There was a time in history when the term “civilized” was used to describe the people who lived, worked, and owned property within the walls of a city. Folks who did not live or own property within the city’s walls were called nomads or Gypsies. At some point in history, the word, Gypsy, took on racial connotations. Today, “it is often applied indiscriminately to any itinerant member of the population who is not obviously a tramp (Fraser, A., 1992).”
For thirty years the wandercrones lived, worked and owned property within the city. They were civilized. But, one day, all that changed. Circumstances beyond their control forced them to re-analyze the sensibility of remaining civilized. They began to wander. At first it was just on weekends in a 29 foot class “C” Coachman motor home named “Lazy.” Over time, their forays away from the city got longer and longer. Their desire to return to the city and its ever present restrictions became less and less. They found themselves suddenly addicted to movement and devoted to their own personal transformation through their journeys away from the city. In short, they became the wandercrones. In August of 1999, after selling and giving away almost all of their material possessions, they loaded what they had left into Lazy Two/Too, a 35 foot Class A Southwind motor home, and began a new life as full time motor homers–a modern day term for, gypsy.
Lisbeth Vincent –Lisbeth was committed to her work at universities and with public school systems and families across the United States in the area of early childhood development. She saw retirement as something that would happen in the very distant future. She was not ready to slow down. Leaving “the city” had never been part of her life’s equation. She loved the hustle and bustle. One day, health issues brought her face-to-face with stepping across the threshold of the “gates of the city.” Initially she did not have any desire to leave. However, physicians suggested that a more pastoral lifestyle might be just the ticket. She has since concluded that the expression,”retirement” is a bureaucratic hoax. Life, she says, exists beyond the walls of the city and should be experienced now! When she left the city, a dear friend gave her a plaque that reads, “always follow your heart.” Indeed, her heart led her initially to join Linda and then to begin this excellent adventure.
Linda Whedbee-- Yogi Bera once said, “If you come to a fork in the road, take it.” And, she has–over and over again. This time, the forks in her road have come at unexpected times in her professional career– first, as a Spanish teacher in the public schools when she decided to join Lisbeth and pursue advanced degrees. Later, as a university researcher in the field of education, when she decided to join Lisbeth at the “gates of the city.” Although many friends and colleagues encouraged her not to leave the security of the walls of the city, she had seen a new fork in the road. In the words of a young friend of hers, Linda was ready to “blow this popsicle stand!” Besides, as the daughter of a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, she was born with gypsy in her blood (that’s gypsy with a small “g”.)! Her heart was ready to follow Lisbeth.