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How to Avoid Being Alone on Holidays

There is no reason to be without family and friends during holidays just because you’re a nomad.  The key is simple.

Be somewhere awesome!

Everyone wants a vacation and especially during a Holiday weekend.  And let’s face it, the typical sitting around and eating all day is fine but, we all crave a little adventure every once in a while.  If you tempt them, they will come.

We are in sunny California camping at Soledad Canyon and we managed to talk the grandparents into flying in from Arkansas, one sibling and the the boyfriend from Austin, mom from Dallas and The Aunts family from Bakersfield.  Meet the family.

family

Here is how we lured in Jason’s family for Easter weekend.

1.  Keep it cheap and offer to do the work… it’s going to be beautiful weather and it’s camping so there is plenty to do and we will rent a cabin for Grandma and Grandpa.  It’s way cheaper than a cruise plus, I will cook and take a family photo for everyone.

meet our family

2.  Be a good story teller…Just think, all of us hanging around the picnic tables, playing games and toasting marshmallows in the fire… its memories we’ll remember forever!

volleyball

marshmallow roast

3.  Play both sides…For the ones that want to sleep in, they can, the cabins are nice and quiet.  For the adventurous ones, we can strap on our hiking shoes and head up the mountain while the sleepy heads are snoozing.

hike up

a rest at the top

to the top

4.  Always have a plan B….if we don’t feel like eating in, Santa Clarita is just a short drive and there is always L.A. if we want to check out the city!  We could even spend a whole day on the beach!  We’ll even get Grandpa David in on the action!  Just watch out for that killer serve!

santa monica

grandma rita chillin

jason's spike

the cool grandpa

killer serve

5.  Once they show up, deliver on your promises.  If you don’t show them a good time, they won’t come back.  If they don’t show up…try again and until then, maybe read Benjamin’s tips on how to enjoy your solo holiday.

crazy fun

family dinner

We’re lucky to have supportive families who are willing to roll along with our ever changing lives.  As much as we would like to think we are special, I have a feeling if you are somewhere awesome, you won’t have to spend your next holiday alone at the Chinese buffet.

Have you ever lured your family away for a Holiday?  If so, tell us your tips and how it went in the comment box below!

Hello there! I honestly don’t know what to say, so I am going to tell you a bunch of random facts instead. I'm a fish eating vegetarian who hates spiders and loves snakes. I almost never took vacations growing up. I wanted to be Pippi Longstocking (still do). I misspell about every other word I write and still struggle with grammar. I love splurging on a good high tea (which is really hard to find these days). And whatever you do, don’t tell me I can’t do something, because then I'll HAVE to do it!

Comments (20)

  • mary van

    I LOVE the last photo of us on the mountain jumping around. Do you think we can set that up on my computer screen so I can see it every time I log on? Maybe for Mother’s Day??

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  • Tom Joyce

    You have a great and Glorious life and enjoy wherever and whoever you meet . Keep the great life and adventures you engage in. God Bless

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    • Tom that’s a tall order…we’ll do our best to keep it up as long as we can stand each other 🙂

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  • Gina and Jeff

    Fun pictures. You all look so happy!

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  • Great tips and I love thetime lapse shots….Clearly your family are bonkers…lol

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    • Mark, you are correct we come from a long line of crazy people 🙂

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  • Very beautiful Wynns! Missing family on particular holidays is always the toughest thing about full-timing for us (except maybe for cold showers and sewage pipes).

    Such lovely photos you’ve put together, I want to come!

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  • Pat

    I saw the URL to your website on both your RV and toad. There was something familiar sounding about it. I told my wife and she said she knows who you are and “likes” your FB page! We remembered that you said you would start a blog to chronicle your two years on the road.

    I’m really happy to see that you followed through on your plans and from what I’ve seen so far, your blog is good and very entertaining.

    We just saw your RV and URL today; Of course, it was hard to miss because we are right down the aisle from you at this very moment! We’re in spot 21.

    When we’re not on the road we store our RV just around the corner from where you bought yours. We’re not full timers, but still manage to be on the road about a third of the time. I hope to meet you before one of us leaves and talk a bit about your travels and maybe take a couple of photos for my own “travel” blog.

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    • Pat I’m sad we didn’t get to connect…you guys must have been busy because each time we walked by the Jeep was gone! oh well, I guess we’ll see you online!

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      • Pat

        Hi Jason and Nikki
        We are also sorry about that. We were gone a lot of the time and usually didn’t return until pretty late. I have a sister in Santa Barbara and we made a few trips down there. Yesterday, we took a Forest Service road over the mountains and ended up at Refugio State Park. it may have technically been called a road, but it was really just a dirt ledge carved out of the side of the hills and mountains. Narrow, dirt, no guard rails and sometimes a drop off of a thousand feet or more. Oh yeah, the “road” was partially blocked in a few places by rock slides. Only 26 miles, but it took us over three hours! I’m telling you because we were going to invite you guys to ride along in the jeep. Alas, you were gone! I don’t remember if you told us where your next stop was going to be, but have fun wherever it is!

        take care…

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  • Robert {Bob}Dawson

    awsome family so great to see enjoy your blog so much thanks so much for sharing.Bob in Md

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  • Hi Nikki and Jason,
    We were in Soledad Canyon for Easter! I stopped by and knocked on your door to invite you over, but I see you were out having a blast with your family! Good for you

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    • So sad we missed you….although as you can see we were extremely busy. How about a rain check for next time?

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  • Irene

    Awesome family and family gathering! I see where you two get your adventurous and fun spirits from! Well, at least Jason’s comes naturally – I’ll bet Nikki’s is the same!

    You are such a great inspiration for us – I think I channel a little of your spirits in every day things and fun things, too!

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