From the heat to the cold…
One of the reasons Mark and I moved into our camper van Zesty in July, was to experience the freedom we so desire. Being free to go and stay where we wanted, for as long as we pleased. And, being free to adjust our route to incorporate visiting people dear to us, whether we hadn’t seen them in years, in months, or ever!
And so, one of the highlights of our travels this past summer and fall has been meeting up with friends old and new. What a blast it was! While Mark and I enjoy our “us-time”, socializing with people we connect with, have things in common with, or share interesting conversations with cannot be matched.
John and Andre in Rollinsville, Colorado
We house sat for this amazing couple and their dog Oscar, in the fall of 2017. As we headed north from Santa Fe, where our latest RV adventure in Zesty started, we made it a point to stop by and say hello. They welcomed us with open arms, John took us white water kayaking, we hiked together, and we shared a couple of nice dinners.
Then (2017):
Hike with John, Andre and Oscar, before the house sit
Now:
Rachel in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Mark and I met Rachel in the South Pacific. She and a friend were sailing the area on SV Namaste, just like we did on our 35’ catamaran Irie. We spent many enjoyable nights together on either boat in French Polynesia, shared adventurous hikes and celebrated two Christmases and New Years together. We visited her in Port Coquitlam, near Vancouver, where she and her sister Nina’s family invited us to stay in the house for as long as we wanted. Rachel also took us to Whistler. We ended up staying four days, since we all got along so well.
Then (2014 – 2015):
Now:
Donna and Richard on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Hopping over to Vancouver Island by ferry had a double purpose: exploring the island (as I’d only visited Victoria many years ago and Mark had never been) and meeting up with three sets of friends, Donna and Richard being the first ones. They graciously invited us to their combined birthday party, and into their home. Mark and I met the couple for the first time in person last year, in the desert of Southern California. I have followed Donna’s blog for a couple of years and that’s how we initially became friends. It was nice to reconnect and share a couple of days of their lives.
Then (2017):
Now:
Judith and Rob on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
I met Judith (or Jude as she calls herself online) through her blog “Dr. Sock Writes Here”. We’d been hitting it off on the web, but never met in person. She and her husband spoiled us with a comfortable bed, hot, pressurized shower and very handy washing machine (actually, most of our hosts were responsible for our clean clothes this past summer and fall). We enjoyed meeting this creative couple and their pets. Oh, and the dinner Judith made for us was delicious!
Now:
Stephanie and David on SV Cambria, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Stephanie is another person, and fellow sailor, whom I met online via our blogs but never in real life. When we found out they were with their boat on the island (they are UK and US citizens), I wanted to get connected in person. And, we did. We have so much in common with this couple that the rainy weekend we spent together was never dull! By the way, their beautiful, well-maintained sailboat is for sale, if you are craving a watery adventure.
Now:
Margie and Terry in Portland, Oregon
Mark and I met our dear friend Margie during the first year of our sailing adventures in Luperon, Dominican Republic, where she was doing excellent and affordable canvas work. The bimini and window covers she made for us lasted the full eight years of our cruising journey!
Margie found a place in many sailors’ hearts and it had been ten years since we last saw her. During that time, she’d lost her husband and soulmate Brian, and remarried an amazing guy, called Terry. They invited us into their house boat (more like a floating house) on the Columbia River for the night. It was fantastic to reconnect, and sleep on the water again. (Beta readers of my memoir might like to have a closer look at these photos. :-))
Then (2008):
Now:
Tom and Karmen in Monmouth, Oregon
Our next set of friends we met sailing as well, but in the Eastern Caribbean. The fact that we all get along so well, turned our visit from a few days into ten! Worthy of a blog post in itself…
Jennifer and Rhett in Eugene, Oregon
And then, I went even further back in time. Jennifer is an accomplished writer and friend I met in Austin, Texas, in 2006. We became close friends and she has been an inspiration for me, when it comes to writing a book and “being there for each other”. I last saw her in 2007, when I made a quick trip to Austin, TX from Annapolis, MD, right before Mark and I started our sailing adventure on Irie, to see her and my good friend Karl. (We’re getting into more memoir stuff here…)
Since it had been so long since we’d met, I was adamant about stopping at her place for the night, and meeting Jennie, her husband Rhett and their two dogs. Again, it was special to reconnect. I really wish we had more time, as she and I could chat for days, but Mark and I needed to get going to be able to visit Crater Lake NP that day.
Then (2007):
Now:
With Jennifer, Rhett, and one of the two pups
Rus and Kathleen, Mendocino Coast, California
We met this adventurous couple in Guatemala in 2006, when they were traveling around Central America in an RV, with their dog Ziggy. Mark and I were exploring the same region with our dogs Kali and Darwin in a truck camper. We don’t have too many travel friends who have known our two furry sweethearts, so that alone made this visit special. They swung by our “temporary home” in Austin in 2007 as well, which was the last time we saw them. It was a brief meet-up in 2018, but we managed to catch up with both of them and Rus was very generous taking us out for lunch.
Then (2006, 2007):
Now:
Lunch with Rus
Ron, Sharon and Lola in Sebastopol, California
And, talking about another heart-warming stop… Who goes out of their way to visit a dog? That would be us. Lola has a special spot in our lives and is – apologies to all the other dogs we’ve ever pet sat – our favorite pup, in three years of house sitting. Some of you might remember her. We actually pet sat her twice. As we made our way south through California, we had to say hi and spend time with Lola. Of course, it was very nice to hang out with her humans, Ron and Sharon as well. They invited us over for dinner and the night. Lola recognized us immediately, after one year, and was ecstatic to see us.
Then (2017):
Now:
Johnny Coconut in Morro Bay, California
To finish with the biggest character of them all: let me re-introduce Johnny Coconut to you. We met this extraordinary soul in 2014 in Maupiti, French Polynesia, where we became instant friends. We stayed in touch somehow (John is not into gadgets) and managed to meet up in San Diego last winter. Since he is a barber in Morro Bay, terrible at communicating by anything but phone calls, and just returned from another visit to Maupiti, Mark and I wanted to surprise him on our way south. We didn’t find him in his barber shop, but eventually called him and caught up at his modest home.
Then (2014, 2017):
Now:
Needless to say, Mark and I feel fortunate to have an array of incredible and diverse friends all over North America and the world! I’ve added extra links in case you are curious about some of these previous encounters and adventures.
Have you recently enjoyed any memorable meet-ups? Or, are you looking forward to any in the near future?
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November 30, 2018 at 15:36
Wow! That’s a lot of meet-ups. How fun! And how awesome to meet Stephanie and David!
November 30, 2018 at 18:44
As much as we like to be on our own and explore nature, we are almost as happy when we catch up with friends and have a good time together. It always makes me realize this can be so much fun, and why we – as humans – are social creatures. 🙂
December 1, 2018 at 11:42
You say that now, Lucy, but that’s because you’ve never met us! Lol. Seriously though, Liesbet. It was great meeting you in Mark in person and a real joy to connect with another cruising couple again!
December 1, 2018 at 17:24
Yep, Lucy, you will have to find out for yourself one day and not take our words for it! 🙂
November 30, 2018 at 15:50
Hi Liesbet – So wonderful that you met up and did some catching up with several human and furry friends. I bet those conversations were fun and energizing. I’ve recently enjoyed a memorable meet up with my Finnish friend in Tallinn in May. I hope to have at least one meet up with another friend in Europe next year.
November 30, 2018 at 18:47
I truly enjoy deep and interesting conversations, Natalie and feel I don’t have them enough. When you’re 24/7 together with someone, the topics don’t seem to be as “refreshing”, since we share everything. Also, as house sitters, we don’t really meet new people or make new friends. I remember your meet-up with your friend in Tallinn. I hope you can repeat that experience elsewhere in Europe next year!
November 30, 2018 at 16:20
Hi Liesbet! It looks like you’ve had an awesome time reconnecting with friends. I agree that it is always fun when our paths cross and connect. I’m guessing that Thom and I will miss you this time through? We leave in a week and won’t return until January 1. How long will you be in the SD area? If we can meet up that would be awesome. until then…happy travels! ~Kathy
November 30, 2018 at 18:50
Hi Kathy! We just communicated about a house sit in La Quinta in January, but it was too short for us, to allow Mark to fly east for two weeks. We’ve been trying to come up with a solution for January, but are pretty much at our wits ends. If we are not selected for a house sit soon, I might fly back to Boston with Mark. After wards, if it’s safe, we plan on driving down to Baja. Our upcoming San Diego sit ends on December 28th. After that, we have no clue what we are doing.
November 30, 2018 at 17:55
Visiting folks while on the road definitely enriches the experience. While we traveled about in our van we stopped to visit some family members and friends we hadn’t seen in decades and may never see again.
November 30, 2018 at 18:52
I think finding a balance to being on the road, sightseeing, hiking in nature and meeting up with friends is the perfect way of a nomad’s life. 🙂 Did you notice I didn’t mention any camper projects in that activity list? 🙂
November 30, 2018 at 19:25
What joie d’vivre! I feel the happiness through the screen. Many couples wait until they’re old to enjoy life on the road, but you’re smarter than most ~ and have the photos to prove it! 🙂
December 1, 2018 at 17:13
Haha! Thanks for that sentiment, Marian. I’m not sure about being “smart”, but we are certainly “flexible” and “adventurous”. 🙂 As long as we don’t think about never being able to have enough money to retire, we’re all set! 🙂
December 1, 2018 at 01:47
I love the comparison you have made with the photos of before and now. So interesting to see the changes. It is wonderful when friendships last the test of time and distance, reconnecting becames effortless ????
December 1, 2018 at 17:15
I have a feeling you know exactly what it feels like, Gilda. 🙂 Will you post a blog about your new (to you) camper and what your plans are?
December 1, 2018 at 03:11
It is so lovely to see you catching up with friends old and new and I really enjoyed the ‘then’ and ‘now’ photographs. Seeing sweet Lola again was an extra bonus. We enjoy catching up with old friends, now we
are all in our mid-to-late fifties it makes those meetings extra special ???????? xxx
December 1, 2018 at 17:16
I feel like that’s one certainty in this life, Xenia: when we plan a meet-up with friends, it will bring smiles all around. (As long as everyone is relatively healthy.) I figured you’d recognize Lola and what she means to us, and other dog lovers. 🙂
December 1, 2018 at 05:23
What a great post, Liesbet! It’s so nice to see all of the smiling faces and enjoying the most important things in life, time with family and friends. You and Mark have really covered a lot of ground! I’m happy you’re settled somewhere warm…at least for now. Enjoy and stay safe!
December 1, 2018 at 17:19
Thanks, Jill. We are still wearing long clothes, but we take the California sunshine above the grey skies of the Pacific Northwest or the snow of New England. We have concluded, though, to really never be cold, we have to move back to the tropics. And, since we have friends there as well, we can just do more meet-ups like these… 🙂
December 1, 2018 at 08:06
That is a staggering list of meet-ups! I loved the incredibly wide range of where everyone was from or where you met them. I have to say that seeing the Lola reunion was my favorite part! I fell in love with that doggie through your posts.
December 1, 2018 at 17:22
As I kept postponing writing this post and searching for photos, I realized I was making my life harder and harder, as the list of people and encounters grew, Lexie! I think this was one of the blogs that took most time to create, about five hours. I had to dig out external hard drives and browse those archives with thousands of photos. Phew!
Lola stole many people’s hearts when we were pet sitting her. And, we stayed there twice. I have so many amazing photos and memories of and with her. We have been asked back, but our attraction to new places (and warmer climates) made us decline.
December 1, 2018 at 16:22
Wow! Such a sociable summer.
December 1, 2018 at 17:24
I’m following in your path, Anabel, but then being on the move myself instead of having bloggers, attractions and events come to you. 🙂
December 1, 2018 at 19:53
How fun! You have chronicled a lot of “meet agains”. The friends we make in our trailer sailing adventures tend to be enduring ones…there is something about the connections we make by shared experiences.
December 2, 2018 at 18:38
I couldn’t agree more, Nancy. When I left my home country indefinitely in 2003, I could have never guessed that leaving my “old” friends would result in creating so many new, deep and long-lasting friendships!
December 1, 2018 at 21:16
Hi, Liesbet – It’s lovely to read about the many friends that you reconnected with on this trip. It is a wonderful thing to have friends all around the world, and it speaks volumes to the warm, generous and engaging natures of both you and Mark.
I look forward to reading about your upcoming adventures and meetups.
Thank you for the shout-out!
December 2, 2018 at 18:41
Hi Donna! You know, after reading your comment, I realized I didn’t even mention that you and I first met as bloggers. Sorry about that! I fixed it now. Funny how revisiting people I know was mentally put in the category “good friends” instead of “blogging friends” as I wrote this post…
December 2, 2018 at 08:55
That’s quite the list of socializing. I especially enjoyed your “then and now” photos!
December 2, 2018 at 18:43
Thanks, Ingrid. I’m hoping to add you to this “list” soon as well. 🙂 It’s so much fun to catch up with old friends, or getting to know virtual ones in person, as you know.
December 3, 2018 at 18:38
Wow, what a beautiful circle of friends you’ve amassed. I am looking forward to my winter getaway where a blogging friend will come to meet up and spend a few days together. I’ll keep it as a surprise til it actually happens. 🙂
December 5, 2018 at 11:18
That sounds like a wonderful surprise and upcoming time, Debby. If I make it to Mexico this winter, I won’t be so jealous of your getaway trip! 🙂
December 3, 2018 at 22:43
wow, meetups after meetups. Divided by borders united by Friendship 😀
December 5, 2018 at 11:18
Beautifully said, Robert. Thanks for swinging by!
December 5, 2018 at 10:35
What a wonderful group of friends. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
December 5, 2018 at 11:20
We are pretty fortunate that our lifestyle has allowed us to make friends all over the world and that we now have the means to catch up with some of them. I’m hoping to do the same by plane one day and swing by our friends in Europe, Africa and Asia. 🙂
December 5, 2018 at 20:26
So much fun, reconnecting with and visiting friends all over the world. My most memorable meet up this year was reuniting with four people I first met at a writing retreat in Romania three years ago. It was so awesome to see them again.
And, as an added bonus, during the same trip I was also reunited with Ryan Carty.
December 6, 2018 at 11:31
You reunions sound lovely. And, I remember that meet-up with Ryan. You were both impressed, so I can’t wait to meet both of you one day. 🙂
December 5, 2018 at 23:28
So many meetups. So great to have so many friends from your travels. Loved the then and now.
We have favorite pets too, but we don’t let on who they are since we only house sit in one neighborhood and all the owners know each other – wouldn’t want anyone to think we play favorites.
We are looking forward to meeting up with sailing friends in a few weeks here in Mexico. They are friends of a friend from Atlanta. They flew to the Bahamas to charter a sailboat when we were already there cruising one season maybe 5 years ago. My friend in Atlanta told us about them and we met them for the first time while they were on their charter and buddy boated with them for a few days. They have been cruising in the Sea of Cortez on their cataram for a few years now. We are going to hook up with them on an inland trip over the holidays. It will be so nice to see someone we know here in Mexico!
December 6, 2018 at 11:35
I understand you not wanting to rave about certain pets versus others. We usually don’t either, but Lola has such a special spot in our hearts, that we couldn’t help it. 🙂 How is Mexico treating you? It sure would be nice to catch up with people there, especially sailors in the Sea of Cortez. When we visited that area (in Baja), we always wished we had a dinghy to play around in the bay. 🙂
December 7, 2018 at 17:05
Summer and Fall for fun friendships! Wow, you guys really got around, and not only visited wonderful areas but reconnected with dear friends! Funny how you have met so many folks from blogs, Liesbet, but have built lasting relationships! More juice for your memoirs and beyond!
December 9, 2018 at 17:17
I really cherish my friendships and connections, Terri. And, as you know from hosting us, we are usually the ones who pass by others’ homes to stop in and say hi, which we made a point of doing on this multiple-month trip last summer and fall. One day, I really hope to return the favor and have friends visit us whenever and wherever we settle somewhere. If ever. Sometimes, we’ve had friends pass by our house sits, but that has to be coincidence and the home owners have to be OK with us receiving company. We are thankful for all the hospitality we have received everywhere!
December 9, 2018 at 06:46
Liesbet, I just love this post. It is SO heartwarming and happy, full of joy and love. And I totally relate to reconnecting/reuniting with friends when possible. Ben and I are also together almost 24/7 and actually we mostly just hang out with each other. We try hard though to get together with those people that we really connect with and it is always worth the effort.
Love that you even include one of your doggie sits as the impetus for getting together and isn’t great how dogs have such great memory and time becomes meaningless when there is a reunion?
Great pics of then and now, and all the joy. And I do love that houseboat, of course.
Peta
December 9, 2018 at 17:22
We have so much in common with you both, that a meet-up has to be in our future! 🙂 Maybe if we ever make it to Bali. Or, Sri Lanka, of course. Mark and I both enjoy reading about your lifestyle and looking at the photos. Very tempting, even though we don’t have a base. Southeast Asia is attracting us (again). I can’t wait to get my citizenship next year, so we can travel to more exotic places again.
I was hoping you’d read this post and see the houseboat, Peta. I thought about you when including it in the blog post.
December 12, 2018 at 05:38
Thanks for introducing us to all those friends Mark and you have made over the years, Liesbet. Friendship is such an important element of life. Without it we’d be so lonely and not a sociable race. Although many of us blame social media and the internet for not actually meeting up with people anymore, your meet ups in this post prove that it’s not always the case.
You asked the question if we’ve experienced any memorable meet ups. Yes, I can confirm that the last four Bloggers Bash events I have attended have been very memorable, and now we’re inn the process of arranging next years event taking place on June 15th 2019. I’m looking forward to meeting up with many blogger friends again, and many new faces at the next Bloggers Bash.
December 12, 2018 at 15:27
You are so right in regards to friendships, Hugh. Because we live a quite solitary life in general, being on the move all the time, I sometimes convince myself I don’t need to physically be around friends. Luckily, we have plenty of them we still stay in touch with via email. But, each time we do a “real” meet-up, we all have such a good time that it sure makes me realize how important these meet-ups are for the mind and the soul!
The Bloggers Bash sounds like an event not to be missed, Hugh. If I’m ever in Europe during that time, I’d like to try and hop over to England for it. Enjoy the preparations! You sure have met some amazing people there and next year won’t be any different.
January 5, 2019 at 00:48
Liesbet, it was so much fun to finally meet you and Mark in person this fall. We enjoyed having you come and stay with us, and the tour of Zesty. One of my brothers has just purchased a similar style of camper van, but a different make — his is a Mercedes. Such a cleverly designed little home on wheels!
Jude
January 5, 2019 at 11:49
I liked the tour of your truck camper as well, Jude. It has me thinking about switching over again. We love our Zesty and he’s so functional and awesome, but we miss the clearance and the robustness when we venture on dirt roads, or for future travels in South America.
Our Zesty the Westy is a Mercedes Sprinter van as well, but was imported by Airstream and “relabeled” a Dodge. The engine is Mercedes, though. We just haven’t changed the Dodge grill yet, as it is an expense that is not necessary. 🙂 I assume the van of your brother doesn’t have a bathroom? Or, maybe it’s a Leisure van? Those are pretty sweet as well, but bigger than our 19ft Westy.
January 8, 2019 at 11:38
His does have a bathroom. I think his van is a little bigger than yours. It can sleep six. It has a large bed in the back beside the bathroom, the pull down bed at the front like yours, and also the table can make down into a bed – a lot of sleeping space for a single guy!
Jude
January 8, 2019 at 13:55
His van must be 24ft or so with all that space. Ours is only 19ft. Sounds roomy and nice. Must be an “RV” Sprinter conversion. Interesting, all the different designs and looks.