Page 7 of Traveling with the Mountain Man

Sawyer

Ten years later

“Will this one comfortably fit a family of five or six?” I asked the sales rep, the large motor home parked in front of me gorgeous, yet intimidating.

“Yes, there may even be room for a seventh.” The sales rep chuckled and looked at my very pregnant wife, almost due with our second set of twins.

Unbeknownst to us, twins ran in her family and apparently, they ran in mine too.

With our three-year-old twin boys in the stroller, our five-year-old daughter standing next to me holding my hand, and our one-year-old son in my wife’s arms, we were a big clan. And only getting bigger.

“I’m pretty sure she’s done after this. A family of six is perfect. Can we take a look around?”

“Of course, take your time, look it over. It’s a big decision but when you’re raising a family on the road, you need space and comfort.”

“Thank you.” I said before leading my wife and kids over to the RV. We’ve been doing the van life ever since we met but with our rapidly growing family, we needed an upgrade to our space.

Both Leilani and I weren’t sure raising kids on the road was the right move but after a lot of back and forth, we decided to give it a try.

If it doesn’t work out, we could put down some roots and raise our children.

When they’ve grown, then we can travel once more.

We’ve seen so much of the country over the past several years and we got some good traveling in.

“You go in first, love. I’ll wait out here with the twins.”

My wife went inside, our five-year-old right behind her.

“This might be our new home, guys! What do you think?” I asked my twin boys, both of them looking at me with sleepy smiles.

When Leilani came out with our two children, I tried to read how she felt but all I was getting was tired.

My beautiful wife was tired.

Maybe it really was time to set down some roots.

“Was it gorgeous?”

“Yes, it’s beautiful.”

“So, what do you think?”

“My feet are killing me. Can we talk more about this at home?”

“If you want to stop traveling and settle down, tell me. We can put down roots somewhere and raise our kids. Use the money for the RV as a down payment on a house instead. Whatever you want, love.”

Leilani smiled. “The RV is beautiful, babe. Everything we’ve dreamed about and then some.

But we need to think about our daily lives.

Soon it’s going to be an energetic five-year-old, two three-year-olds who love to get into things, our one-year-old who’ll copy everything the twins do and then two more babies? How are we going to do this?”

I pulled her close. “We’ve got this, I know we do. We could settle down near your parents?”

“You would do that?”

“I’d do anything for you, love. You know that.” I kissed her soft lips. “Whatever will make this all easier on you.”

“Let’s find a home, then.” Tears slipped down her cheeks as she looked up at me.

“Okay. As long as I can keep our van.”

She laughed and swatted at my arm playfully. “Are you crazy? Of course you can. It’s special.”

“It is special. It’s where I fell in love with you”

“And proposed to me.”

“And eloped in Vegas.” I snickered. “That was a trip.”

“Don’t remind me.” Leilani grimaced. “Tequila is not my friend.”

After we started traveling on the road together, it wasn’t long before I proposed to her. I wanted her to be my wife like yesterday, but I settled for a trip to Vegas where we eloped at an Elvis wedding chapel.

A couple of years later, we redid the ceremony and had a celebration with family and friends and shortly after, Leilani was pregnant.

Van life was tricky with young kids, but we managed.

It seemed like after Leilani got pregnant the first time, she became super fertile, the kids not very apart in age.

It took a toll on her body, and I was positive she was tired and done with it.

Now it was time to hang up the rope on van life and focus on what was most important- my family.

But I’d never forget what van life did for me.

It took my sad situation and turned into a happy one.

One where I explored my dreams while traveling the world.

And one where I fell in love and married my forever.

THE END

I hope you enjoyed Sawyer and Leilani’s story!