Well, all immediate family has been informed, plus my Nana and Papa – most of whom took the news better than expected. Honestly, most of the feedback we’ve received so far from family and friends has been very much along the lines of:
“Man, I wish I could/would/did do that.”
“You only live once. Do it before you have kids while you’re still young enough to get the most out of it!” (This one bothers me – anyone of any age could do it if they wanted to! It just depends on what they’re willing to give up to achieve it, if it really is their dream)
“I wouldn’t do that, but it will be an adventure.” (That’s cool too – Rhys wrote the “New American Dream,” but I don’t know that it’s accurate. It’s our dream, sure – but it isn’t for a lot of people, and that’s okay too.)
And we’ve gotten a few “Are you crazy?” responses as well, though less than expected. I guess the overall answer to that would be “Yes” anyway, so it’s all good.
We’ve got a realtor lined up who will list for us in July, and we’ll be going through Estate Sales of Tulsa to run our estate sale, also in July.
It feels a bit like shedding your skin – I know how a snake must feel.
Rhys Martin is an author and photographer from Tulsa, Oklahoma. His love of travel was awakened in 2009 when he sold all of his possessions and left the country. For ten months, he lived out of a backpack and explored southeast Asia and Europe. When he returned home, it was with fresh eyes for his home state.
As he drove the back roads of Oklahoma, Rhys discovered the significance of historic Route 66 to the greater American story. He has traveled all 2,448 miles of the Mother Road and continues to seek out the quiet Main Streets of the Midwest.
Rhys's travel writing and photography has been featured in numerous publications, including Tulsa People Magazine, This Land Press, ROUTE Magazine, Nimrod Journal, The Oklahoman and Tulsa World. He wrote the book Lost Restaurants of Tulsa, which features the stories of nearly 50 iconic eating establishments from the city's past. He has also been a contributing author to multiple Route 66-based travel and history books.
Rhys is the President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and serves on multiple boards and commissions related to the Mother Road and its upcoming Centennial in 2026. He loves to connect with people and share his experiences.
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Rhys' Pieces 