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Thursday, December 11, 2014

Radical Adult Transitions

I guess there comes a time in every blogger's life when they feel uninspired about their blog. I've been trying to muster the interest in blogging about something - the campground, our RV necessities, my latest hike, the sights of San Diego, the past, the future ... but nothing is coming, and I think I know why.

I have a confession to make. I've been keeping a big secret from my blog, because I couldn't figure out how it fit in. Oh well, here I go breaking the mold.

Readers may or may not know that I'm a retired dance/movement therapist and educator. About seven months ago I got an invitation from the Marian Chace Foundation of the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) to give the "keynote" lecture that they sponsor at our annual professional conference. I was flabbergasted. I had actually just decided not to attend the ADTA annual conference for the first time in my memory. It's a huge honor to be invited to do this lecture, and of course I accepted.

So, for the past six months I've been writing that address. My mind has been possessed by the process needed to create the lecture, and it has been difficult to think about much of anything else.  The lecture ended up being about an aspect of adult or professional development that I called radical adult transition.  I defined it as a voluntary major change made after a significant period of stability in an adult’s life that affects relationships, identify, and life direction.

Some readers, especially those who are full-time RVers, may recognize themselves in the concept. I can't tell you how many people of all ages (not just retirees) we've met who've made radical adult transitions in their lives in order to live full-time on the road, like we are doing now. (So thank you fellow full-timers for the inspiration!)  

Interestingly, the adult development literature does not identify this phenomenon. Adulthood is seen as a period of stability, and radical change is seen as either a threat to the functions of adulthood, or something that happens to you, like an accident or some unforeseen event. Yet radical adult transitions seem to be happening more and more. People choose to make major changes in their occupations, locations, family status, religions, etc. that end up changing almost everything about their lives. Adulthood just doesn't seem to be as stable as it used to be.

So anyway, a month ago I delivered the address at the conference in Chicago. It was a true peak experience, both professionally and personally. Now I am feeling a sense of emptying out of what I'd been working on for the past half year. Certainly after the emotional high of giving the lecture itself and all the incredible feedback I received, I am feeling something of post-high recovery and emptiness. It's not a bad feeling, but it does feel odd being back in this life without that lecture running around in my head all the time.

Emptiness can be a kind of blessed quietness and a good place for something new to grow. So I'm waiting to see what comes.  I'm concerned that it may not fit with the theme of the blog thus far and I guess I'll have to deal with that when it comes up.  (We've been parked for awhile, and I do think when we get to traveling again that my enthusiasm for the road, new sights and photography will probably return full force. But we'll see.)

In a few weeks I believe the lecture I gave will be published online in the American Journal of Dance Therapy. I'll post a link when that happens.

Thanks for reading.






11 comments:

  1. Oh yes, I can relate, Radical Adult Transitions aptly describes the evolution that happened in my life over the past couple of years, hence the name of my blog.

    I want you to know I thoroughly enjoy your writing and your photography and appreciate your having shared it in this space so far. Looking forward to the next phase should you choose to share it here!

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    1. Thanks Lisa. Yes, I had a feeling you might be in the R.A.T. club (terrible acronym), and did get the hint from your blog title. Change on!

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  2. Congratulations on being asked to lecture. Sounds like a special accomplishment. I think we all go through writers block. Sometimes the posts flow freely and other times not so much. Enjoy your time in So. Cal. we're thinking about staying in the west next winter and spending at least a month in San Diego.

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    1. Thanks for relating. Just revisited your whole series of posts about Colorado and it's such a great resource. We hope to stay at both St. Vrain and Chatfield on your recommendations. San Diego's a great location - sorry I haven't written more about it this time, but I did more a couple of years back. Many others have though. Santee is one of the best spots near San Diego - it reminds me of St. Vrain with all the birds on the ponds.

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  3. Howdy! Your site is new to us. We ventured over from the link "Metamorphosis Lisa" provided. Of course, we don't know HER (them) either. But we follow her blog sometimes. In any event, we are up the road aways from where you are presently. We live in Apple Valley in the High Desert. We are planning our Great Escape in 2016. We no longer have the home, we lease a year at a time. Now it's a matter of getting rid of or storing "stuff". We're working on it. We already have the motorhome, which is paid for, and I am presently installing a solar system for prolonged boondocking.

    I think that ANYONE who is going from "normal" living and working, to a full-time RV lifestyle, passes thru Radical Adult Transitions. And, according to some things I've read, when the time comes to leave THAT lifestyle, another Radical Adult Transition will ensue as one "transitions" back to "normalcy". I don't want to even think about it. Maybe I'm not ready for adulthood quite yet. :)

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  4. So glad to "meet" you and welcome to the new world of full-timing, whenever that actually happens for you. I hope your transition goes well for you. I'm sure many new and wonderful changes await you.

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  5. I completely understand the feeling that you are describing. I have been parked in one space in North Carolina since late August after moving from place to place almost weekly in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado, Recently I even entertained buying or building a new house, met with a builder and found a building lot. Also considered moving into a continuing care retirement community. Had not done a blog-post on PUPPY PATHS in over a month. Had not taken any photos with my camera in over a month after often taking over a thousand a day. So I looked at some of my old photos and did two or three new posts and I am ready to move again. Your post further inspired me, thank you. The "RAT Club" is a special club that not just everyone understands, sadly, their loss. There is so much wonder and beauty to see and behold in this wonderful country of ours. In January I will be back on the road, camera in hand.

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  6. Welcome Steve, and thanks so much for your comment. We never read about the kinds of transitions you were considering in the travel blogs, so it's interesting to hear your perspective on them. We often read about the transition into the "RAT" Club but rarely hear about the transition out - but a lot of folks do that too. I'm glad you're going to be out on the road again, with camera in hand especially. Send me a message when you're on the road again, or send me a link to your blog so I'll know when you're on your way so I can cheer you on! Blog on!

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  7. Lenore, thank you for the welcome. I have been a full-time RVer since July 2011 and started my blog PUPPY PATHS, www.puppypaths.blogspot.com, when the pending sold sign went up on my brick home. I got my first camera, a Nikon D7000, in December 2012. Most all of the photos on the blog before then were done with my cell phone. Still use it some and at times get great results. I especially like flowers and some of my recent favorites are on the September 29, 2014 post, "A Baker's Dozen". Some of my favorite street scenes are on the December 15, 2014 post, "San Antonio Street Scenes, the Alamo & River Walk!!".

    I, too, am a follower of RV-Dreams and have a good friend in Greensboro, North Carolina that is a dance/movement therapists at Moses Cone Hospital. My first RV was a Mobile Suite and I have also owned an DRV Elite Suite. Since December 2012 I have been living in a Tiffin Allegro Bus motor home.

    Fallingwater is a very special spiritual place to me and I especially enjoyed your post and the outstanding photos you took there. I also enjoyed Taliesin but Fallingwater was more special to me. I really enjoy your blog. Your photography and writing are both top shelf in the blogging world!! I look forward to reading your lecture.

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    1. Thanks so much for your kind words Steve. I'll check out those pictures on your blog. I've never had much luck with photos on my iPhone.
      My, you do have some experience with RV's! How do you like your Tiffin now? And how are you liking full-timing?

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  8. If you go to the www.puppypaths.blogspot.com October 22, 2012 post, "The Start Of Our DRV Elite Suite RVing Journey" you will see my history with DRV and the reason for three new RVs since 2010. I like the Tiffin Allegro Bus; however, next month I will be making my fourth trip to Red Bay for factory repairs. I like full-timing very much but since 2012 I have spent over six months in factory and dealer parking lots having warranty work. Driver thousands on miles for the repairs and missed or had to change lots of events and plans with family and friends. Most of the time the issues were poor installation of unreliable components. Bob and Tim Tiffin have been great to deal with. Can't say the same for David Fought at DRV.

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