That was true seven years ago when we first set out as Senior Nomads, and it is true today as we seek a way to make a difference in the November 2020 elections.

Currently, we are sitting in Billings, Montana watching a gentle summer rainstorm through the kitchen window of our “tiny house” Airbnb. We spent two weeks fulfilling a request to quarantine from the National Democratic Committee before starting to work with the campaign staff and other volunteers, also arriving from around the country.

There aren’t very many Covid-19 cases in Montana, although like the rest of the country cases are trending higher. Almost no one wears masks outside, and about half the time inside. Most employees in retail stores and restaurants wear them, as do health workers and public employees. We put our masks on outdoors when around other people and always indoors, which makes us look like “city slickers” but that’s okay.

My favorite mask is handmade with colorful embroidery. It is my souvenir from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico where we were before coming here. Due to the virus, we lived there for almost four months - three longer than planned, and the longest we’ve stayed in one place for seven years. Our Airbnb was wonderful so we settled in for an extended stay without regret.

And it certainly gave us a taste of what life might be like if we retired there full-time. We found we enjoyed the long, dry sunny days — even without the usual social activities and dining out that SMA is known for. Between writing, reading, walking-while-pod-casting, putting together jigsaw puzzles, epic Scrabble matches, socially-distant picnics with new and old friends, and a bit too much eating, the days blended pleasantly together. Our weekly meal planning and grocery shop also became a highlight, and cooking an enjoyable pastime (we made a lot of Banana Bread just like everyone else!)

I got out of the house twice a week to volunteer at the nearby no-kill animal shelter I joined a partner to feed, pet, and play with a dozen adult cats and an ever-growing menagerie of kittens. It was great fun for me, and I met some very nice “cat ladies”. Best of all, Michael and I fostered two kitten sisters named Anna and Tinker (last name Belle). They were about 7 weeks old when we got them, and they stayed with us for a month. It wasn’t easy to give them back, but I know they will be loved and cared for - and hopefully adopted together.

Traveling from Mexico to Montana went fairly well, although we were surprised by the crowds at the A gates in Houston waiting to board three different flights. It felt like the crush outside Best Buy on Black Friday! And we were dismayed to find our flights from Houston to Denver and Denver to Billings were both packed. Everyone wore masks, but we still felt like holding our breath the entire way. We weren’t asked in any detail about where we’d been, and the questions about symptoms were perfunctory. We did have our temperatures checked as we left baggage claim in Billings but that was about it for Coronavirus security checks in the States.

In Denver, we spent one night at the airport Westin which was a nice reprieve from Covid induced travel stress. The hotel did a great job of making us feel both welcomed and safe, and stretching out under crisp white linens on a king-size Heavenly Bed was exactly that. Heavenly.

Our Airbnb host Spencer and his girlfriend Darlene picked us up at the Billings airport in their big white rig. They weren’t wearing masks and we were - and that’s the awkward part of all this! We dithered back and forth and then took them off.

If you read the last blog Montana Bound, you know that Spencer and his crew spent almost every day for two weeks getting this house ready for us. It is a new listing and there was only one picture of the outside, no photos of the inside, and no reviews. But rentals in Billings were in short supply, and very expensive - so we took a chance of what I call The Charlie Brown Christmas Tree House. (there are more photos in the listing now).

That whole experience definitely took us to the “edge of our comfort zone!” We have stayed in a few Airbnbs with no reviews, but never without knowing what lay behind the front door. Spencer has at least 4 other “BnB’s” as he calls them, with good reviews, so that was somewhat reassuring. And when Spencer offered to let me kit out the kitchen and do a little decorating — that clinched the deal. So here we are. The house is about 800 square feet, and while modest, it’s very comfortable. I’ve already done a bit of thrift store shopping and ordered a few things online to spruce things up - including some stunning National Parks prints from my talented nephew David’s Etsy store PopMat.

Spencer warned us that the South Side neighborhood isn’t the best - and we shouldn’t walk around after dark. But from what we can tell, yes, the houses are a little scruffy, and the Montana Women’s Prison is around the corner so there are lots of half-way houses and low-income housing around, but everyone we’ve met as we walk the neighborhood waves hello from their porches and greets us as we pass.

We’ve walked two miles to the town center and back almost every day, and a little farther to the Albertson’s. And we’ve figured out the bus system, allowing us to get a bit further afield. And now that our quarantine is over, Spencer and Darlene are taking us on a road trip to Red Lodge next weekend. We are looking forward to seeing some of the natural beauty Montana is famous for.

As for volunteering, we met the key campaign staff over ZOOM once we arrived. And now we’ve met face to face at the newly opened campaign office. Remember being in your 20’s and ready to take on the world? Meet the campaign team - Liam, Ben, and a woman named Kyle (not Kylee) They are all young, eager, and full of “let’s save America” energy!

We can’t wait to gorge on take-out pizza and crack a few beers with these kids after a long day at the campaign office, although COVID continues to change the paradigm of what a campaign or any other office looks like.

We may have to scrap our “movie” version. The one that has us with a phone on each shoulder scribbling notes, stuffing envelopes, pounding together yard signs, and mustering volunteers. It could turn out to be mostly virtual with us making hundreds of phone calls from our kitchen table. But again, we are pushing ourselves to try something completely different, and we’ll do whatever we’re asked.

However, we do know a little bit about campaigning. I am not sure how many of you know that Michael ran for US Congress as a Republican in 1992. That was another time in our lives where we had no idea what lay ahead. We had just moved back to the Seattle area after living in London for five years and Michael felt he could bring “Common Sense to Congress.” Friends and family and many volunteers pitched in and we learned a lot about the election process. Michael lost in the Primary to some polished politicians but we don’t regret the experience. And obviously, he’s kept his keen interest in politics or we wouldn’t be where we are today.

So… we have indeed been asked to make phone calls at our kitchen table. And while it’s not our favorite it’s not horrible. Most people aren’t home (or don’t pick up) - and if they do, are most are pleasant and answer our questions. Of course, we’ve had a few hang-ups and grumps, as well. But we don’t take it personally.

It’s much more rewarding to spend time in the cavernous garage attached to the campaign office making yard signs together. And Michael is busy fulfilling his dream of standing on busy street corners with a Bullock for Senate sign. He loves all the thumbs up and happy honks…and ignores the rare middle finger.

Is this the vision we had when we changed our plans? We’re not sure yet. But we look forward to exploring all the ways we can contribute here in Montana and wherever we are sent next. Iowa? Colorado? Maine? Wherever it is, we’ll find our “zone”.

Thanks for following along,

Debbie and Michael Campbell

The Senior Nomads