For the last few years, Rett and I have decided not to get each other birthday gifts, but take a trip instead. We already have too much stuff, and anything we got would more than likely just end up in a closet in a few months anyway. Why spend money on things we don’t need when we can get away and make memories together?
We’ve been trying to have less and do more.
For my birthday this year, we took our first Russ Bus trip and went to the Smokies for a long weekend. We had a wonderful time, and I got a gift that will never end up in storage.
Now Rett’s birthday is coming up (in June), and we’re planning Trip Number 2 in the Russ Bus! Nothing too crazy since we (and by we, I mean Rett) are still getting used to driving the bus and towing the car, but we’re taking her to Savannah, GA for an entire WEEK.
On our first bus trip, I realized how much fun this adventure really will be. We also learned there are some serious perks to taking your home with you on vacation.
If we didn’t have the bus, there would be no way we would pay to stay in Savannah for an entire week. We’re paying for 7 days and 6 nights at the state park what we would pay for two nights in a nice hotel. Even getting an Air BnB would be more than we would want to pay. Usually we’ll just go away for the weekend, but the bus has allowed us to really take advantage of our vacation days. ☺️
We also get to to take our two pups with us wherever we go! 🐶 I hate to ask someone to watch them while we’re gone, and boarding them can get expensive! In the bus we can all go together, and we don’t have to worry about them. They both still get pretty nervous while the bus is running (it can get loud), but melatonin has helped. They’re going to have to get used to it, so the short trips are a nice test run for them too.
Another thing that I really love about being able to take the bus on these trips is that packing is super easy. Anybody else hate packing as much as I do? 🙋🏼♀️ We don’t even have to pack a bag… just throw it in the bus and drive away. We have our closets finished, so we can hang our clothes and not even have to worry about wrinkles. So convenient! 🙌🏻
I think the coolest thing about having the Russ Bus finished enough to travel is just the fact that it’s our (almost) home. I’ve never slept well away from home, not even in a hotel. But there’s something about staying in a place that yours that just makes things easier. We get to sleep in our bed, on our sheets, with our pups, and it just feels like home. 💛
I really love it, and I’m so excited to get it finished so we can say it’s our REAL home!
While I’m ready to move in to the bus and travel full time, I’m also really enjoying this transition period in our lives. We still have our regular jobs and are working on getting the bus finished any chance we get, but we’re also taking the time time get away when we can. These short trips have been much needed lately, and I’m so grateful for the time away!
Moral of the story: presents are cool, but your presence in life is so much better! Get out there and enjoy what you have while you can! 💛
-Rachel
The Rolling Russells 