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After leaving Manatee Springs State Park we high-tailed it to Panama City Beach. We were eager to catch up with friends and have a couple of weeks to rest and recharge. We got a nice site on the lagoon side for our first week at St. Andrews State Park. It had rained a couple days before we got there so our site had a nice large pond next to it. Good thing we were only there for a week and had plans to be out most days doing things.
Our first night was at St. Andrew’s was quite memorable. We went to sleep knowing there would be thunderstorms and possibly some high winds but we didn’t expect to be woken up by the most intense winds we have ever experienced, rain and hail at 2:30am.
I jumped up out of bed to look out the window to see what was going on. I asked Jonathan if he thought we should wake the kids up and take them to the bath house and at that point his phone alarm went off with a tornado watch/warning for Bay County! I moderately freaked out.
Is that the county we are in??
Where are we??
Is this for us??
Aahhh!
(Note to self, always know what county you are in if you’re expecting bad weather)
Now, I’m from Indiana and don’t freak out about crazy weather often but when you live in a trailer that’s basically made out of popsicle sticks AND you’re surrounded by tall trees that are bending sideways, you get the heck out of dodge! I wasn’t so worried that there would be a tornado but I was worried about the possibility of large tree falling on our house and flattening it. (it’s happened, I’ve seen pictures)
We woke the kids up around 3 and made them get their jackets on super fast and told them we are headed to the bath house. Even though it was super close to our home, we were got in the truck and drove because the rain was nuts. We would have been soaked to the bone if we walked.
We opened the door to run outside and it was quickly thrown back and slammed against the RV. The rain was literally blowing sideways and it was hard for us to even walk the short distance to the truck. We were so wet and cold, but we drove over to the bath house just to make sure we were safe during the storm.
We checked the phones and watched the storm like crazy people while trying to keep our kids from freaking out. They weren’t happy about being cold or wet but I was glad that no matter what the weather did, we were going to be safe.
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We were lucky enough to snag a couple nights in Manatee Springs State Park. Most every site is 25’ to 35’ RV site and we are just over 37’. Luckily though, there was one Handicap site available that was a pull-through (rejoice) and it was 40’. I called to make sure it was ok that we reserved it, and she assured me it was fine. Sweet! It even had sewer hookups!
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After leaving Highland Hammock State Park, we booked a few days at a Thousand Trails park in Wachula, FL. Thousand Trails Orlando was full so we got in at the overflow park called Peace River. It’s the typical TT park. Everyone smashed in like sardines and up in your business. Not our cup of tea but every now and then we endure it to save some cash. You can’t beat $3 (until we can start boondocking).
We only stayed there 4 nights and I'm glad we did because just a couple days after we left we were told half of the park had to get out of there due to flooding. It was already pretty flooded when we were there. We even saw tow trucks pulling big rigs out of the mud. After our 4 nights there we hopped parks (as you have to do in Florida when staying at TT parks) and made it to Clerbrook RV Park. This was not a horrible park. It was crowded, but we lucked out in a site where not many people were around - and they let us wash our RV! You'd be surprised how many parks don't let you keep your rig shiny and clean.
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When Jon and I got married, we got some marriage advice. “Make sure you always have regular date nights”. Well, ok. I actually can’t remember much of what we used to do before we had kids other than work then come home, make dinner and watch That 70’s Show. I don’t recall having “date nights”. Every night was a date night. I was with my favorite person and we had fun even if we just stayed home and played ping pong or just laid around all evening.
When we had kids, we got some marriage/parenting advice. “Make sure you always have regular date nights”. “Make sure you get away from your kids at least one evening a week.” Well, ok... I’m not so sure about that. We never really had ‘scheduled’ or ‘regular’ date nights. I don’t think I put Adali down the first 9 months of her life and even had a hard time letting other people hold her. Did our marriage fall apart? Nope!
We had 4 kids in 5 years and we always got the same advice. “Make sure you always have regular date nights.” What is with that? Why does everyone think that dropping your kids off once a week to ‘get away from them’ is such a good idea? When did our society begin to believe that our relationships depended on getting away from our kids on a regular basis?
Look, I know we all need a break now and then. And I know days and nights full of diaper changes, crying kids and chicken nuggets can definitely kill the romance in a relationship. But does a movie and dinner out every week rekindle it? I don't know, man.
I have all the questions because we did mostly the same thing. Except our date night was every 2 weeks or so. But we still looked forward to it with much anticipation. That was, until we started traveling full time.
We have been on the road 9 months and guess what? We have survived without having regular date nights! Weird, right?
In fact, when my parents came down to the Keys they suggested they watch the kids so that we could have a night out. We had no idea what to do. We just felt lost. Then, when we came here to Panama City our friends so graciously asked to watch our kids so we could get away one night. We thought about it for several days and decided we would rather hang out at their house and let the kids play together while we got to talk and catch up.
Basically, we have seen the shift in our thinking. While dates are great (not mandatory) you can actually create your own ‘date’ while you are still with your kids. Sometimes we take the kids out to eat and we will let them sit at their own table and while we sit at a different one nearby. It's enough separation that they feel all special that they’re alone and we feel all special like we are on a date. It’s a win/win.
We also stay up late after the kids go to bed and sometimes we will watch a movie or just sit and talk. And guess what! That’s the same thing as a date. Kids are in another room but we are able to talk or watch a movie without interruption. You can create your own date nights even when you live in a tiny house with several tiny people!
Stay up later. Put a candle on the table. Get dressed up, stay at home and listen to your favorite music. Or better yet, go to bed early and watch funny Jimmy Fallon episodes on YouTube! (that may be our favorite thing to do) Date night is what you make of it. It doesn't have to be expensive, elaborate or even away from your kids. Get creative!
You don’t HAVE to go away and you don’t HAVE to do it every week. Don’t buy into the hype. For your next scheduled ‘date night’, try inviting the kids and make it a family date night. You’ll enjoy spending quality time with the kids and they will thank you for including them on your ‘date’. Trust me! The more the merrier!
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Since my dread journey began almost 4 years ago I have been waiting for this day! They are finally long enough that I need something to keep them back. I tried hair ties, they break when I try to push the dreads in. I've tried bandanas and yarn and cords and I just couldn't find something that would hold the weight of my hair without giving me a tension headache. Then I stumbled upon SpiraLocks! I am so glad I did.
I ordered my wrap as soon as I saw her Etsy page and read the reviews. I was so excited to get it in the mail. However, I didn't realize they were in Australia. Dang it! Oh well, it was definitely worth the wait. I was so excited when I got it in the mail that day! I went straight to the mirror and played with how to use it.
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Ashley Longnecker / February 09, 2016
We’re Jonathan & Ashley Longnecker. We love weird ideas, great food, travel, drawing, music, homeschool, tattoos, dreads, woodworking, design and our 4 amazing kids.