On Roadschool...

“How hard can it be?  I have been teaching for over 15 years.”

              This is what I told myself as I began reading a number of education books, including a few homeschool and unschooling books.  Truthfully, I was nervous as hell.  All the typical questions crossed my mind.  What about socialization?  Can I teach them what they need to know?  Will they fall behind in certain subjects? 

From the experience of teaching at a diverse, academically challenging, and prestigious school, I realized from the beginning that I could never outmatch the number of talented teachers and resources available at such an institution.  Yet I still felt the experiences and opportunities of traveling would shape the mind of my daughters in a unique manner and in many ways put them ahead of other children.

              But all of those books I read failed to tell me what the future held, mostly because those parents are still in the process of homeschooling.  Did their kids turn out successful?  In what way?  How can we know as adults and parents if we are making the right decisions?  We have no crystal ball and we all want the best for our children.  How do we even measure success? 

Over the course of my teaching career I have met many students that came from homeschooling environments.  Most of them adapted well socially and academically.  Many of the kids were on par or even more astute in the classroom.  They thought outside of the box, from a different angle than other kids. 

What I would have given for the opportunity to endlessly travel as a child!  Globetrotting all over the world and spending time with my parents, witnessing the beauty of our country and others, so vast and with endless adventures.  My vacations as a child consisted of a trip to Biloxi Beach, MS.  A couple of times we were lucky enough to visit Disney World.  Most people do not travel far from their homes yet there is so much to see, so much to behold and experience. 

Will my daughters feel the same way I do about travel when they are older?  Will they appreciate this experience I feel is a gift or will they resent me forever?  Will they become better stewards of the earth, appreciate nature more, and develop a unique mindset most others will never possess? Will these travels give them an edge?

So many unanswered questions.  Time will tell, and I can only hope for the best.  But for the present (which is my preferred state of mind) I will enjoy the ride…

Leaving Montana...

Missoula greeted us with a haze in the sky.  Only the outline of the mountains was visible, as if hiding behind a thin white bedsheet.  At times, a campfire smell was strong in the air.  I thought it was out of the ordinary, but according to the locals, the smoke appears almost every summer.  “This year is worse,” they told me, “but from late July until September, or sometimes until the first snow, nearby wildfires drop a blanket of smoke in the valley.”

During the first week we saw no blue sky.  Everything looked dingy and dusty, a dryness I have never known.  One morning we awoke to find our car lightly covered in ashes!  I thought to myself, “Twenty years ago, I traveled to Montana during early June.  The rolling hills and mountains were green like the lawns that people fertilize because they want perfect grass, except in Montana it was natural and beautiful, teeming with life and not forced and fake.  What had happened to this beautiful landscape since then?”

A growing city of around 75,000, Missoula did not leave a good first impression.  A large number of homeless loitered in the downtown streets and in the parks, some of them living out of their cars or old, vividly painted school buses and campers.  Rundown buildings and homes were scattered around town.  Old and new structures conflicted as if there had been no sense of foresight during development, no zoning plans whatsoever. 

Yet the drive to Missoula and everything around it had been so amazingly stunning.  From Mississippi through states like Missouri, Minnesota, Wyoming, and the Dakotas we traveled. I was pleasantly surprised to find beauty even in the endless green cornfields of Iowa.  In our minds, we were hoping we had not made a mistake by choosing Missoula as our first destination.

Before we realized it, the city had grown on us rather quickly and for numerous reasons. Surrounding us were areas chockfull of natural beauty like we had never experienced: wildlife everywhere; clear and pristine lakes, rivers and streams; glorious mountains rising to reach the big sky.  Places like Glacier and Yellowstone National Park, God’s playgrounds, were only a short drive away. 

Even inside Missoula the culture began to take hold of us.  The people were eclectic and unpretentious.  They were friendly and accepting, with no look of suspicion in their eyes.  Every type of character fit in, from the most conventional to the most bizarre.

The neighborhoods had small yards and overpriced homes, but every inch was utilized for vegetables or some other endeavor.  Permaculture, homesteading, and mindfulness were not taboo or new age vernacular but a way of life.  Pedestrians had the right of way, and there were so many bikes that shops such as Free Cycles give them away!

Instead of the typical cookie cutter businesses were local indie bookstores, coffee shops, breweries, and the like.  They thrived because the locals fervently supported them.  In parts of the city chain stores existed, but not as many and not at every corner like in so many other towns and cities.

Almost all of the vehicles had some type of extra rack for luggage, bicycles, kayaks, or whatever else screamed to play outside.  No one seemed to care for luxury vehicles or fancy clothes, as long as they got to spend time in the outdoors, so passionate about nature.

 I saw kids that could barely walk riding their bikes and attempting to rock climb.  Students played in the chilly rain at recess while the teachers watched.  The weather did not bother them!  Hardy, tough Montanans, at all ages.  I was so jealous at first.  “They get to grow up here,” I thought to myself.  “Why can’t I have been that lucky.”

Children are malleable and even my daughters became tougher in Missoula.  When we first arrived, they went to a week-long camp, MOLA, and every day they engaged in a different outdoor activity – whitewater rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, swimming.  Again, I was so jealous!  The camp sparked a fire in them.  Ever since they have played outside more than they ever did back in Mississippi. 

Every place is unique, but some possess an energy and capture your soul, your imagination.  Missoula is one of those places.  The city will always hold a special place in my heart.  And my family and I just may return one day soon.  

25+ More Things about Missoula (& Montana)

26.     In 1860 Missoula was established as Hellgate Trading Post.

27.     Missoula is also known by its nickname ‘ZooTown’. 

28.     Fort Missoula was home to an Italian and Japanese internment camp during World War II.

29.     After the war, many Italians remained in Missoula and made a life for themselves.  None of the Japanese stayed. 

30.     The largest Smokejumper base in the United States is located in Missoula.

31.     Almost every electric box around town is painted with a very colorful & creative mural.

32.     Brennans’s Wave, a man-made wave/rapid on the Clark Fork river, is often surfed! 

33.     I have never seen as many Golden Retrievers in any area.  It seems almost everyone who owns a dog has one.  Or a Huskie.                                                                                                      

34.     There are hundreds of ‘love’ locks on the Madison Street Footbridge.  They symbolize unbreakable love.

35.  The Northern Pacific Railroad is a major reason why Missoula became a larger town.

36.  Montana residents claimed 32 million acres under the Homestead Act, more than any other state.

37.  Missoula is the second most populated city in Montana with around 70-80,000 people.  Billing is first with a bit over 100,000.

38.  A ‘Gully Washer’ is a very heavy rainstorm, something I have yet to see in Montana.

39.  Trucks and guns are as ubiquitous as they are where I come from (Mississippi).

40.  At one time, when Montana mined copper, the capital Helena was home to more millionaires per capita than anywhere in the world!

41.  Missoulians are resourceful.  They reuse a significant amount of scrap metal and other material for arts, crafts, or parts for something else.  Reminds me of Cubans!                        

42.  Montana has almost 15,000 miles of marked hiking trails, second only to California.

43.  The current governor of Montana, Steve Bullock, is from Missoula. 

44.  The Flathead Indian Reservation is the closest Indian Reservation to Missoula. There are seven reservations in total in Montana.                                                                                              

45.  Missoula was one of the few counties that voted Democrat in the 2016 election.  Overall, the state voted Trump.

46.  Forget the fake green, fertilized lawns in a neighborhood.  Missoulians utilize almost every inch of their yards for gardening and other productive purposes.

47.  Gambling is legal is Montana.  There are a lot of casinos!

48.  Starbucks is here but it is not very ubiquitous.  Instead, many local coffee shops are scattered through town.  In fact, residents enthusiastically support many local businesses around town.

49.  Not one, but three rivers run through Missoula; the Clark Fork, the Bitterroot, and the Blackfoot.

50.  The population of elk and deer outnumber the human population in Montana

51.  Most Missoulians do not seem to care about luxury items.  They drive older cars, live in smaller houses, etc.  They just care about getting outside and enjoying nature!

The Two Most Asked Questions...

Since our family began to travel we get asked two questions a lot:

“How is homeschool going?” and “How can your family afford to travel?”

Let me answer the financial question first, because the second takes much more time and explanation.  And believe it or not, it’s the harder of the two to accomplish.  But stay tuned, because answer it I will in future blogs.

Both my wife and I still work and so we have an income.  She is a travel nurse and I teach online, write, and run the Ultimate Scavenger.  During my wife’s assignments, usually from six to thirteen weeks at a time, we are in one location.  We take nearby trips to explore our surroundings but overall, we are somewhat immobile.  Yet even though we both still work, we now make significantly less than we did when we were stable and owned a home. 

People tend to think that it takes a lot of money to travel.  I mean, it certainly could, but the truth is we do not spend any more on the road than we would at home.  Far less, in fact. 

Not owning a home has been a blessing.  Staying in hotels, lodges, Airbnb - all the bills are basically paid!  We have no energy or cable bills, no lawn maintenance, no home repairs or other hassles to deal with. We do not consume as much in terms of non-necessities.  There is no need to shop at IKEA or Pier One to decorate our living room.  We cannot travel with furniture, a huge flatscreen TV or a closet full of clothes.  So why buy them?

Yet we usually have what we need wherever we stay.  Ever been to a hotel without a nice TV or cable?  I have yet to ‘need’ anything that I cannot go out and get easily.  There might be a minor inconvenience here and there, such as something that makes cooking in the kitchen easier.  My wife really wanted a blender so we could make smoothies, for example, so now we pack it in with our stuff. 

The biggest expense has proved to be food.  Whenever I travel I love to enjoy the local cuisine; mostly the beer and the pizza, but also whatever a place has that claims to be the best or sounds delicious.  But as good as my wife cooks, nothing beats a homecooked meal, so we stock the fridge when we settle for any length of time.  It’s really the best of both worlds. 

As humans in today’s consumer society, the truth is we think we need more than we really do.  And since I am not ‘aspiring’ to acquire more possessions, I have more free time to create and spend with family.  The most important lesson that I have learned thus far from this adventure is that the time with our daughters is precious and I would not exchange it for the most extravagant home in the world!  I prefer to be richer in experiences.

 

That’s just me though.

25 Things About Missoula (and Montana)

1.     In mid-July thru late August (and apparently until the first snow falls) the sky is hazy from wildfires that burn nearby.  According to most locals the haze is ‘normal’ this time of year.

2.     David Lynch (the best director ever!) was born in Missoula.

3.     Breweries across the state close at 8 pm and can only serve an individual up to 48 oz. (3 pints) of beer a day.  It’s the law!

4.     Speaking of breweries, they are so ubiquitous that individuals can purchase a passport to get stamped at each brewery in Montana (over 50).

5.     Around 15,000 years ago (more or less) Missoula was an enormous glacial lake, supposedly one of the biggest and deepest in the world.

6.     The city government offers no curbside recycling.  Individuals must pay for the service from two private companies or take the items to local drop offs.

7.      Across the state, the speed limit is 80 mph on highways.  Until fairly recently signs read, “Reasonable and Prudent.” But people from out of state took advantage (so a local told me). 

8.     Montana has no sales tax!  The price you see is the price you pay!

9.     The Lewis & Clark expedition brought the first US settlers to the Missoula area.

10.  The Clark Fork River, named after William Clark, runs through Missoula.

11.  York, an enslaved African who was William Clark’s companion, was the first person of African descent to set foot in Montana.

12.  Homeless people are often sent to Missoula from other cities in Montana.  There appears to be a large number of homeless on the streets, in the parks, …

13.  The Montana Grizzlies college football team won the National Championship in 1995 and in 2001.  Presently, they are not doing so well ☹

14.  The Garden of 1000 Buddhas is a short 30-minute drive North of Missoula in Arlee, MT.

15.   Not a lot of ethnic diversity exists in Missoula.  It’s about as white as it gets.

16.   Jeannette Rankin, the first woman to be elected to the US congress, is from Missoula.

17.  Missoula must be one of the most bicycle friendly places in the country.  There may be more bikes than people!  In fact, there is local shop, Free Cycles, that gives them away!

18.  The city is also very pedestrian friendly.  Cars will stop in a heartbeat for someone crossing the street.

19.  There seems to be more cigarette smokers here than the average.

20.  Montana is one of the world’s richest sources of dinosaur fossils.  They even have a ‘state fossil’, the duck-billed dinosaur

21.  The movie A River Runs Through It was filmed in Missoula.

22.  Montana is the 4^th largest state but ranks 44^th in population (48^th in population density).  Needless to say it is easier to get away from people. 

23.  A short drive away and you can pan for sapphires and other gems (and usually find some!)  Montana is home to some of the largest sapphire reserves in the world.

24.  Before the city became Missoula, it was called the ‘Gate of Hell’ due to all the conflict from various settlers and tribes fighting over the area.  Supposedly, human bones were spread across the valley from dead bodies. 

25.  Once upon a time, timber was Missoula’s largest industry.  Education (University of Montana) is now the leading employer and economic driver.