The Sage Connection

The inside story of five generations under one roof

Will RV camping be a good solution for all 10?

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Recently our family has undergone some changes. Not for the first time we, have added some new faces.  More stepchildren and significant others have joined our tribe. Other long-term members have dropped out.

So, we now have a “new normal”. Not only that, but five of these changes now live under our roof. Counting the 10-month-old great-great-grandson, there are now eight heads on the beds where there used to be three.

Five generations under one roof.

Very different indeed. The new step-grands only visit during holidays and summer – the other five are here full-time until they find a place of their own.  Adjustments had to be made.  Fortunately, we have three bathrooms. Unfortunately, we only have one water heater.

Laundry and dishes have to be done daily, often more than once, after the eight showers have been completed.

We have one refrigerator and a small chest freezer but everyone has different tastes and it is rare when we all share the same meal. Two breakfasts, lunches and dinners daily mean multiple shopping trips weekly. We only have so much storage space.

And then there are the activities. For instance, my great-granddaughter is taking driving lessons. The baby’s daddy watches the baby while these lessons take place. Four of the adults work and two do not, but will be attending online classes. One writes a weekly column that often necessitates interviewing others outside the home.

I take care of the kitchen and some meals – my daughter prepares the rest and my granddaughter feeds her tribe. Everybody shops.

Next door lives the other grandchildren and great-grandkids. A few steps away, they are here often, and the soon-to-be-four-year-old visits daily.  Friday nights have become “family night” when everyone is here for dinner. Breakfast on Sunday gathers everyone together again.

Next week another daughter will arrive from California for a week-long visit to determine if she might like to move up here also.

Last weekend my son-in-law and daughter came home with a new travel trailer that sleeps 10. Trips were immediately discussed, planned and booked; during the trailer tour, I was shown three different possible beds before choosing the one I wanted.

Now of course, with all these people participating, we have nowhere near enough dishes, linens, cooking pots and utensils, so more shopping trips are in our near future. And Murphy’s Law dictates that there will be more shopping trips necessary after we head out for our destination and discover what we don’t have, but need.

The trailer has two TVs and a hook-up for one more outside, along with multiple charging stations for all the electronics that undoubtedly will accompany us. Disney cartoons and popcorn are definitely in my future.

I am not sure where the dogs will sleep, but now that I can go camping with everyone else, there might be no one left at home to feed and care for them. Nine adults, two babies. A three-year-old, and four dogs. I can hardly contain my excitement…

The family is thrilled with the idea of hikes, swimming, hot springs and board games. I, on the other hand,  am thrilled with the idea they will be out of the trailer for a while.

Still, I will try it at least once, and if all goes well, perhaps several times. If this is to be my “new normal”, I might as well embrace it. Hopefully, it will be delightful. And if for some reason it is not, the dogs and I will be content to keep each other company at home, in the blissful quiet.

Kathleen Anderson writes this column each week from her home in Olympia.  Contact her at   kathleen@theJOLTnews.com or post your comment below.

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  • Drutty

    You have a GREAT attitude of adaptability but also reality. Happy trails~!

    Wednesday, May 18, 2022 Report this