Finding Refuge: A Journey from Chaos to Connection
When Hurricane Milton approached Florida, my stress level soared. Living in Dunedin for almost 17 years, I was genuinely worried for the first time. With my wife, two kids, and three dogs, we decided to evacuate to Tallahassee. We boarded up the windows and left, uncertain if our home would still be there.
Upon arriving at the motel—more like a roach motel—I was taken aback by the horrendous conditions. The smell was unbearable, there was only one bed for all four of us and three dogs, and I noticed roaches crawling around. The broken doorknobs and non-functioning water faucet only made things worse. That night, half of us slept in the van while the others tried to rest in the motel room. In fact, some guy approached my wife and son, asking if they had any weed. Unable to sleep, I made countless calls to hotels, but they were all fully booked. Meanwhile, I kept checking on my wife to make sure she was okay.
The turning point came when I found an Airbnb in Mexico Beach, just an hour and a half away. Arriving at the charming little house, just a block from the beach, was a relief. The owner was accommodating, and we finally felt safe. Our evacuation turned into a vacation, and we had a wonderful time.
During our stay, I met a new friend named Mark. We chatted for hours, sharing our life stories and laughing together. Once I mentioned my passion for Deaf Roamer, he recommended a book called “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years” by Donald Miller. I found that my own life journey and the themes of this book were quite similar. Thank you, Mark, for taking the time to listen. I truly look forward to reading the book, and I hope we have the chance to connect again, my friend.
You see, van life isn’t just about the van itself, what you do to it, or how you convert it. It’s also about the people you meet along the way, the connections you make, and the stories you share. I felt this same connection when I traveled to California and met amazing people; we all made a lasting impact on one another. To me, this is the essence of van life.
