Three for the Road – by Mike and Cyndy Cotter
From early September 1978 until the end of June 1979 we will share a great adventure with our son Joe. We are leaving our positions as nurse, 3rd grade student and ninth grade English teacher for an odyssey of our own covering the continental United States. This is a dream we have anticipated and planned for several years . Now, through good fortune, thorough planning and hard work the dream is coming true!
As children we were both treated to cross-country travel by our remarkable parents. Their spirit of adventure overcame the drawbacks of limited time and finances, rambling wrecks for transportation and large households. When we married and began our own family, we likewise began to travel together: Canada for one week; Florida for two weeks, and California for a full month. Each trip was more exciting, enjoyable and valuable. David and Susan, two close musical friends, took to the road indefinitely in 1977. They settled for a time in New Orleans and then Seattle. Postcards brought us news of the duo’s musical success, new friends, environments, and lifestyle and finally a new member- Jaimie. Those were two years of experiment, change and growth which brought deepened personal and marital happiness to our friends and inspiration to us. Our planning began in earnest almost two years ago.
We have been fortunate within our moderate means to enjoy professions which are personally and economically satisfying while providing flexibility for leaves of absence and new employment. By working extra hours and saving though our credit unions over the past year we have accumulated a cash reserve and a ready source of credit. We will boslter our savings during the winter and spring with as much street and club singing as Mike can do and as much special duty nursing as becomes necessary for Cyndy.
Our primary concern after commiting ourselves to the trip was the choice of a suitable vehicle. At first we thought we would attempt to convert an old panel truck but as we researched new and used motorhomes these became the obvious choice. After investigating dealerships and private parties in Mass and New Hampshire , we chanced upon a terrific buy- a twenty-four foot El Dorado “mini-motorhome” with sleeping for four, full kitchen, bathroom complete with small tub and many extras. A bargain price ($12,000) and credit union financing made this ideal transportation possible. Shake-dpown cruises to NH and Vermont have provided much practical information and the promise of comfort and efficiency.
With our home carefully rented and good friends to handle land-lord responsibilities while we would be gone, we plotted our course. It is surprising how little grammar school geography is remembered when first glancing at the routes and maps provided by AAA. (“Look where Montana is!” ) We have planned an East Coast and Southern course to bring us to San Fransicso by Christmas, several months to tour the west coast from southern California to the Canadian Rockies and a northern return in early July. Reunions with family and friends are eagerly anticipated along the route. Our days in between wil be filled with letter writing, journalistic projects, an hour of school work and daily guitar lesson with Joe,bike rides ,jogging, reading from Shakespeare to Tolkein, exploring,playing, enjoying time together balanced with some solitude. A prime objective is to wear out our new lounge chairs, but not by television viewing. We are not taking one!
This is a conscious one which requires comment. Some adults and children might react with a horrified ,”What, no TV; What will you do ?” Our answer is obvious- all the things that can be done without television. We prefer the multitude of activities,the reading , the music, the talk, the quiet which TV usurps for so many. We will keep well informed through the newspapers and radio as we experience this country and its people first hand. The absence of the violence ,aberrant behavior and general inanity of the tube will be a very positive experience for us all, particularly for eight year old Joe.
Most important is the philosophy motivating this journey. Simply stated,we belive in enjoying this life fully in the hear and now. Life has taught us not to procrastinate. We have witnessed in our personal and professional lives the cruelties of disease and accident , the unpredictability of chance and change, the regrets of those who have waited too long and the fortunes of the many who have not had such opportunities. We are making one of our dreams a reality. For a time we are leaving our relations and friends, satisfying jobs, the wonderful musical experience of the SeaBright Band, our happy and secure if hectic daily lifestyle for the change and growth that will come with this journey. A “once in a lifetime trip”? – No, only the first of many for there is so much to experience ,to learn and to enjoy in life all about us! Best of all will be sharing everything that these months of travel will offer as a family- three for the road.
From early September 1978 until the end of June 1979 we will share a great adventure with our son Joe. We are leaving our positions as nurse, 3rd grade student and ninth grade English teacher for an odyssey of our own covering the continental United States. This is a dream we have anticipated and planned for several years . Now, through good fortune, thorough planning and hard work the dream is coming true!
As children we were both treated to cross-country travel by our remarkable parents. Their spirit of adventure overcame the drawbacks of limited time and finances, rambling wrecks for transportation and large households. When we married and began our own family, we likewise began to travel together: Canada for one week; Florida for two weeks, and California for a full month. Each trip was more exciting, enjoyable and valuable. David and Susan, two close musical friends, took to the road indefinitely in 1977. They settled for a time in New Orleans and then Seattle. Postcards brought us news of the duo’s musical success, new friends, environments, and lifestyle and finally a new member- Jaimie. Those were two years of experiment, change and growth which brought deepened personal and marital happiness to our friends and inspiration to us. Our planning began in earnest almost two years ago.
We have been fortunate within our moderate means to enjoy professions which are personally and economically satisfying while providing flexibility for leaves of absence and new employment. By working extra hours and saving though our credit unions over the past year we have accumulated a cash reserve and a ready source of credit. We will boslter our savings during the winter and spring with as much street and club singing as Mike can do and as much special duty nursing as becomes necessary for Cyndy.
Our primary concern after commiting ourselves to the trip was the choice of a suitable vehicle. At first we thought we would attempt to convert an old panel truck but as we researched new and used motorhomes these became the obvious choice. After investigating dealerships and private parties in Mass and New Hampshire , we chanced upon a terrific buy- a twenty-four foot El Dorado “mini-motorhome” with sleeping for four, full kitchen, bathroom complete with small tub and many extras. A bargain price ($12,000) and credit union financing made this ideal transportation possible. Shake-dpown cruises to NH and Vermont have provided much practical information and the promise of comfort and efficiency.
With our home carefully rented and good friends to handle land-lord responsibilities while we would be gone, we plotted our course. It is surprising how little grammar school geography is remembered when first glancing at the routes and maps provided by AAA. (“Look where Montana is!” ) We have planned an East Coast and Southern course to bring us to San Fransicso by Christmas, several months to tour the west coast from southern California to the Canadian Rockies and a northern return in early July. Reunions with family and friends are eagerly anticipated along the route. Our days in between wil be filled with letter writing, journalistic projects, an hour of school work and daily guitar lesson with Joe,bike rides ,jogging, reading from Shakespeare to Tolkein, exploring,playing, enjoying time together balanced with some solitude. A prime objective is to wear out our new lounge chairs, but not by television viewing. We are not taking one!
This is a conscious one which requires comment. Some adults and children might react with a horrified ,”What, no TV; What will you do ?” Our answer is obvious- all the things that can be done without television. We prefer the multitude of activities,the reading , the music, the talk, the quiet which TV usurps for so many. We will keep well informed through the newspapers and radio as we experience this country and its people first hand. The absence of the violence ,aberrant behavior and general inanity of the tube will be a very positive experience for us all, particularly for eight year old Joe.
Most important is the philosophy motivating this journey. Simply stated,we belive in enjoying this life fully in the hear and now. Life has taught us not to procrastinate. We have witnessed in our personal and professional lives the cruelties of disease and accident , the unpredictability of chance and change, the regrets of those who have waited too long and the fortunes of the many who have not had such opportunities. We are making one of our dreams a reality. For a time we are leaving our relations and friends, satisfying jobs, the wonderful musical experience of the SeaBright Band, our happy and secure if hectic daily lifestyle for the change and growth that will come with this journey. A “once in a lifetime trip”? – No, only the first of many for there is so much to experience ,to learn and to enjoy in life all about us! Best of all will be sharing everything that these months of travel will offer as a family- three for the road.
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