The "Adventure" Begins

When my wife, Tara, told me that she might like to be a travel nurse, my mind immediately flashed back to June of 2014.  I was being wheeled into the OR for hernia surgery, and I could tell by the way she talked that the young lady taking me there wasn’t from around here -- “here” being Eugene, Oregon.  She explained to me in her sweet Alabama accent that she was a travel nurse who works at hospitals in different cities for 13 weeks at a time. To many people, that sounds like quite an adventure.  And that’s the term literally everyone has used when we’ve told them about our new lifestyle: adventure.

In future installments, I’ll talk about some of the specific issues we’ve encountered.  Deciding where Tara’s first contract was going to take us, quitting our jobs, selling the house, getting rid of a bunch of our stuff -- if you’re interested in owning any of our former possessions, you might find them at your Eugene/Springfield St. Vincent DePaul stores -- renting a duplex to keep as a “tax home,” buying a motorhome, and driving across the country might  sound simple enough. But believe it or not, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. And somehow, having two cats and a ferret did not make it easier.  

For now, though, here’s a quick overview.  Tara quit her job at McKenzie-Willamette hospital in Springfield at the end of July.  She began her first contract at Mercy Hospital in Redding, California, in mid-August, about the same time I gave notice at McKenzie River Broadcasting.  Tara rented an apartment in Redding, and I joined her in mid-October. On October 25th we took delivery of a 36’ 2020 Entegra Emblem class A motorhome, and for the next three weeks lived in it (with the two cats and ferret) at Mountain Gate RV Park just north of Redding.  Tara’s contract there ended on November 14th. After spending a few days back in Eugene, we spent five days driving to Denton, Texas, where Tara works at The Heart Hospital.

That’s the short version.  I’ll save the frustrations for next time, but, spoiler alert: Tara and I are still married.