By Gail Marsh
One of the best things about RVing is the people you meet along the way. Today, I’d like to introduce you to Willie.
First meeting
I first met Willie while on a walk around the campground. He was walking his little black and brown dog and he was whistling. To be clear, Willie was whistling, not his dog, although both looked extremely happy. So, maybe the dog was whistling, inside his little doggie head. Anyway, I greeted both Willie and his dog with a friendly smile. Later that evening, Willie joined the community campfire. He sat right next to me.
Willie’s story
• Employment. As is customary, folks new to the campfire introduce themselves to the group. Willie was asked what he did before retirement. “Well,” he said. “I was a maintenance engineer most of my life.” He leaned over and winked at me. “That’s just a highfalutin’ word for janitor,” he confided.
• Retirement plans. Throughout the evening, bits and pieces of Willie’s life were slowly revealed. He lived all his life in the same place, mid-Nebraska. Widowed just two weeks before he was set to retire, Willie decided to remain on the job. “My retirement plans died with my wife of 53 years,” Willie regretfully admitted. “We always planned to get an RV and wander all over the country. Instead, I worked another four years.”
• New plans. I wondered how Willie came to be camping if he’d given up his dream. So, I asked him. “Well,” Willie chuckled. “A while back my kids told me I was going to be dead within six months if I didn’t stop feeling sorry for myself. I took the money we’d saved up for an RV and bought our dream rig. It’s the little Class B. I still miss my wife. Every day. But I’m not dead yet. I’ve been traveling for two years, been in 22 different states, and I’m happy with my wanderin’ life. I think I’m gonna’ be okay.”
Grief certainly doesn’t follow a set schedule, but a nudge from his kids gave Willie the strength to live his dream. I feel confident that his wife would approve. Don’t you?
Do you have a story about someone like Willie you’ve met in a campground? Please leave a comment below and tell me all about them.
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##RVT1200
I’ve met many, many a Willie and a few Willaminas in campgrounds. There due to their wife’s or husband’s death but more often a divorce. Retired, they now live a solitary RV life. Most stay in the same campground year round while some have taken to the open road. Either way they couldn’t find a new mate or in most cases didn’t care to. Always reminds me of the song, Mr. Bojangles, who travelled the south. Some had dogs but most didn’t. Some had children and grandchildren somewhere.
I was Willie. When my wife of 31 years passed away in 2018, I didn’t know what to do with myself. We had always loved travelling, so I bought a diesel pickup and a travel trailer. My dog, Bentley, and I hit the road. We’d travel a month and get lonely. We’d stay home a week and get bored. Then I met a lady on a Facebook group offering grief support for Widows and Widowers. She loved travelling as much as I did. We got married at Glacier National Park in 2020. She, and Bentley, and I spent 4 months travelling to Alaska last summer. Somebody is looking for Willie!
Thank you Gail. This sort of put a new light and perspective for me personally. I lost my wife of 58 yrs. to COPD on 11Sep24. I am at that 6 mo. mark of loneliness – which Hospice warned me about! We have, and now I have, a 34′ Class A and the question is do I or don’t I use it? It has mamy memories of our travels together. While it is large for 1 person and unlike “Willie”, I have 4 young great grand-kids in the area two boys 8-12, love Rving. Grand daugter and husband visit often as well – but those nites alone can be difficult – not sure what life & memories on the road would be like. I guess maybe try it and find out would be the rule. Thanks for the article Gail!
Thank you for the inspiring story, Gail! Have a great week and safe travels!
Now that’s living the used to be American Dream 🤔