Crossing the Rubicon

"Julius Caesar's crossing the Rubicon river was an event in 49 BC that precipitated the Roman Civil War.  He was explicitly ordered not to bring his army across the Rubicon river, which was at that time a northern boundary of Italy. Caesar brought the 13th legion across the river, which the Roman government considered insurrection, treason, and a declaration of war on the Roman Senate. This event ultimately led to Caesar's becoming dictator for life and the rise of the imperial era of Rome. ... Today, the phrase "crossing the Rubicon" is an idiom that means to pass a point of no return." 

- Wikipedia

To pass a point of no return.

A lot has happened in the three years since we last camped, and though these few paragraphs won't due it justice, it's worth finally getting it down on paper:

In the fall of 2015, we began the process to purchase the company where RDB had been working for the past several years.  This was actually one of the leading factors that moved us from Raleigh down to Texas in 2011; RDB's dream has always been to purchase an already established company and make it his own. As we prepared ourselves, and our finances, we made the decision to sell the truck and camper (both fully paid for, and discretionary toys) to add to the capital we had raised for the purchase of the company.  So, that's why you haven't seen us since October of 2015...

RDB and I both recall sitting at the company owner's kitchen table that fall, sharing a meal, and having him express to us that he was "ready - as soon as January (of 2016)"  Our dream of being business owners was going to become a reality. But we soon realized - and this is a heartbreaking thing - when someone tells you they're ready but they're not, it becomes natural for them to lead you on, and then eventually back away when they see how serious you are.  By the time we brought the owner to the table with the financing team from our bank, he began to backpedal.

Fast forward to March 2018: talks about buying the company have completely stalled.  Since RDB wasn't under a non-compete agreement with his employer, we believe that when the owner of the company realized he wasn't ready to sell the business, rather than being forthright about his intentions, and out of fear that RDB would leave and create his own company, he began playing games, saying one thing and doing another, became manipulative, and was no longer someone who RDB wanted to work with.

It was March 5th (the day after my birthday) that RDB had finally had enough of the game playing and resigned.

He crossed the Rubicon.

And here, on the other side of that river, the future is bright.  

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