Well. What do you know? Put that glass of wine down and come and look at this!
Dear Jaclyn and Heidi,
We spent months … actually years … preparing, plotting and planning for our big trip. We’ve been on the road for four months now and it’s been great … apart from the fact that my husband, Jon, just cannot stop obsessing about rigs. He has always been a thorough man and his research into what sort of vehicle would best suit us was typically meticulous. However, I thought that once we had pulled out of the driveway on our big adventure, the handwringing would stop. Boy, was I wrong! Every caravan park, every camping area is another opportunity for him to grill others about their caravan, motorhome or camper trailer. I’m sick of talking about how he thinks we got it right, or – the next day – how we didn’t. Right or wrong, I just want to focus on enjoying it now.
Toni
I feel for you, Toni. I really do. Sometimes the journey can be the destination and, in this case, it appears that planning for the journey is Jon’s destination. Give him some time and I am sure he will slowly settle into life on the road and realise what really is important. When you have spent as many hours looking at caravan brochures as he has, it can take a little while to realise you have moved beyond the ‘what should I buy’ challenge and are more in the ‘let’s make some great memories’ challenge. Reassure him how much you love your rig, Toni, but then try to steer his meticulous planning instincts towards finding you the best new campsite, or the best road to take, or the best place to sit in a campchair and pour a glass of Champagne and toast your good fortune.
Jaclyn
I know that in real estate circles it is often known as buyers’ regret, Toni. It’s an established phenomenon that whichever property someone ends up buying they always regret not getting the one they looked at three months ago or six months ago or whenever. News flash. There is no rig that you are 100% happy with. Tell Jon to get over it and get on with it. I think four months is quite long enough for him to wallow in self-doubt and it’s about time this rig bore was given a reality check before his obsessive personality derails the enjoyment of what should be the trip of a lifetime. Just let him know that if he doesn’t shape up, he might well be right about having bought the wrong rig. He should have bought a much smaller one better suited to the solo travels he will soon be doing!
Heidi
