Going Gypsy

One Couple's Adventure from Empty Nest to No Nest at All

By: David James, Veronica James

Narrated by: Carolyn Cook, Steve Coulter

Length: 6 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

Almost every couple faces a "now what?" moment as their last kid moves out of the house. There's a big empty nest looming over this new and uncertain stage in their lives.

David and Veronica James chose to look at this next phase of life as a beginning instead of an ending. Rather than staying put and facing the constant reminders of empty bedrooms and backseats, a plan began to develop to sell the nest and hit the highway. But could a homebody helicopter mom learn to let go of her heartstrings and house keys all at once?

Filled with a sense of adventure and humor, Going Gypsy is the story of a life after raising kids that is a celebration of new experiences. Pulling the rip cord on the daily grind, David and Veronica throw caution to the wind, quit their jobs, sell their house, put on their vagabond shoes, and go gypsy in a beat-up old RV found on eBay. On a journey of over 10,000 miles along the back roads of America (and a hysterical, error-infused side trip into Italy), they conquer old fears, see new sights, reestablish bonds with family and friends, and transform their relationships with their three grown children from parent-child to adult-to-adult. Most importantly, they rediscover in themselves the fun-loving youngsters who fell in love three decades prior.

©2015 David and Veronica James (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Fun Story!

Loved listening to this book! I learned about so many new places and all 48 contiguous states!! Also about really living a life of traveling in a motorhome after your children are out on their own! Great way to reconnect with your spouse after spending the first half of your marriage raising your kiddos!

Perfect audiobook for travelling!

What made the experience of listening to Going Gypsy the most enjoyable?

What a fun read from start to finish. It's the perfect kind of audiobook to listen to when you're on a road trip!

Funny book

I really enjoyed most of this book. I laughed out loud many times at the hilarious things they said. I commiserated with them about raising children. However, I did not entirely understand their desire to part from their children so quickly and with such distance. Of course I've never understood parents who can't wait until the kids are gone. Why? Are your kids that horrible? I realize the time to be alone with your partner again, if you have one, sounds great. But these children are your family. It doesn't get any better than that. And to think you enjoyed running away from them. Just as well for the kids if the parents feel that way. Otherwise it was an enjoyable book.

My Spirit Animals

Loved it!! #jealous #butinagoodway The reading for Veronica took a little getting used to but once the reader got into it she was fine.

Good Premise, Wished For More Travel Stories

I liked the overall premise, but I wanted more tales from the roads, places they went, and adventures rather than full chapters of things like a unibrown.

Going gypsy

Best book that I have read in a long time. I liked it so well that I called my daughter this morning and told her about, since she is an empty nester herself. I can not wait to hear her thoughts on it. Thank you very much.

Life before Going Gypsy...

We just bought a used camper and tow vehicle. My wife will retire next month. Our youngest graduated from college last weekend. We are almost “empty nesters” with a gypsy passion for travel. I like hearing stories from travelers and this book sounded like an awesome way to get excited about “life on the road *after kids.*” This might be like Travels with Charlie, but reflecting a retired couple in the 21st century rather than an incredible author and his dog in post world war 50s and 60s thinking. I do enjoy Steinbeck’s work a lot.

This is a nice book about empty nesters telling stories about life before becoming empty nesters. From the book description, “Going Gypsy is the story of a life after raising kids that is a celebration of new experiences.” I got to chapter 29 of 32. The actual description should be, “Going Gypsy is the story of a life raising kids that is a celebration of family experiences.” They gloss over “journey of over 10,000 miles along the back roads of America.” When the dude started chapter 29 with, “Now what? We visited all the friends and family,” I seriously thought I must have missed it. I remember them taking about the world’s record ball of paint at one point, the crazy regional food they ate, and how they enjoyed non-traditional Thanksgiving with universally entwined step, ex, and removed relatives, but all the charming stories about getting a daughter to eat a carrot got in the way of those “new adventures.” Where did they go? I can’t say I know entirely.

I smiled often as they shared stories about life with children so many of us relate to… just hoped to hear about their new adventures from the big window in the front of the RV rather than so many rear view mirror stories about their families. I wanted more Charles Kuralt “life on the road” from an empty nester perspective … and instead enjoyed hearing mostly about family life. This is a book of fun stories, but not enough of the kind of travel stories you might anticipate given the title and description.

Great listen from an empty nester

loved it. We are a pair of empty nesters full timing in a motor home

Hillarious!

We have been listening to this to this story as we are currently traveling across country We laughed and laughed, it was so funny. We could relate to so much of it. This is a MUST read!!! Looking forward to more stories by this couple.

Only regret I didn't find this book sooner!

I loved this story so much! Our twins (and only kids) went to college in the fall of 2018 and I felt pangs of guilt for feeling excited about my empty nest while everyone around me seemed to be grieving about theirs. I feel a kindred spirit with the Jameses! We too started out in our early 20s and immensingly enjoyed raising our girls, but we have so enjoyed our first year of rediscovering our shared interests and picking up new ones, and watching our girls start their own lives.