Why I Don’t Tow!
\n(a rant inspired by fellow blogger Jill’s post and a subsequent comment to her post)
\nto read Jill’s post and the comment, go to:
\nhttp:\/\/airstreamlife.com\/amoveablefeast\/2008\/01\/13\/8\/<\/p>\n
People continually confront me with the fact that for over two years of full time travel I have never towed the Airstream. \u00a0 Their astounded tone of voice quickly turns to one of accusation and disdain. \u00a0 How could I not share in such an arduous task? (We have crossed this country seven times – that’s a lot of towing.) \u00a0 What if Rich were to get sick? \u00a0 What if there was an emergency? \u00a0 How would we survive if I can’t tow? \u00a0 In their eyes I am villainous! \u00a0 Most of the individuals who can not comprehend my refusal to tow have never traveled long distances with a child in the car. \u00a0 Most of them have never traveled full time while still working. \u00a0 None of them have been married to Rich.<\/p>\n
First and foremost, when we were conceptualizing our tour, I told Rich I would not tow and he accepted that fact. \u00a0 If my husband is OK with me not towing, then it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. \u00a0 \u00a0 I could end this post right here. \u00a0 But I won’t. \u00a0 You see, I’m feeling slightly self righteous this morning, so let me set the record straight! \u00a0 It’s not a matter of can vs. can’t, it’s can vs. won’t.<\/p>\n
I can tow. \u00a0 I won’t tow!<\/p>\n
When Rich is sick, we stay put until he is well. \u00a0 (Do you go to your husband’s place of employment and perform his job when he is ill? \u00a0 No. \u00a0 He calls in sick and resumes his responsibilities when he is well.)
\nWhen there is an emergency, we do not tow our 30′ Airstream to the hospital with us! \u00a0 And yes, I know how to unhitch. \u00a0 (Do you take your Airstream with you when you need to see a doctor? \u00a0 I seriously doubt it.)
\nIf we were to encounter a health emergency so critical that there was no time to unhitch, I would not be towing, I’d be dialing 911. \u00a0 (I hope you would have enough common sense do the same!)<\/p>\n
Sitting in the front passenger seat, I am more than the driver’s travel companion, I am the other passenger’s travel companion as well. \u00a0 When we are in the car I help navigate, \u00a0 but mainly, I entertain Emma when she is bored. \u00a0 She was only five when we started our life of travel and hated being in the car, so this was a full-time job before she could read. \u00a0 She still hates being in the car, but now she can read to herself. \u00a0 DVD’s and GameBoy are strictly limited by Rich (not more than two hours of either in a day), so it still makes my interaction quite necessary. \u00a0 If Rich were in the front passenger seat, he would work on his laptop or talk on his cell phone, or he would try to nap. \u00a0 I would still be in charge of Emma’s dilemmas.<\/p>\n
When we arrive at our destination, I help to back in with hand signals. \u00a0 Rich sets us up outside, and I am responsible for the inside of the trailer. \u00a0 Once we are settled in, Rich usually goes right to work on the magazine. \u00a0 Our life is not 9 to 5. \u00a0 We are not retired. \u00a0 We are not on an extended vacation. \u00a0 The Airstream is our home, office, and classroom. \u00a0 I am Emma’s school teacher. \u00a0 I am her playmate – she has no siblings. \u00a0 I am always a mother and a wife. \u00a0 I am the one who prepares and cooks dinner and does the dishes. \u00a0 Rich can’t cook. \u00a0 I help Emma bathe and get ready for bed. \u00a0 My day doesn’t end when the driving ends.<\/p>\n
We have a clear division of responsibilities and my responsibilities do not include towing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Why I Don’t Tow! (a rant inspired by fellow blogger Jill’s post and a subsequent comment to her post) to read Jill’s post and the comment, go to: http:\/\/airstreamlife.com\/amoveablefeast\/2008\/01\/13\/8\/ People continually confront me with the fact that for over two years of full time travel I have never towed the Airstream. \u00a0 Their astounded tone […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tour.airstreamlife.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1120"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tour.airstreamlife.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tour.airstreamlife.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tour.airstreamlife.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tour.airstreamlife.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1120"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tour.airstreamlife.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1120\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tour.airstreamlife.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1120"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tour.airstreamlife.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1120"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tour.airstreamlife.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1120"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}