Dear Jaclyn and Heidi,
Hubbie and I are new to the Big Lap. We’ve found that when other grey nomads find out we are ‘novices’ they bombard us with suggestions and advice. It’s so overwhelming. We are in Mount Gambier now and had planned to head across the Nullarbor in a couple of weeks, before meandering up the west coast, then going across to Darwin and down the Centre to be back in Adelaide for Christmas. But now I don’t know. People say we should go up the Centre now and come down the west coast in wildflower season, or change plans to see some special festival here or there, or head this way then because of this or that. With people all saying different things, I’m panicked we’re going to get it wrong and ruin our dream trip.
Becky
Stop worrying, Becky! There is no great Grey Nomad judge sitting up in a caravan park in the sky passing judgement on your performance. There is no perfect Big Lap. There is no perfect time to do this or do that. There is no one thing you have got to do. Everybody is different and wants different things at different times for different reasons. Of course, you should listen to other people’s advice but don’t view their successful trip as a blueprint for your own. Spending three weeks out on Queensland’s gemfields scratching around for sapphires may not be as wonderful to you as it was to Jean and Johnny. Just have fun, Becky. If you were happy yesterday, happy today and reckon you’ll wake up happy tomorrow, then you’re pretty close to the perfect Big Lap.
Jaclyn
Oh come on Becky, you’re a big girl now. Being a grey nomad is pretty much like everything else you do in life … sometimes you get it right and sometimes you get it wrong, sometimes you listen to good advice and sometimes you listen to bad. As we all go through life we develop skills and acquire experience that helps us sort the wheat from the chaff or the duff advice from the gold. Taking the Big Lap can help relax people but don’t rely on it to transform your personality, Becky. If you were an indecisive ditherer in your past life – and it sounds like you probably were – you’ll likely be exactly the same out on the open road. If you’re still looking for one more piece of advice, try this … back your own judgement, Becky!
Heidi
