Corpus Christi and The Islands: Our First Trip as Part-Time Nomads

Loaded up and ready to hit the road - from Lake Hefner, OKC (our favorite hang spot at home)

Corpus Christi - Padre & Mustang Islands

If you actually know me, you know how fluid I am and how plans can change at the last minute, and actually.. most of the time the “plans” are just ideas without any concrete commitments anyway. This trip was no different. My son finished up his summer basketball league, I completed a photo shoot the day after, and with two weeks ahead without any real commitments, we launched! On the day of the first Lion’s Gate Portal (8/8), we loaded up the Jeep and headed south to do some tent camping. We just weren’t sure how far south we’d be going.

I had three different campgrounds in mind within a 30-40 mile radius in central Texas, and figured we’d snag whichever one was still available. Ya girl has ADHD though and I don’t always think about allll the necessary details. I’d forgotten how unusual it is to find a reservable campsite online so last minute, especially going into the weekend, since we’ve been camping primarily during the week over recent years. All three campgrounds I’d had in mind were booked up through the weekend! I discovered this not long into our trip, but was pretty unphased. Texas has 89 state parks…I was sure we’d find something to suit us. HA! Of the several, and I mean several campgrounds I searched, I couldn’t find any sites that were available for the days we were looking that weren’t dispersed camping with no water or restrooms (no thanks..not with kids).

So..along we went, further and further south. About three hours into the trip, with the kids asleep completely unknowing, I (or Source, rather) decided on Corpus Christi. We have relatives there and I’d been a few times before but not since I was a teenager. I knew that the beaches are pretty clean and the water is clear. Mustang Island State Park had some available campsites with electric if we decided we wanted that, or we could camp on the beach for free with admission to the park. Corpus had already been an idea of mine, but I didn’t intend to go until October when it wouldn’t be so hot. Buuut I brought my big portable battery and our portable AC, and I knew the kids would be stoked about the beach..so I thought “why not?”. This simple question governs a lot of my travel choices and I think it makes traveling with me so much more adventurous (disastrous if you ask my family), but I guess that’s all up to perception.

When we got there we drove right onto the beach. It was dark and the kids were still asleep, but they woke up pretty quickly to the sounds of crashing waves. We rolled the windows down and sat in tranquility for maybe two good minutes before realizing we had no less than twenty mosquitoes in the car. Huh uh! I’m not proud of what happened next, so I won’t go into detail, but after handling the situation we pretty quickly decided on a hotel for the night. Shoutout to Priceline and the sweet front desk clerk.. we actually ended up getting two nights for the price of one. Not in the original plan, but again…we’re fluuuid baaabyyy.

We were on the beach for the better part of three days, swimming, building sand castles, finding shells, taking fun photos and observing the aquatic life. We spent the first couple nights in the hotel then a couple nights camping on a much less mosquitoey beach at Mustang Island State Park. We ate lots of fruit and got allll the sun, swimming at sunrise and again at sunset, breaking only now and then to eat or take a drive and cool off.

The locals seem to like fishing a LOT, so I imagine if that’s your thing.. you may like to visit the area with your gear. We heard some cool stories about big catches near Flour Bluff/Laguna Madre. We didn’t get out and visit the Navy ship, visit local shops or eat at any cool restaurants, as we tend to opt for easy, close to nature, and budget-friendly when I’m the only adult along (which is usually)… but the Salty K laundromat on Padre Island def gets a five-star rating for vibes and cleanliness!

Most scenic sunrise view I've ever experienced from my tent window - Mustand Island State Park

I’m describing the adventure in pretty surface level terms, but it wouldn’t be very Rambling Hippie of me if I didn’t get at least a liiittle deep. Well that’s easy to do because aside from the obvious excitement and relaxation of the ocean waves and beach time, it was absolutely magical. I know...it’s Texas…Dirty Third Coast.. That probably doesn’t sound magical to everyone, but from start to finish this trip was exactly what my two littles and I needed after a big move and life transition.

Spirit led us to the perfect place, aligned special people with special messages for us while there, and even hooked us up with a free night at the hotel. Three times while there, GPS took us for big detours..for no apparent reason, leading us in perfect counterclockwise circles around entire neighborhoods and even a loop around the core of the city. This was grid healing work. I know grid work is part of the reason I’ve always felt called to travel, but I didn’t expect to be led in the way I was on this trip. From the route we took to get there and all of the signs along the way, to the stunning synchronicities while there, and even on the way back - our higher selves did their thang.

Sunrise swim and beach play

We stretched by the beach at sunrise, meditating to the sounds of the ocean waves and talked about how grateful we are for life and the magic of the moments we were experiencing. We swam while gazing at the golden light reflecting off of each others faces. We held tiny hermit crabs, followed sea snails until they disappeared into the sand, and I got to watch my son and daughter marvel at nature in a way I hadn’t seen in a while. Netflix and YouTube were forgotten, and the arguing between siblings went away for a while as they played and danced and splashed. Even in the heat of the day…sticky, hot, sandy…we were all content.

It felt like liberation. I’m looking forward to a lot more of that.

photo gallery

The first half of this set was taken with my DSLR, the rest are straight off the iPhone.

Just Go: Full Surrender to Adventure

In true Ladye fashion, I recently made a BIG jump. We (as in my two younger kids and I) have already been unschooling and traveling more often over the last few years as I’ve been running my creative business in a way that supports flexibility. Now, we’re kicking the adventure up a notch! As things have shifted in my career recently and nudged me to expand my online business, ideas and intentions are coming full circle. It’s time to put this Rambling Hippie show on the ROAD!

The plan in late 2019 was to launch Rambling Hippie and travel domestically in an RV/AirBnbs for a year or so while unschooling/roadschooling, then move on with other plans from there. After a major pivot during the pandemic where I changed careers, moved, gave birth to my baby girl AND a new business endeavor - our travel year dreams were postponed. I figured when my oldest son graduates HS in a couple years, we’d move out of our home, put our things in storage and hit the road for several months…deciding in that time where to buy land and settle down. *If you’re interested, there’s two old blogs about this: Unschooling Dreams and Travel in the Time of Corona

Fast forward a bit-
I’ve been doing business primarily in the Oklahoma canna**s industry for the last four years. I’m very passionate about plant medicine and the work I do to support it, and building a business in this space has been freeing and life changing in so many positive ways. However, with increasing regulatory changes and a number of other industry-wide issues, it has also become a very unstable market and many, if not most of us left have been feeling the squeeze. So while I still love working with my canna**s business clients, I’m shifting to more remote work and offering courses, guides and intuitive coaching for those ready to radically transform themselves and/or their way of doing business.

Digital Marketing Course

Working remotely

Rambling Hippie Weekly Planner

In this transition, big decisions have needed to be made. After much prayer, fasting and meditation, I accepted that the best decision for me and little family in this season was to put our household things in storage and embark on our Rambling Hippie adventures sooner than later. Although not perfectly planned or under the best cirumstances, this decision relieves a significant financial load while giving me the mental and physical wiggle room to get some big projects off the ground. We still have a landing pad in OKC and will be around each month to serve local clients, but we will be also on the road about half of the time.

Can't believe I fit the contents of my entire life in here

Locked and loaded, ready for launch

We’ve already embarked on the first leg of our journey, and will post blogs and content about our travels and adventures! (First trip recap coming soon!) If you’d like to follow along be sure you’re subscribed to e-mail updates. For more real-time content, follow Rambling Hippie on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

If you’d like to support our adventures, I’d LOVE for you to book an intuitive guidance session with me, purchase my digital products or cop some merchandise! I also humbly accept donations sent to $ramblinghippie / @ramblinghippie.

Thanks for simply being here! If you’d like to share what you like about Rambling Hippie and the kinds of content or information you enjoy most or want to see, feel free to drop a comment!

Love, light, and shadow,
Ladye

“There are multiple paths to the same destination.”

— Ladye, Rambling Hippie

Travel in the Time of Corona[virus]: City Hopping With No Money During a Global Pandemic

For context, let me take you back a sec. Remember that article about my unschooling goals? Remember the hint at a vintage RV? Well, if you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you probably already know I recently flew to California to make that Rambling Hippie dream a reality.

I’ve been scouring the internet for about seven months consuming any articles, documentaries, and forum posts I can find about RV living and full-time unschooling / roadschooling. I’ve always had a bit of a gypsy heart, and find myself craving new experiences, culture and environments. Blame it on my grandparents toting me around on their exciting motorhome adventures, my underlying commitment issues, or maybe just my free spirited Aquarius nature, but I LOVE traveling and the idea of nomadic living.

I’ve daydreamed of what life could be like if I was able to mesh my love of travel with my even greater love for my children, and the responsibilities that come with parenting. So.. I decided I want to buy a vintage RV (if you know The Vintage Ladye you know it has to be vintage, duh) and go full-time for at least the next two years. This would be a good amount of time to travel a bit, get a taste of the road life, and see what places and practices work best for us, and see how we like homeschooling.

What does full-time RV life mean to me? It means I would have the freedom to live near my oldest son, who moved to his Dad’s this year about an hour away, for a while until we’re able to do some traveling. Beyond that, I could take my entrepreneurial endeavors on the road, booking clients and selling sustainable merch in other cities/states. I can visit family and friends I want my children to know more about, show them new places and expose them to other cultures and alternative ways of living.

Okay so, rambling aside… let me tell you about what the heck went down when I decided to fly to California to buy this RV..

I finally found some really great options in Cali, whereas most of the older model RVs close to home and in surrounding states were much higher priced or not running. After conversation with a lady about a ‘78 Dodge Commander, I decided I was going to find a cheap one-way flight and go check it out. I figured it was my best option even if this one didn’t pan out because there were 3-4 other RVs in the vicinity that could potentially fit the bill. So I checked flights over the following days and realized it would be cheapest to fly out same-day…and there the adventure began.

My best friend had been talking about visiting California, and the location of the primary RV prospect was near her sister’s house, so she was immediately on board with accompanying me. Although her boyfriend wasn’t thrilled about us going, he drove us to the airport. We talked about being careful, washing our hands often, etc., but had no idea how crazy the pandemic was going to become over the days we were gone. My primary concerns were making a smart buying decision, getting home safely and in good health.

First Sign

When we finally went to check in and get our boarding passes, I realized I didn’t have my wallet. I must’ve left it in her boyfriend’s car. Sh*t! He was already home by now and I knew this wasn’t going to go over well. And it didn’t. Anyway, my wallet was dropped off to me as the plane was already boarding so we had to book it through security (thankfully there wasn't a long line) and got on the plane just before they closed the gate.

“Phew. Okay,” I thought. “You’re just anxious and need to be more mindful. Forgetting your wallet is not a bad omen, and everything is going to work out. Relax.” I sat back and spent the rest of the flight attempting to chill tf out. ..Which was a little difficult given my lingering sinus cough and hyperawareness of everyone around me who was likely wondering if I had COVID-19. I saw an old friend on the flight and even made a couple new OKC homies before landing. Upon arrival in Denver we had time to use the restroom then board the next plane with a bit of time to spare, and I settled in to sleep through the flight to LAX.

It wasn’t until we were standing up in the isle ready to exit the plane that I felt my stomach completely drop and a lump form in the back of my throat. It wasn’t a contagious illness… I just realized that I didn’t have my wallet. The wallet that had ALL of the cards, IDs, and RV cash I just taken out of my savings account hours before.

*Before you scold me on toting the cash instead of waiting to get in CA, it’s a long story..just know I wouldn’t have had access to the account and needed to carry the cash. I thought about this all already and realize how risky it was in the first place.

“I don’t have my wallet.” I fearfully but matter-of-factly stated to my friend and the flight attendant behind me.

Second sign

Long story short, Frontier Airlines told me there was nothing they could do to get through to anyone from or on the previous plane. I was told the necessary lost item reports online with the airline, Denver airport, and I went on to file one with San Francisco airport as well, because that’s where the plan was headed next. Although I imagined it falling out of my purse on the plane, it reality anything could’ve happened.

I might’ve lost my calm in the airport, but i didn’t cry.

After staying up through the night, walking almost an hour from LAX to get food, and waiting half the day in the airport for news on my wallet (as if some honest person found my wallet full of cash and turned it in right away), we got in touch with my friend’s sister and decided we needed to catch a bus to her place in Victorville, but we had to make it to the Downtown LA bus stop first. *insert shocked face emoji here because I could’ve written an entire article about our experiences at the bus stop alone*

We made it to Victorville, stayed there a couple nights - THANK YOU JENAY - then took another cheap bus to Las Vegas, where we would brave a night without a hotel room and board a plane the following day back to Denver, and eventually fly home to OKC 21 hours later. Nerves were at an all time high, even though we were trying to stay grounded and positive through the experience.

Luckily, my son’s dad and two of my aunts were able to CashApp me money to cover food and other expenses since I was literally out of every form of currency (and dude..shoutout to FlixBus because those cheap rides saved us), then Dre’s dad was able to purchase us both tickets to fly back from Vegas. We also had a couple friends and acquaintances offer to send money for food, people offering up their local family members to give us rides or a meal, etc. I’m still SO thankful for the outpouring of love and concern my friend and I received after I shared some of our struggles on Facebook. Shoutout to kind people!

Third Sign

Did I mention also losing my purse (with no wallet in it) at LAX? No? Guys, I never lose my wallet or purse. This is not just something I do. I’m sure my head was literally spinning on my shoulders from the stress and I was not thinking clearly. When we shuttled to the first bus stop near the airport, I realized I had left my purse behind. I immediately called a new friend I had made in the airport (who actually offered to pay for lodging for us all for one night because they were also stranded) but they didn’t see my purse sitting where I left it, so my friend and I hurried to catch a different shuttle back to the airport to see if we could recover my bag. Although there wasn’t any money inside, I was hoping to get my anti-depressants and phone charger back. Lordt. You’d think I could at least hang on to those items after losing everything else.

When we got back to where I had last seen my purse at LAX, it was gone.

But wait..upon closer inspection of my surroundings I realized my purse WAS there…to the far right…where a detection dog was sniffing it out as two police officers gave it commands.

“Oh my gosh! Um..I’m so sorry guys, that bag is mine.” My face must’ve read despair, because after the initial questions about my bag and why it was left unattended, one of the officers gave me a pep talk and advice on how to handle my lost wallet situation. Shoutout to him for showing genuine concern ..with pity written all over his..face for me.. this grown woman standing in front of him who clearly had none of her sh*t together.

That’s three times in the span of about 24 hours that I lost my purse or wallet. Not sure if the Universe was telling me I didn’t need the RV, or if I just needed a lesson on mindfulness, but either way.. my antennas were up and I was getting the staticky message.

Fast forward through the bus ride thru the Mojave Desert and me getting sprayed with Lysol by another passenger for coughing. We got to Vegas two days before the entire strip was shut down due to the growing number of COVID-19 cases, and since neither of us had visited Las Vegas prior to this, my friend and I lugged our suitcases down the strip for a little sight seeing while we decided our next move. We were exhausted, so we stopped into a casino so my friend could play a penny machine or two. I don’t know the exact amount she played, but I know it was less than $5. Not long after sitting down, she calls me saying “oh my gosh Ladye..Ladye!” It wasn’t a big Vegas jackpot or anything, but she won like $120! We were both excited, but even more tired so we booked the cheapest AirBnb bed we could find and proceeded to walk towards it for about an hour before finally getting a Lyft ride for the last stretch. My best friend DID just have a heart transplant.. so all that walking was more of a challenge than it sounds.

We crashed in our small shared bed almost immediately after arriving at the AirBnb and woke up hours later just before midnight. I would’ve been content to go right back to sleep, but my extrovert bff needed to see what Vegas nightlife was like. *eyerolling emoji here X2*

Did we have any business getting out again with very limited funds, no car, and the threat of COVID-19? Absolutely the hell not, but after I realized she was going out with or without me, I grudgingly got dressed and headed out with her. I’ve let her go out alone before, and it didn’t go well. Losing her was a chance I was not going to be taking in Las Vegas of all places. I gave her two hours. I think we were gone for even less.

After walking to the Palms and realizing we were out of our league with nothing to do or consume there that didn’t cost an arm and a leg, we took another Lyft to the strip and headed to Harrah’s so my friend could try her hand at craps and I could people-watch from the perimeter since I wasn’t allowed on the casino floor without identification. You see where this might’ve been a bad idea right? Well, it was.

The Forth Sign

Before we could make it from one end of the sidewalk to another, we encountered a mob boss doing business with his flunkies (they had to be mob, I swear), we were offered a free limo ride and drinks if we’d go to some club with no name (Can you say sketch?), passed a homeless guy sleeping while clenching onto his 18 pack of beer, and only a few steps beyond that…my friend’s purse was stolen. At least this time she wasn’t sexually harassed (that also happened in Vegas…within the first couple hours..in broad daylight), but omg.. had we summoned some cursed luck or what? As you would imagine, her purse contained her identification, money, and to make it worse..her remaining supply of insulin. After filing reports and such, we were heading toward our AirBnb when my friend slipped and fell, only to be antagonized afterwards by several mean and drunk (and racist, I might add) passersby. Luckily a nice older guy from North (or maybe South) Dakota helped her up to a seat.

Shortly after we resumed walking, we caught up to the jerks who were mocking my best friend for falling, apparently thinking she was as plastered as they were. I confronted them and politely suggested that they apologize to my friend for being complete assholes. This could’ve gone terribly wrong. We were outnumbered by two and outsized by..well..a lot. Instead, my friend received a proper apology and subsequently shared tears, encouragement, and a tight embrace with them…and I shared my spill about having more self-awareness and treating others with respect.

Who knew we’d have such excitement in Las Vegas with no money?

Needless to say, when it came time for our flight the next day we were beyond ready to leave. Lucky for us, security wasn’t very busy when we arrived at the airport since we were both traveling without any identification, together, but with two completely different stories as to how we’d lost our IDs. The TSA agents were super cool and made the whole interrogation and illegal substances search less than miserable. We got through relatively quickly and had an easy flight to Denver.

Exhausted when we arrived late-night Saturday in Denver, I talked her into just staying the night in the airport. It was late. We weren’t in the best financial shape. It made sense. So I found a lounge area upstairs where we were able to get some sleep. Our only obstacles now were getting through the layover without cash or cards for food, Marcy not catching Coronavirus (which I’m almost positive I had just gotten over prior to the trip), and us making the flight home.

Bloody hell. We actually succeeded at all three! We arrived safely back in OKC Sunday. We were both short a few personal items and cash, I was short the RV I went looking to buy, and we were a little beat up mentally, but we overcame and finished the trip in mostly positive spirits, with ample food and toilet paper waiting on us at home.. which I understand was more than some others had at the time.

---

A shortlist of mental notes to self & lessons learned

1. Don’t carry more cash than you’re willing to risk losing, Ladye. In fact, buy a lanyard for your next wallet and wear it around your neck if need be.

2. S.L.O.W. D.O.W.N. - actual advice from a old friend. Wanna stop losing your sh*t? Be more mindful and slow the hell down.

3. Maybe don’t travel at all during the next global pandemic.

4. You will find compassion and kindness in most people if you just look. But it’s important to maintain composure and emotional control even when you encounter hate and ignorance.

5. Plans don’t always work out. You already know this, but here’s a reminder. Sometimes you have absolutely no control over what happens to you…whether it be being robbed, catching a deadly virus, having your dreams shot down mid-air. Sometimes you make mistakes, however stupid or accidental. Whatever the case, you’ve gotta be able to control your reaction. I’ve learned that for me this means being able to meditate in the moment - to be present and detached from both past and future occurrences.

6. Always keep a small supply of hand sanitizer and a mask for travel..‘Cause you just never know.

In all honesty, although I was pretty banged up and exhausted mentally and physically after such a trip, I’m grateful for the experience, the people who helped, and the challenges I faced. I know I grew in those five days. And I’ve got a pretty interesting story to tell my future grandkids about my travels in the time of Corona.. that is, if we get our proverbial poop in a scoop as a society and make some major changes ASAP.

Stay safe out there friends. Stay home. Stay strong. Meditate. Take care of yourself and check on your peeps. We’ll get through these crazy times together.

Love and light,
Ladye

Camping at Beaver's Bend: A Serene Family Getaway, Almost

When I’ve been bogged down, busy with work and kids and everything starts to feel a bit chaotic, I get anxious and start daydreaming of getaways. Usually, these daydreams include picturesque scenes of me sipping hot tea and smoking a [medical] spliff post-massage whilst sunbathing on a tropical beach (after I’ve run away from everyone and everything). But.. for a young entrepreneur and mom of two, a more realistic idea is to get out of town for a couple days and do some grounding with my boys.

What does this grounding look like? More often than not.. tent camping and outdoor activities. Why? Well, camping is arguably the most affordable and natural alternative to expensive hotels since..like..forever, so it’s a go to when you’re on a tight budget. Plus, my kids absolutely love being outside and I love that it gives them space to run around unbridled, being as loud and as sticky as they want to be. I know...Not exactly a close knock-off of that picturesque beach scene I was painting, but I assure you, it can be just as beautiful and good for the soul.

We camp for the bonding experience and the space it allows us to ground and interact with Mother Earth.

As a child I loved being outside, camping, exploring and getting to know the nature around me. There were many nights spent fishing and sleeping under the stars on a boat with my mom, or RV camping trips and roasting marshmallows with my brothers and grandparents while my grandpa told his hilariously flawed campfire stories. (There was one in particular about a girl they called Pee Leg who had to swim with one leg to escape her enemy, need I saw more?)

I hold memories of those experiences close to my heart, and I know the residual value of bonding with my kids away from it all. So, I’ve always made it my mission to give my kids experiences over everything else.

photographed on a previous trip to Beaver’s Bend c. 2010 with my first DSLR, a Canon Rebel & kit lens

Fall Break 2019

With tent camping, it’s always a good idea to plan around the weather. This is why Late Spring/Early Summer and Fall are our favorite. The temperature is usually not too hot, and not too cold. I’m kind of a weanie about extreme conditions. Like..on a scale from Roughing It to Glamping, I def prefer something closer to glamping. I like to bring rugs and lights and lots of blankets to make it comfy. Extra points if we don’t have to bring a fan or a heater. So, Fall Break in mid-October is usually a great time to plan a camping trip to one of Oklahoma’s most scenic parks.

I was originally planning to take the boys to the Wichita Mountains in Lawton over Fall Break, but because the weather forecast changed and predicted rain for that area I decided last minute that Beaver’s Bend near Broken Bow was probably our best best bet. Otherwise, we would’ve had to stay home.

For a reason I can’t recall, we left for Broken Bow later than I wanted and I knew that meant we were going to be setting up the tent in the dark (I REALLY miss our Instant Tent). I thought ehh, we have headlights so it won’t be too bad.

When we arrived, I pulled up a map of their campgrounds and found a nice site after a quick drive-thru. I was so relieved, it was even right across from the restrooms and showers! Brylan and I talked about having manifested it. Awesome…but as I went around to get things out of the trunk I noticed something.

It was reserved. I need a stale faced emoji here to accurately convey my disappointment. This is the part where I start to get anxious and slightly irritable. Guys, it took us another HOUR to find a campsite…which by the way, wasn’t even a a designated site!

We drove circles through each of the campgrounds multiple times. The first issue was really the lack of light. Aside from a few campfires and red chili pepper lights, there wasn’t much to guide us. We almost gave up and went to a hotel around 10pm, but after taking a few minutes to defuse, I decided to do ONE last drive-thru. There wasn’t a single open site. But, lo and behold, I saw remnants of an old stone fire ring between two campsites, so we pulled in like we didn’t know any better. Such rebels we are.

Pitching a tent in the dark - WTH was I thinking

First of all, I’d like to emphasize the importance of preparation when camping. I usually run through a checklist to make sure we have everything we’ll need. I even have it stored in my iPhone notes, so why I didn’t do a double-check this time? I have no idea. I guess I thought I had it all in my head. You don’t have to buy every item you see on that blog article you read that lists “57 Must Haves for Tent Camping”, but please - BRING LANTERNS and FIRE STARTERS.

Tent set up was a nightmare, and I’m pretty sure my oldest son would attest to this, because it was just him and I who put it together…in the dark…with sleeping neighbors who were way too close for comfort and very awake thanks to our late set up. Then, after apparently spending a little too long running the headlights, my car battery died…anddd immediately after, my phone. We didn’t even have the tent set up yet. WTH Ladye?!

Thankfully, we had my son’s phone flashlight…and I had a few emphasis words to ease the frustration. I just hoped our neighbors wouldn’t be too pissed about the commotion because I was already planning to ask them for a jump the next morning ….siiince I ran the car battery dead with no jumper cables handy or any sort of roadside assistance to call on. Did I mention you should be prepared in these situations?

BTW, the family next to us was really nice and got us back up and running, and we didn’t even talk about my lack of patience and potty mouth that woke them the night prior.

Another positive note - It turns out the park rangers really don’t care where you pitch a tent, as long as you pay your fees the next morning when they make their rounds. I think it was $12 per night since our site was considered primitive - lol. And thankfully, just after our stay they enabled online campsite reservation, so you can reserve a site here before you make the trip!

slightly burned eggs cooked on a Coleman camp stove, oatmeal, and green tea for breakfast

While I made breakfast that morning, Brylan went down and fished a bit, as our spot was within “hollering distance” of the river bank (that might be a Southern thing..always gotta be within range so if Mom hollers “You OK?”, you can hear her and respond). Dre explored closeby, and made friends (and enemies) with a few critters.

Over the next two days we hiked, Dre got to canoe for the first time, I took lotsss of photos, and made a few friends back at the campsite. One of the guys who was fishing nearby even taught Bry to fly fish! For mid-October, it was pretty warm and the boys even got in and waded around in Mountain Fork River.

Other activities offered at Beaver’s Bend were kayaking, pedal boats, golf, and a nice swim area that was IMO way too chilly for use, but some others were enjoying it. My favorite part was simply taking in the scenery and seeing my kids have fun. I enjoyed relaxing by our campfire with a book and my journal in the mornings. Drinking tea and hearing the sounds of the birds, frogs and crickets is so relaxing.

One con for me was how crowded the campground was. We camped at Grapevine, but I imagine the other campgrounds were just as lively. I enjoy meeting other families and having a sense of community in the woods, but we could hear several different conversations going on simultaneously because we were in such close proximity to other campers. This isn’t uncommon for the busy Fall season, so if you like a little more privacy (and don’t like doing battle with tents, or prefer sanitary bathrooms) you can rent a cabin or stay in the lodge perched on the hill just before you enter the campgrounds.

By Sunday afternoon, all of the other tent campers were gone and we were left with the whole area to ourself. Weeknight camping is usually just for the retired RVers and those who don’t have a job to get back to on Monday, so tent campgrounds were essentially emptied. I needed to work myself and couldn’t access my hotspot from the campground (didn’t have great service in this area with AT&T), so we drove into Broken Bow Sunday evening to grab dinner and allow me a bit of time to jump on my laptop and do vintage listings. I wanted to knock those out so we could enjoy our last day without my anxiety kicking in, telling me I needed to be productive.

After about an hour in town, we noticed the sky was getting unusually dark. Waddya know?!…a storm was hovering and pouring rain over the campgrounds to the north of us (insert facepalm emoji here). So, we stayed at Subway watching it pour down endlessly for well over an hour before it let up enough for us to head back to camp. I knew we were in for a treat because we had left several items outside of the tent, and even if our personal items weren’t water logged, there was no way we’d be able to build a fire after all that rain. Maybe everyone else that left Beaver’s Bend that day wasn’t heading back to jobs? Maybe they, unlike I, had actually checked local news to see that the forecast had changed and rain was coming here, too.

But it got even better than that….

You see that small pond just this side of the cut tree stump? Yeah well, that is where our tent was (insert ALL of the facepalm emojis here).

As soon as we pulled in, I realized our tent was surrounded by what looked like a mote swarming with crawfish (literally - there was a bucket full of live crawfish Brylan caught earlier, and they were now everywhere), wet supplies and food scattered around because apparently the local raccoons helped themselves while we were gone.

So Bry and I went to work, wading and retrieving all of the soaked clothing and bedding from our tent-turned-water bed. By the time we got all packed up it was almost midnight and we were covered in mud. What a way to end the long weekend! I think the rain might’ve been karma for all the huffing and puffing I did during our tent troubles the first night. I gotta say, the four hour drive back to Oklahoma City in the middle of the night drenched and dirty is the least fun road trip I have made to date.

Would I do it all over again if I had known how everything would go? Probably not. But will I take my kids on another random camping trip and encounter more unexpected troubles for the sake of giving them fond memories? I’m sure of it. And I’m sure we’ll be back to Beaver’s Bend to enjoy more beautiful scenery and trout fishing….but next time our accommodations will be an RV or cabin!

What’s your favorite place to camp or getaway? Have you had to face any challenges that gave you valuable experience? I’d also love to hear from anyone who has stayed at state parks and what activities are your fav. Drop a comment below!

Love and light,
Ladye

Unschooling Goals: Turning My Daydreams Into a Rambling Reality

Have you ever paid attention to the feeling you get when you think of a person, place, career, or future possibilities that excite you? Maybe it’s my personality type or something, but I can point out certain things in my life that I’ve learned about and they instantly resonated with me on a deep, sometimes unexplainable level.

As an adult, I’ve come to connect this feeling with things or subjects that are somehow in line with my purpose - aligned with who I am at my core. I’ve experienced this feeling countless times with many things in my life, and I’ll write about those in a later post.

The more I grow and detach from insignificant societal norms and become more aware of myself and the world that could be, the more authentic I feel I am becoming.

Something is happening in my soul.

I find myself dreaming of, journaling, and talking with the Universe more and more about homeschooling my son(s) (unschooling, adventure schooling, road-schooling, etc.) and traveling on a semi-full-time basis. I know more families are doing this now, but most still consider it a pretty radical thing to do.

I told myself 2020 is the year it is going to start, and you guys…my planner and notebook are packed with plans down to the tiniest details. I’m talking vintage RV style…a Rambling Hippie on a mission! It’s something I have fantasized and talked with friends/family about doing for years, but it seemed like such a distant dream, yet alone a real possibility within the next few years.

If all of these self-development and entrepreneurial books I’ve been reading over the last 5 years have taught me anything, it’s that if you want something, you write it down and get serious about a plan..you may be surprised how quickly it will manifest.

I blame this vision of traveling and unschooling on the incredible experiences and insight my grandparents provided me with as a kid, my liberating solo trip to Palo Duro Canyon for my 26th birthday, my ‘86 Volvo station wagon (RIP Pearly), my mom, and the following books in the order in which I read them. All are available on Audible btw - click here to purchase a gift membership for someone to inspire them, or on one of the links below to start your free trial.

• The Alchemist by Paolo Coehlo

• AWOL on the Appalachian Trail by David Miller

• Wild by Cheryl Strayed

• Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

• Just Passin Thru by Winton Porter

• A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

• The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

• The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferris (this is a fav that I’ve purchased for entrepreneur friends and still listen to regularly on Audible)

…along with countless hours spent researching and reading articles about American school systems and the alternatives, listening to podcasts, reading forums, Facebook group discussions about homeschool and RV living, and just being a whole damn hippie at heart. *Side note - and I love side notes - I believe we’re all hippies at heart, craving love and peace, but that’s another talk.

“ I’m just making my way home. I’m on a path leading to the me I was meant to be,
before external factors and limiting beliefs hindered my greatness.”

— Ladye M

Since I had my firstborn almost twelve years ago, I’ve known I wanted to expose him to more of the world, more culture, more history, bigger ideas. I believe exposure to diversity at a young age - whether through experiencing diverse cultures and religions, history, landscapes, ideas, etc. - when seen through a perspective of love and acceptance (this is where parents/teachers come in), is an effective catalyst to positive change. I didn’t get much of that growing up in the Rural South and it is absolutely something I want for my children, grandchildren, and so on.

I long to give my kids meaningful and impactful experiences in this life. I want them to see love (or God/the Universe if you will) in every human, every animal, every landscape. I want us to cultivate love and change together, even if on a small scale. And yes, I realize this sounds like a romantic hippie dream at this point, but I know the BTS work and at times, utter discomfort that this will require.

How can I turn this daydream into a reality?

Initially I couldn’t quite visualize what unschooling while traveling would look like. Like..do I have to buy a big truck and camper and go back to my country roots to make this a real and comfortable-for-the-kids possibility? Staying in short term apartments or Airbnb’s in different places sounds too irresponsible for a single mother (major eyeroll here).. or at least it would to my family and likely my son’s dad.

So how can I make it happen before my kids are grown? Well, I think I know just the way.

If all goes according to plan - and trust me, I am entirely prepared for many things to not go according to plan - this new reality will kick off with a Spring Break trial run, after which I will share my soon-to-be-excecuted two-year travel plan with deets! (People still say deets, right? IDK…I’m in this Awkward Millenial phase where I’m not quite sure which slang is current and which is outdated.)

I will def be back here for more talks on the subject.

If you or someone you know has gone full-time RV or van life, drop a comment and let me know your take. I love hearing different perspectives and pros and cons! Also, if you’re interested in more of my Audible recommendations, let me know.

Love and light,
Ladye