onto, but if I may travel for 2-5 years, then I'm better off buying everything new once that happens. Plus, I am totally fine living off of the dorm dinnerware when it goes on sale from Target until I can afford a sale dinner set from JCPenny that I'll probably have a coupon for. I've never been known to be a lavish girl. I shop Maurices when I need a blazer, but I hope to find things generally at the thrift or superstore level. 

Step 4 is to possibly get a new vehicle. My current one is paid off and a decent size, but I'd really love a van with three row seating so I could take out the back two rows for essentially a mobile closet/storage area and still have a back seat. 

This is with all back seats removed, which is a possibility, but definitely much more spacious. Maybe I'll still with my SUV for a bit or even look at removing the seats and seeing how much space I have. 

With this I'm looking for storage options: suitcases, cubes, totes/bins, etc. for storing my clothes:

Socks, underwear, bras, sports bras, swim suits, coats/jackets, dress clothes, jammie/sweats, shorts, tanks, tshirts, toiletries, hair stuff, electronics, books (gotta have the books), and other such things. 

If anyone has any suggestions or ideas feel free to let me know!

And that's about where I'm currently at!

Save money, sell things and stuff, and plan things out. 

Pre-Gypsy

I have decided to become a Gypsy!

No, not that kind. And I'm more so heavily mulling it over at this point. Getting my carvans in a row as one might say. 

More like:

Meets:

My one and only extremely amazing daughter is going to turn 18 this year and graduate in the spring. We currently live in Iowa, but I've been in the Midwest my entire life. I was born in Nebraska and moved to Iowa when I was 5. I got pregnant at 16 and had my daughter at 17 and have been here ever since. I was planning on moving to Florida to be by my sister, warmth, and beaches, but her husband suggested I pack my things away in a storage, stay with them as long as I'd like and see if I truly want to LIVE in Florida, opposed to visiting for short periods of time. 

My Aunt suggested I live with her in North Carolina and I thought to myself, "I could visit her for a few weeks and theeeen head to Florida." Then I got to thinking, "Hell, I have family scattered all over and since my grandparents died we don't do any family get-togethers anymore. I could shack up with each person in my family for 3-4 months and re-get-to-know them!

I've jumped from job to job and never really had a career and I'm not really a "settle down and have a family/roots type of person." My roots have been here and it's really gotten me nothing. Nothing meaning: a career, husband, extended family, etc. I have many amazing friends, I've had great jobs, I've taken vacations, but I don't need nor want a house; it's just me and my daughter. My degrees haven't done anything substantial for my career. Dating has been one disappointing waste of time after another. I LOVE being a restaurant server and can do that anywhere. I've been hoping to find a career that would entail travel. But, would they send me to places I even want to travel?

What's important to me now? -Reconnecting with my family and traveling. And, if my daughter needs me, I can up and move closer to her. I can video chat and help her with her homework. Maybe when she graduates college I'll join the Peace Corps or serve on a cruise ship. 

Oh, did I also mention that I'm a writer. Not only that, a published author:

https://www.amazon.com/My-Post-Life-Stephanie-Hoover/dp/1456000837

https://www.amazon.com/Pretty-Much-Poems-Stephanie-Hoover/dp/1462658504/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=pretty+much+poems&qid=1569433425&s=books&sr=1-2

And I've been published in these poetry anthologies:

https://www.zpublishinghouse.com/products/iowas-best-emerging-poets?variant=6442437738526

https://www.amazon.com/Illinoiss-Best-Emerging-Poets-Anthology/dp/1974693600

SO! What better to do than to write about my travels and experiences. Maybe even keep a vlog whilst I drive. I already have unlimited data on my phone and everywhere has wifi. I also have a YMCA membership so I can workout and shower anywhere there's a Y! I also plan to stay in motels along the way if it's a long journey, like to Texas! I'll work my ass off this year, sell my things, and do a ridiculous amount of research like the good student I've always been. Maybe I'll settle down somewhere eventually, but that's not one of my goals, even if society says that's how you win at life. My win looks a little different!