Dreams can come true

Have you had aspirations of something you would like to do or become? Does it seem like it will never happen? Be encouraged. With focus, work and time, dreams can come true.

My husband and I have moved many times. The reasons are various, and often the idea was put to us that maybe our home should be on wheels. Little did the people making that suggestion know that we sometimes thought the same thing.

When my husband returned ill from Afghanistan in 2004, we considered it a short-term setback. As it became apparent that his health problems were long-term and he would not be able to work, perhaps ever, our hopes and dreams for the future were dashed. It was depressing. Was there anything — work, travel, leisure — that we could still aspire to?

As we were making plans for a lengthy road trip, the thought came that the money we would spent on hotel rooms would make a nice downpayment, or perhaps even purchase, of a used travel trailer. We already had a truck to pull one with.

Not only did it make the trip easier, we found that we could still enjoy our love of camping. With the trailer to make it less physically strenuous, we could enjoy the country again. For two former farm kids, that realization was exhilarating!

As we explored Central Alberta’s campgrounds, we also started looking at RVs built for year-round use. In 2007, we found the unit of our dreams. It felt comfortable and had all the necessary amenities — along with a very large price tag! It really was only a dream.

Through the ensuing years our focus increased. We budgeted carefully and researched diligently, keeping track of locations and prices. I took pictures and sold things on eBay or Kijiji; we scanned decades of photos and scrapbooks; we even picked cans from ditches. At times it seemed the dream was futile, but it was the only one we had left. Each season, as the price adjusted, we would reassess our situation.

We sold the travel trailer and stepped back from the camping scene in 2009. Did we miss it? Yes. Did we still want it? Yes. Did we think we could do it on a full-time basis? Yes.

As 2010 dawned, we felt the time was right to pursue our dream a little further. We were able to acquire the truck we needed. We used the new truck only enough to break it in as we waited for the RV sales to begin. There, sitting in the lineup and looking like new, was the 2007 model we had originally discovered. From my Internet research, it appeared to be the last one of its kind available.

We dispersed our apartment furniture and have now been yardsitting and exploring Central Alberta’s camping spots for two seasons. We can hardly wait for the silence and scenery of another spring!

So take courage. Prayer and persistence can achieve the seemingly impossible.