First Impressions of the Lifestyle

Living and working on the road is a totally different mindset, mood, and level of (dis)functionality. Like it, love it, hate it, or all three, it's certainly never boring.

While there is a lot to functioning inside MARIS, the biggest plus was what happened with our relationships. While friction is likely when you are on top of each other, the total dependence on each other and the closeness has made all of us, including the puppies, much more deeply attached.

The sheer joy the dogs felt after being allowed to run free on the beach was wonderful! We have traveled long enough that they know we move around and they also understand that we aren't going to leave them anywhere. They all approach and lean into us much more often. They look up at us with such soft gazes. It melts my heart! This is their way of telling us they love us. They have also become lap dogs. Roxy is too big to get into our laps but Iris and Skye love to hop up any time we are sitting in the recliners.

While they snarl at each other occasionally, I think that overall they have become closer.

Michael and I have grown closer also. We stand still and listen to the waves on the beach and let the stress wash away. We went outside just last night, gazed up at the stars and recounted how many other locations we have been to and stood outside looking at the stars. We have had philosophical discussions about time and dimensions, coincidences, and alternate universes among so many other things. I enjoy these discussions immensely. Discussing ideas challenges my mind and strengthens my intelligence. It is so wonderful to have someone in my life who appreciates the same things.