- Date: March 13, 2026
- Location: Atlantic, Iowa
There are some days that feel bigger than the miles you travel, and this was one of them.
Over the past three months, we have been packing up the house and letting go of a lifetime of accumulated things. On Wednesday, March 11, we officially listed the house for sale. Pulling away with the trailer behind us felt heavier than I expected. It was emotional in a way that is hard to put into words. One chapter had clearly come to a close, and another had just begun.
Our first night on the road was spent at Oak Tree Farms in Wilton, Iowa, a Harvest Host stop that turned out to be a great beginning. What made it even more memorable was Hank, the livestock guard dog and a beautiful Great Pyrenees, who seemed to appoint himself as my personal greeter. Every time I opened the camper door, there he was, ready to say hello.
On March 12, we pointed the truck west on I 80 without much of a plan. That is one of the things I am already learning about this lifestyle. Sometimes the road has its own ideas, and the signs along the way start shaping the day for you.
That is exactly how we ended up stopping at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum. We saw the sign, pulled off, and spent about an hour walking through the visitor center and the grounds. Later, another sign led us to the Amana Colonies, where we found a charming town full of shops, wineries, and history.
We also made a detour into Newton, Iowa. Since we had missed the last RJO show, it felt important to stop by the RJO office and say our goodbyes in person. Ruby, of course, drew plenty of attention and made her presence known. We also had the chance to reconnect with Connie, who retired years ago, and that made the stop even more special.
Before the day was over, we made one more detour to Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. Seeing the buffalo and elk herds out in their natural setting was a fitting end to a day that already felt full in the best way.
That evening, we landed in Atlantic, Iowa, where we shared dinner with retired jewelry store owners and longtime RJO family members. It is hard to believe they have already been retired for ten years.
As we settle into this new rhythm, our focus remains on health and healing. Each day is being shaped around doing our best to address our health challenges through the Bredesen Protocol.
So far, the rig is doing well. No major issues to report in these first couple of days. We did pick up a small chip in the windshield of the new Ram, and we are still regularly playing the game of trying to remember where we packed everything. Downsizing our entire lives into a truck and a 26 foot trailer is no small task, but little by little, we are finding our rhythm.
