Preparing for the Journey

 Let your imagination take you back to the late 1800's, a time when many of our ancestors immigrated to America mostly from Scotland and Germany to the United States and Canada alike.  Probably mostly by word of mouth potential travelers learned the details of the journey, what was the cost, how much luggage could they carry, when did the ships sail and from where.  Details about the end of the journey weren't necessary, whatever they were they were better than where they now lived.

With timelines and guidelines in mind, the preparations started.  Father secured the arrangements, Mother sorted our the clothing and food.  Children helped or were oblivious to the happenings if they were too young.  Mental lists formed, clothing, just enough for the trip, coats and warm wraps, blankets, hygiene supplies, which probably were minimal, and basic tools.  It would be months before they could call the final stop home, meanwhile everything had to be packed and carried along.  Every possibility had to be considered.

The months, weeks and days before departure were full of gathering, decision making, and disposing of items not taken along.  Trading accessories for necessities was key to preparation.  Saying good-bye probably for a final time in this lifetime was squeezed into the time of preparation.  Discussions about the unknown future abounded among family and friends, and fellow travelers.

It's just five weeks until our own anticipated departure for our road trip.  Each time we drive our road ship we learn something we didn't know and there's so much more to learn.  Even the simplest of tasks, turning on the headlights and finding the control to dim them at an oncoming car can be an adventure, a lesson within a lesson.

Unlike the international immigration of our ancestors, we will have resources available to us wherever we go.  However, we like feeling independent and comfortable so I will select and gather tools that
could benefit our journey.  Supplies to support Charlie, our dog, are important; like his food and dish, water, his sleeping pad, medication, treats, leash and collar and the list goes on.  And where to stow this in our road ship.  Maps and journals, mostly on computers and cell phones will comfort us as we seek routes and destinations.  Lists of people we will visit and their contact information, as well as notifying them that we are en route.  And unlike the immigrants who had poor food after their personal supply of hard bread, hard cheese and dried meat we had a refrigerator, a cooking top and adequate storage.  Yet we too will have to consider and reconsider our menu and our supplies.

So the next five weeks will pass, very differently then the preparation time of our immigrating ancestors but in so many ways the same.  Are you ready to take the journey to a new life?