Quality Time Remaining (QTR) can be expressed in countless ways. I’d like to share a story about my brother-in-law and his decision to purchase an RV. My step-sister’s mother was looking to get rid of her RV, which had been sitting unused in the driveway. This is a common scenario—people buy RVs with the hope of using them frequently, but often they end up parked for most of the year, only taken out for one or two vacations.
When I heard my brother-in-law was buying it for $10,000, I thought he was crazy. “Why not just rent one when you need it?” I asked. I knew my sister wasn’t particularly interested in RVing. It seemed likely that the RV would sit, collecting cobwebs, leaves, and mold, while needing repairs.
But he smiled and confidently decided to go ahead with the purchase.
To my surprise, he uses that RV more than anyone I know. For years, it has become his joy and passion. Every Sunday, he treats it like a beach home. He wakes up at 4 a.m. and makes a short 15-minute drive to the beach, where he parks facing the ocean. He often drifts back to sleep, waking up to the sunrise and the sound of waves. He spends his mornings reading and then walks to a nearby restaurant for breakfast, often sharing the meal with a family member or friend. The servers recognize him and know his usual order. He makes this trip about 40 Sundays a year.
That $10,000 investment was probably the best money he’s ever spent. I was definitely wrong in my initial judgment. Owning the RV has allowed him to create a cherished routine at the beach.
Recently, I saw another RV for sale in Capitola. The owners clearly embraced the QTR spirit, but it sat for a long time with a "For Sale" sign. Now that it’s gone, I hope someone else is enjoying their RV and making the most of their Quality Time Remaining.
Finding your QTR doesn’t have to involve grand adventures. It can be virtually anything. Not all experiences need to be extreme, like helicopter skiing or jumping off cliffs. Joy and adventure can manifest in many forms—mentoring a colleague, learning a new language, traveling to an unfamiliar place, or even taking a different route to work.
So, take a moment to reflect: what will your Quality Time Remaining look like?
Cheers to your adventures and your QTR!
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