Photography by Fritz Meitzen

2005 - 2006 Cross Country Road Trip

Fritz here - I call this section "Limbo" because that's what it was. We were not quite on the road anymore, but not quite settled, mostly staying with friends and family, and often feeling as though we were without a place. We bounced from place to place as you can see below visiting loved ones for the holidays. I think this is what we might have needed, as it served as a transition from being alone with one another to always being around other people. On February 6th, we moved into our apartment in San Angelo. It has been quite an adjustment to apartment living, and the process is ongoing, but we are still day dreaming of what tomorrow might bring.

Fritz here - On this journey, we covered 33,549 miles, spent 277 days without a stationary home, and saw 37 US states, and 3 Canadian provinces. We were able to visit with friends and family all across the country and we both got a great lesson in life. We were fortunate to make a few friends along the way and with any luck we will enjoy those bonds for many years to come.

I have been asked by many what was my favorite place. What was my favorite this or that or the other. I always stumble with the answer, and I think I know the reason why. Everything we experienced on this trip was amazing. I'm serious. From seeing prairie dogs in the Badlands, to sea otters in Alaska, from the giant saguaro cactus in Arizona to the giant Sequoias in California, from the weather beaten coastline of Maine, to the sun bathed beaches of the Florida Keys...the country truly is amazing. I would do it all again tomorrow, literally, if I had the money to do so. It's funny how you end a trip and all you can think about is how you would do it differently the next time...next time. There will be one I think. It would be wrong to not experience this whole thing again. We have truly become travel junkies. We've talked about RV'ing across the US much slower; we've talked about buying a plane one day and exploring the heights. There are other countries, other cultures, other sights and sounds that must be experienced.

People asked us how we did it. How could two people, a male and a female, survive in the car day after day, night after night, not killing one another. I'm not going to lie to you and say that we didn't have some pretty ugly fights, but we worked them out every time and we found that usually we were either hungry, tired, or had to use the restroom. I love my wife and she loves me. This trip was a marriage accelerator. We spent about 17 conscious hours a day together. Most couples spend about 5 hours in the evening after work. In our 10 months of travels we experienced almost three years of stationary life together. We are stronger than we have ever been and I could not be happier. The trick is to understand that everyone fights, even the "perfect" couples, and just knowing this will give you strength to say,"hey, it's ok if we fight, it's not the end of the world." You will gain a feeling of trust over time from learning and growing together. When you cast aside the fear and insecurity that you inflict upon yourself, then you are free to love unconditionally.

Our plans for the future: I'll let you know as we figure them out...

Nicole here - When we were in Texas for the holidays, we took our 'mobile home' to a shop for some routine maintenance. The mechanic asked what year the truck was, and upon hearing that she is a 1999, he suggested we start looking for a new one. Without thinking I told him, rather adamantly, that we would not be selling this 'place'. Over the course of our trip, this burnt orange, unleaded gas guzzling truck became our home. How could someone insinuate she needed to be replaced? She took us thousands of miles from Texas to Alaska to the Florida Keys. No one place can be labeled a favorite because every nook and cranny of the USA has something unique and beautiful to offer. We saw, experienced, and learned so much. As JL Tolkien wrote, "Not all who wander are lost." Those of us with that inherent wanderlust know that one of the best ways to see the world, meet amazing people, simplify (and learn what you really need and want to live the life you dream), and grow is to get out there and experience all that the world has to offer. Over time you learn that home can be anywhere; for us it was wherever the truck was parked for the night.

Contrary to popular belief, spending every waking hour with the man you love does not lead to insanity or the desire to throw hubby from the train. Rather, it leads you and he to grow closer and to plan all the places you will see together next; hike the Appalachian Trail, bike Ireland, back pack Europe, Asia, New Zealand, and Australia- mind you once we have given our bank accounts some serious life support.

Many people along the way have said they could never do a trip like this. For those who truly want to travel, know that it is possible. Granted, we have no children or mortgage and we have incredibly supportive family and friends who have welcomed us into their homes, and occasionally their pocketbooks. However, if you work hard, save, and plan, you can do it. When we were in DC, we bought a necklace that has a quote from Henry David Thoreau. It reads "live the life you have imagined." It seems profound but is incredibly simple. The only person that can envision your perfect life (whether it involves travel, a certain career, going back to school, running a 5K), AND live it, is you. As for us, we will see you on the road, the plane, the boat, or the trail...