I was sitting in a local restaurant having brunch on Sunday after church. This has become a ritual for me…a time to either visit with a friend that I invite to join me, or dine alone. I delight in the company when someone comes along, but the times alone allow me the opportunity to reflect on the sermon of the day. And, since this week’s sermon was on sex, what better time to discuss new frontiers…of all types. (No, I’m not going to get into a discussion about sex…today anyway!)

As I sat gazing out the window of this charming little restaurant, I watched some people across the street unloading kitchen equipment into a building that will house a new bakery/cafe. I was reminded of when I began my own little needlework supply store as a recently separated woman thirteen years ago. I was thrilled, hopeful, scared to death. Would people come? Would they buy? Could I sell enough thread to keep the doors open? (Turns out, I could not, but that’s a story for another day.) I imagined this new entrepreneur, setting up shop, planning, praying. It is a new frontier where this person is headed. And we, as widows, are headed to new frontiers as well.

My journey took me to a little 16′ travel trailer. TOW-Wanda is her name. She is new, not the vintage trailer I had dreamed of, but with classic lines that make her look older than she is. When I bought her, I remember a remarkable feeling coming over me. A feeling of security, of safety, of somehow ‘coming home’. When we were children, we all had forts, playhouses, tents, tree houses. Places where we could find refuge from the stresses of childhood…parents, siblings, bullies…anyone who dimmed our light. We needed that little fantastical escape to recharge our batteries. We don’t stop needing that just because we are older and alone. Being in TOW-Wanda does that for me, even if I’m sitting at the curb in front of my house.

We will be heading into the travel season before long. If you have ever thought about having a travel trailer and have the means to get one, then by all means, do so! I travelled alone for three months last summer and never felt threatened or frightened. If I didn’t know how to do something, I just Googled it. If I needed help with something, I just asked for it…there are always helpful “neighbors” when you are camping. And if you need company, trailer and RVers are the BEST! They will invite you to their campfire. When they find out you are traveling alone, they will offer help and either share their meal or they will invite you for cocktails at Happy Hour. I found the typical response was disbelief from the wives…”You’re doing this ALONE??? Oh, I could NEVER do that!” Yes, honey…you can…and you may have to…so watch and learn.) Men were typically quite impressed with my ability to back my trailer into the tightest of spaces and hook/unhook the trailer without A) taking out the tree or the picnic table or B) having to ask for help.

As we get closer to trailer time, I’ll share some posts about travel for the unaccompanied woman. There’s a big, bright world out there, ladies, and it’s ours for the taking. All we have to do is suit up and show up!