LANSING, Mich. — From birthdays to graduations to Sunday dinner.the pandemic has changed how families gather, especially when grandparents are involved. As Lindsey Boetsch shows us, preserving that family time together while staying safe has become personal for her.
"If you would have asked me as recently as 6 to 9 months ago if we would have ever considered buying or owning an RV, that would have probably been the furthest thing from my mind."
For my parents, travel has always been a priority. Taking trips to see different parts of the country and the world. But back in 2017, my dad had a left lung transplant after dealing with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis since 2013 and it left his immune system less strong than most or what we all now know as immunocompromised. If he came down with COVID-19, it could be a life or death situation.
"One of the things that, being at an advanced age is the desire when you have children and grandchildren is to have the ability to see them, so, being locked down since March, it's been really difficult not being able to have the personal interaction with our children and grandchildren."
They live in Tampa with one of my sisters, my other two sisters live in Wisconsin and Illinois, and I live in Denver.
FaceTime and technology is great but it's no substitute for seeing people individually. So, after thinking about it for quite some time and how we could do it knowing that flying for both of us is out of the question, we decided to rent an RV.
They liked it so much, they bought their own. Believing it was could be the only way to safely see family for at least the next few years.
Not only do they not deal with other people at airports or on planes, but, they're staying in what they say is a safer environment
"So far we've really kind of enjoyed it, it's been fun."
They say they've seen parts of the country they never knew were so breathtaking like Alabama and Arkansas.
I didn't know it was so beautiful. Those states are just absolutely gorgeous.
So far, they've taken a trip out west. And, they just got back from a 12 day trip up north… stopping to see both of my sisters and their families, even celebrating my mom's birthday.
It's not without its problems though, there's a lot that goes into it in terms of planning, how much medication you take, how much food you take, how many miles can you effectively drive in one day, and where we're going to stop.
But it's all worth it when you get to spend time with your family.
We miss our family. And that's the only way we can see them.
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