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

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