Having spent a fun-filled month with the Travaglinos of Fulltime Family fame, we headed on with our original plans to go east and up the coast. Occasionally we have dates to contend with- meet-ups with family or friends, scheduled events, etc. that loosely tailor our overall plans. We have a couple of those coming up- meeting up with Chris’ parents in Hilton Head, SC at the end of April (yay!) and the beginning of our seasonal site in NH on May 15th. Everything else is up for grabs.
So we begin to head leisurely in the direction of east. I am feeling the need again for some natural beauty and peaceful isolation so we head to a Corps of Engineers campground (aka- peaceful isolation) on the Florida/Georgia border. A few hours’ drive and the best spot in the campground happened to open up just as we were pulling in. It was available for two nights only (we were thinking 3-4) but I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. Done- corner spot on the lake with a pair of Canadian geese as neighbors.
After setting everything up in our beautiful new yard, we find the Verizon data signal is abysmal and drum roll… that night our fridge dies. The data signal is so bad it takes Chris most of the night to troubleshoot the fridge issue. By morning he’s narrowed it down to the cooling whatcha-hoozie which is about $1,000 to replace. What the what?! He’s been saying all along that a residential fridge will be the successor when this one dies. At about $500 for a whole new residential fridge, we decide to go that route. But there’s the matter of putting it in… There was door frame measuring, current fridge measuring, comparing online measurements of new fridges and several calls to his buddy Chris Travaglino. They decide they can put it in together.
With my ice box (box with ice in it trying to keep my frozen meat frozen) in tow, we turn around and head back to Alabama for some more time with friends and a new fridge.
Clan of Parents 
tracibisson
April 9, 2013 at 12:03 pm
I love reading the posts about your journeys. We are also from NH and will be heading out on the road on 9/2014. Do you ever speak at any of the homeschooling expos or get togethers in and around NH? My kids are 13 and 8 – both boys. Would love to hear more about how your oldest likes the road. I need a bit more ammunition to convince my son:)
Sarah
April 9, 2013 at 2:29 pm
Thank you! We have spoken at the Rethinking Everything Conference many years and Life is Good 2012 (an impromptu/by demand session on extended family travel) but have not been to any of the New England conferences. We will be in and around southern New Hampshire for about 5 months this summer and have considered attending one up there. I can’t remember the name off hand… We should get together!
tracibisson
April 9, 2013 at 3:26 pm
Hi Sarah – thanks for the info on these 2 conferences. The Rethinking conference looks fantastic. I have been to some homeschooling conferences in our area but have not been able to find any roadschooling conferences. Do they exist? Would love to connect with you if you have time while in NH. If you prefer to email offline, I can be reached at traci (at) bissonbarcelona (dot) com. Would love to connect!
Sarah
April 9, 2013 at 3:30 pm
Are you connected with Fulltime Families? Check out the Facebook page! I also have an affiliate link on my blog ;). They have 2 rallies a year (one summer, one winter) which are the only ‘roadschooling’ type get togethers I can think of. Absolutely fantastic for traveling social connections and resources.
tracibisson
April 9, 2013 at 3:36 pm
Yes, I am a member and get their great ezine. Making plans to connect with that group depending on where their 2014 and 2015 outings are being held.
MaryElizabeth Hirsch
April 10, 2013 at 6:53 pm
Hi Sarah! It is always great to hear about your adventures.
You have been on my mind the last few days because we are about to hold another North Texas Homeschool Art Show. On Friday, I expect to show around 100 works of art from 35 homeschool families! (We also have performances.) I smile when I think of what you started. 🙂
Happy travels, my friend.
Mary Beth
Sarah
April 10, 2013 at 10:45 pm
Thank you, Mary Beth! And I am smiling in the knowledge that you’re continuing it. 🙂 And all because a 7 year-old said, “Wouldn’t it be cool if there was a place where kids could display their art like at the museum?” Yes. Yes, it would.
Love to you!
Dustin
April 14, 2013 at 12:16 am
Question? Why the residential fridge? Doesn’t this complicate things with having to have AC power? Do you boondock at all? Thanks.
Sarah
April 14, 2013 at 5:17 am
Hi Dustin! Actually most newer coaches are equipped with residential fridges right off the bat now. RV fridges are very poor quality (wrought with issues including mechanical and fire hazards) and ridiculously expensive to replace. My husband and his friend installed a dedicated inverter (with remote on/off) for the fridge so that it runs off our 4 coach batteries when we are driving and boondocking. It is energy star rated so the draw is more efficient as well.