The Beauty of Bins

So yes, we did actually make our re-rescheduled departure on Saturday, as hoped: and so far we have successfully dodged, and survived our first blasts of winter. Considering that on our last big adventure 8 years ago, our departure was delayed for almost two months, leaving only two DAYS later than first expected was a major step forward for us. Of course, because of all the last minute things to be done in preparing the house for the housesitters, and in tying up all the loose ends required when one leaves on a three month holiday, we knew that the day was going to be quite busy. We also had to do all of the packing of Bucko and the Buug, because the very frigid weather of the past 10 days meant putting much of anything into the van and trailer ahead of time would be problematic, with condensation, frozen liquids, spoiled foodstuffs, etc, etc.

So what we did was fill and lable 15 different Rubbermaid Roughneck bins with everything we felt we needed for an adventure traveling from the east coast to the west, leaving in the dead of winter, and hopefully experiencing spring, and then "summertime conditions." Because we are packrats, and have at least two of anything we might need for almost any occassion, and because of my boy scout training to "Be Prepared," (and also because we are, as one dear friend called us, "the King and Queen of Junk"), I was actually quite pleased we got everything into only fifteen various sized, well labled bins bins. We have a bin each of warm weather clothes, a bin of tools and work clothes, a computer bin, an electronics/ camera bin, a map and paperwork bin, and "dawg" bin, a toiletries bin, a couple of "can be frozen" food bins, more "do not freeze" food bins, a keep cool food bin, a first aid and emergency bin, a battery/ light/ hardware bin, and a couple of flotsam and jetsum, to be stored in the trailer later bins. There are full size, three quarter size, and half size bins, that nest neatly when empty, share common sized lids, and stack safely and securly when full. There's also side by side quarter size bins, that are the same height as halves, and complement and complete the Roughneck family. Although it took a lot of preparation time and thought, already we are thankful for having everything in sturdy, waterproof, compartmentalized units.

During the day, the van is warm, and the trailer freezes. Overnight, we turn on the furnace in the trailer, but everything we leave in the van would freeze up. Yup, that's what happens when the days are -15 C, or just above 0 degrees F, and the nights are colder. So part of our ritual every evening and every morning is taking the 8 various no freeze bins, and moving the stack from the day time heated area, to the night time warmth. And looking at the upcoming weather, with another storm sweeping through the mid-atlantic states to dump more snow on top of the two to three feet that fell this past weekend, we anticipate doing the rubbermaid shuffle for several days to come. And that's the "Beauty of the Bins." They slide easily from the back of the van, onto half the "dawg bed" in the trailer, and then back again; don't care if they get snowed on; and combine nicely into secure stacks no matter what configuration we need. And when we need something, we know pretty well, right where to look. Of course, there will be some fine tuning, and hopefully consolidating as the days go on, and the weather warms, but for the first week of our trip at least, what could have been a major problem, is actually a quite manageable housekeeping ritual. For years, as a set dresser in the film industry, I have used these bins because of the very same practical qualities, and once again there value and worth has been proven. Maybe when millions of people are reading our blog, Rubbermaid will provide free bins for our testimonials, or as "product placement" is done in the movies (you don't think when a movie star uses a brand name product on screen, or when Jerry Seinfeld blatently mentioned a product by name, they did it for free, do ya?) But for now, I went into my stash of work bins, and cleaned out and sorted the ones we're using on this trip, and provided what we needed. And seriously, Rubbermaid Roughnecks are the ones to get. They last forever, and are guaranteed if they don't.

Phew, where did that all come from? But I guess that's what a blog is, one's thoughts of the day, or moment, and after doing several nights and mornings already, and looking at the two stacks of bins right now on my left, that's what came to mind. The next posting will be back to details of the trip, and probably the beginning of Donna's photo journals; but for now, let me say we are well, warm,and watching the weather and traveling accordingly. We also are feeling very thankful and blessed, and pinching ourselves, not really believing that we are again right where we want to be...with each other, and on the road.