We had started the most recent leg of our travel around the US on June 2nd leaving from Houston, going to El Paso then through New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York. Then we went into the Canada where we visited Toronto, Montreal, Quebec, Moncton and Halifax. After that we returned to the US and explored the entire east coast of the US including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, North and South Carolina and Florida all the way down to Key West. Finally on the way back from Florida we went through Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana before returning to Houston.
Since we left Texas, we have driven over 10,000 miles gone through 26 US States, 4 Canadian Provinces. We have spent the vast majority of that time boondocking, staying at Walmart, Cracker Barrel, Casinos and random parking lots. Out of over six months total we probably spent around two weeks in RV parks or hotels. It was time for a good long break and a change of pace. We decided that we put Olivia in a local school and stay in Houston for the rest of the winter until the end of the school year in May.
We chose Houston because of its mild winter climate and it is the cheapest city in the US with a good Chinatown. I think anywhere we eventually settle must have a good Chinatown.
We considered getting an apartment and looked at a few but we would need to commit to at least six months lease, it would cost over $2,000 a month in rent, utilities and fees plus then we would need to buy furniture and get rid of it later. The cost of Airbnb and furnished apartment was prohibitively high.
We settled for getting a spot at the Westlake RV resort in Katy, on the western side of Houston. Rent was only around $700 a month and the school bus to the local school stopped right in front of the RV resort. So we plan to chill and have a rest for a few months. We will send Olivia to regular school and see how she does. Come summer probably we will head back west to visit friends in California before seeing what countries are open overseas.
