Rootless Living Issue 2 | Mar / Apr 2020

OBSESSED WITH PROVIDING THE BEST RV OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE!

Thank you for your interest in Alliance Recreational Vehicles. Our mission is simple - Provide our customers with the best RV ownership experience! This means creating long-term alliances with our family of product owners and dealer partners, and exceeding expectations every step of the way.

Our vision is to create a product driven by our customers, through their experience and input, and execute on those ideas at the highest level. Innovation and product development is best done in collaboration with the RVing community, and we are listening. Many of us here at Alliance RV have spent the majority of our careers in the RV industry, and we believe our RV owners and dealer partners will welcome an independent and truly different manufacturer that is transparent and dedicated to their customers.

Located on 110 acres in the heart of Elkhart, Indiana, Alliance RV recently broke ground on our state-of-the-art production facility. Production began in Fall 2019 with our first product line focused on the luxury fifth wheel market. As our progress continues and our designs unfold, we encourage you to join our Facebook group (Alliance RV Group). We are constantly (and obsessively) engaging our future customers to drive what we build at Alliance RV.

We are honored you have taken the time to learn more about Alliance RV and look forward to your feedback and support as we execute our vision. If you are as obsessed with building a better RV ownership experience as we are, this is only the beginning of a very rewarding long-term ‘Alliance’.

Sincerely,

Coley & Ryan Brady

Co-Founders

A WARRANTY IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE COMPANY THAT BACKS IT.

Every Alliance RV is generously backed with a 3-year limited structural and 1-year limited base warranty. Further, what really makes Alliance RV stand out is our willingness to communicate our guiding principle of “Do The Right Thing”. We understand there is not a one size fits all solution when it comes to your warranty and service needs. Our ability to keep open lines of communication with both you and your Alliance dealer will help us find a creative service solution for your specific case. Add to this the unique service and warranty programs we have implemented for our Alliance dealers to streamline the approval process and parts delivery times… all towards the mission of getting our Alliance RV owners back on the road faster and enhancing your RV ownership experience. If you ever want to speak with one of our customer service representatives, please don’t hesitate to contact us at (574) 226-0140.

DOTHE RIGHT THING

FREE OVERNIGHT CAMPING AT 1000+ UNIQUE

DESTINATIONS

We are a network of wineries, breweries, distilleries, farms, and attractions that invite RVers to stay in 1000+ stunning camping sites. The $79 yearly membership gives members unlimited access to stay overnight at any one of our Hostʻs locations. We kindly ask our members to support their Hosts by purchasing one of their local products with each stay.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page 11 | From the Publisher

Page 12 | The Feed #RootlessLiving

Page 13 | From the Editor

Page 14 | Reader Photo Upper Antelope Canyon

Page 15 | Which State To Call Home

How to choose your domicile state when becoming a nomad

Page 17 | Location Spotlight

Adam & Kathryn Frazer share the beauty of the Pacific Northwest

Page 21 | Gear Guide

The must-haves for hooking up

Page 23 | RV Renovation

A complete overhaul of a 1971 Airstream

Page 27 | RV Renovation

The $500 travel trailer facelift

Page 31 | Digital Nomad Entrepreneurs

Hear from entrepreneurs who made their business work while traveling

Page 48 | Digital Nomad Work Essentials

The tools, services and software our featured entrepreneurs are using

Page 51 | Michigan State Parks

How Ari & Jessi visited 103 Michigan State Parks in just 10 months

Page 56 | Boondocking

The Grand Tetons & Elephant Rock

Page 59 | Podcasts for the Drive

Page 60 | Contributors

For Digital Nomads, By Digital Nomads

Page 61 | Upcoming Events

Page 62 | Final Thoughts Resource Directory

FROM THE PUBLISHER

So let me start by saying thank you for subscribing! If you grabbed a free digital subscription or paid to have the print edition mailed to you … thank you, thank you.

The response has been mind blowing and all of our subscriber goals have been crushed. We couldn’t have done it without you and those of you who are willing to share, letting people know about Rootless Living.

The biggest takeaway from Issue #1 was how appreciative people are for a resource that helps both aspiring digital nomads and those currently living this lifestyle. For us it really is about finding unique people, places and products. Making sure you have resources and information to help you.

I am really excited about this issue, highlighting some very cool digital nomad entrepreneurs. Our hope is to encourage you.

You too can start a business or run one while traveling. Mixing my love for travel and growing a business has been so awesome. I am excited to have a business that is in, and around, the digital nomad lifestyle. We hope to be able to feature a new entrepreneur in issues to come. Maybe that will be you!

Until the next issue … stay Rootless.

Demian Ross @demianross demian@rootlessliving.com

Did you know we also have a podcast? See page 58 for more information about the Rootless Living Podcast.

THE FEED#rootlessliving

“I love reading people’s stories and the photos of their travels. I get to explore parts of North America I didn’t even know about - and get inspired to go see these places!” - Jane Stewart

@homewiththehoopers

“My whole world and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

@homeasweroam

“It’s not for everyone ... but neither are cubicles.”

@pawsitivebus

“Get outside and be blown away by how amazing this world is”

@cedarandsilver

“Meeting people on the road and sharing the joys of the outdoors is remarkable. Get out there and explore!”

“Some places speak to your soul.”

FROM THE EDITOR

Entrepreneurship has always been a part of my DNA. At 8 years old, my younger brother, Cody and I were parking cars in our parents driveway during our small town’s big 4th of July Rodeo. At age 12, we started adding popsicles to the offering. Around age 22, I stepped it up a notch and started selling children’s cowboy hats.

I have always found myself drawn to people who made their dreams a reality through entrepreneurship. I knew one day I would also be one. I never could see myself working for someone else for the rest of my career but I always imagined it would be later on, when I’m older.

One of the questions most people ask fulltime travelers is: How can you afford it?

It’s one of the reasons “Work” is a huge part of Rootless Living. You don’t have to be an entrepreneur to make your travel plans happen. If you’ve felt the call to travel as well as the call to be an entrepreneur, I hope these stories from fellow digital nomads help you to take action and make your dream a reality.

When Demian & I decided to travel fulltime in an RV, I had a desk job that didn’t necessarily require me to be in the office. I played around with the idea of transitioning that job to a remote position. However, I didn’t want to continue to work for someone else. So I saved enough money and quit, with absolutely no idea what I would do but knew I would be in an RV somewhere when I figured it out.

It has been the best decision of my life.

THE EDITOR

Nikki Kirk @nikkirk7

nikki@rootlessliving.com

READER PHOTO

Antelope Canyon is a magical place near Page, Arizona. Located on Navajo land, it’s a place of stunning beauty. The play of light across the sculpted lines of rock make this canyon a photographer’s dream. This canyon had been on my photography bucket list for years and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to capture this extraordinary place. Upper Antelope Canyon in Page, AZ

By Barry Benton | bentondowns.com

WHICH STATE TO CALL HOME

How to Choose Your Domicile State When Becoming a Nomad

BY HEATHER RYAN

Whichstate is best to domicile as an RV entrepreneur or digital nomad? I get this question often. There is no one right answer. However, here are a few things to consider when choosing your domicile state.

You probably already know the top 3 states that full-time RVers pick as their domicile state. If not, they are Florida, South Dakota and Texas.

Why these states? The biggest reason is none of them have an income tax. Sounds good to you, right? I believe all 3 are great for RVers for different reasons.

Top 3 domicile considerations as part of RV life:

Vehicle registration: How much does it cost to register a vehicle including your RV in the state? Does that state allow you to renew online? What about the cost of insurance? Is it higher or lower? Is there a requirement to get annual vehicle inspections?

Driver’s license: Do you need an upgraded driver’s license (non-commercial Class A)? How often do you have to renew it? Can that be done online vs. going in person?

Health insurance: What are your options? Can you buy insurance off the state or government exchange? If so, is that coverage available nationwide or only in-state? Is it affordable?

While I can’t advise exactly which one is right for you and your situation, I can go over some other considerations from a tax perspective. Most importantly this includes running a business as a digital nomad.

Business ownership and domicile

Why even consider this when picking a domicile state? Because most small business owners are going to have a pass-through business which means the income shows up on your personal return. This includes sole proprietorship, partnership, S corp, and most LLCs. It also includes freelancers and independent contractors

By Nikki Kirk

which are commonly treated as sole proprietors.

Here are some questions to ask yourself as you think about business ownership and choosing your domicile state:

Will you be doing business in multiple states? If your business conducts physical business in multiple states, you may owe state income tax to other states even if your domicile state doesn’t require you to file.

Is there a business or franchise tax in a state? Texas has a franchise tax which is based on your business income. It requires all business owners to file a franchise tax report whether or not you owe any tax. This is very important to be aware of so you don’t get penalties for failing to file.

While Washington has no income tax, it does tax businesses. This is known as the business and occupation tax. Are you prepared to pay the extra taxes and aware that the tax is a requirement?

Is a separate tax return due for that state? Many states require a separate tax return for a partnership or an S corp business. As a sole proprietor in no income tax states, you typically only file a Form 1040 with a Schedule C. However, it’s important to know exactly what is required when filing taxes in each state, not just federally with the IRS.

Is there a tax on services and goods?

Both Texas and South Dakota tax services and goods! Yes. That’s right. Services are taxed in several states. Be aware of that when setting up a business. Do your research.

It’s very important to be aware of what is required in your state and also how that income will be treated as it shows up on your personal return. The safest option is to register your business in your domicile state. Why? It keeps things simple, clean and easy to keep track of.

Consider the physical presence test if you are running a business. Regardless of your business entity, there are certain rules to determine whether or not you have to register a business in a certain state. If you have a physical presence in a state, you absolutely MUST register the business in that state.

This is pretty simple if you own a traditional sticks and bricks business. You have a physical location, therefore, you are required to register in that state.

What if your business operates completely online? Do you have a physical presence in any state or can you register wherever you please?

There are established rules to help determine whether or not you have a physical presence in a state even for an online business.

Consider the following statements:

• Do you have stationary employees in an office in a state?

• Do you have any type of office, meeting room or warehouse within a state?

• Do you work with a client in their office on a project?

• Do you hold a physical business meeting or conference?

• Do you bank in a certain state (online banking can be argued here)?

Did you answer yes to any of the above statements? If so, then your business is considered to have a physical presence in that state and you will most likely be required to register there.

If you answered no to the above statements, then consider registering your business in your domicile state. It’s the safest option for avoiding audits and questions from both state and federal authorities.

Why mess around with registering in the wrong state only to be caught later on? Get it right from the start and avoid headaches in the future with state departments of revenue. Honestly, if you move states, you can move your business with you.

Heather Ryan is the owner of Tax Queen, a tax and bookkeeping firm focused on helping digital nomads, RV entrepreneurs, and location independent businesses. She takes the burden of finances off the shoulders of entrepreneurs, so they can focus on growing their business.

Heather is a full-time RVer who’s been on the road since September 2016 with her husband and two dogs. She became an enrolled agent (EA) after apprenticing under an EA with 35 years of experience for several years.

If you are ready to learn more about what Heather can do for you, connect with her at Tax-Queen.com

OLYMPIC PENINSULA WA

By Adam & Kathryn Frazer

Withover 73 miles of coastline, 60 named glaciers, four rainforests, a National Park, countless waterfalls, and a stunning mountain range, there may not be anywhere else in the United States as diverse as the Olympic Peninsula in Western Washington.

During our three years living in Washington, the Olympic Peninsula was by far one of our favorite places to visit. We would wake up bright and early, make coffee, pack up the car, and hit the road for either a very long day trip or a weekend trip around the peninsula. We would run with our dog Kona on the beach, hike to a waterfall, and drive up to the mountains for sunset. It is pretty wild how much unique scenery you can see in just a day on the peninsula!

Even after many trips to the peninsula, we still haven’t scratched the surface of everything it has to offer. But we have many favorite things to do on the peninsula that are perfect for first time visitors who want to explore the different ecosystems and incredible scenery!

How to get to the Olympic Peninsula

Depending on where you go on the Olympic Peninsula, it’s located between 2-3 hours from Seattle. However, getting there is part of the experience! You can either

drive the entire way or drive and take the ferry. We love driving up through Olympia and making a stop at Olympia Coffee Roasters and then returning from the north side of the peninsula and taking the ferry part of the way!

Things to do on the Olympic Peninsula

Visit one of the many beaches

The beaches on the Olympic Peninsula aren’t your traditional tropical beaches. They are full of driftwood, tall trees, huge sea stacks, and if you’re lucky, a bald eagle sighting or two! Our favorite beach to visit is Ruby Beach, as it’s dog friendly and has a long coastline to enjoy. Rialto Beach and Second Beach are also popular options!

Explore a rainforest

There are four rainforests on the Olympic Peninsula: Hoh, Quinault, Queets, and Bogachiel. The Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park is our absolute favorite, with its easy and flat trails among tons of mossy trees. We went on our first ever backpacking trip here and saw tons of elk. It was so much fun—even in the rain!

Go for a hike

With many trails to choose from, it’s hard to pick a favorite hike on the Olympic Peninsula, but if you’re looking for

Ruby Beach

a good workout and amazing views, we suggest hiking up Mount Storm King or Mount Ellinor. These are difficult hikes, but the payoff at the end is so worth it! Note: Mount Ellinor requires a Northwest Forest Pass to hike.

Chase waterfalls

The Olympic Peninsula gets between 100-170 inches of rain per year and while rain can sometimes put a damper on the fun, waterfalls are the perfect rainy day activity! Three must visit waterfalls on the peninsula are Sol Duc Falls, Murhut Falls, Marymere Falls. And the best part? They are all short and easy hikes!

Visit the northwestern most point in the contiguous United States

Although it’s a bit of a trek to get to, Cape Flattery, the northwestern most point in the contiguous United States, is not only a cool place to say you’ve visited, but offers some of the best coastal views on the peninsula! A quick walk takes you to multiple viewpoints where you can view cliffs and rugged rocks against the blue ocean. Cape Flattery is on the Makah Indian Reservation, so make sure to get your Makah Recreation Pass in Neah Bay before you start the hike!

Kayak on Lake Crescent

Lake Crescent is a deep, glacially carved lake surrounded by mountains and makes for an epic spot to go kayaking!

You can rent kayaks at the Lake Crescent Lodge right on the shore of the lake. After kayaking, check out Marymere Falls or Mount Storm King, which are right by Lake Crescent.

Watch the sunset from Hurricane Ridge

Last, but definitely not least, enjoy the sunset (or sunrise if you’re an early bird) from Hurricane Ridge. Hurricane Ridge is the most easily accessible mountainous area on the peninsula, with a steep, paved road from sea level to 5,242 feet. At the top, admire the jaw dropping view of the Olympic Mountain range, visit the Olympic National Park visitor center, or go on a short hike. It’s absolutely incredible! Note: While Hurricane Ridge is typically accessible year round, they do sometimes close the road in the winter, so check the Olympic National Park website for updates.

Where to Stay on the Olympic Peninsula

Now that you have some ideas of things to do on the Olympic Peninsula, where should you stay? While the peninsula is pretty spread out and there isn’t one obvious area that is the most convenient to stay, driving around the peninsula is beautiful and part of the experience!

Murhut Falls

Kathryn & Kona on Lake Crescent

If you want a traditional campground experience, check out the Kalaloch (on the ocean!), Sol Duc, and Mora campgrounds run by the National Park Service. All three of these campgrounds accept reservations and fill up fast, especially in the summer!

For RV parks, Elwha Dam R.V. Park and Olympic Peninsula/Port Angeles KOA are good options. Both offer hook ups and more amenities than the standard national park campgrounds.

And for the boondockers out there, Minnie Peterson, Campbell Tree Grove, and Sadie Creek campgrounds offer free, dry camping!

Whether you have a day, week, or month to spend in Washington and are looking for a wide range of activity and beautiful scenery, add the Olympic Peninsula to your to-do list. You won’t be disappointed!

About Adventures of A+K

We’re Adam, Kathryn, and Kona, an adventurous married couple (+ pup!) living on the road in our self-converted sprinter van! You can often find us driving all around the US and Canada, scoping out the best coffee shops, eating tacos and ice cream (we’re a 5+ taco and 2+ scoop household), and enjoying nature.

To see more of Adam & Kathryn’s detailed travel guides, check out their website at adventuresofaplusk.com or by searching AdventuresofAPlusK on Instagram and YouTube.

Adam & Kona on Mount Ellinor

Cape Flattery

GEAR GUIDE

The Must-Haves For Hooking Up

If you are just starting out or you’ve been at it for so long you need to replace a few things, here are the agreed upon necessities for hooking up. (insert joke here)

Shop All Of Our Rootless Living Gear Guides at Amazon.com/Shop/RootlessLiving

PROGRESSIVE INDUSTRIES SMART SURGE PROTECTOR (SSP)

Portable RV surge protectors with built-in surge indicator notes the condition of the surge protector. Sleek, compact, portable design makes this unit easy to use and it’s engineered for weather resistance to stand up to the elements.

RV EXTENSION CORDS

You pull into a campground after a long drive only to find out the power is too far away for your power cable to reach. If you are in a remote area, these extensions can be hard to find. It’s always good to have an extra cord on hand for just these situations.

90 DEGREE GARDEN HOSE GOOSENECK ELBOW

Relieve the strain of your hose hanging off the spigot in the campground or in your water compartment with a 90 degree hose elbow.

BRASS WATER PRESSURE REGULATOR WITH GAUGE

A water pressure regulator helps protect your RV plumbing and hoses from damage caused by high-pressure city water. This one features an easy-toread gauge so you know if your water pressure is getting too high. Green on this gauge indicates the regulated pressure is between 40–50psi.

“

Some water supplies are low to the ground and hard to connect”

No Surges going into my camper!”

CAMCO SIDEWINDER RV SEWER HOSE SUPPORT

This sewer hose support keeps everything flowing smoothly to the dump station. Sturdy and lightweight, the plastic support system has strong interlocked hinges and deep cradles to hold the sewer hose in place and easily stretches out around obstacles to stay where you put it.

RHINOFLEX RV BAYONET ELBOW FITTING WITH 4-IN-1

ADAPTER

The attached swivel bayonet fitting makes the elbow compatible with any lug fitting, and allows it to swivel 360-degrees, making it easy to connect to your RV sewer hose. The adapter’s built-in gasket provides an odor tight connection for four sizes of dump station inlets: 4-inch NPT, 3.5-inch NPT, 3-inch NPT and 3-inch slip fitting.

RHINOFLEX CLEAR 45 DEGREE RV SEWER HOSE SWIVEL FITTING

Securely connects to your RV waste valve fitting, creating an easier angle of access for emptying your black and greywater tanks. The four-prong bayonet fitting securely attaches to any lug fitting, and is compatible with any bayonet fitting.

VALTERRA TWIST-ON WASTE VALVES

Prevent unwanted spillage with this added valve that gates your RV sewer pipe. The tight bayonet attaches to your existing RV fittings to ensure a leak-proof flow. Open the gate once your hoses are connected, saving you from messy surprises.

CAMCO

The Rhino Blaster Tank Rinser creates a high flow blast of water into the sewage pipe, cleaning the tank. Regular tank rinsing helps reduce unwanted odors, reduces the risk of clogging and keeps sensors clean to ensure accurate reading.

RHINO BLASTER SEWER TANK RINSER

“ So you can visually see when your tank is properly flushed.”

“ I didn’t believe in it until I got one. Wish I had purchased it earlier!”

RENOVATION RV

BY NIKKI KIRK

A COMPLETE AIRSTREAM OVERHAUL

After paying their “societal dues”, Will and Nicole Douglass couldn’t help but feel that something was missing. They had graduated from college, purchased a house, got traditional 9 to 5 jobs, and still didn’t feel whole.

The couple found the digital nomad lifestyle and everything clicked into place. In 2019, they set out in their 1971 Airstream, Overlander. Together with their dog Caico and cat Winnie; the Douglass’ travel while Nicole works a 13 week contract as a traveling nurse and Will, a mechanical engineer, is lucky to work anywhere there’s Wi-Fi. They enjoy leisurely traveling in the 3 weeks between Nicole’s contracts, often boondocking when they can.

When they purchased the Airstream, they took it down to the shell in a total gut-job. It needed new axles, plumbing, wiring, and they rebuilt all of the inside. In all,

it took them about a year and a half to complete.

“We pulled a lot of our inspiration from Instagram. There’s a very big, and very helpful, renovation and rv life community.” Nicole said. “It’s been really amazing to see all of these other renovations and get ideas and tips from these awesome people.”

Will, being a mechanical engineer, is an extremely experienced handy-man. He rebuilt a ‘67 Mustang and handles all the couple’s automotive repairs, for which Nicole is incredibly grateful. She self-admittedly had zero renovation experience going into their remodel. The process was not always fun and there were a lot of days they were ready to give up on it.

“We are obviously very glad we stuck it out, as it has been possibly the most rewarding experience of our lives.” Nicole said. She also advises anyone interested

in doing a renovation to be prepared for the time commitment. And not try to plan a wedding at the same time. “Whoops!”

“I’d like to say ‘we’ did all the work ourselves” says Nicole. “But really it was Will who did all the work himself. He put a lot of long days and nights into making this dream come true.” They had plenty of help from friends and family along the way and installing cabinets from IKEA proved to be a true test of their patience

The couple wanted good quality items and they had many unexpected costs come up during the process, including the purchase of not one, but two toilets. “The first one kept getting clogged, and you would not believe how expensive a porcelain throne can be!” Nicole estimates their total renovation cost to be about $30,000.

“We strayed from the norm and have no regrets.” Nicole adds. “A lot of people may be saying well you have jobs that allow you to do that and that wasn’t always true. We found ways to take our skills and apply them in a way that made this feasible for us.”

Nicole’s advice for this lifestyle is to go with the flow, even if it’s often easier said than done. She explains how one failed boondocking attempt lead to an amazing experience. “We were attempting to boondock in the Tetons. We scouted out a great spot on an app, read the

reviews, plugged it into the GPS, and went on our merry way. Well… we trusted the GPS a little too much. It took us down a 3 mile, unpaved, rock-city road. We drove at a literal 5 mph the whole way, cringing as we thought of the mess we would find inside the trailer. When we finally got to the sites, they were all full! There were disgruntled arguments coming from both of us. We ended up at a campground down the street and in the morning woke to moose right outside our Airstream!”

Follow Will and Nicole Douglass’ adventures on Instagram @Overlander71

RENOVATION RV THE $500 FACELIFT

Bethany and her husband stepped into their 2018 Keystone Outback 330 RL for the first time on a chilly December day in 2018. They were joined a short while later by their two cats, and the four have been making it “home” ever since.

The couple doesn’t travel much throughout the year, choosing instead to roam around East Texas RV Parks. This new lifestyle allows them the ability to park closer to work for shorter commutes, and be near their families for the holidays.

With the purchase of a newer camper, all renovations were only minor style choices. “We really didn’t have to do a lot,” Bethany said. “A few cans of white paint can go such a long way.”

After purchasing, much of the browns and beiges were replaced with light grays and whites, including the two sofas. This gray, light, neutral style has followed them from their previous living spaces. Another staple in most rooms are peel-and-stick wallpaper accents, which give a tile or wallpaper look to several areas of the camper.

With help from family members, the couple made all renovations in about two weeks. Once the cabinets and walls were painted and the furniture was replaced, there has only been a few more changes throughout the year, like the recently remodeled bathroom.

“I painted my bathroom a coral color at first, but then decided I didn’t like it so much,” Bethany said. “The best part about having such a small space is how cheap it is to completely transform it.” A small quart of paint, new peel-and-stick wallpaper, a mirror replacement and the addition of a shower curtain proved to be a big change.

BY SAVANNAH SMILED

Somewhere along the way, black and white buffalo check has become a signature of the camper. So much so, anytime Bethany’s family or friends see the pattern, they think of her, sending her photos or try to buy the item for her.

While most of Bethany’s style consists of neutrals, one of the biggest pops of colors is right outside. “In all of my houses, I’ve always painted the front door bright yellow,” Bethany said. “I didn’t want to miss out having that with this space, so we figured out a way to make it happen here too. It’s usually the brightest door in the whole RV park.”

With the primers, paints, supplies, peel-and-stick wallpapers, two new sofas, and a sleeper-ottoman, renovations have cost the couple around $500. Not a lot had to change, other than a few small things that now make the camper feel like their own.

Follow Bethany at @SimpleCatLady on Instagram to keep up with her home style, RV tips, or simply check out her cute cats.

PACK SMARTER.

WITH TRIPPED COMPRESSION CUBES

"SQUEEZING INTO CARRY-ON LUGGAGE OR SAVING SPACE IN YOUR RV WE'VE BEEN THERE. THAT'S WHY WE CREATED COMPRESSION PACKING CUBES"

DIGITAL NOMAD

ENTREPRENEURS

In2016, when I was looking for a magazine about the digital nomad life or anything that would be a resource for learning how to work while traveling I stumbled across a Podcast and Facebook group called The RV Entrepreneur.

At the time, I was not living in a RV, nor was I an entrepreneur. But I really enjoyed the Podcast and the group, as I was learning from people who were doing it. Hearing from people who wanted to start living this digital nomad life made me feel a little less crazy.

The theme of this issue is all about the digital nomad entrepreneurs and I want to give credit where credit is due. Heath & Alyssa Padgett do an awesome job with the Podcast, Facebook group and annual RV Entrepreneur Summit and it’s with that idea that this Digital Nomad Entrepreneur issue was born.

In the next few pages you will learn from people who have started, purchased, or grown a business while traveling. You do not need a traditional office space to make a successful company. As someone who has launched a business while traveling full-time, I’m excited to share with you others who have as well.

- DEMIAN ROSS

Photo Credit: Alyssa Padgett

HEATHPADGETT CAMPGROUND BOOKING • RVE PODCAST & SUMMIT

Heath Padgett is someone you could easily classify as a serial entrepreneur. He has launched two companies before the age of 30, all while living and traveling in an RV.

Heath is the co-founder of Campground Booking. He also started The RV Entrepreneur Summit with his wife, Alyssa, back in 2017. This year they will hold their 4th annual RV Entrepreneur Summit where they expect over 400 attendees. The RV Entrepreneur Summit is a 4-day business conference specifically designed for RVers. Consisting of workshops, meetups, and main stage talks, the conference designed to help others start or grow a business which allows you to travel.

Heath has accomplished a ton of really cool projects since hitting the road in 2014, just 4 days after getting married. In 2016, along with a business partner, he started Campground Booking. Having traveled for a few years, he saw first-hand how hard it was to book campsites online and wanted to create an easier way for RVers to connect with campgrounds and book their stays.

Like AirBnB and Uber, Campground Booking is coming at the problem from the travelers’ side of things. They want to help create the best possible experience for RVers while creating a platform to help campground owners save time with an intuitive online property management system.

Heath & Alyssa also have their personal brand, Heath & Alyssa. Having this travelcentric personal brand has helped them visit potential customers, current customers, and build partnerships with brands like Winnebago. If you’ve been on the road for a while you might have come across Heath’s podcast “The RV Entrepreneur”. They created a Facebook Group by the same name and it is a great resource for all things RV as well as the Entrepreneur lifestyle.

Like many digital nomad entrepreneurs, the challenges he’s faced over the years have been centered around trying to figure out

how to live his best life each day, and make meaningful progress towards his business goals. Most days business goals win, but that doesn’t shield him from moments of guilt for working long hours when he’s living in such beautiful places that deserve to be explored.

In 2019, Heath and Alyssa welcomed their daughter Ellie and took some time off from traveling full-time. Heath says he didn’t feel that same guilt for working so hard in a co-working space instead of out exploring whatever area they happened to be in. He also admits that without

that level of travel, he didn’t enjoy the year as much as previous years.

Heath will be the first to tell you to be patient with your projects and goals. He started Campground Booking in 2016 and it didn’t launch until 2018. They didn’t land their first paying customer until 2019. With a service that has to be able to handle 1 or 500 people trying to book a campsite at once, you need to have it working right. So far, it is working just fine.

To learn more about Heath’s software at campgroundbooking.com. Visit Heath & Alyssa’s travel website at heathandalyssa.com or you can connect with them on social @heathandalyssa.

CHRISDUNPHY

MOBILE INTERNET RESOURCE CENTER CHERIE

Oneof the main struggles all digital nomads face is reliable internet. That’s why Chris Dunphy & Cherie Ve Ard started the Mobile Internet Resource Center, providing unbiased mobile internet information for US based RVers, boaters and nomads.

When Chris & Cherie started traveling full-time in 2006, they were in a 16’ T@B Clamshell teardrop. The two were self-employed as software & app developers and advisors for high tech companies which required them to be connected and available from 9-5.

Back then, the couple relied on Sprint, who at the time offered what Cherie calls “a sweet truly unlimited plan on an Express Card.” A credit card sized

VeARD

modem you could stick into some laptops or a portable cradlepoint router. They also utilized area hotspots in cafes, libraries and stopping by friends when they needed to download OS updates.

Through their personal blog, Technomadia.com, the couple received many questions about mobile internet over the years. After 7 years on the road, they started the Mobile Internet Resource Center in 2013. If you’ve ever researched mobile internet options, there’s a good chance you have come across it.

A lot has changed since 2006, and in 2015 Chris & Cherie shifted their focus to running the business fulltime. “It’s been incredibly freeing to be more in control and not dependent on set office hours or just a few clients.” Cherie said. The Mobile Internet Resource Center is supported by their premium membership program. “We don’t sell stuff, we’re not sponsored, and we have no 3rd party advertising” says Cherie.

Through their annual membership plan, Mobile Internet Aficionados, or MIA, you get access to all the resource center’s free content, as well as in-depth guides, product reviews & field testing results, interactive guidance, vendor discounts, insider tips and so much more.

The couple feel they’ve found their perfect combination of passion and skill set, helping others achieve their nomadic dreams. “It’s incredibly rewarding whenever we hear back how we’ve facilitated navigating what can otherwise be a confusing topic.” Cherie said.

Chris & Cherie now have a flexible schedule that allows them to travel in one of the three vessels in their nomadic fleet: a 47’ motor yacht, a 35’ vintage bus conversion, and a 21’ van conversion. But when breaking news hits you can expect them to be there covering it for their members.

Visit the Mobile Internet Resource Center at rvmobileinternet.com. Join their Facebook group for all things RV Internet at facebook.com/groups/rvinternet or search Mobile Internet Resource Center on YouTube.

JOELHOLLAND HARVEST HOSTS

Likeso many entrepreneurs, Joel Holland experienced a major burnout with a business he grew from the ground up and eventually sold. Joel then decided to take a gap year, not his first, as he took one right before entering college. After his year of fun and traveling, he decided it was time to get back to work.

Joel wanted to find something that was more of a passion project and decided to focus on the things he really enjoyed, like traveling in his fifth-wheel and skiing. After remembering a visit he had at a vineyard, he thought it would be fun to create a business model that allowed RVers to book overnight stays at vineyards and breweries. He researched the idea and found someone had already created this business, it was called Harvest Hosts

After becoming a member and really enjoying the experience, he truly fell in love with the concept, but also saw ways the company could improve. He took the bold move of contacting the owners and seeing if they wanted to sell. They didn’t. They were enjoying the process of growing the company, but they were willing to chat.

Joel and the owners became friends and they saw his intentions of adding value to the service and how he wanted to help it grow in a tasteful way. Once they realized Joel shared their passion for Harvest Hosts, they agreed to sell the business to him in 2018.

Since then, Joel has done a major overhaul to the website and redesigned the mobile app (available in both the android and iOS) resulting in an improved user experience. Harvest Hosts has grown from 700 host locations, to just over 1,000 locations in the past 2 years.

If you are not familiar with Harvest Hosts, they are a membership program providing access to a network of wineries, farms, breweries, museums, and other unique attractions that invite selfcontained RVers to visit and stay overnight. For a yearly membership fee, members are invited to stay at any of their 1,000+ stunning locations while enjoying local products, like purchasing produce from the farm, wine from the winery, or tickets to the museum.

When asked if running his business on the road has helped him grow, Joel had this to say. “Absolutely! I feel a sense of creativity and curiosity when I travel, because everything is new and different. This makes working a lot more fun because every day is different and I feel much more inspired. The reason I got into RVing in the first place was to get out of a cubicle where I felt dead inside.”

To find out more or become a member, visit HarvestHosts.com or search for them on social @HarvestHosts

MARKKOEP CAMPGROUND VIEWS

Have you ever tried to research what a campsite or campground looks like before visiting, or even worse show up only to learn the photos look nothing like the current campground? Then you’ve felt the same pain Mark Koep felt when he started Campground Views in 2014.

As an RVer himself, Mark knew what was important to fellow RVers in choosing a campground to meet their individual needs. The saying a photo is worth a thousand words is very true, and pictures allow you to form your own opinion of a campground. One of the ways Mark wanted to ensure the photos were not biased was to create a peer to peer platform for sharing photos.

Campground Views allows campers to look at where they are going by providing over 36,000 photos, 3,000 videos and a hand built directory of parks around the United States. Free for users to search, the website makes money from advertisers and content creation. Campgrounds hire Mark and his team to shoot videos and Mark ensures it’s done in a realistic way.

When Mark went full-time, he was running a digital agency. Campground Views, was created and launched from the road. Mark will tell you “the reality is that there is nothing different about creating a business while being a nomad versus being stationary... except for the perception of social norms.”

He also adds, “The key challenges that are unique to this style of living mainly focus around syncing up business travel with personal travel.” Since Mark is both the creator and the customer, he travels and meets potential clients at their locations, creating a more personal experience. Mark also manages the largest digital gathering of RV park owners and operators via a private Facebook group.

The biggest lesson Mark has learned is there are no differences between stationary living and nomadic living thanks to the advances of wireless communication technology. Anything you can do while stationary you can now do remotely, often more efficiently and effectively.

Get a better look at your next campsite at CampgroundViews.com or search Campground Views on YouTube.

Photo by: Erin Thiem

BRITTANYHAAS

ALPENVENTURES

Brittany was ready to make a transition in her career and everything came together at just the right time. She started Alpenventures in 2016 after noticing a big gap in the adventure travel market for experienced adventurers who don’t necessarily require a travel guide.

Alpenventures organizes unguided outdoor adventures for experienced travelers who need a local connection to assist with the logistics. She recently planned a bicycle tour across the Alps for a group of friends who had international travel experience. Starting in Germany, the group headed to Austria, ending their seven day adventure at Lake Garda in Italy. Brittany coordinated all the accommodations, airport transfers, bicycle rentals, and all the navigational information in personalize eGuidebooks.

Brittany started the business while living overseas and actually established it in a foreign country (she’s

American and the business is German). While she wasn’t traveling when she started it, she now travels 3-4 months of the year conducting field work and extended marketing tours.

Brittany and her husband are currently building an expedition truck on a Mercedes 4WD NG chassis. Their goal is to become full-time travelers in the next two years and she plans to continue running the business on the road.

Like so many digital nomads, being able to travel while working actually helps her run and grow her business. Brittany spends a lot of time on multi-day hiking and biking tours with her laptop always nearby. While her personal time and professional time have now blurred, it does mean she gets to do more of the tours she enjoys, more often than she could have when she worked her traditional job.

“The business has changed a lot about my life” Brittany said. “I set it up so I can do it from anywhere in the world, which has enabled me to travel more and spend more time visiting family while doing marketing tours around the U.S., which is extremely precious when you spend most of your time overseas.”

For more information about Alpenventures visit their website at alpenventuresunguided.com or find their Instagram, Facebook and YouTube accounts @alpenventuresunguided.

Brittany Haas is the Owner and Chief Adventure Officer for Alpenventures, an adventure travel company.

THOMASFROMM

VENTURE WIPES

Sometimesthe idea for your new business can start from a simple conversation around a campfire and for Thomas Fromm and Venture Wipes that is exactly what happened.

Thomas had been a remote employee and self-sufficient for years, both while working from home and while living in his RV traveling the country with his family. When he parted ways with his employer he was sitting around a campfire with other full-timers discussing business ideas and the conversation started about some of the things full-timers would need and want to use. The conversation switched to struggles with showering while camping and from that one conversation Venture Wipes was born.

Now if that sounds like it was an overnight success it wasn’t. Thomas had no experience starting a business from scratch or manufacturing a product or selling products on Amazon and he had to learn all three fast. You would think taking an everyday item like a baby wipe and making it adult size would be easy, but making manufactures understand what he wanted and needed was actually a challenge.

Venture Wipes are a full-body wipe that is large enough to clean your entire body. They are made with a biodegradable fiber, these wipes are strong enough for any job, while still being soft to the touch. They’ve infused their body wipes with natural ingredients to help keep you fresh and clean for the rest of the day. Individually wrapped in single-use pouches for easy carry, they are ideal for packing a “portable shower” wherever your adventure takes you. The part that makes Venture Wipes even more unique is that after you are done using it to clean yourself, the wipes are strong enough to then use to clean off your shoes or gear that might have gotten dirty as well.

Their marketing efforts are pretty grass roots as they spend a lot of time at RV and Outdoor Shows and offer samples to people they meet in RV parks and campgrounds. Owning a product that is used by your neighbors makes for easy marketing, especially when each week you have new neighbors!

As Thomas and his family head into their 4th year of fulltiming and a goal of traveling and living in all 50 States (with Alaska the last on their list) odds are you might run into them and if you do get ready to receive a Venture Wipe and you’ll become a fan of what a fellow Digital Nomad created.

For more information about Venture Wipes visit their website at venturewipes.com or find their Instagram and Facebook @VentureWipes. You can also search and buy Venture Wipes on Amazon

SONYASCHWEITZER THE

INTENTIONAL MARKETER

Sonya Schweitzer is the CMO & Founder of The Intentional Marketer, an agency offering fractional CMO services and digital marketing business strategies.

Sonya is a 20-year marketing veteran and when she hit the road in 2017, she received numerous requests for business coaching and marketing help. After six months on the road, she decided to quit her corporate job and The Intentional Marketer was born.

“It wasn’t any easier or harder than if I’d started it in a sticks and bricks location.” Sonya says. “I have always been transparent with my clients that I’m nomadic and haven’t had any clients’ voice concerns. In fact, it’s a great ice breaker!”

With their fractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) services, The Intentional Marketer offers expert marketing leadership and services to accelerate growth and improve profitability, when a company is not ready to hire a full-time CMO. “Our virtual CMO service is the most cost-effective, efficient, and innovative solution.” Sonya adds. With her team of experts, Sonya offers businesses accountability, strategic support, and guidance to help move their business forward.

Sonya admits to still struggling with the work/life balance. She wants to enjoy the places they visit, while still making sure her clients are taken care of. “It’s a balancing act. We don’t always get it right. It’s hard to see other RVers out enjoying themselves, while we’re stuck behind our monitors working.”

But she is quick to agree that running a business while traveling has helped. Even with the stresses of work, she is able to change her backyard and explore the country in her RV. “It makes me happier than I ever was living in a sticks and bricks. So my mood is generally better. And let’s face it, the commute doesn’t suck either!”

She’s even met a couple of clients through the RV community and hired a few digital nomads for her team.

To learn more about The Intentional Marketer or to work with Sonya, visit their website at theintentionalmarketer. com and follow Sonya on Twitter & Instagram @SocialSonya.

ADAMGALLER+VERONICACRUZ GOOD NATURED JOBS

Nestled out in the Tahoe National Forest, Adam Galler & Veronica Cruz were settling into their new seasonal jobs at a campground near Lake Tahoe. They had just quit their 9-5 jobs back in San Diego, packed up their dogs and belongings into their cars and into the unknown.

As the summer season was wrapping up and they considered what to do next, the name they had already come up with, Good Natured, found it‘s business model as an outdoor job platform. Adam & Veronica quickly realized Good Natured Jobs was the business idea that would allow them the dream life they sought. “It was an idea that provided a location independent business, and it was an idea that brought a solution to others just like us, looking for jobs based in the outdoors.” Veronica said.

Good Natured Jobs is an outdoor, travel and adventure platform that connects good natured people with amazing job opportunities across the world. From Elephant Sanctuaries in Cambodia to Adventure Guides in the Islands of Portugal, there is a job out there for anyone who has the dream of shedding their 9-5 grind and start living by scoring their dream job.

After creating their business roadmap, and with no prior experience building a website, Adam worked day and night building out the site from scratch. They then started making connections with leads and promoting the site to job seekers.

As you might imagine, living a full-time travel lifestyle has actually helped their business. In fact, it didn’t really start to take off until they started to travel more. They were able to focus their efforts on the platform fulltime, instead of in the off hours after their campground hosting jobs. It made a huge difference.

Adam & Veronica struggle with work/play balance like a lot of digital nomads. For them, it’s a balance of working towards growing the business while also being able to take full advantage of their new found freedom. Nature is always calling, “It is hard to not jump on our mountain bikes and go explore, but we wouldn’t trade this ‘conundrum’ over working a 9-5 for someone else’s dream.” Veronica said.

“We love the RV lifestyle, and yes it is 100% possible to live your dream and make a living at the same time.” Veronica said. “It just takes some ingenuity, dedication and the willingness to take the road less traveled in every sense of the meaning.”

Learn more about Good Natured Jobs at their website, goodnaturedjobs.com or on Facebook

@GoodNaturedJobs

JONTIBOLLES WHITE HAT OPS

Whenthe agency Jonti Bolles was working at started to move away from client based work, Jonti saw the opportunity to start her own company, White Hat Ops. Even though it was intimidating to start she says, “It was too good to pass up.” White Hat Ops provides sustainable and ethical digital growth for companies and nonprofit organizations.

Jonti admits the way she started her agency was a little backwards. “I wanted to start my own company with low overhead, no big conference rooms or office leases,” Jonti said. She didn’t want her team, or herself, to spend hours fighting traffic.

As Jonti became more confident in her business, she hired her partner Denise. This released Denise from a corporate office job and allowed them to combine work and family trips. On an extended stay with a friend in

Italy, Jonti realized she could enjoy life & travel while still conducting business and keeping clients happy. “We decided going back to living in an RV and traveling would let us explore more of the U.S.” Jonti said.

The couple set out to find the healthiest places in the U.S. to live. They were seeking that joy of life they had experienced in Western Europe. She said she’s still looking, “but that is half the fun. The bonus was realizing when you live on the road, adventure finds you.”

Jonti was fearful that clients would be put-off by not being in the same city or being as easily accessible. She has several clients who prefer to meet in person, but most clients enjoy hearing about her travels, often asking “where are you this month?”

Traveling while running her company has also offered more cost effective ways for her to attend conferences and events. She can now be with her family and dogs without having to pay for additional airfare, boarding, and hotels. One of the challenges she’s found is balancing the time to move from one location to the next, plan itineraries, work, and also be able to enjoy where they are staying. “We typically stay a month or more to take advantage of good working conditions and lower rates at parks.” Jonti said.

Find out more about Jonti, Denise, and White Hat Ops at whitehat-ops.com or on Facebook @Whitehatops

MARC&JULIEBENNETT

RVLOVE

Meet the Bennett’s. Marc & Julie Bennett are the coowners & co-founders of the online media company, RVLove

RVLove started in 2014 as a hobby travel blog and YouTube channel when the couple first hit the road as full-time RVers. Their RV travels were originally supported by Marc’s full-time remote job as an employee. Within the first few years, RVLove started to grow to the point where it required a full commitment from Marc & Julie.

The Bennett’s decided to take the leap and make RVLove a business in early 2017. It was perfect for the couple since the business was built around their travels. They wanted to help others learn how to transition their life into extended RV travel. The passion they share about creating quality resources for other RVs brought them to create an online course: The RV Success School.

In early 2018, Marc & Julie authored the book “Living the RV Life - Your Ultimate Guide to Life on the Road”. The book is now in its 3rd print run and a bestseller.

Prior to creating RVLove, Julie had run her own marketing and PR businesses, so it was a natural transition to creating content for RVLove. With their website, YouTube, and courses the couples’ goal is to provide people with quality, well researched, dramafree educational materials and guided coaching.

Turning their RV travels into a successful business hasn’t come without some challenges. They struggle, like all digital nomads, with finding solid internet and separating work and play. “It isn’t always easy” adds Marc. “When so much of our business is based around our RV life and work/life boundaries become blurred. There’s socializing with our friends where we can simply be ‘Marc and Julie’, then there is socializing with our RV community and at events, where we still have to be “on” as ‘RVLove’.”

The couple have found that traveling too far and too fast becomes stressful and reduces their productivity, even sometimes leading to burn out. So while travel is integral to their business, they are mindful of their traveling pace and focus on creating quality, helpful resources.

Learn more from Marc & Julie at RVLove.com and on their YouTube Channel, RVLove and follow them on social media @rvlovetravel.

LAURAPENCEATENCIO

SOCIAL SAVVY GEEK

Laura Pence Atencio was a financial advisor prior to the 2008 market crash. She had discovered a talent for marketing and social media through marketing herself. She was soon invited to speak and train on social media but because of her position as a financial advisor, she wasn’t able to take payment.

In 2010, after losing her job due to the crash, she was approached by women who wanted her to manage their digital marketing, which she quickly accepted. “I was looking for a job in marketing or recruiting but no one was hiring full-time.” Laura said. “If they were, you needed a degree in marketing and 5+ years experience, neither of which I had.”

Through the encouragement of her American Business Women’s Association chapter, she took the leap and started her own business, Social Savvy Geek. As a digital marketing agency, Social Savvy Geek combines traditional business networking and marketing strategies with current digital marketing for a holistic approach focused on business growth and sales.

Living in Virginia, Laura leased a traditional office space and hired employees. When she moved to Colorado, following the birth of her daughter, she realized what a waste it was to spend on an office. She transitioned her employees to contractors and the business went fully remote. “I had built a business that could run from a laptop and I wasn’t taking advantage of it at all.” Laura said.

When her husband suddenly passed away in 2018, Laura decided she wanted to work from the road and travel full-time, instead of just taking vacations or traveling for speaking engagements. Together, she

and her 6 year old daughter have travelled over 15,000 miles in 2019 alone.

They are not your traditional digital nomads, Laura is excitedly saving for an RV and in the meantime, she’s living in hotels, house or pet sitting, occasionally staying with friends and family, or tent camping. “We are enjoying seeing the US and I am also planning to take Brennan with me on work trips to England, Canada, and Germany this year.” Laura said. “I feel like I get more done when I am busier and traveling has always felt good to me. I’m only sorry that I waited so long to cut ties with apartments and get going.”

Laura says her traveling lifestyle does come with a few challenges, like crossing time zones. “My calendars aren’t smart enough to allow for future time zone prediction.” which sometimes creates client scheduling challenges. She’s also still working out how to best podcast from the road. Through her lifestyle brand and side hobby, Boondock Geeks, she is documenting their life on the road.

Then there are the challenges she finds that aren’t related to working at all, including judgment from others about homeschooling her daughter on the road instead of enrolling her in a traditional school. Laura is also a swimmer “I have not yet figured out how to swim enough. Hotel pools are no good for a US Masters swimmer.”

Learn more about Laura at socialsavvygeek.com or follow her adventures on social @SocialSavvyGeek.

Photo Credit: Anne Barhyte

MARCIAHOPPER HAPPY CAMPER NAILS

Marcia Hopper runs her direct sales company, Happy Camper Nails, from her fifth-wheel. She has a team of over 300 stylists who work with her and she’s even met a few in her traveling lifestyle.

Marcia and her husband have been full-time RVers since 2016. Originally living in Kansas City, when their daughter married and moved to Texas, the couple decided to sell the house and hit the road. During their first year on the road, Marcia was working remotely but she wanted another way to bring in an income. She soon found out about Color Street.

Marcia signed up as a stylist with Color Street in 2017, just two months after the company launched. Marcia says she knew that the ground level was the best place to get involved, “I absolutely loved the product and knew that so many other women would too.”

Her line, Happy Camper Nails, are 100% nail polish that works like a sticker. It goes on dry, doesn’t smudge, and comes off with regular nail polish remover. It was a perfect opportunity for her as she wanted something she didn’t need to carry a lot of inventory for. “It fit perfectly into our lives because most of the business could be done online and what little bit of inventory I wanted to have on hand would fit in a shoebox under the bed.” Macria said.

A few months into her business she met Dorothy Bridges, while the two were attending the RV Entrepreneur Summit. Dorothy fell in love with the product right away and joined Marcia’s team a few months later. They have separate client bases but the pair have worked together ever since.

Being able to help other women who don’t have the time or money to visit a salon has been very rewarding. Marcia’s travel style is pretty mobile, staying a week or two in an area before exploring the next and it allows her to meet new customers along the way.

You can learn more about Marcia and Happy Camper Nails at her website happycampernails.com or on Instagram @happycampernails

SCOTT&CHRISTINAFIELD VIAVISTA CONSULTING + OUR EPIC FIELD TRIP

Scott

and Christina Field are the owners of ViaVista Consulting and the YouTube channel, Our Epic Field Trip

In 2017, while celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the couple became curious about the people living and working there. Through this experience and a little bit of research, they discovered the full-time RV lifestyle.

That discovery ignited their whole transformation. They were determined to find a way to create a life of travel and adventure. After researching, analyzing finances, and evaluating nomadic business opportunities, they moved into their 2015 Entegra Anthem in 2018.

Scott & Christina provide a variety of services under their umbrella of ViaVista, Inc. including subsurface mapping Ground Penetrating Radar mapping (GPR), environment, health & safety consulting, as well as helping design vacation packages through ViaVista Voyages.

Scott is an Omega Mapping RV franchise owner. Using ground penetrating radar and survey-grade GPS equipment he conducts discovery of underground features for cemeteries and municipalities. As an RV Franchise, Scott & Christina travel all over the U.S. providing the services to small and mid-size businesses.

Creating client based careers for themselves hasn’t been without its challenges, they struggle with client acquisition since they are always on the move. However, as Christina says “we are no longer on that monotonous corporate treadmill – every day is different, and we feel we’re really experiencing new things all the time.” Starting a company and becoming full-time RVers with no prior experience has had its own stresses and trials. Even with all that, Christian says, “we would make the leap all over again because the upsides far outweigh the bumps along the way.”

The mapping business takes them to new communities across the country and gives them the opportunity to meet and engage with local residents. “We love that all our business endeavors result in positive outcomes for our clients and followers – that’s what really keeps us inspired and motivated.”

Hear more from Scott & Christina at ourepicfieldtrip.com or by searching OurEpicFieldTrip on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.

BEN&CHARITYDeVRIES

GRATEFUL GLAMPER & AROMA OUTFITTERS

In2009 Ben & Charity DeVries founded TechKnow, a digital marketing agency to help companies with all things “techie”. In the years that followed, they found themselves wanting to travel more as a family and were looking for ways to make it happen.

In 2016 the couple took a course on how to start an online Amazon private label business. Knowing nothing about ecommerce they researched a niche to go after and started Aroma Outfitters. Aroma Outfitters is a line that helps users organize and store essential oils for easy everyday use.

When they set out in their Class A motorhome in 2017, they soon identified another niche in camping and outdoor living. They started their second Amazon business, Grateful Glamper, which sells everything from RV t-shirts to kid friendly marshmallow roasting sticks.

The couple runs all three businesses and loves that it allows them the ability to travel. “We can now travel and work from anywhere, any time.” Charity said. “We travel part-time during the school year and full-time during the summer months. Our kids are in a great local school so we stay mostly stationary during the school year.”

Learn more about Ben & Charity at gratefulglamper.com or on Instagram @gratefulglamper

DIGITAL NOMAD WORK ESSENTIALS

We asked the digital nomad entrepreneurs featured in this issue what tools, services and software they used to help them run their businesses on the move. Besides the basics, phones & laptops, here is what they had to say.

#1 Mobile Internet

When asked what their biggest challenge is, nearly every one of our digital nomad entrepreneurs said internet. From finding the best unlimited plan, to making sure your site has decent cellular service, internet on the go is always top of mind for digital nomads.

“The Mobile Internet Resource Center forum keeps us updated on the latest.” -

Jonti Bolles

Three years ago, through an alert from the Mobile Internet Resource Center, we were able to score an AT&T Mobley before AT&T discontinued the sale of them. Staying connected with them is a huge help in staying connected on the road. Visit RVMobileInternet.com for more.

Sometimes you are in a place that has OK cell service, and you just need a boost. This is where weBoost comes in. weBoost offers a variety of different packages, with some designed specifically for RVs. The weBoost Connect RV 65 has a higher antenna for maximum signal inside your RV.

If there’s not a Verizon signal where we’re camped, then it’s pretty much impossible to run the business.”

- Veronica Cruz

If you don’t have time to research and just want something quick, Unlimitedville is an easy option. Unlimitedville offers service from all 4 major carriers. There is a one time set-up fee, they’ll send you a mobile hotspot, and offer only, no contract, month-to-month plans. Use promo code 6FQYTM2 and get $50 off your order. Visit RootlessLiving.com/Unlimitedville

#2 Video Conferencing

Zoom was the conference call software of choice for nomads who take client calls. It’s what we at Rootless Living use to record our podcast. Zoom offers free basic plans all the way up to an enterprise level. For more information visit zoom.us

“I depend heavily on video conferencing to be able to connect with my clients.” - Sonya Schweitzer

#3 Project Management

“Our most important tools for running our online and mobile business revolve around communications.”

- Julie Bennett

Keeping track of the various projects and communicating

Julie Bennett of RVLove in her motorhome office

with those on your team is crucial to keep everything flowing. There are a number of great project management tools out there now, here are a few these nomads are using.

Slack is a communication tool which allows you to chat in one place about a specific project. So no more searching your inbox, conversations in Slack happen in dedicated spaces called channels with all the members in the chat who need to be.

Trello is a collaboration tool that organizes your projects into boards so you can see at a glance what’s being worked on by who and where it’s at in the process.

Asana is a work management platform for teams to use for goals, projects, and growing the business. You can map out projects and visually see their progress in Asana.

#4 Good Help

From a virtual assistant to a great bookkeeper, utilizing skilled help is important for digital nomads. RVer Heather Ryan, aka the Tax Queen, helps other digital nomads with their bookkeeping and taxes.

“I have been using Heather for years and am always delighted with her work.” - Sonya Schweltzer

There are many within our digital nomad community who are virtual assistants. If you are a part of The RV Entrepreneur facebook group, odds are you will be able to find an VA there. There are also sites like TheVirtualSavvy.com or TheUnicornHub.com, where their matchmaking services will find a VA to fit your needs.

#5 Marketing & Accepting Payments

If your company has a newsletter, you’ll need a good Customer Relationship Management, or CRM, platform. Mailchimp is a great, easy to use solution that offers free accounts to start out.

Veronica Cruz of Good Natured Jobs loves HubSpot

“The platform helps manage marketing, works as a CRM and they offer tons of free training, tips and tools for growing your business.”

If you have a subscription based model, Chargebee is great. They are ideal for start-ups as they offer free plans up to your first $50,000 in sales.

Selling digital or physical products? Shopify is easy to use and offers multiple ways for you to sell your products. From your company’s facebook page, in person, or a designed and hosted website on the Shopify platform. It’s what we have been using for Rootless Clothing, and at a low monthly rate, its ideal for new businesses.

#6 Hard Drives & Headphones

Noise canceling microphones and headphones can be pretty important, especially if the neighbors dog won’t stop barking. Jabra offers a few different options that block out disruptive background noise.

If you are a podcaster, you can use Audacity’s free software to reduce background noise from your recordings. Learn more at audacityteam.org

Both on-the-go and larger, stay in the rig, hard drives are essential for those who are creating or managing a lot of content. We like the WD My Passport Portable External Hard Drives or the LaCie Rugged Mini for added shock and drop protection.

Alyssa Padgett planning away. Photo by: Kyle Kesterson

1 COUPLE + 1 STATE = 103 PARKS

HOW ONE COUPLE VISITED 103 MICHIGAN STATE PARKS IN 10 MONTHS

By Ari and Jessi Adler

Visiting all 103 State Parks in Michigan might seem like a good bucket list item to check off over the years, but we managed to knock it out in just 10 months.

In 2018, we learned that 2019 would be the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Michigan State Park system, and the Department of Natural Resources would be celebrating it all year long.

So, we decided to pursue what seemed like a crazy idea: visit every State Park during 2019 and document our visits to share. We knew it would be a lot of work, but it could also be a lot of fun.

We intended to work from the road and travel full-time throughout the year, but working remotely turned out not to be an option for Jessi at the time.

Starting in January of 2019, we spent nearly every weekend crisscrossing the state in our Class B RV, a 2008 Roadtrek 190 Popular 4x4. Heading out from our house near Lansing, Michigan on Fridays after work; we often did not return until late on Sunday nights. We took two weeks off in September to travel the entire Upper Peninsula and a few three-day weekends sprinkled throughout the year.

We visited the 103rd park in October 2019.

Big Sable Point Lighthouse at Ludington State Park

About 75 percent of Michigan’s State Parks offer camping, and we stayed at as many as we could. Sometimes we camped at one park while visiting a few others in the area, in the same weekend, to fit them all in. The busiest time was when we visited the parks in Southeast Michigan. Many of them are so close together, we once ended up doing five parks in a single day.

It’s tough when you’re shooting videos along the way. We have several bloopers with one of us saying the wrong park or stopping to ask which park we’re in! It would’ve been nice to spend more time at many of the parks because each one offers something unique.

Shooting and editing the videos meant we also needed to do a lot of research. Jessi worked hard to research the history of the parks, and it helped us connect with a place because we knew why it existed or what had happened there in the past 100 years.

Our research helped us discover petroglyphs in Michigan, something we had no idea were there, until we found them at Sanilac Petroglyphs State Park.

At the Meridian-Baseline State Park, there is a surveying medallion that marks the point from which all land

surveys in Michigan originate. That’s important because every property description within the state is referenced starting from that point.

Did you know a lot of State Park property in Michigan remains undeveloped because it once belonged to lumber barons or auto magnates? There are 2,400 acres of woods for people to enjoy in one of the most heavily developed counties in Southeast Michigan because it used to be the weekend estate of Edsel Ford.

In Northern Michigan, there are old-growth forests we can still enjoy today because, ironically, they were preserved by lumber barons whose companies didn’t harvest them in the 1800s.

We enjoyed talking and learning from locals, especially the camp hosts. They provided outstanding tips on lesser-known sites to see. Which in Michigan, included great hiking trails near beautiful rivers, awesome waterfalls, and many lighthouses.

They also knew where to find the best treats! At some point during the year, Ari started joking that it was more of an ice cream tour than a State Park tour because of our frequent stops to local ice cream shops.

Bucket list travel is often a motivation for folks with RVs, but keep in mind that those lists don’t have to involve trips across the country. We have said for years that people can really be a tourist in their own backyard. This project helped us see first hand how it can be a fascinating endeavor.

We encourage you to start small and do what you can. Belle Isle State Park

Tippy Dam State Recreation Area

Maybe you can’t afford the money or the time to visit all the National Parks, but you can probably find a way to visit the state parks in your home state. Of course, if you live in a large state like Michigan, we don’t recommend checking them all off in one year!

Michigan State Park Recommendations:

Best Hiking

Upper Peninsula: Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park boasts over 90 miles of trails on nearly 60,000 acres of land in historic lumber and copper-mining country. Plus, it sits on Lake Superior and has numerous inland lakes, including the stunning Lake of the Clouds.

Lower Peninsula: Pinckney State Recreation Area has 40 miles of multi-use trails on 11,000 acres of land in southern lower Michigan. It’s also known for a chain of excellent fishing lakes.

Best Beach

You really can’t go wrong with any of the State Parks on Michigan’s west coast since the white sandy beaches along Lake Michigan are a sun-seeker’s paradise. However, Warren Dunes State Park has the bonus of giant sand dunes you can climb up and run down before hitting the water.

Best For Families:

Upper Peninsula: Van Riper State Park offers a beach and waterfront along 1.5 miles on a large inland lake, 1.5 miles along a beautiful river, a massive playground, and a bicycle pump track. Plenty to keep families busy! Plus, the area is known for moose sightings.

Lower Peninsula: Ludington State Park is home to three campgrounds, sandy beaches, scenic sand dunes, an iconic lighthouse, wetlands, marshlands, and forests. The park is situated between Hamlin Lake and Lake Michigan, with several miles of beautiful shoreline along both lakes. These are just some of the reasons this is the most popular State Park in Michigan!

Ari and Jessi Adlers are public relations professionals in Michigan who recently made the transition to remote work, bringing them one step closer to full-time travel in their Class B RV. Their goal is to hike, camp, and boldly go to all 50 states.

See more from Ari and Jessi at their website, trekers.org or by searching trekersorg on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

Elephant Rock, Buena Vista • CO

GPS: 38.884724 -106.151789

As soon as we drove into this gem we knew we’d be staying here awhile. It’s beyond picturesque with a ton of activities like hiking and rock climbing. It’s gold medal waters are renowned for some of the best fly fishing, white water rafting, and kayaking. You can also pan for gold here!

As digital nomads having cell service here is a huge plus. You can also drive 15 minutes into Buena Vista,

a charming little mountain town with all the services you would need; grocery stores, gas, dump stations, coffee shops, bars, restaurants, and adorable unique gift shops. Don’t forget to stop by K’s Dairy Delight for the best burgers and ice cream in town!

We rank this place as a favorite boondocking spot - we love it so much we’ve stayed here on three separate occasions while traveling through Colorado.

Mariela Torres & Santi Araujo @LeJoyRide

Upper Teton View

Grand Tetons National Park • WY

GPS: 43.7638, -110.5527

One of our all-time favorite boondocking spots is Upper Teton View near Grand Tetons National Park. The panoramic view from this amazing spot are out of this world. The Tetons are visible in all their glory and the elevated view is incredible. You will need a bit of an adventurous spirit to get to this spot as the road is narrow and bumpy, but you won’t be disappointed by your reward.

A spot near the edge of the hill is ideal for viewing. We traveled with our 42ft fifth wheel, so size isn’t an issue if you are brave. For those that like easy, there is a Lower Teton View as well. It’s not nearly as scenic as you don’t get a birds eye view, but it is a free place to camp right outside the park’s boundary. Cell coverage isn’t great here, so take some time off to enjoy nature and make new friends!

Nicole Schroeder @Fulltime_Families

ROOTLESSLIVING PODCAST

Boomtown by Christian Wallace

A fascinating 10part series taking you inside the West Texas oil boom.

Second Date Update from MOViN 92.5

The very popular Seattle morning show brings their Second Date Update segments in podcast form.

Crimelines True Crime with Charlie

Each episode walks you through a true crime with great story telling, historical & cultural context to consider not only how it happened by why.

How I Built This with Guy Raz

A podcast that dives into how some of the best known companies were built.

Serial with Sarah Koenig

The podcast that pretty much put podcasts on the map. Record breaking season one takes a look at the possible wrongful conviction of teenager Adnan Syed.

Smart Passive Income with Pat Flynn

Through a mix of interviews, special co-hosts, and solo shows, Pat shows you how he and others have created passive income streams.

Stuff You Should Know with Josh & Chuck

A podcast for people interested in creating remote income and the ability to work from anywhere.

If you’ve ever wanted to know about history with a fun twist, this Shorty Award winning podcast has you covered.

PODCASTS FOR THE DRIVE PODCASTS FOR THE DRIVE

Podcasts are listed as a courtesy to our readers and compiled from recommendations in various Facebook groups. If you have a podcast you think we should include, email us at info@rootlessliving.com

The RV Entrepreneur by Heath Padgett

CONTRIBUTORS:

Barry Benton

Heather Ryan

Adam & Kathryn Frazer

Nicole Douglass

Savannah Smiled

Heath & Alyssa Padgett

Joel Holland

Cherie Ve Ard & Chris Dunphy

Mark Koep

Brittany Haas

Thomas Fromm

Sonya Schweitzer

Veronica Cruz & Adam Galler

Jonit Bolles

Laura Pence Atencio

Marc & Julie Bennett

Marcia Hopper

Scott & Christina Field

Ben & Charity DeVries

Ari & Jessi Adler

Mariela Torres & Santi Araujo

Nicole Schroeder

ABOUT THE COVER

One of the hardest things to coordinate while puplishing a magazine on the road is a good cover photo.

Big thanks to Heath & Alyssa for having a really fun photo for this issue’s cover. They took this while in New Zealand at Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.

Our next issue will focus on Boondocking and we are looking for the next cover photo. If you think you have one that best represents “boondocking” please email us at collab@rootlessliving.com or DM us a preview on Instagram

@rootlesslivingmag

Rootless Living Magazine

Volume 1 | Issue 2 | March/April 2020

Publisher Demian Ross

Editor Nikki Kirk

Advertising Information: sales@rootlessliving.com

ROOTLESS LIVING • 3916 N POTSDAM AVE #3194, SIOUX FALLS, SD 57104

Disclaimer: One of the great things about digital publications is the ability to link you directly to the products or services you want to hear more about. Some of the links in this issue are affiliate links where we earn commissions on goods or services you buy. These commissions help us to continue to publish the magazine. Rootless Living is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@rootlessliving.com

Copyright © 2020 DNI Group LLC. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. No responsibility is assumed for unsolicited submissions.

UPCOMING EVENTS, RALLIES & CONFERENCES

Stay connected with fellow digital nomads at these 2020 events.

MARCH: The Real RV Show

March 12-15 in Sacramento, CA

The RV Entrepreneur Summit

March 19-22 in Guntersville, AL

FMCA’s 101st International Convention

March 26-29 in Tucson, AZ

APRIL:

Good Sam Texas 2020 State Rally

April 9-12 in Canton, TX

Escapees RVers Boot Camp

April 17-19 in Las Vegas, NV

Running Remote Conference

April 20-21 in Austin, TX

MAY:

Wyoming Outdoor Weekend & Expo

May 8-9 in Lander, WY

Tennessee Grand Design Owners Rally

Weekend 1: May 7-10 in Crossville, TN

Weekend 2: May 12-14 in Crossville, TN

DNX Festival 2020

May 23-24 in Berlin, Germany

JUNE:

Social Media Week Lima

June 17-18 in Lima, OH

Escapees RV Club - 60th Escapade

June 21-26 in Rock Springs, WY

Bansko Nomad Fest 2020

June 29 - July 5 in Bansko, Bulgaria

JULY: Green Country RV Show

July 17-19 in Tulsa, OK

Adventure Van Expo Mt. Hood

July 21-22 in Mt. Hood, OR

FMCA Joint Chapter Rally Oswego Harborfest

July 22-27 in Oswego, NY

AUGUST:

Ohio Grand Design Owners Rally

August 6-9 in Millersburg , OH

Xscapers Alaska Cruise

August 14-24 in Seattle, WA

Overland Expo Mountain West

August 28-30 in Loveland, CO

Events listed are a courtesy to our readers with dates and details subject to change. For more information, contact the events directly. If you want your next event listed here please email info@rootlessliving.com

FINAL THOUGHTS

Well that’s a wrap on Issue #2! We hope you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed writing, designing and working with this amazing community to bring it to life.

In our next issue, we’re focusing on Boondocking here in the U.S. We’ll be taking a look at the people, the products, and the places that have everything to do about living off the grid.

Boondocking is one of those words that mean different things to different people. For us, we will be using two factors … off the beaten path & with no nightly cost to camp.

As someone who lives full-time in a RV and spends a good amount of time in traditional campgrounds, it feels really good to get out in the middle of nowhere and get away from the crowdedness that can sometimes come with staying in campgrounds.

Our motto and magazine will always be “For Digital Nomads, By Digital Nomads”. This is where you come in. If you have a story, experience, park, location, remote job, renovations, you name it, we want to hear from you.

You might be reading this page thinking you have an interesting story, but you don’t qualify because you’re new, don’t have the experience, or a huge social following, maybe you don’t have one at all. We don’t care about the numbers. If you have a cool and unique story that needs to be shared, we want to hear from you.

Email us at collab@rootlessliving.com

Again, thank you! From all of us at Rootless Living

RESOURCE DIRECTORY

We’ve mentioned a few products and services in the past two issues so we thought we’d list them all here on one page for you to easily access.

INTERNET:

Mobile Internet Resource Center: rvmobileinternet.com

Unlimitedville: RootlessLiving.com/Unlimitedville

JOB BOARDS: Find Remote Work: Flexjobs.com

Find an Outdoor Adventure job: www.goodnaturedjobs.com

START YOUR OWN BUSINESS:

Learn How To Sell on Amazon: RootlessLiving.com/TheSellingFamily

Learn How to Become & Market Yourself as a Bookkeeper: RootlessLiving.com/BookkeeperLaunch

DIGITAL MARKETING AGENCIES:

Fractional CMO for your Business: theintentionalmarketer.com

Sustainable and Ethical Digital Growth Plans: whitehat-ops.com

Online Marketing, Training, & Services: socialsavvygeek.com

HELP FINDING OR BECOMING A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT:

Learn How to VA or Find a VA: TheVirtualSavvy.com

VA Matchmaking Service: TheUnicornHub.com

TAX HELP:

Heather Ryan, EA: tax-queen.com

SOFTWARE DIGITAL NOMADS USE:

Zoom Virtual Conferencing: zoom.us

Slack for Team & Project Communication: slack.com

Trello Project Collaboration Tool: trello.com

Asana Work Management Platform: Asana.com

Audacity for Podcast Background Noise Reduction: audacityteam.org

CAMPGROUNDS & OVERNIGHT STAYS:

Stay on Host’s Property: Boondockerswelcome.com/rootless Stay Overnight on Farms, Wineries & More: HarvestHosts.com (Use promo code Rootless for 15% off!)

Book a Campground:

CampgroundBooking.com

Look at a Campsite Ahead of time: CampgroundViews.com