experience more:
Are you a rule follower or a rule breaker? Early in our marriage, I learned something very interesting about my husband: He hates rules. Hates them. Why? Because he is a rule follower. So to him, the less rules the better. If there is going to be a rule, it better be one worth following. No ambiguity, no arbitrary rules. So when we downsized our life and began our semi-nomad lifestyle, we put in place one rule we knew we could, and would always follow.
one new person…
Because we live in a rental community (that happens to be much more like a resort) we find this one pretty easy to follow. Each week we make it our mission to meet one person. Bonus points if that person happens to be new to the community. It’s a great way to extend a friendly hand, make someone feel welcome, and help them get settled in.
We have met so many fun people this way. Living in a rental community has taught us that acquaintances come and go, people move in and they move out. Some of these introductions have led to friendships, and others have only left us with fond memories. Either way, we are always happy for each face we get to meet each week.
Find out what happens When We meet new people:
The Benefits of Living A Semi-Nomadic Lifestyle
one new restaurant…
The second part of the ‘one rule’ is that we try one new restaurant each week. It’s easy to get into a rut and in a town as small as ours, we have the usual culprits: Chick-filet, The Pizza Place, The Mexican Cantina… after a while, you can find yourself making the same restaurant rounds, eating the same meals over and over again.
So each week, we like to look online, see who’s new in the area, and give them a try. So far on our bucket list we have a new Indian restaurant, a local dairy farm (that serves homemade ice cream), and a great burger joint to try. It’s always fun to visit the local establishments, and I must confess, more than a few know us by name and know our usual order as soon as we walk in the door.
But trying one new restaurant each week has been a great way to meet new friends, and become a better part of the community.
one new thing…
In addition to the ‘one new person’ and ‘one new restaurant’ rules, we also have the ‘one new thing’ rule. Our town is literally full of events to attend, free music concerts in the park during the summer, baseball games, college sports events, car shows and tourist attractions.
Each week during the warmer months, we make it a point to do ‘one new thing’ each week. Sometimes it’s free, sometimes there is a cost. But every time we stick to the rule, we are so glad we did. We have met so many nice people, and had such fun attending local events. It is always a highlight of our week.
you can, too…
You don’t have to be on a semi-nomadic adventure, moving to a new location every couple of years. What we’ve discovered is that there is so much untapped potential in the local things…. Within twenty minutes of where we live we have a Nationally known museum, a National Park, several local attractions, a local sports team, and we are within one hour of Nashville, Tn.
I’m pretty sure if you look around and do a little research, you too can find adventure waiting right outside your own door. In the meantime, why not consider adopting the ‘one rule.’ You’ll be surprised how many new experiences await you!
xo, Billie
resources:
- Benefits of Living a Semi-Nomadic Lifestyle: https://forwardourmail.com/benefits-of-a-semi-nomadic-life-is-caring-for-others/
- The Importance of Trying New Things: https://northrange.org/blog/the-importance-of-trying-new-things/
- Mammoth Cave National Park Hikes: https://www.nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/backcountry-trails.htm
- Lookout Mountain, Georgia: https://www.lookoutmountain.com
- Aviation Heritage Museum: https://www.aviationheritagepark.com
- Beech Bend Drag Strip: https://beechbend.com/dragstrip/racing-schedule/
