Rootless Living Issue 13 | Jan / Feb 2022

FOUR FOR RV LIVING BUDGETS

HUNTING

BOONDOCKING THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

Traveling to the Best Conditions for Winter Sports

FINDING SEASONAL WORK ON THE ROAD

UNIQUE ROAD TRIP STOPS IN AMERICA

BRIDGING THE GAP

BETWEEN WHERE YOU ARE AND WHERE YOU WANT TO BE.

LEARN MORE...

WE STRIVE FOR NOTHING LESS THAN CUSTOMERS FOR LIFE.

CLEAN YOUR GEAR LIKE A PRO.

POWER PRO MAX ™

PORTABLE PRESSURE WASHER

Easily take on all of your outdoor cleaning projects like a pro. The lightweight, ultra-portable power cleaner has versatile water source options. You can drop the hose in a bucket of water, a pool or lake and start cleaning. No fuel tanks or power cords required. Now you have the freedom to clean where you want, when you want with less hassle and total ease.

• 520 Max PSI

• Includes long and rotatable nozzles

• 6-in-1 Spray attachment and 25 oz. soap bottle

• Two (2) 40V Lithium Ion Batteries included

• Cleans RVs, boats, decks, ATVs and more

WORK

48

6 Actionable Steps for Saving and Budgeting on a Variable Income

Learn from an investment banker how to manage a variable income for more stable finances.

57

Piloting Planes and

RVs

If you thought being a commercial airline pilot meant you couldn’t live in an RV, you were wrong.

66

The Marriage Lab

Learn how The Labradors took their passion for couple’s therapy on the road full-time!

EXPLORE

71

Should we Stay or Should we Go?

Most full-time travelers follow good weather yearround, but these folks say they love spending winter in their RV.

82

Wild Lands and Wildlife

Take a scenic trip to Everglades

National Park

87

Hunting Powder

These nomads chase the best conditions for skiing and snowboarding.

SOLID FOOTING FOR ROOTLESS LIFESTYLES

Motorhome Mount Tow Bars

BX7470

All steel construction. 15,000 lb towing capacity.

BX4370

Lightweight aluminum. 7,500 lb towing capacity.

BX7420

All steel construction. 10,000 lb towing capacity.

Our premium powder coat accents any coach or tow vehicle.

Capacities from 6,500 to 15,000 lbs. 2.5" receivers available.

Patented non-binding latches quickly disconnect, even in the most rugged terrain.

WELCOME TO OUR third year of Rootless Living.

Winter is here! Every full-timer has a story about winter - whether you’re running away to chase warmer weather, got stranded in a freak Louisiana ice storm, or you stuck it out in the Northeast trapped in feet of snow. Winter is always an adventure when you are living in your RV!

In this issue, you will find a little of everything. In Travel, you’ll hear from different full-time nomads and their varying budgets. Does your income vary every month? Hear from a financial planner on how to best budget when your finances vary.

In Work, you’ll read how seasonal work camping nomads find different gigs that allow flexibility and fun. Get the best tips on how to set up an office space that works for you, and how one couple went from desk job to entrepreneur.

MEET THE TEAM

Happy Apertures

Brandi and her husband Jonny have been living and traveling full-time in their travel trailer for over 3 years with their 2 dogs and lovebird, Bentley, Matilda, and Clarence. They set out on their travels searching for freedom, happiness, and epic adventures and found just that and more on the road. When they’re not exploring the great outdoors, they love creating art through photo, video, and music projects. Follow along with their adventures on Instagram @happyapertures or happyapertures.com

In Explore, we catch up with those die hard winter lovers who are chasing down all the best powder and hear from others on how they decide “should I tough it out or head south for the winter?” And of course we are all about Community. Meet Brandi & Jonny, our social media duo helping connect you with fellow nomads on the Rootless Living’s social media channel. Be sure to stop by on Instagram and say hi.

Until the next issue … stay Rootless.

Demian Ross, Publisher @demianross

demian@rootlessliving.com

Nikki Kirk, Editor-in-Chief @nikkirk7

nikki@rootlessliving.com

Co-Founders Demian Ross & Nikki Kirk.

ESCAPE THE CROWDS

UNIQUE

OVERNIGHT CAMPING AT 2789+

WINERIES

BREWERIES MUSEUMS FARMS AND MORE!

We are a network of wineries, breweries, distilleries, farms, and attractions that invite RVers to stay in 2789+ stunning camping sites. The $99 yearly membership gives members unlimited access to stay overnight at any one of our Host‘s locations. In exchange for their hospitality, we kindly ask our members to support their Hosts by purchasing one of their local products with each stay.

“A

“RV living at it’s finest! If you haven’t added the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta to your bucket list, go and do it right now!”

“Colorado is more than I could have imagined. Over every peak and around every bend it just gets better.”

“Joshua Tree streaming. My kids love it because it’s easy walking with good payoff: boulders they can ascend and descend themselves.”

“We are just out here having the freaking time of our lives!!”

ADDING

a pet TO YOUR RV

WE HAVE BEEN traveling part time in our fully-restored 1968 camper for five years and recently added a new member to our family. Eric and I have wanted a dog for a while, but we struggled to decide what type of dog would be a good fit for us and our 60-square-foot vintage camper.

As we took our first steps toward adopting a dog, we came across East Coast Canine Rescue and found Lola, a 9-pound chihuahua/miniature pinscher mix, and we fell in love. She was absolutely adorable, and she was tiny—what could be a better fit for our tiny home?

When we adopted Lola, we were told she was between three and four years

By Beth Cronin

old and may have carried puppies at some point. She immediately took to us and our lifestyle, but we soon found out she was pretty scared of other people, and we realized building trust was going to take time and patience.

With several trips and adventures planned, we began thinking about what she would need and how we could fit everything effectively. With a tiny home, you have to carefully choose which items you’ll carry with you, and thinking about things in terms of needs vs. wants helps us make those decisions. Our new furry friend requires her own set of belongings, so we had to restructure how we used our already limited storage space. Restructuring meant once again

going through what we had and getting rid of anything that wasn’t a necessity for us so we could fit a bin of Lola’s necessities, like leashes, treats, grooming products, and blankets.

Once we had her belongings in check, we really wanted to be sure Lola would feel comfortable and safe in the camper. She had a long journey before she met us, so it was especially important that she felt at home, which meant getting her familiar and confident with moving around inside before we hit the road.

We decided on some modifications that we thought would help. Because there’s so little space, we didn’t want her to have any restrictions on where she could go, so Eric built a custom ramp to

allow Lola to get up on the bed in the back of the camper. Another important addition was the installation of a camera so we would be able to leave her alone inside for short periods of time when we grabbed groceries or ran errands. The camera faces a tabletop thermometer so we can monitor the temperature, which would be especially important if we lost power.

Lola has really enjoyed the accommo dations we have made for her outside as well, like a crated area where she can lounge and take in all the sights and smells, and depending on our location, she can enjoy the campsite more freely with a long lead we set up. We can see her confidence and trust growing with each new place we take her. As she’s encountered new people, places, and smells, she has impressed us with her adaptability!

When it comes to offsite adventures, we like to pick activities where she can be involved. When we aren’t exploring a local brewery or trail, we take Lola bike riding, kayaking, and even pedal boat ing! For biking, we purchased a basket

attachment that also allows us to safely clip her in. Watching her feel the wind in her face is the cutest thing! When it comes to water activities like boating and kayaking, we put her in a life jacket and away we go. We have found that if we are calm, relaxed, and enjoying ourselves, she picks up on that energy and is calm herself, which allows her to have fun with us! We have learned her cues for when she is scared or nervous, and we are patient with her and encourage her to explore at her own pace. In each new experience, we can tell we’re gaining her trust and the bond between us is strengthening. We know there are many people who travel and live in RVs full time with furry friends, but when you add a rescue dog to a 1968 vintage camper, you have to get creative with making your home functional, safe, and accommodating. We have done the best we can to create a safe, loving, and fun environment for our new family member. We love our new life with Lola and can’t wait for all of our adventures to come!

Our new furry friend requires her own set of belongings, so we had to restructure how we used our already limited storage space.

A new Recipe

FOR LIFE

By Nancy Sorgatz

EVERYONE HAS A prized recipe they think is the best, and some might even think their recipe is the only way to make that particular food. Why mess with perfection, right? Take chocolate chip cookies, for instance. Maybe your recipe has been passed down for generations, and you think it’s perfect. But what if I came along and substituted those semisweet chocolate chips for chopped chunks of Valrhona chocolate? Your perfect chocolate chip cookie would be even better!

This is how I look at my choice to live an alternative lifestyle. Most people live life following a very specific recipe—a college degree, a successful career, kids, a big house that’s decorated well, nice cars in the driveway, etc. And believe me, I was in it. I broke a sweat

putting my outfits together just to pick my kid up from kindergarten. My husband at the time was always financially overextended as we lived beyond our means to keep up with the neighbors, moving more than 18 times over the years to chase bigger bonuses and more money.

I was miserable, even though my life looked perfect from the outside, and I was done pretending. I completed the Le Cordon Bleu culinary program at night when my daughter was done with her day. I became a pastry chef at 36, and left my husband at 38. I packed up my MINI Cooper, walked away from financial security, and wrote a new recipe, not caring what anyone thought.

My career took me to Google, where I started as a lead line cook

and became the executive pastry chef within two years. For the next seven years, I had a team of 16 people making and delivering thousands of pastries daily across different campuses. I accomplished amazing things, but I was burned out. The paycheck was the only reason I was there.

Seeing my way out this time took longer than it should have. By the time I walked away from Google, everyone in my life already knew it was time for me to get out and get healthy again. In order to do that, I had to offset the fact that we no longer had my sizable income, so we moved out of our $4,000 a month condo and into a new little Airstream.

Living in the Airstream full time was not an ingredient I’d ever dreamt possible—even now when I see the tiny Bambi we call Gypsy, I laugh and think, “Really?” We are traveling spontaneously with nowhere to be and everywhere to see, and the adventure has not stopped surprising us.

Whenever we are parked at the ranch I work for, I’m in the kitchen making my version of the classic chocolate chip cookie, which was recently added to our online store for Harvest Host guests to enjoy when they come visit.

When someone eats one (or two!) of my cookies and asks what my secret is, I typically reply, “cookies are my love language.” I love to bake cookies and bring people joy; that is the real secret ingredient. What brings you joy will ultimately bring joy to those around you, and nothing tastes better than that.

Baking on the road with no oven means getting creative with my sweet

tooth. Our favorite sweet treat when camping is a fruit crisp, which is easily created with simple ingredients we typically have on hand and a fire for my lodge cast iron. You can use any fruit; when pears are in season, I use them along with piloncillo, which is a rich, flavorful sugar made from pure cane juice and pressed into a cone shape. The molasses flavor works great with the pears and buttery oat crumble. (The crumble I use is one part each of butter, oat, and flour.)

There are plenty of times that even having a fire to make dessert isn’t an option. On the west coast, fires aren’t allowed for much of the year due to the wildfire risk, so when others across the country are making s’mores, we are inside making this cookie—a perfect indoor, rainy day, or anyday no-bake cookie from my childhood. In my opinion, there is no better combination than peanut butter and chocolate! All you need is a stove top and seven ingredients you probably already have in your RV to make this quick treat.

Nancy’s No-Bake Cookie

1/2 cup salted butter

1 3/4 cups granulated sugar

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup whole milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

2/3 cup creamy peanut butter

3 cups quick oats (don't use old fashioned oats)

Line a sheet tray with parchment paper (or lay a piece on your counter; this is what we did as kids).

In a saucepan, combine butter, sugar, milk, cocoa powder, and vanilla over medium heat. Bring to a boil and stop stirring, let boil for about 2 minutes. Take off the heat and add in the peanut butter. Once fully melted add the oats, moving fairly quickly so the batter doesn't set up before you can scoop! Using a scoop or two tablespoons from your drawer, drop onto parchment paper and let set. It should take about 30 minutes, but you can toss them in the fridge if you can’t wait that long.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nancy and her husband Carlos Canada are parked most of the time in Paicines, California. As Events and Catering Manager for Paicines Ranch, Nancy works with people from all over the world planning events that are all catered in-house. Chef Carlos is creating a food program using only local ingredients and pasture meats raised on the land, truly farm to table, as the ranch builds a commercial kitchen with stunning views of the Walnut Cienega. They continue to travel in their Airstream Gypsy part time, hiking and visiting as many national parks as possible. If you're in the area, Nancy also runs the Harvest Host program; RVs from across America can visit and enjoy this 7,600-acre ranch. Come say hello! You can follow their adventure on instagram @forwardmotionchef

Nancy's Classic Chocolate Chip Cookie

2.5 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature

1 cup dark brown sugar

1/3 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

16 oz 70% chocolate, chopped (Hey, use whatever kind you like—you do you!)

In the bowl of an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, beat butter and both sugars on medium speed until mixture lightens in color. Add the vanilla and eggs one at a time, stopping to scrape the bowl so everything is totally combined. On low speed add the dry ingredients, mixing until dough comes together. Dump in chopped chocolate, mix until combined. Scoop dough onto a sheet tray lined with parchment paper and bake in a 350° oven for about 9 to 12 minutes. Rotate your pan halfway though to make sure they bake evenly.

Note: I chop my chocolate for this recipe so the chocolatey goodness is in every bite, but if you like chips, use those instead!

What brings you joy will ultimately bring joy to those around you, and nothing tastes better than that.

LIVING ON LIFE’S TERMS

How One Couple Embarked on the Journey of a Lifetime

By Patrick Lang

WHAT WE REMEMBER of that day was “The Look.” It was a long look of shock and disbelief. We might have received the same look if we said we were making plans to walk to the moon. Colleen and I had just shared with her parents our plans of selling everything we own, buying an RV, and traveling the country. The idea may have sounded crazy, but for us it was an adventure we felt we had to pursue. We had come to

a crossroads in our life.

In 2007, Colleen was diagnosed with a progressive neurological condition called spinocerebellar ataxia. SCA is an atrophying of the cerebellum. There are more than 40 different types, with many types displaying similar symptoms, and the severity can differ. Colleen’s type is unknown, but her condition has eliminated her ability to walk and talk. It also has a debilitating effect on her hearing, eyesight, and motor functions.

What started as slurred speech in 2007 progressed to a point where she had lost the ability to speak by 2013. By 2017, she had lost the ability to walk, and swallowing food was becoming a challenge. In November of 2017, Colleen made the decision to retire from her 18-year career in distance learning. Time was not on our side if we were to pursue this transformative lifestyle.

Since her retirement, we were actively seeking our next life pursuit. During the first week of August in 2018, we received a letter from a realtor asking if we would be interested in selling our home. I suggested to Colleen (half jokingly), “Why not sell everything and travel the country?” She offered a crooked smile, which usually means, “That idea is half-baked,” but then a few days later she sent me a text message with links to wheelchair-accessible RVs. When I asked if she was serious, her face lit up. I knew at that moment our life was about to change.

Within weeks, our house was on the market and I was making plans to leave my job of 26 years. During our RV search, we came across Dune Sport in Mesa, Arizona. Dune Sport builds custom travel trailers and fifth wheels, including wheelchair-accessible options. The salesman emailed us pictures of a rig they had just built, and Colleen

and I immediately knew it was the one. I emailed our salesman back and said, “We are ready to place an order.” Since we were living in Wisconsin, our circumstances did not allow the opportunity to visit the factory first, and after we were comfortably living in our rig for a few months, it occurred to me that making this purchase sight unseen could have turned out quite poorly! I have no doubt there was divine guidance involved. We call our RV “The Den Of Acceptance,” and it’s a perfect fit for us.

Since we experienced long, cold winters the first four decades of our lives, we searched for the warmest winter destinations in the United States. Yuma, Arizona was high on this list, and since The Den was built right down the road, Yuma is where we started. As we enjoyed the warm winter months, we planned our travel for the upcoming summer, and decided to head north to Montana before making our way east. Our goal that year was to make it to New England in time to experience the fall colors.

Along the way, our ideas of exploration blossomed. We hit 33 states in 2019, traveling through the midwest, northeast and southeast before heading back to Yuma for the winter. In 2020, we decided to tour the western states. During a 24-month span, we trekked through 37 states and logged over 15,000 miles. We marveled at many state and national parks, sank our toes in the sand on both coasts, and explored many local gems as well. We were always in search of wheelchair-accessible natural wonders.

Along with learning this lifestyle, we had to learn how to adapt to Colleen’s accessibility needs. The wheelchair lift and roll-in shower proved to be indispensable. Even though the rig was set up well, we hadn’t put a lot of thought into the mechanics of daily living. Just about everything was different—we had to learn how to adapt to live in a much smaller space. Our home was 2,800 square feet, and we were now living in an area about 100 times smaller! One change we had to make was switching up Colleen’s indoor wheelchair. She used a powerchair in our last house, but

Our experience has taught us that time is your most valuable resource.

it was far too large for our rig, so we ended up purchasing a rollator. We made modifications so it was like a small wheelchair that allowed me to push her from room to room. This was just one of the many life hacks we developed to adapt to this lifestyle.

We knew this journey would offer us the opportunity to spend time together and see this beautiful country, but it ended up offering so much more. One blessing we noticed immediately was the sense of community between traveling nomads. We needed a lot of help along the way and there was always someone willing to assist us. On many occasions, a simple conversation would lead to us sharing our experiences, both on the road and in our personal lives. We found most people are more concerned with helping the Joneses than trying to keep up with them.

Today we realize how little we really need to live a joyous and fulfilled life. When we were preparing to sell our home, we sold or gave away about 99% of what we owned. As

it turns out, this was the beginning of our liberation. By freeing ourselves, we were in a position to collect invaluable experiences, of which there have been many. We understand not every detail has to be figured out and not everything needs a plan. We faced a lot of fear and uncertainty along the way, but when we took the first step, the rest of the staircase appeared. Life has a way of working out if we remain open-minded and teachable. We love sharing this journey we have embarked on. When people learn of our pilgrimage, their faces often light up. They say, “That is my dream. I really hope to pursue it one day,” and we always suggest they do it as soon as possible. Our experience has taught us that time is your most valuable resource. You don’t know how much of it you have left, and you can’t buy it, borrow it, or steal it. You can only enjoy it in the present moment. Make the present moment count and live your journey of a lifetime.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Patrick and Colleen are adventurous souls who live and travel full time in their adaptive RV. They’re on a mission to find the most amazing places this country has to offer, despite the challenges life has thrown their way. You can follow their journey on Facebook and Instagram @living_on_lifes_terms

How to Build the PERFECT CAMPFIRE

CAMPING JUST WOULDN’T be the same without a warm, crackling fire to melt your shoes and burn your s’mores. But the method for building the perfect fire can be a much-debated topic around camp. The architecture of your wood pile, wood quality, and type of tinder can make all the difference with your fire.

Before you build a fire

Check to see if there are burn restrictions in your area—this is an important detail to research before you head into an area without service. You can usually find details on the website for the agency that manages the land; for example, the Bureau of Land Management, National Forest Service, or state land agencies.

Check for campfire permit requirements in your area

Some areas require that you take a certification test online and have the permit with you—digital is fine. Cal Fire in California is particularly strict about this.

Do not transport firewood You can bring harmful bugs and fungi into a new area by transporting firewood from somewhere else. Be sure to buy firewood in the area you are camping in, or collect dead and downed timber once you get there if allowed.

SAFETY FIRST

Have a bucket of water and a shovel nearby

PREPARE YOUR FUEL

Gather different types of wood for your fire including tinder, kindling and fuel.

Tinder: Small, dry twigs, leaves, grass, and pine needles

Kindling: Dry sticks smaller than one inch thick

Fuel: Larger sticks and logs for firewood

LIGHT THE FIRE

Using a match or lighter, light the tinder

Add more tinder if necessary Blow into the base of the fire to help it grow

BUILD YOUR FIRE

Pile a few handfuls of tinder in the center of the fire ring

Add your kindling in one of the following ways depending on how you’re using your fire:

FOR COOKING

Teepee: build a tent with the kindling Lean-to: stick a longer piece of kindling into the ground, angling it slightly over the tinder. Lean smaller pieces of kindling over it

FOR LONG BURNS

Cross: lay kindling over the tinder in a crisscross pattern

Log Cabin: use larger pieces of kindling to make a square around the tinder, then place smaller pieces of kindling across the top

GROW THE FIRE

Add larger kindling, then firewood in moderate amounts to keep your fire burning at a moderate and controllable size

Boondocking Boondocking

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

By Rachel Telson

LIVING ON THE road means something different for everyone. While some prefer the luxury of hooking up at RV parks, others enjoy straying far off the beaten path to enjoy the pleasures of boondocking. I definitely fall into the latter group. I’m enchanted by the beauty of nature in the world and want to be as close to it as possible. Since my life allows it, as I’m able to work remotely, I decided to pack my bags, store my belongings, and head out into nature.

While it’s easy to romanticize what it’s like to boondock, sometimes the reality that comes with it is far less glamorous. There’s a good, bad, and ugly side of boondocking.

THE GOOD

If you enjoy camping, chances are you’ll love boondocking. There’s nothing like being able to park your home in the middle of a wide-open field, secluded from the hustle and bustle of the world, while relishing the simple miracles of mother nature.

Besides the joy of being immersed in epic locations, another incredible thing about boondocking is the cost—it’s free! Well, sometimes you may have to pay for a permit for US Forest Services (USFS) land, but if you stick to boondocking on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, you won’t have to pay. There are usually 14-day limits on both types of land. This rule applies to most BLM and USFS administered lands, but there are exceptions.

THE BAD

Having power is a must if you’re boondocking long-term. Personally, I use solar panels. Heat waves and winter storms can be difficult to manage—I’ve seen a low of 45 degrees in the RV when hunkering down through the historical Winter Storm Uri in Texas, and a high of 97 degrees when temperatures near Big Bend National Park reached 115 degrees! It’s not very pleasant wearing your ski jumpsuit to bed as you shiver to sleep or sitting at your dining room table feeling sweat droplets slide down your back. The RV just isn’t insulated enough for extreme temperatures. Even with unlimited power, it doesn’t cool down or heat up enough with a single AC or heating unit. That’s why my goal is to follow that 70-degree line whenever possible, or in the worst-case scenario, hook up to an RV park until the weather improves.

Service: Hotspots are your best friend! Being out in the middle of nowhere is wonderful, but sometimes being so far out in the wilderness comes with weak service. Having a strong signal is critical for working on the road and for keeping in touch with family and friends. It can be frustrating when you finish a 3-hour drive, thinking you’ve found the perfect spot, only to check your phone and find you have no bars. You may have to bounce around to several different spots before settling on the one with the strongest connection.

Groceries/laundry: There have been times I’ve driven 45 minutes to get groceries or do laundry because I’m boondocking so far from town. If you only plan on boondocking for the week, you may be able to slide by. But if you’re approaching day 14, a trip into town might be necessary. It’s always a good idea to stock up on supplies during your relocation from one boondocking spot to another.

Trash: Some locations have dumpsters, but the majority of the time you’ll need to follow the “pack it in, pack it out” rule, as in, “leave no trace you were there.” For a full 14-day stay, you may find yourself with a sizable amount of trash and nowhere to put it. I throw mine in the back of the enclosed truck bed so no animals can get to it, then dispose of it properly during the next move.

Mail: Receiving mail can be tricky. Luckily, there’s a wide range of Amazon lockers across the country. If those aren’t available, you can usually find a local shipping mail service. They often charge a few dollars to hold your mail.

I’m enchanted by the beauty of nature in the world and want to be as close to it as possible.

THE UGLY

Water rationing is the toughest part of boondocking for me. I used to be a water hog and had no concept of how much water I was wasting during my long showers. While boondocking, there isn’t an endless amount of water that pours from the faucet. It’s all based on the water you have in your RV tank, which is very limited. The amount of water you use is really what determines how long you’ll be able to stay in a given location. My showers now usually last about 2 minutes—a quick rinse, followed by shutting the water off, lathering with soap, then a quick rinse again. This makes shaving particularly challenging.

When the black tank is full, your boondocking time is up! Luckily, finding dump stations isn’t too difficult. Some of them charge about $10, but others are free.

Boondocking has been the experience of a lifetime and I can’t wait to see what else it has in store for me. Sure, it presents a lot of challenges. But for me, the pros outweigh the cons, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. There's a whole world waiting out there for you to explore, and it’s only a decision away.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rachel is passionate about inspiring others to get outside and start exploring. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @traveling.dreadhead or her website, travelingdreadhead.com

Unique Road Trip

STOPS IN AMERICA

By Gerri Almand

IT’S FUN TO stumble upon places that tickle the chakras and linger in the mind. As RVers, we have discovered many unique places we can recommend wholeheartedly. Some are more eccentric than others, and some have very intriguing histories.

THE LONDON BRIDGE

Lake Havasu City, Arizona, is the home of The London Bridge, dubbed the world’s largest antique and most expensive souvenir. I found it intriguing that engineers built the bridge before digging the channel and filling it with water.

Engineers created Lake Havasu in the 1930s by damming the Colorado River. The creation of the lake inspired Lake Havasu City founder, Robert P. McCulloch, to purchase an original 17th-century, retired, solid-brick bridge from England.

McCulloch viewed his 1968, $2.4 million bridge as a unique marketing strategy to

entice folks to move to his newly-created desert town. Workers in London dismantled, numbered, and labeled the bricks to ship to the United States.

The London Bridge crosses Bridgewater Channel, a shallow waterway diverted from Lake Havasu. At its base, McCulloch created a small replica of an English village that included a few outside restaurants and bars, several shops, and a replica of an old fire-engine-red English telephone booth.

The London Bridge story reminded me of the movie “Field of Dreams.” If one builds a bridge, the water will come.

THE CAROUSEL MUSEUM

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d thought about carousels, but a visit to The Albany Carousel & Museum in Albany, Oregon, triggered childhood memories of merry-go-rounds.

The museum began in 2002 as community leader Wendy Kerbey’s brainstorm. Volunteers began by tediously restoring a donated antique carousel mechanism. While most present-day carousel seats are hollowed aluminum or fiberglass, the Albany volunteers kept with tradition by hand carving and painting the animal seats from basswood. A single animal takes between 1,500 and 2,000 hours to complete! Our museum tour included antique displays, carving and painting rooms, a gift shop, a café, and the gigantic carousel.

While museum entry is free, a ride on the carousel costs $2. I gave the attendant my shiny gold token and wondered if I’d feel transported back to bygone times. I climbed on Yun Hsiang, a Chinese dragon believed to bring good luck. Sure enough, when the Wurlitzer organ and my ride began, I felt sweet childhood nostalgia arise.

THE WHIRLIGIG PARK

Before discovering the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park in Wilson, North Carolina, my concept of whirligigs was limited to those small plastic pinwheels. Vollis Simpson’s massive structures changed my understanding.

Simpson, a heavy equipment machinist, started crafting kinetic sculptures from salvaged machine parts in the early 1980s. Obsession set in, and he worked seven days a week in his machine shop until his death at the age of 94. Every design was original, and some of his creations soared as high as 55 feet into the sky.

The Wilson township, assisted by support from the University of North Carolina, created a park to celebrate Simpson’s structures. Volunteers refurbished and relocated the pieces from his farm into town, and the park opened in 2013 with 30 whirligigs on display. The town hosts a Wilson Whirligig Festival every November.

Some of Simpson’s pieces are on permanent display at the American Folk Art Museum in Manhattan and other prominent sites. In his obituary, The New York Times dubbed him a “Visionary Artist of the Junkyard.”

The wind was calm on the day of our visit, so I missed the full potential of all that action in the sky. Still, the sight of those kinetic structures destroyed any previous charm I might have found in plastic pinwheels.

THE STONEHENGE MEMORIAL

What a serendipity to discover yet another British-inspired creation, this one a replica of Stonehenge. This American Stonehenge Memorial is in Goldendale, Washington, on the cliffs of the Columbia River, and there’s nothing mysterious about its origins.

Samuel Hill, a wealthy philanthropist, created this memorial to honor fourteen Klickitat County veterans who lost their lives in World War I.

Hill wanted to use local stone for the towers but resorted to reinforced concrete when the local rocks didn’t work. To achieve the rough, hand-hewn texture, workers lined the insides of wooden frames with crumpled tin before pouring the cement. Workers completed the large center altar stone in 1918 and the remaining pillars in 1929.

Engraved plaques on the pillars list the names and dates of death of the fallen heroes. The town annually commemorates these anniversaries with small ceremonies.

The Stonehenge Memorial felt like

hallowed ground. We wandered in and out of the columns for almost an hour, despite 90-degree heat. My RV travels had again introduced me to an awesome place, and I no longer feel a need to see the original.

Mail-order kit houses, antique carousel mechanisms, mind-boggling whirligigs, an antique bridge in the middle of a desert, and a replica of Stonehenge—all discovered through our RV travels. Do I regret our decision to live full time on the road? Not yet, and probably not until I find another 500 delightful discoveries.

THE HOGUE HOUSE

We happened upon The Hogue House in Chelsea, Oklahoma, while following our Route 66 guidebook. This house is Oklahoma’s first and only surviving precut home sold by Sears, Roebuck and Co.

From 1907 to about 1940, Sears sold and shipped houses by rail in staggered installments. Shipments arrived in the order they were needed—framing materials first, then plaster, plumbing and wiring necessities, and finally, glass and shingles. Buyers followed written instructions from a leatherbound manual to assemble their homes. The solid oak lumber arrived precut, notched, and numbered, and with the final shipment, Sears included an engraved plaque with the owners’ names inscribed in gold.

Chelsea cattleman Joe Hogue ordered his house in 1911 for $1600. At the time, Sears offered styles ranging from $500 to $5,000. The company offered a coordinating outhouse for an additional $30—I don’t know whether Mr. Hogue took advantage of this deal.

Although folks have pooh-poohed these houses as look-alike cracker boxes, many people today find them chic. I know I did, but not enough to abandon my house on wheels.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gerri Almand found her voice in humorous travel writing when her husband insisted they buy an RV and travel the country.

The Reluctant RV Wife, Home Is Where the RV Is, and Running from COVID in our RV Cocoon chronicle her transformation from initial RV reluctance to an ecstatic embrace of full-time nomadism. Go to gerrialmand.com to learn more

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Goodbye

THE CASE FOR #TRAILERLIFE

By Jessica Schmit

WHILE MORE PEOPLE than ever are interested in RVing, younger generations seem to be flocking to one type of RV most of all: campervans. So when my husband and I (both millennials) started to consider an RV, I had my heart set on the idea of #vanlife. To be honest, I’m pretty sure my obsession arose from the images I saw on Instagram—decked-out Sprinters with their doors flung wide open, overlooking some incredibly bucolic scenery. But after some reflection on how and why we wanted to camp, we realized a campervan wasn’t the best fit for us and instead decided on a teardrop trailer. If you are trying to choose between a van and a trailer, here’s my case for why #trailerlife is the way to go.

YOU CAN UNCOUPLE YOUR LIVING SPACE FROM YOUR VEHICLE.

This was one of the most important factors when we selected a travel trailer. The ability to unhitch can be so helpful for a variety of reasons, like:

You get to leave your little home on wheels in your campsite when you want to drive around and explore the area. Because you aren’t driving your literal home with you everywhere you go, you don’t have to pack up all your things every time

you want to drive, or pay for the gas to lug all that weight, whether it’s a quick run to the store for beer or up a potholed national forest road to trailheads. Plus you don’t have to worry about other campers stealing your campsite while you’re out exploring!

We all know RVs can break. When a van is in the shop, you lose both your transportation and your home in one fell swoop. With a trailer, on the other hand, unless you’re unlucky enough that both your trailer and tow vehicle break simultaneously, you’ll at least have either a way to drive or a place to sleep.

TRAILERS REQUIRE LESS MAINTENANCE THAN CAMPERVANS.

Campervans are notorious for needing quite a bit of upkeep, from Sprinters, which are infamously pricey to maintain, to the beloved VW Vanagon and its difficult-to-find parts. A lot can go wrong on a campervan—after all, it’s a standard van with a living space built into it that’s usually driven more than your average daily driver. With a trailer, on the other hand, the only external parts you generally need to maintain are the brakes and tires. And since most tow vehicles are more common than the vans used for conversions, you’ll have an easier and cheaper time maintaining that as well.

IF YOU DON’T HAVE TIME TO BUILD OUT A VAN, TRAILERS ARE MUCH CHEAPER THAN CAMPERVANS.

One of the best things about campervans is how affordably they can be DIYed—all you need is a van that moves, a bed in the back, and a camp stove. If you’re like me, though, and looking for something a bit more bougie (e.g., an interior toilet, shower, and built-in furnace), it can take months or even years to build the campervan of your dreams. If you want to get out on the road sooner than that and elect, instead, to buy a purpose-built RV, you may be shocked at how expensive most campervans on the market are.

New or used campervans usually cost between $40,000 and $80,000, and the ones with the features I was looking for (a solar energy system, toilet and internal shower, a bed that converted into a dining area, and four-wheel drive) were quite expensive—many over $100,000! Trailers, on the other hand, are significantly cheaper, typically starting around $11,000 and maxing out around $45,000 for the swankiest models.

TOW VEHICLES CAN SERVE AS YOUR DAILY DRIVER, WHEREAS UNLESS YOU’RE A FULL-TIME VANLIFER, YOU’LL LIKELY NEED A SECOND VEHICLE.

While you do need a tow vehicle for a trailer, the good news is you’re able to use it as your daily driver to get around. For parttime vanlifers, you’re either going to have to drive around in your campervan all the time

(with the associated drawbacks, like decreased gas mileage from hauling around your whole home and the challenges of finding parking for a bigger vehicle) or alternatively, you’ll need to buy a second vehicle to serve as your

TRAILERS PROVIDE MORE SPACE FOR THINGS LIKE EXTRA BEDS, MORE STORAGE, AND LARGER HOLDING TANKS.

Another benefit of a campervan is its compact footprint—you’ll have an easier time parking and are likely to get better fuel economy than if you’re hauling an enormous fifth wheel. But the small size also comes with some drawbacks. For example, if you’re interested in camping with a family, some large trailers can accommodate up to 10 people, whereas with a van, you generally have to get pretty creative to sleep more than four. Trailers’ larger sizes also allow more space for things that make living in a tiny home more convenient, like additional storage

and extra capacity for your fresh, gray, and black water tanks. A dozen extra square feet can make a huge difference when your whole life is crammed into a tiny metal box.

And there you have it—five reasons that sold me on a trailer instead of a campervan. It’s important to flag that campervans inarguably have a number of advantages over trailers (for instance, it’s easier to get away if you find yourself in a sticky situation, they’re better-suited for stealth camping, and you don’t need to mess around with towing) and it’s entirely possible vanlife is perfect for your lifestyle. When it comes to picking your RV, there’s no right or wrong answer— you should pick the option that meets your needs and gets you out exploring the world. Regardless of what you’re driving, I hope to see you down the road!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessica Schmit runs the Uprooted Traveler blog and Instagram account @uprootedtraveler, focusing on RV travel, hiking, camping, and other forms of budget travel. She enjoys finding offbeat adventures, a good deal, and the best craft beer a city has to offer. In past years, she focused on exploring international destinations, but has recently taken to having more local adventures in her home of the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two dogs in their little teardrop trailer.

RV RENOVATION TIPS

for Full-Time Living

By Erin Meredith

IS THERE A way to turn an RV into a functional living space? It’s a fair question—after all, RVs were built for weekend getaways and road trips, so most are not functional for full-time travel and living. After years on the road, we’ve figured out how to make that transition possible, and by doing so, have turned renovating RVs into a full-time business.

When we moved into our first RV in 2017 to travel the country as wedding photographers, we made some big adjustments so the RV not only felt like a home, but was also fully functional to live in with our three kids and two dogs. Was it snug? Of course! But over the years, and throughout our RV living experience and RV renovation business, we have learned which practical changes make RVs so much more functional for full-time living. Although the full list is long, here are the top five practical and pretty changes we’ve made in our RV renovations to create more space.

CREATE STORAGE

If you own an RV, you know they come with limited storage. Storage is a magic word in the RV world, and if you can find it, it’s like striking gold. Our goal is always to maximize storage and ensure every nook and cranny offers as much functional storage space as possible. Most RV couches turn into beds, but using the space that way takes away all options for storage! After making sure everyone has a bed in the RV, we remove the couch and add a lounge with drawers underneath. The mattress on top ensures you’re not losing sleeping space—there’s still room for a guest! We find that this change not only offers a ton of storage, but also provides a larger space to sit. Adding a coffee bar and extra countertop space is another favorite part of our renovations. What was once a shelf for a box TV now becomes an open countertop with storage above and below. We’ve moved walls slightly to accommodate more practical storage, we’ve added desk spaces that tuck away, and we’ve added so many drawers! Drawers in an RV are game changers—having the ability to pull out the storage space and get to everything in the back ensures nothing gets lost.

RAILS AND LADDERS

We have found that most RVs, especially older ones, do not come with rails on the bunks and are often missing ladders. As a mom with 4 boys, I know it is important for us to create spaces that are not just practical, but also safe for our kids. Travis has 11 years of welding experience as a fabricator, so he is able to custom build beautiful ladders and rails that not only provide the bunk with extra support, but give kids the ability to sleep in their beds without the fear of rolling off. The rails are low enough that they are safe to climb over, or reach over to lay a kid down if needed, but also high enough that it gives the child extra safety in the bed while they sleep.

FRONT BED SIDEWAYS

We loved the space we gained in our room when we moved the bed sideways and up against the front wall in our very first renovation. Turning the bed moved all of the limited leg room on both sides of the bed to one open space along the new front side of the bed. We went from 10–12 inches of legroom to 2–3 feet! We are short, so for us, the cabinets above the bed were not practical. We had to climb onto the bed to get to anything we stored in those spaces and there was zero room to change our clothes. We now remove those abovethe-bed cabinets, which opens up the room, and add large drawers below the bed. The drawers are built with heavy-duty slides and give so much more space for clothing and storage. When we turn beds for our clients, we add a step to ensure they can get up onto the bed. It also becomes a super cozy lounge space to relax.

REMOVING UNUSED APPLIANCES AND FEATURES

Our clients often ask us to remove their microwave, TV, and extra bathroom, which gives us the opportunity to add things they really need. One RV we renovated even had two bathroom door entrances. Closing off one entrance let us create wall space for storage! The space where the microwave once was becomes more storage with an added cabinet door. We’ve removed the entire space over the stove and added open shelves. Removing a TV can give more space for open shelving, coat hooks, and cabinet space with storage. Getting rid of an unused half bath or large closet can open up the rooms, making everything feel just a little larger. We often take out the large bulky cabinets that stick out into the living space over the kitchen sinks and add custom-built open shelves to the wall, making the room feel larger and more open. It’s just another reminder to make sure you’re using every space you have.

EXTENDED COUNTERTOPS AND DESKS

Lastly, to make an RV more functional for full-time living, we add fold-up countertop extensions and fold-up desk spaces. So many new full-time RVers find themselves working remotely while on the road. They need a space to do this work without compromising the living space they already have. We’ve started adding flip-up desks in the front master room, giving clients a work space away from their living space. We’ve also added flip-up countertop extensions to help with meal prepping and daily kitchen chores. Any extra counter space can be a game changer, especially when it tucks away once you’re done using it.

We continue to be challenged by our clients in all the best ways to create and design RV spaces that are functional for full-time living. Our goal is to give them a space they love to come back to at the end of an adventurous day, and a space that works for them. Don’t be afraid to make changes to your space to make it work just for you, and remember that each family is in need of something different. Getting creative with the space you have can make your RV feel like a home.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Erin and Travis Meredith are a married couple raising four boys in Southern California. They started their RV Renovation business in 2018 after traveling the United States in their fully-renovated RV for 14 months with their kids. Their love of adventure and family guided them into a business with a goal of giving other families a tiny home on wheels to adventure in. Together, they design, create, and build spaces that fit each family that comes to them with a desire to travel. Travis and Erin enjoy coffee, beach days, Pearl Jam, surfing, road trips, and pretty much any adventure together. You can find more about their adventure on Instagram at @ourlivelytribe

EXITING THE RENTAL MARKET BY LIVING TINY

How an RV Renovation Solved Our Problem

By Austin Rohm and Joy Glen

OUR RV LIVING journey started in the spring of 2020. The previous summer, Joy had quit her job to be a full-time mom to our new baby, and after four years of renting, we were nowhere close to having enough money for a house down payment. With our savings quickly dwindling, we realized renting our two-bedroom apartment was not a long-term possibility for us. We needed an alternative solution, and this is where the idea of living in a renovated RV came into play.

We moved from Idaho to Portland in 2019 to further Austin’s schooling to be a PA and to help in ministry at our local church. Joy grew up in Portland, but we had spent the first two and a half years of our marriage in Austin’s home state of Idaho.

Portland has so much to offer! There’s amazing food, close proximity to beaches and mountains, countless hikes, and many other things. However, the cost of living is very high, which has created a housing crisis in the area. As a partial solution to this problem, the city has made it legal to live in an RV full time as a primary dwelling unit. Given this option, we saw a window of opportunity to downsize and live in an RV. We hoped this might solve our dilemma regarding the cost of living.

Once the idea of downsizing to an RV was proposed, we did some research into the way of life and quickly found a large community online. Other people who lived small seemed to be so content; it made us rethink how much stuff we really needed. We immediately started looking for a fifth wheel to buy, and two weeks later our newly-purchased, 40-foot-long 2013 Keystone Sprinter 324BHS was pulling into Joy’s parents’ driveway.

Our perceptions about people who lived in tiny homes changed very quickly. Before watching videos and reading articles about living small, we bought into the stereotype that people who lived in trailers were just too poor to own a house. We had been to trailer parks before, but had only seen examples that were more run-down and located in less safe

The city has made it legal to live in an RV full time as a primary dwelling unit.

neighborhoods. The online community of tiny-space dwellers showed us the other side of living in a fifth wheel, and we were so excited to start a totally new adventure by trying it for ourselves. The first thing we started on was renovating the dull, brown interior.

Renovations were what transformed the RV into our home. The freedom to create, remodel, and shape our home into what we envisioned was wonderful! We were so used to being restricted in our apartments. There is something satisfying about taking on a project, putting time, money, and old-fashioned elbow grease into it, and loving the way it turns out! We tried to be very careful with our money and ended up completing most of the remodel on a fairly low budget.

We installed new vinyl plank flooring, painted the walls with premium paint, and transformed the overall look to create a bright and lively space. By the time the remodel was nearly finished, we had only spent about $1,500 total! It is surprising the number of good deals you can find if you really make an effort. Many people assume a remodel must be out of their price range, but if you find a great deal on flooring and paint, those two components can make a massive impact on the look of the place.

As soon as we renovated and moved in, we immediately noticed how free we felt! Our family was finally done with renting, loud neighbors at midnight, and an area that was higher in crime. Our son Elliott had a large, forested yard to explore, and we felt safer. We now had a place we could truly call our own.

Although independence, freedom,

and overall satisfaction with life were factors that motivated us to live tiny, one of the biggest factors was the financial aspect of things.

Housing prices climb every day, and you need a good down payment to stay competitive in this market. How can anyone save up for a good down payment, especially on one income? We think we found a great way: live in a tiny home for a couple of years, renovate it, then sell it and use that money plus the money you saved from not renting as a down payment on a house or land. Even if you don’t make a profit and the RV depreciates, it can still be sold for thousands of dollars, whereas when you are renting, you get none of your money back, and walk away with empty pockets.

After living in our renovated fifth wheel

for just over a year now, we know we made the right decision. We had no idea what to expect at the beginning, but we’ve been very satisfied with the outcome so far. Have there been challenges and repairs? Yes. Have there been moments when the small space feels too small? Absolutely. However, the good far outweighs the bad.

I encourage anyone contemplating going tiny to just go for it! At the end of the day, you know that the home you built is special. At the end of the month, you know that you can put money away for the future. At the end of the year, you can look forward to another great year of living in freedom and independence. And at the end of your life, you can look back at the fond memories made in that tiny home that will never be forgotten.

Austin and Joy are enjoying their minimalist lifestyle with their son while renovating their fifth wheel. Living tiny was their creative solution to spending more time with family and less time stressing about how to pay the rent in Portland. They are on Instagram

@tinyrohmhome

RV OFFICE TIPS

Setting up your mobile office so you want to use it!

By Jen Reinhart

ONE OF THE benefits of rootless living is the ability to take your real life on the road with you. This may mean homeschooling your children, bringing along elements of a personal gym, making space for pets, or setting up an office space where you can work remotely. Regardless of your personal living situation, when making the move to RV living, it’s incredibly important to consider how those elements will translate into a tiny living space, both physically and mentally.

My husband Eric and I have spent the last year living in our Grand Design Imagine 2670mk, and after working remotely from our RV full time, we’ve learned what essentials we need to work from the road successfully.

First, let’s talk about the physical considerations: your office footprint, desk configuration, comfort, and internet.

The number one question we get from potential RV owners is, “What RV do you recommend?” This is quite a loaded question because, simply put, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. We started with a smaller camper, learned what we needed from using it on weekend trips, and then bought our full-time rig with those lessons in mind. Even now that we are in our current rig, we already have our eye on another floor plan we hope to upgrade to in the next couple of years. When shopping for RVs, we recommend preparing yourself with a list of “must haves,” “hope to haves,” and “absolutely don’t wants.” Going in with this mindset will help you stay on track and not be swayed by the shiny object in front of you that doesn’t truly fit your needs.

For us, an office footprint was on the list of “must haves.” Unless you are moving into a toy hauler or something larger with a bunkhouse or second bedroom, this can be difficult to find without renovating and building your own, so the fact that our current rig actually came with a desk space built in was a plus. Not only did it have the built-in desk, but it was positioned at the back of the camper with storage space in surrounding cabinets and drawers, complete with a large window that provides plenty of natural sunlight (and natural Zoom lighting, if I’m being honest).

I mention the office footprint separately from the desk configuration, and there is a reason for that. Once we moved into our RV, it only took me a few days of work to realize that while I loved the desk space, I was transitioning from working at our bar-height kitchen counter to sitting at a lower desk, and my body did not love it. I decided a tabletop flexible-height laptop stand would do the trick. It allows me to raise my laptop higher, making it more comfortable to sit or stand at the desk.

Along these same lines is general comfort. Investing in a comfortable chair can make a big difference, but don’t discount the details either! Living in a smaller footprint overall puts more emphasis on your surroundings and belongings. I might not have worried about what my desk looked like in my home office, but in our RV, I wanted the surrounding walls to be decorated with treasures, plants, and decor that makes me happy and comfortable.

The second most-asked question we get about RV life is about our internet. Obviously, if you are going to work remotely from your RV, you need to determine what you will use for connectivity. This is actually a tricky subject as well, because just like choosing an RV, it is nearly impossible to recommend a one-size-fits-all approach to internet access. We share our exact setup

on our blog at www.stairsup-handlein. com, but Googling “RV internet” will get you a handful of different opinions. At the end of the day, what really matters is what your company requires you to have, and how you can get that. Some companies require a hard-wired connection, while others allow you to work from hotspots. Some jobs require steady accessibility during work hours, while others only require turning in deliverables on time. Do your research and decide what works best for you.

Ok, so we have covered the basic physical necessities required to work remotely from your RV. But what about your mental health and well-being?

As I mentioned, it took me less than a week to realize sitting at the desk was not going to work for me. Well, I was also so infatuated with our new living situation that I found myself staying inside the RV on my breaks. I would take my break and organize a cabinet, or sit and listen to the sound of raindrops on the roof. I wasn’t getting outside and I was overstimulating my senses, and really, I just was not taking care of myself.

Here’s what I learned really quickly: get outside, take mental breaks, and have food and drinks prepared.

It may surprise you that though I live in an RV, I don’t really do “outside.” Eric is the outdoorsy half of this duo. Having said that, I learned quickly that I needed some outside time. The four walls (or slides) of an RV feel a little different than being within the four walls of a 2,400-square-foot house. Where I used to take a break and at least run upstairs to start the laundry, I was now taking 10 steps to the other end of the living space and 10 steps back. I needed to stretch, literally and figuratively. Stepping outside throughout the day, or even moving my workspace outside all together, allows me to clear my mind, stretch my limbs, and ultimately refresh myself throughout the workday.

We are currently traveling full time, so our campsites and my office views are ever-changing. Not all campgrounds are built the same, and sometimes we are staying within inches of another RV. If outside time isn’t as easy at one stop versus another, at the very least, mental breaks are so important. Step away from the desk and try to involve yourself in a

different activity altogether to give yourself that mental break from work. This can be harder in the smaller footprint, but it’s not impossible.

Lastly, food and drinks. Living in an RV can trick your mind into thinking you are always on vacation or camping. I mean, sure, you are technically camping, but you probably aren’t making s’mores nightly. I learned that moving from the house to the RV meant I needed to pay closer attention to the food and drinks I had on hand throughout the workday. I like to make sure I have healthy snacks that are prepared and ready to grab to munch on, so I don’t get sidetracked by “camping food.”

Above all, remote work is going to look and feel different for everyone. The most important thing is giving yourself time to make changes to your new setup, and knowing that everything might not be perfect right away. With the increase in remote work opportunities, we hope that sharing what we’ve learned will help you make the leap into rootless living!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jen and Eric Reinhart live full time in their remodeled Grand Design

Imagine 2670mk with their two dogs. After raising three children, they decided to take the leap into RV living and are traveling the United States in search of hiking trails for Eric, and all the pop culture must-sees for Jen. Google “vegetarian and dog-friendly restaurants and breweries” and you will likely find them there. Not into that? You can also find them on pretty much all social channels by searching @stairsuphandlein or visiting stairsup-handlein.com

“ REMOTE WORK IS GOING TO LOOK AND FEEL DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE. ”

Actionable Steps for Saving and Budgeting on a Variable Income

By Hunter Boyd

SAVING AND BUDGETING is hard no matter what, but it’s even harder when you don’t know exactly how much income to expect next month or the month after that. There are two main reasons budgeting on a variable income is harder. First, a good rule of thumb for people with variable income is to have six months of living expenses saved in an emergency fund. But if you don’t know how much you make in a six-month period, it can be hard to save the right amount. Similarly, if you don’t

know how much you’ll be making, it’s hard to set spending ranges for your budget because you won’t know how much you can afford to spend in each category. Setting a budget based on what you think you’ll be earning is a recipe for boondocking longer than you’d like. Here are six practical steps you can take to help “smooth” your income so it’s easier to save and budget the right amount of money. Note: this exercise should be done at least once a year to ensure you are planning with the most current and accurate numbers.

PART 1

The five steps in Part 1 help you determine how much income you should base your savings and budget on.

STEP 1: List your earnings from the last 12 months. Here is an example below:

December 2020: $7k

January 2021: $12k

February 2021: $5k

March 2021: $3k

April 2021: $16k

May 2021: $11k

June 2021: $5k

July 2021: $3k

August 2021: $19k

September 2021: $8k

October 2021: $4k

November 2021: $27k

STEP 2: Eliminate the lowest month and the highest month. In this example, that would be March ($3k) and November ($27k).

STEP 3: Add the remaining 10 months and divide by 10 to get a monthly average. In the example this is $90k/10= $9k per month.

STEP 4: Base your budget on Step 3. This is your “base” income. At this point you have a number to base your savings and budget on.

STEP 5: Build your emergency fund based on six months of living expenses. In addition to your emergency fund, entrepreneurs with variable income should create a “hill and valley” fund. I’ll explain that below, but it should total one to two months of “base” income (the amount in Step 4).

Emergency Fund = 6 months of average monthly living expenses

Hill and Valley Fund = 1–2 months of average base income

So what is the difference between an emergency fund and a hill and valley fund? An emergency fund is meant to be accessed when life throws us a curveball such as home repair, car repair, or losing your “job” or a stream of income. You should aim to have around six months of living expenses saved in your emergency fund. This money is best kept in cash in a high-yield savings account so it can

be accessed quickly if needed. A hill and valley fund is meant to be used as a “buffer” account to help smooth your variable income from month to month. This should be kept in cash in a checking account because it will need to be accessed on a monthly basis. Let’s look at how this fund is used in Part 2 below.

PART 2

The way you use a hill and valley fund is by making a contribution or withdrawal every month. The amount you contribute or withdraw depends on how much over or under your actual income is compared to your base income. The goal with a hill and valley fund is to keep the amount of your base income in the account at all times. To see how it’s used in practice, take a look at this graphic:

Dec 2020 $7k $2k

Jan 2021 $12k $3k

Feb 2021 $5k $4k

March 2021 $3k $6k

April 2021 $16k $7k

STEP 6: You’ll notice that in December, actual income totals $7k, which is $2k less than the base income we established in Part 1. In that case, you would pull $2k from the hill and valley fund. The next month, actual income totals $12k, which is $3k over the base income, so you would now contribute $3k back to your hill and valley fund.

You may be wondering what happens if your income starts to steadily increase and you find yourself consistently contributing instead of pulling from the account. That’s a great problem to have! It means your average monthly income is increasing. If that’s the case, repeat the steps in Part 1 to get an updated and more accurate idea of what your average monthly income has become. If your actual monthly income is still

consistently higher than your new base monthly income, don’t accumulate more than two months of your base income in your hill and valley fund ($18k in the example). Instead, begin re-directing your surplus to investments (whether that’s in a retirement account, real estate, or back into your own business).

Follow these six steps and say goodbye to the stresses of a variable income. Let the good times roll!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hunter Boyd started Solopreneur Financial, a specialized financial planning practice, to help entrepreneurs who are masters of their craft, but need someone to cover their financial blind spots.

Hunter’s bucket list includes catching a roosterfish on a fly rod in Costa Rica, hiking the Appalachian Trail, heli-skiing, and conducting a client meeting out of a campervan in all 49 continental US states. You can get in touch with Hunter on Instagram at @solopreneurfinancial or online at solopreneurfinancial.com

A good rule of thumb for people with variable income is to have six months of living expenses saved.

Actual Income Hill & Valley Fund

A NEW JOURNEY BEGINS

Just like every great road trip, sometimes life takes you in a new direction. At Heartland, we’ve launched a new journey to make our RVs better than ever. We’ve doubled down on seeking out the highest quality materials, creating fresh and inviting interiors and giving every unit the kinds of finishing touches you’d find in a new home.

Every unit goes through a top-to-tails inspection with a quality assurance expert—in fact, we have an 89,000-square-foot facility dedicated to walking each RV through a series of checklists to ensure it works exactly as it should. And with updated floor plans incorporating features our customers love best—spacious bathrooms, designer kitchens, furniture meant for cuddling up together—we’re confident every trip in a Heartland will be a happy one.

After all, that’s what RVing is all about: hitting the road with people you love, having adventures, making memories. So when you buy a Heartland, just focus on taking the journey of a lifetime. We’ll take care of the rest.

Experience the all-new Heartland online and check out 360-degree model tours, detailed floor plans, all-new features, galleries of updated decor and more.

Just visit HeartlandRVs.com.

BUDGETING FOR RV LIVING

It’s Not One-Size-Fits-All

By Jess Stiles

ONE OF THE most common questions in the full-time travel community is, “How do you afford your lifestyle?” While making an income is incredibly important, many nomads choose to prioritize sticking to a strict budget. By actively managing how much they spend, nomads can live small, travel full time, and work less. Budgeting for nomadic living can vary a lot depending on your lifestyle. A few of our readers have opened their spreadsheets and shared how they build and manage their budget so you can see a few different perspectives.

CHICKERY’S TRAVELS

JULIE AND SEAN CHICKERY

JULIE CHICKERY TRAVELS with her husband, Sean, and their dog Toby. They live in a 30-foot Arctic Fox fifth wheel that they tow with a Chevy Silverado 3500. They started full-time travel in 2014 in a 44-foot toy hauler fifth wheel, then downsized to their current RV in 2019.

When Julie and Sean took the leap into full-time travel, they had $13,000 saved. Over time, they have increased their savings by being mindful of their spending habits.

Income was not a concern when they started traveling because they were both working full time. After a few years, Julie quit her job to focus on Chickery’s Travels, their website and social media presence, which earns income through advertising revenue. Sean continues to work remotely managing medical research projects.

When they first started, the Chickerys didn’t maintain a budget or track spending, which wasn’t an issue until they wanted to downsize their rig. Julie said, “A year into our full-time journey, we realized we didn’t love our toy hauler, but we owed so much on it that we couldn’t afford to trade it in. We set a goal of becoming debt-free within three years. We met that goal six months early by creating a monthly budget and sticking to it.”

Julie explained, “Once we started budgeting, we looked at our bank statements to determine how much we had been spending in each category. Then we set a limit for each category. For example, we like to stay at campgrounds with full hookups, so we have a higher limit in that category.”

In total, Julie and Sean’s monthly expenses add up to $3,600 per month.

The Chickerys started using an app called Every Dollar to stay on track throughout the month. Julie said, “We log every single dollar that we spend

immediately so we can see if we are spending too much. If we’re under the spending limit for that month, we roll it into a savings fund that we use to splurge on fancy RV resorts, entertainment, or restaurants.”

With a few years of experience managing their money using this system, Julie has some tips for those looking to start following a budget:

Create a realistic budget that is in line with your goals

Never overspend

Track your spending before the cash leaves your wallet

Lastly, Julie said, “Budgeting isn’t just about expenses—it’s also about income. If you’re having a hard time cutting

costs, look for opportunities to earn more income. Then you can decide if the things you spend money on are as important as the time you have to spend working for them.”

Follow Sean and Julie Chickery @ChickerysTravels

We set a goal of becoming debt-free within three years.

LIVE CAMP WORK

SHAREE COLLIER

S HAREE HAS BEEN RVing full time for almost eight years with her husband, four kids, and dog. They currently live in a PUMA 295-BHSS fifth wheel.

The Collier family didn’t have a big financial cushion when they moved into their RV. “To be honest, we had very little in savings when we started RVing. We knew this lifestyle would only be possible if we worked while we traveled,” Sharee said.

Sharee and her husband didn’t have a consistent source of income when they first started, either. “We had a very small business we were running, which included setting up at trade shows and craft fairs. The problem we ran into was there was really no room to store our products in the RV.”

They focused on building a Live Camp Work lifestyle. Sharee explained, “We fully embrace the Live Camp Work mentality. This includes picking up seasonal jobs or local employment in the areas we want to stay in for a season. We’ve worked at Amazon CamperForce, Jellystone Campgrounds, and many RV parks throughout our journey. We also run the Live Camp Work community website, which includes online courses, books, and events, all of which contribute to our income.”

Since their income is seasonal, it’s important for Sharee and her husband to follow a budget and keep track of how much money they’re making and spending over time. Sharee said, “I’ve never really been great at keeping up with a budget, but I’m really making an effort to categorize things so I can see where to cut back.”

Overall, the Collier family spends an average of $5,000 to $6,000 per month.

Budgeting with a family requires constant management. Sharee shared, “Our spending has changed drastically over the past eight years. Our children eat a lot more now! Tickets for attractions are also more expensive since none of them qualify for free tickets anymore.”

Their internet and phone bill has also increased. “All of my kids do online education and I work 90% remotely. When we were just working seasonal jobs, we had one computer and one phone to share. Now we have 12 devices on our plan,” Sharee says.

Despite having a complex budget due to traveling with a family and managing multiple income streams,

Sharee says they are able to keep track of everything by following a few best practices:

• Save on entertainment expenses by trying to find free or cheap things to do.

• Minimize propane use by using campground electricity for electric cooking appliances like Instant Pots, Ninjas and electric skillets.

• Cook meals at home.

• Research camping memberships and stay in destinations for at least a month at a time to take advantage of cheaper monthly rates.

• Lastly, Sharee wants others to know about the Live Camp Work lifestyle and community. “Grabbing seasonal jobs in great destinations you want to visit is the perfect way to lower your expenses and make some cash along the way!”

Follow Sharee and family @sharee.collier

Since their income is seasonal, it’s important for Sharee and her husband to follow a budget and keep track of how much money they’re making and spending over time.

PENNY PINCHING GLOBETROTTER

MELISSA AND HER husband, Wade, have been traveling together in their 1997 Lazy Daze RV for four years. Melissa shared, “While I was home recovering from chemo, I realized I wanted more from life. When I looked at my bucket list, travel was always at the top. So we saved for two years, quit our jobs, and hit the road.”

They paid cash for their RV and had $10,000 saved. It was important to Melissa and Wade to start this lifestyle without a payment on their RV to keep expenses low.

The Nance’s make money through seasonal work at national parks. “We have lived and worked in Grand Teton, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and Mount Rainier National Park,” Melissa explained.

Initially, the budget was $1,100 a month, tracking every penny. “Our budget has increased over time as we found a way to earn money and travel,” said Melissa.

They currently spend around $1,200 to $1,400 per month. Melissa says when they are working at a national park, their expenses are much lower because “we don’t buy much gas and there’s usually free laundry.”

Melissa and Wade keep their living expenses incredibly low. They have some tips to share for others who are

looking to pinch a few pennies:

• Only boondock—Having zero camping fees saves a ton of money.

• Work in national parks—You get to experience a beautiful place for free, and make money doing it!

• Have an emergency fund—It’s not IF something will go wrong, it’s WHEN. “Make sure you have roadside assistance and money saved for when things go wrong.”

• In the end, Melissa and Wade have found they can live on less than most would think is possible. “When you only need $1,200 a month for living expenses, you can spend more of your time exploring instead of working,” said Melissa.

Follow Melissa and Wade @pennypinchingglobetrotter

THE MOM TROTTER

KAREN AKPAN

KAREN AND HER HUSBAND, Sylvester, travel with their 8-year-old son, Aiden, in a Keystone Montana fifth wheel towed by a GMC truck. Living and traveling in their fifth wheel full time has helped them figure out how to manage their finances in a sustainable way.

When they first moved into their rig, they didn’t have anything saved up for a financial cushion. “We took a leap of faith believing that business would pick up and that our blog, Youtube channel, and social media pages would bring in an income for us,” Karen explained.

Karen is a content creator, earning income while traveling by creating content for brands to use on social media. She is also a freelance writer.

Karen’s focus is on income. She explained, “We don’t track our monthly expenses. When we went full time, I told myself we needed to make at least $3,000 a month. We have successfully been able to RV on much less than that.”

In total, Karen estimates they spend

approximately $2,500 per month. Rather than building their budget by itemizing every receipt, Karen takes a much broader approach. They use a money-tracking app to keep track of spending each month.

• Boondock as much as you can by staying for free on Bureau of Land Management land.

• Don't eat out! “We cook and eat at home 99% of the time and are able to save a lot of money that way.”

Karen’s tips for managing your money while on the road include:

• Purchase a Thousand Trails pass or membership, which allows you to camp/RV on their properties for free.

When it comes to managing their money, Karen said, “This lifestyle isn't perfect, so be ready to roll with the punches. Keep an open mind and handle everything with a positive attitude. It will help a lot along the way.”

Living and traveling in their fifth wheel full time has helped them figure out how to manage their finances in a sustainable way.

Follow Karen and family @TheMomTrotte

PILOTING + RVS

planes

From International Flights to RVing Across the States

By Molly Henard

OUR STORY OF becoming full-time RVers started in the summer of 2020, in the middle of a crazy year. Chris started his flying career when he was 19 years old and has been through plenty of ups and downs in the airline industry. In 2018, he finally landed his dream job with a major carrier on his favorite airplane.

As a family, we’ve enjoyed the flight benefits by traveling all over the world with our children. At very young ages, our kids already had passports. Travel was so important to us that I decided to homeschool our kids because we needed the flexibility in the school schedule. Our family had developed a rhythm of travel, school, repeat.

In February of 2020, we took a trip that paved the way for our future. We rented an RV (something we had wanted to do for a few years) and explored Arizona and Utah for 10 days. Every day of that trip, we said it was the coolest trip we’d ever taken. We boondocked in wide-open wild places and discovered

a new love for the outdoors. Chris even semi-jokingly said, “We could do this.” We already followed some full-time RVers on social media, and the lifestyle really intrigued us. Within a week of getting home from that trip, the world shut down. In the weeks and months afterward, Chris stopped flying altogether. For the first time in his 15-year career, he was home with us day after day, and he is usually gone 3–5 days a week! At first, it was fun and exciting to have so much family time. But then the reality of job insecurity set in. Airline passenger numbers dropped to 5% of the previous year’s traffic, and airlines across the world parked thousands of aircraft.

At the time, we lived in a 4,000-square-foot house that was pretty expensive to maintain. We didn’t want to go into debt trying to keep living in the house while the airline industry’s future looked so uncertain. It was also likely that Chris would have a new base in the future, so we needed some flexibility with our living situation. It seemed like a wild idea, but moving into an RV made the most sense for our situation. Our house sold the very first day it went on the market, we sold or donated 90% of everything we owned, and we purchased an RV. RV living allowed us to save on living expenses, stay flexible with where we would live in the future in case Chris’ job base changed, and keep our adventures

We didn’t want to go into debt trying to keep living in the house while the airline industry’s future looked so uncertain.

It seemed like a wild idea, but moving into an RV made the most sense for our situation.

going! Since we started this lifestyle with very little knowledge of RVing, it took a few weeks to figure out what we were doing.

Chris flew very few flights in the summer of 2020 and had stopped flying altogether by August. So, for about a year, we travelled all over the country— exploring, discovering, and enjoying the time together as a family. We travelled as far north as northern Michigan, as far west as California, including dipping our toes in the Pacific Ocean, and as far south as the Florida Keys. We also explored Badlands National Park, Jackson Hole and the Grand Tetons, Zion National Park, the Bonneville Salt Flats, Joshua Tree National Park, and Sedona.

Wanting to see as much as possible, we moved to a new place every 3–5 days. Before all of this, Chris would be gone half of the month for work, so we counted this time together as an unforeseen blessing. It was a beautiful time for our family.

Last summer and fall, the airlines were

ramping up flights again, and people were ready to travel. Chris was called back to work and we decided to keep on full-time RVing! First up, he had to go to training before he got back to flying airplanes again, but he was fully trained and back to flying by August 2021. So, what does our life look like now that Chris has gone back to work? Have you ever even heard of an airline pilot who flies large airplanes AND tows a 44-foot RV around the country? Chris is based on the west coast now that he’s back to work. We’ve been traveling around the western part of the States, which is exciting to us mostly because of the beautiful landscapes and the great boondocking locations. We generally situate ourselves within a 1–2 hour drive of an airport so he can commute to work. Since we only have the truck and no other car, I drop Chris off at the closest airport to where we are camping, and he commutes by plane to his base to start his trips. He usually has a flying schedule of 3–5 days at a time, so we plan our

travel days around when he’ll be “home.” While he’s away, the kids and I keep to our normal routine of homeschooling and exploring locally, like we’ve always done in the past. We also travel at a much slower pace than we used to, staying in places for 2–3 weeks at a time.

Personally, I’ve been working to learn more about taking care of the RV, including things like how to hitch it up and tow it and how to set it up at a campsite or for boondocking, to allow me more independence in moving it when needed. The RV community we’ve found on the road and through social media has also been so encouraging and helpful. We are excited to meet up with other full-time families out west, as it’s great to have a community while Chris is away for work. And I was surprised to discover there is an entire group of full-time RVing pilot families out there!

We’re doing our best to make full-time RV travel and Chris’ job work well with as little stress as possible. It’s certainly a change from what we’re used to, so it’s been a season of adjustment for us as we figure out what works and what doesn’t. Our goal is to full-time RV for as long as possible because we truly love this lifestyle. Airline pilot isn’t the most common career for RV living, but hopefully our experience will encourage those who wonder if unlikely job situations can still let you live a life on the road!

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Chris, Molly, and the kids are The Flying Hens. Chris is a pilot for a major airline. The family of five sold it all and have been traveling the country in a 2021 Heartland Cyclone 4007 since the summer of 2020. Follow their adventures as they share family-friendly travel guides, RV living and boondocking tips, homeschooling on the road, as well as their everyday family shenanigans. Follow their adventures at @theflyinghens on Instagram and YouTube, or their website theflyinghens.com

DESK JOB TO ENTREPRENEUR

By Julie Chickery

AFTER SERVING 20 years in the Air Force, I secured a position as a project manager for a government contracting firm—the kind of stable career many strive for after their military service. Then out of the blue, my husband, who was nearing his own 20-year anniversary in the Air Force, asked if I wanted to move into an RV and travel around the country full-time.

Over the course of the next six months, we sold our possessions and bought an RV. I also convinced my employer to allow me to work remotely so we could hit the road. About two years later, I felt the call to make a drastic career change and merge my new way of life with how I made a living. I’d done quite a bit of writing throughout my military and civilian careers, so I decided to start my business, Chickery’s Travels as the focal point.

I quickly learned that entrepreneurship is a lot different than anything else I had done in my life. I was fortunate that my husband was working full time, which allowed a little grace in earning an

income from the business immediately. But even with that financial latitude, I operate best with concrete goals, so I set aggressive revenue targets.

In order to achieve them, I created a business plan prior to quitting my job that identified specific pillars I believed would be most profitable: blogging, freelance writing for established publications, and public speaking. There are many ways to make money as a content creator, but I selected these based on skills I had honed over the years. I point that out because I’ve met too many entrepreneurs who started a business that was not suited to their personal strengths and ended up discouraged.

As a project manager, I’ve seen the difference a detailed plan can make. That is why I created a pre-launch plan that was focused on the six months prior to my last day of employment and the first six months after. As you might imagine, the six months before leaving my job were very busy. I was still working full time, and I focused on learning WordPress and search engine optimization in the evenings. While I could have paid

someone to create my website, I chose to do it myself so I could have a better understanding of how everything works. That’s not to say I don’t value outsourcing, but I feel every entrepreneur should determine what model works best for them. For me, I felt that having a basic understanding of how the back end works would allow me to make better decisions for my blog as it grew.

I also spent those six months prior to launching my business writing articles and my first book. The primary goal for the website was to have enough content to keep people interested in the site from day one. The purpose of the book was to have a means of generating revenue right away without a significant audience.

Another thing that allowed me to generate revenue right away was freelance writing. During the six months pre-launch, I researched companies that hired freelance writers and how much they paid. My biggest piece of advice to new bloggers in particular is to never sell yourself short by giving away your work in exchange for a link to your site. You can have your cake and eat it too—meaning you can get paid for your efforts while also earning links to your site from reputable ones with large audiences.

As you can tell by now, I took a very

structured and methodical approach to starting my business and was able to achieve my goals early on. But that doesn’t mean it was without any turmoil. In fact, one major thing I was not prepared for was the feeling of insignificance I experienced as a new content creator. I did not realize how much of my self-worth was tied up in my career and its success. As a new blogger, I felt like I was starting over again at the bottom.

I also struggled with work-life balance once I started working for myself full time. I fell into the trap of working all the time and not allowing myself enough breaks to enjoy the beauty around me. Entrepreneurship requires balance. We are our own worst critics and often convince ourselves we aren’t working hard enough or achieving our goals quickly enough.

The thing that helped the most with my insecurities and my struggle to find the right balance with my schedule was joining a mastermind group with three other content creators. We encouraged one another, celebrated successes,

and helped each other find the lessons in our failures. We lifted each other up on our bad days and rejoiced in the good days. While we were all content creators, each of us had unique styles and experiences that added value to the group. As a result, we ultimately became business partners in a new venture, Full-Time Freedom Week, an annual online summit for RVers, and are currently planning our fifth event.

Throughout this entrepreneurial journey, I have continued to learn so much and apply that knowledge to my business. The most important lesson I have learned is not to be afraid to change and grow. I have turned away from the more traditional model of social media influencers that never felt comfortable for me and instead focused on public speaking at RV rallies and shows. When those were shut down due to the pandemic, I created an online course, Full-Time RV Finance, sharing the lessons my husband and I learned as full-time RVers who paid off more than $139,000 in debt while on the road. The theme that runs through it all: if I can do it, you can too.

started traveling in their RV full time after they each served 20 years in the United States Air Force. Having lived in more than 10 states and four countries, the Chickerys decided it was time to enjoy the rest of the United States. After six years, they transitioned to part-time travel, maintaining their status as digital nomads to allow them to hit the road whenever they desire. Julie manages Chickery’s Travels and their Full-Time RV Finance course, both of which are aimed at helping people realize their full-time travel dreams. You can find them on Instagram at @chickerystravels or their website chickerystravels.com

I quickly learned that entrepreneurship is a lot different than anything else I had done in my life.

A PANDEMIC

PIVOT

By Julie Slagter

ILOVE TO TRAVEL. I know it sounds like a bumper sticker, but it’s true! I’m at my best when I explore new places and cultures. That’s why I left my corporate job in 2017 to start my own business.

Creative Travel Connections was born early that year as a resource center and travel blog. I also led annual small group tours in Greece. I’m a freelance writer and began building a client base at the same time. Then, I sold my 1,500-squarefoot house and most of my belongings to be location-independent.

I purchased my first RV in late 2017 and hit the road! Working remotely with my home and office on wheels was a dream. From waking up some mornings with million-dollar views to meeting friends along the way, the lifestyle fits my personality well. Plus, being able to follow warm weather yearround is fantastic.

By 2019, my travel business was growing steadily and I had consistent freelance work with clients across the country. A life of travel and remote work appeared to be what I would do long-term.

Gearing up for some more change and adventure, I got rid of my RV at the beginning of 2020, planning to travel internationally that year. I was very excited about new experiences, including an extended period of time in Greece. But in March 2020, life changed.

2020 required some pivots in my life—something I know a lot of people can relate to. First, my travel plans and business were put on pause. Little did I know at the time how long of a break that would be. It appeared the travel industry would suffer significantly for some time, and my biggest clients cut back their need for my services or

dropped off completely when they began losing revenue due to the crisis.

By the summer of 2020, my biggest pivot unfolded unexpectedly. For years I’ve spent time looking at businesses for sale, including e-commerce sites—I had a dream to open a store that sold ethically-made and eco-friendly home goods, accessories, and more. But the timing and budget had never been right.

I was doing my weekly check of emails listing businesses for sale when Organic Pet Boutique jumped off the screen. The business, both externally and internally, was almost precisely the e-commerce store of my dreams, except for one major difference—it sold animal products instead of human products.

Through several emails and long phone calls with the seller, I realized the e-commerce pet boutique actually was the right fit for me. The previous owners were thrilled that their baby was going to someone who would care for it as much as they had. They had been building it for about ten years but needed to let it go due to health issues and life circumstances. It was a smooth handover, and I’m so thankful for their grace and kindness through it all.

More than a year later, Organic Pet Boutique continues to grow, and I’m having a blast with it! I can work from anywhere and continue to travel. Even though there’s no physical storefront, providing exceptional customer service through the e-commerce business can be similar to hundreds of people walking into your store each week. I love helping people find the right products for their dogs and cats and hearing feedback after a purchase.

I also purchased a new RV, and I’m back on the road. While I spend summers in Michigan, I follow the sun in the winter

A few months into 2021, states and countries started opening back up to tourists, and to my surprise, people began contacting me to book travel for them again! I slowly unpaused my travel blog, with people seeking help to book their trips and navigate the various new restrictions throughout the world. That’s when I decided to certify Creative Travel Connections as a full-service travel agency. I can book trips anywhere in the world, but my specialties are Europe and Southeast Asia. My freelance work also started ramping back up at the beginning of 2021. In addition, I write regularly for a marketing agency. And

“

More than a year later, Organic Pet Boutique continues to grow, and I’m having a blast with it! I can work from anywhere and continue to travel. ”

LISTEN!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julie Slagter is a small business owner. Her pet boutique curates and develops ethically-made and eco-friendly products. She also runs a full-service travel agency (@creativetravelconnections) and is a freelance writer for several high-profile brands. In addition, Julie is location-independent and is currently RVing in the United States. You can find her on Instagram, Facebook, and her website at @organicpetboutique and organicpetboutique.com

as an entrepreneur, I always keep my eyes open for additional clients and ventures.

It may seem like a lot of work, but having multiple streams of income has major benefits. One is the assurance that when one business slows down, there are others to fall back on. That has become more clear to me throughout the last two

Another benefit is the ability to do what you enjoy to the extent you want. For example, I love to travel, but putting all my energy into the industry as a vocation can cause me to enjoy personal travel less. That’s why I spend about a third of my time on the travel business. I prioritize how much energy, time, and money I put into each business to keep it fun.

The key is to be self-aware and realistic. My accountant always tells me to study the numbers, which is excellent advice. For instance, if you’re putting 20 hours per week into a part of your business that hasn’t turned a profit in a year, it’s likely time to change course.

I’m not looking to be a millionaire. If it happens, I won’t complain, but that’s not my goal. I want to make enough to live the life I want to lead. It’s also important to me to give others a job when I’m able. Setting realistic goals and watching the numbers can set you up for success.

I prioritize work/life balance. It can be tricky while traveling full-time, but I’ve found a system that works for me. I work in the mornings and evenings, which allows me to set aside the afternoon for errands, sightseeing, and more. And I try hard to protect my weekends by only checking in on things when needed and answering any urgent emails. Of course, it’s challenging to have a full day off with an e-commerce business, but I’ve implemented some systems and automation to help.

With life and work balance in check, I’m living my dream. It’s full of ups and downs, but that’s what keeps me on my toes and makes the journey beautiful. I’m able to afford and enjoy a life of discovery and travel, all while finding positive ways to impact the world.

Catch Julie on the Rootless Living Podcast, episode 77.

THE MARRIAGE LAB

By Javier Labrador

WE WERE IN Minnesota, and my wife asked me, “Do you want to go work outside at the table?” Oh, did I say asked? It was more like, “You want to go outside and work, right? I need some space.” This is a fair sentiment when you work in the same place where you live, vacation, hang out, and do pretty much everything.

We have been living in our fifth wheel full time since April 2021, and my wife has only told me to go “take a hike” twice so far. The irony here is we’re marriage coaches, and what we do on the road is what we get to practice every day with each other!

In November of 2020, we made a radical decision to uproot the life we had built on the coast of California in order to serve others and their marriages. We have been running our nonprofit, 24/7 Marriage, for many years, and we felt a calling to do something bold. Shannan and I wanted to live so we were free to invest in and impact people’s lives, unencumbered by anything else. We were experiencing an increase in calls and emails from couples needing support during COVID. Since this was a time like no other in our history, we saw an opportunity to leave what we had known for the unknown.

Was my wife entirely on board at first? Heck no! She loved the house we’d lived in for three years and had turned it into a home. We were also very connected to our family, friends, and the community of people we’re close to. Two things moved her. First, she insisted we remodel the RV so it felt like home. Second, she knew we were doing this to help others, which inherently involves sacrifice.

I can remember sitting in the backyard by our fire pit in November 2020 as the fire crackled at our feet, making the decision to sell our house, cars, and possessions. We would not only live on the road, but become what we call “marriage missionaries”—two people on a mission to restore hope, redeem stories, and help people build strong marriages across the United States. We knew it was a crazy idea, and it seemed even crazier to those around us, but it felt right; we had peace. It was the right thing.

We looked every day for months to find exactly what we wanted in our new home. We visited every used RV dealer we could find and became very close with RV Finder. Finally, in February 2021,

we purchased our 2015 3610rl Montana, gutted and remodeled it, fully wrapped it as The Marriage Lab—a 38-foot mobile marriage support fifth wheel—and hit the road. During these times, as couples needed support, we needed to step out and live not just simply, but also with purpose.

It feels incredible that we have taken the work we were already doing, added The Marriage Lab, and had more success than expected. We have less space, money, and stuff, but we have freedom and live with intentionality. As a nonprofit, we are supported by monthly donors and partners, and by monetizing our e-courses and podcast. In addition, we host workshops and boot camps and coach clients on the road to generate income.

As we ventured out, we were unsure what the response would be or how our client base would grow. Because we do so much of our work virtually, we knew our coaching and influence could grow through social media and referrals. We have leveraged Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to expand our work. In addition, we are marketing our boot camps and Marriage Lab workshops directly to organizations,

churches, and individuals. We schedule and market our boot camps in advance based on our location. Our workshops are packaged and promoted and we are being booked in various cities we visit. We have also parked our home and flown to locations to host events when possible. We have even placed signs out when we’re at campgrounds allowing fellow campers to text a number to receive free marriage coaching for 30 minutes or their marriage questions answered. This connects us to people and has led to ongoing coaching clients. We have found the key to growing our nonprofit work has been flexibility and creativity. We look for ways to add value for people and also support the work we do financially.

If you are reading this, you are likely a digital nomad or thinking about it, and if so, I would encourage you not to wait. But can I tell you something? Whatever you do, do what you love and what brings you joy. Some days are hard, but knowing I get to help people while I travel is an incredible blessing. In the book, “Love People, Use Things,” the authors pose a question when talking about living your values: “Two years from now will you look back with regrets or

realize you have lived the life you wanted and desired?”

Today, we are more fulfilled living “rooted” in what we love to do and having the privilege to help people across the U.S. This life checks all the boxes of my favorite quote, “If you want something you have never had, you have to do something you have never done.” Check!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Javier and Shannan Labrador have been married for 28 years and have two daughters, McKenna and Mikaela, and a dog named Charlie. They live in a 38-foot mobile marriage support fifth wheel called The Marriage Lab touring the United States. You can find them on their website at 247marriage.org or on Instagram at @247marriage

Shannan and I wanted to live so we were free to invest in and impact people's lives, unencumbered by anything else.

FINDING SEASONAL WORK ON THE ROAD

Three Nomads Break Down Everything You Need to Know

By Alexis Nascimento

AS MORE TRAVELERS hit the road to live a life of adventure and chase new experiences, many have fallen in love with the lifestyle and want to keep the journey rolling. Fortunately, there are many ways to earn money while traveling— including seasonal work like workamping, which is working at a campground or RV Park in exchange for a free campsite and/or money. Here’s how three full-time nomads have found streams of income that allow them flexibility and fun.

Korey and Michelle Seeba (@followourfithy) have been traveling full time for three years with no end date in sight. One way they’ve been able to sustain a nomadic life in their 2018 Bighorn Traveler 32rs has been through Korey’s multitude of seasonal jobs. He’s worked the Sugar Beet Harvest in East Grand Forks, Minnesota three times; baseball spring training in Arizona; and Amazon CamperForce in Kentucky. He’s also managed a Christmas tree lot in Vidalia, Georgia; done RV tech work for a dealership in the Black Hills in South Dakota; and worked maintenance for a company that has multiple stores, an RV resort, and apartments in West Yellowstone, Montana.

“Of the jobs I’ve done so far, my favorite was Grizzly RV Park in West Yellowstone. I definitely made friends for life and that’s why we’re going back next summer,” Korey said. “I also enjoyed Jack’s Campers in the Black Hills. I made good friends there but also learned so much about maintaining different kinds of RVs. This has come in very handy for fixing issues in our fifth wheel as they arise.”

Of the jobs I’ve done so far, my favorite was Grizzly RV Park in West Yellowstone. I definitely made friends for life and that’s why we’re going back next summer.

For Greg and Tammy Cash (@chasingthecashes), seasonal work has made their dream of traveling in their Grand Design fifth wheel more affordable. In the three and a half years they’ve been on the road, Greg and Tammy have volunteered as camp hosts at state parks in Oregon, Florida, Alabama, and Colorado, and worked for KOA in Bar Harbor, Maine for a summer.

“We love escaping the hot weather in the south in the summertime. We get to stay someplace incredible and give back by volunteering,” Tammy said. “For the most part, our duties include cleaning campsites and being available to campers for any questions they might have. We have also been maintenance hosts, which involves cutting grass and making sure the landscaping looks nice. Once our season is up, we typically take off two months in the early spring to travel outside the States and spend time with our family.”

To find positions of this nature, Greg and Tammy search Workamper News and multiple Facebook groups dedicated to Workamping.

“There are a ton of paid opportunities at private campgrounds, as well as seasonal jobs like the Beet Harvest and Amazon’s CamperForce program,” Greg said. “We are doing the Beet Harvest this year in Minnesota and are looking forward to a new experience.”

Zach Rohe (@downhilltrucker) has been traveling full time in his converted 2001 Dodge cargo van for three years. To fund his life as a nomad, Zach is a professional travel photographer and has also worked as a bartender in Colorado, California, and Montana. Typically, he’s able to find seasonal work through friends, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist.

“My favorite job was bartending at a lodge just outside Yosemite National Park,” Zach said. “Obviously it was a beautiful place to work, but the community there was amazing as well. Working in hospitality at a national park, there are few days off and none that are easy. I personally like to work hard at my seasonal job and enjoy the time off in between.”

Zach has learned many lessons in the past few years working as a bartender in seasonal jobs. It is often a disorganized and overworked job to walk into, so Zach recommends choosing to do it in a beautiful place.

Regardless of where you end up, meeting new people is another amazing perk. Each seasonal job you work will come with new coworkers who can become new friends. Nomads and other seasonal workers come from all walks of life, but most share a passion for the outdoors, travel, and community.

Should we STAY

or should we GO?

Toughing Out the Cold vs. Migrating South

By Jess Stiles

WHEN IT COMES to living in an RV year-round, there are generally two groups of people: those who hunker down through the winter, and those who migrate to warmer weather.

Many full-time nomads chase summer conditions by heading south to surf breaks in California, palm-lined beaches in Florida, remote deserts in Arizona, or the motherland of snowbirds—Baja, Mexico.

Then there are those who ride out the winter in the colder states. Whether it’s a love for epic powder days on the ski slopes or a preference for hibernating next to a tiny wood stove all season, those who live in their rig during winter conditions are a tough breed.

A few readers have shared their experiences from both ends of the spectrum to give you an idea of what each experience entails.

SINCE HE DOESN’T work remotely, Eddie has spent long, cold winters in Montana with his wife, but he has no complaints. He said, “I absolutely love RVing in the winter, but if I had to complain about one thing, it would be paying for propane.”

Eddie prepares his rig for the crisp Montana air by using an RV skirt, covering drain hoses with insulation, and using supplemental space heaters for extreme temperatures. In addition, he monitors temperatures with Wi-Fi sensors around and inside the RV, uses tank heaters, and keeps three large 100-pound propane tanks topped off and ready for extra cold winter storms. When asked why he enjoys winter so much, Eddie said, “It’s always much more fun to be able to breathe. We left South Florida due to the humidity and heat.”

EDDIE AKKASHA

Facebook.com/eddiesin1

OF COURSE, THERE are many nomads who prefer to stay warm year-round and travel south for the winter. Melissa Crosby Coker of @energyandessence and her family have been snowbirding the entire three and a half years they’ve been living in their RV. With the security of her online business, they can travel wherever the sunshine takes them.

Originally from Florida, Melissa and her family usually spend at least part of their winter season there to catch up with friends and family. She explained, “I crave the sun and surf, and we return home every year to visit the family and friends we left behind to travel and live this lifestyle.” Their secondary winter home is California, where they spend a total of three months enjoying the sunshine and work camping.

During the summer, Melissa and her family travel to Alaska, where they’ve purchased land. “We knew we had to find a way to continue to go back every summer, so the second season there we took a leap of faith

and bought acreage in Ninilchik,” Melissa said. They fell in love with Alaska and developed their land into a unique campground with generously-sized campsites, trees for privacy, and amazing views. After their first summer in Alaska, it started to get cold and the Coker family did some research on what it would take to spend an Alaskan winter in their RV. Melissa said, “We would need to skirt the bottom of the camper, get heated water hoses, add extra insulation on our slide, and from what I could tell by asking others who have done it, it would be very costly in propane.”

The Coker family has traveled to the same places every year since they moved into their RV because they feel they’ve been able to find perfect weather year-round. “As we travel between our home bases, we intentionally take different routes each time so we can explore different states along the way.”

MELISSA CROSBY COKER @energyandessence

DONN HAS LIVED IN Custer State Park in South Dakota for two winters and plans to stay there this winter as well. As a retiree, Donn volunteers at the visitor center during the winter while camping at the Sylvan Lake Campground. According to Donn, it’s “the prettiest campground around.”

Volunteers get full hookups, which works perfectly for Donn’s 31-foot Grand Design Reflection Fifth Wheel. In order to prepare for South Dakota winters, he bought a custom vinyl skirt made for harsher weather conditions from a company in Rapid City.

A few additional steps make Donn’s fifth wheel more than comfortable during cold months. He explained, “I put two milkhouse heaters under the belly, which I run at 1,250 watts, which keeps the temperature in the 40-degree range underneath the RV. I also have a heated hose I put through a PVC pipe to keep it from getting too cold. Inside I run an electric fireplace and also another 1,500-watt space heater to keep the trailer fairly comfortable.” That usually does the trick until temperatures get below 20 degrees, when he has to turn on the propane furnace to keep the inside of the RV around 70 degrees.

You may think propane would be the primary heat source, but Donn likes to rely on electric heat since he doesn’t have to pay for it. “Last winter I only used about 60 to 90 pounds of propane,” Donn said. “Where the campground is located we can get down to 20 below zero, but normally zero will be the low and most of the time it’s in the 20-degree range.”

When asked why Donn sticks around South Dakota rather than traveling south he said, “I stay north because I like ice fishing and winter overall. I don't want to go south yet. I am cozy and comfortable in my fifth wheel and that’s a good feeling.”

DONN HAUGEN Facebook.com/minndonn

When Haugen isn't volunteering at CSP he is in a truck camper, seen here.

ELI BROOKS AND his family don’t live in their van full time, but they frequently take weekend trips during the harsh Alaskan winter. Having lived in Anchorage since he was a year old, Eli has spent many winter seasons exploring the final frontier.

“I typically travel in the winter 2–3 days at a time with my fiancé and my 8-year-old son,” Eli explained. “We tend to head north to Chena Hot Springs, Denali, or Valdez. We love chasing the northern lights and fishing.”

It’s all about having the right gear, Eli said. “We use down coats and fur parkas on our adventures as outside temperatures can get well below minus 30 degrees.”

Eli and his family travel in a small Class B 21-foot Roadtrek Versatile 200, and it stays really warm year-round. The RV has a fiberglass insulated shell that helps retain heat. In addition, Eli has some go-to tricks to keep the RV as warm as possible. “During the winter, we install studded winter tires and use Reflectix on all the windows. We use the onboard propane furnace, and we use solar to avoid generator use. We use battery blankets on the batteries to keep them happy as well. The RV does extremely well in the snow thanks to its weight—we’ve pulled many stuck SUVs and trucks out of the snow.”

MEGAN HAS BEEN in Alaska for nine years, relocating from Lawrence, Kansas after she fell in love with the midnight sun state during a whirlwind solo trip 10 years ago. As an ICU nurse, she found a job that allowed her to explore Alaska on her days off.

Every season, Megan takes steps to make winter as comfortable as possible.

“I prepare my rig for winter by insulating everything I can, including the windows, floor, and even inside my cabinets.”

Being stationary helps too. Megan explained, “If I am stationary once winter hits, I use foam board and hay bales to skirt the vehicle. It has been 30 below zero outside and I’ve been toasty inside.”

When asked what living in the RV during the winter is like compared to somewhere warmer, Megan said, “I’ve never wintered in a warm climate, so I’m not sure how it compares, but I know I’m more apt to go to the gym during the winter here because I have to go there to shower.” Due to the cold, Megan has to drain the water tanks and doesn’t use her plumbing system. She mentioned, “being in a dry rig for eight months of the year really makes you appreciate a ‘flush and forget’ situation.”

MEGAN KNUTSON @GetLostAK

THE PUBLIC’S RESPONSIBILITY ON

PUBLIC LANDS

By James Shupe

WE’VE SPENT THE last two years living two weeks at a time as we meandered across 16 states. We pick a parcel of public land, stay until the rules say to move, then repeat the process a couple hundred miles down the road. It’s been an amazing way to see the country, return to nature, and experience the solitude and tranquility that’s missing in much of the modern world.

With so much of the planet being turned over to development, resource extraction, and farming, these lands are precious holdouts that can provide enjoyment and interaction with nature to future generations, if we can manage to preserve and protect them. Aside from steering policy in favor of the lands, we’ve come up with a list of rules we follow and that we encourage other campers and nomads to follow as well. As stewards of the lands, we can help keep them open and accessible to all.

PACK IT IN AND PACK IT OUT

You’ve probably heard it before, but this rule isn’t just limited to hiking. Human activities in general tend to result in a lot of waste, and we need to be diligent about leaving the lands as clean as, or even better than, we find them.

On a recent trip in southern Colorado, we picked up more than 55 gallons (one five-gallon bucket at a time) of spent shotgun shells, a couple of gallons of brass casings, and a dumpster full of couch cushions, car doors, and household trash that people hauled out into the forest to shoot—and we hardly put a dent in what we saw. While this particularly extreme example was likely due to local marksmen, not campers, it’s probably the number-one reason used to justify closing the gates and revoking access to the lands. If we can’t keep them clean, we can’t keep them at all.

We sometimes travel in convoys, and that was one such site. We made the trash collection into a competition, and it was fun, so it’s something we’ve repeated when camping with others.

Even if you don’t pick up other people’s trash, it’s important to ensure that all your own trash is secured and that you pack it out when you leave. Additionally, be sure to follow local regulations regarding wastewater dumping, or just make it a habit to empty your holding tanks elsewhere. We have a macerator pump and large wastewater bladder we use with our fifth wheel so we can transport it out without having to break camp and move the whole rig.

DON’T OVERSTAY YOUR WELCOME

Another common theme we’ve seen on these lands are semi-permanent installations or setups that have obviously been there longer than the stay limits. Sometimes this is due to homeless overflow near urban areas, but other times it’s simply people ignoring the rules. Per our observations, this seems to be the second most common reason cited in closure notices.

BE CAREFUL WITH FIRE

Wildfires have ravaged the west these past few years and are seemingly indiscriminate in terms of what they burn. As appealing as a campfire might be, if you are staying on hundreds of thousands of acres of dry brush or otherwise flammable material, it’s important to refrain. We’ve seen many campfires in places with fire bans—please remember that all it takes is one ember to turn a casual evening into a disaster with effects that can span decades.

We know a lot of people who have switched to

Solo Stoves, propane fire pits, pellet-fired grills, and other options that provide better containment, even when fire risks are low. As an added benefit, the versatility and ease of use means you may end up using them more.

Additionally, you’ll want to be careful using certain tools or even just driving over dry vegetation, as any heat or sparks can pose risks. Always be sure any safety chains are up off the ground to prevent sparks and make sure your vehicle is in good running condition.

And as always, follow local advisories and be aware of the conditions and surroundings.

Please remember that all it takes is one ember to turn a casual evening into a disaster with effects that can span decades.

LIMIT YOUR IMPACT ON NATURE AND WILDLIFE

In places with established trails, stick to them—especially when it comes to off-highway vehicle use. While some BLM/ USFS lands permit cross-country travel, most of them restrict travel to established trails, and for good reason! Diverting from the trails can lead to wildfires and soil erosion, as well as contaminating fragile ecosystems, and other long-lasting consequences. The advisory councils are very concerned about these outcomes and are known to limit or revoke access over repeated failures to stick to established trails.

We’ve been visited many times by small mammals, birds, deer, elk, and other wildlife, and have come across moose and other interesting animals on the trail. Animals are fun to run across, and often fascinating to observe, but generally we shouldn’t bait or feed them. Human food can make animals sick, build reliance on us (which can lead to aggression), and attract populations to undesired areas (which can cause the spread of zoonotic diseases).

We feel strongly that the remaining wildlands should stay wild, while at the same time remaining open and accessible to the public. For that to happen, we must work together to exercise responsibility while using public lands and be careful to leave no trace. Public lands are some of the few remaining holdouts from our times, and we’re likely to lose them if we don’t respect them.

Check out Leave No Trace at lnt.org and the National Park Service’s summary of Leave No Trace principals at nps.gov/ articles/leave-no-trace-seven-principles. htm for more information.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James, Kelly, and their three dogs live full time on the road and split their time between a 39-foot fifth wheel and a slide-in truck camper. They seek out epic trails and spend as much time in nature as possible. Follow their adventures at @life_enroute on Instagram.

YOUR OWN “SECRET” BOONDOCKING SPOT

By Nikki Kirk

HAVE YOU EVER wondered how people first found boondocking spots before apps like FreeRoam and Campedium became so popular? Many great spots are shared from traveler to traveler through word of mouth, but the best ones might be the ones you go out and find for yourself!

On a recent scouting trip to find a spot in southwest Montana, I visited the National Forest Ranger stations and the Forest Service website to learn more about how you can find your own free boondocking spot—otherwise known as dispersed camping.

The National Forest Service manages 193 million acres of land in the United

States across 154 different national forests. Each forest has a map you can find at the ranger stations or by searching fs.usda.gov for the name of the forest you are looking in.

Once you find your specific forest on the Forest Service website, navigate to the “Recreation’’ section using the website’s menu. From here, depending on how large and popular the forest is, you should be able to navigate to their free camping information. You want to look for the term “Dispersed Camping.” It might be in the body description of camping in the forest, or it might be in the “Quick Links” section of the website on the right-hand side.

Depending on the forest, you might

You want to look for the term “Dispersed Camping.”

get a list of dispersed camping rules and where you can camp within the forest, or you might get a map outlining exactly where you can go. For the Bridger-Teton National Forest, for example, the website has a PDF map showing exactly where you can dispersed camp, as well as fee-based campgrounds in the forest. The Bitterroot National Forest, however, only has a PDF text document outlining the rules and where you can camp relative to roads and trails.

Coconino National Forest, Arizona.

If a map is not provided, try calling the ranger station for more direction, and be sure to ask any specific questions you have. The rangers we’ve spoken to have been very helpful. You can also download the Forest Service maps on apps like Avenza, but a fee may apply.

If you are a digital nomad and require cell service during your stay, I recommend also using the Campendium app to locate nearby campgrounds to read the cell service reviews. While it may not be accurate for your boondocking spot, it can give you an idea of the coverage in the area.

Finding your own boondocking spot might take a little sleuthing, and it’s definitely harder than just pulling up one of the camping apps, but I’m sure you’ll consider your efforts worthwhile when you’re camping in your new “secret” spot!

Source: National Forest Service

GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK

Moose US HWY 89/26/191

Jackson

Kelly

Crystal Creek

Atherton Creek

FS Fee Campground Dispersed Camping Zone (Park in Marked Campsites Only)

FS Information Kiosk

FS Roads Town of Jackson Bridger-Teton National Forest

Hatchet

Pacific Creek

BRIDGER-TETON NATIONAL FOREST

Curtis Canyon

WILD LANDS AND

Your Guide to Everglades National Park

wildlife

By Kathryn Frazer

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK

is the third-largest national park in the contiguous United States and is home to a variety of wildlife, including alligators, migratory birds, manatees, and Florida panthers. Its unique terrain combines swamps, grasslands, lakes, rivers, prairies, and wetlands into one park.

Before visiting Everglades National Park, we weren’t totally sure what all there was to do outside of seeing alligators, but we were very pleasant ly surprised by the wide variety of options, plus delicious treats nearby, and our time in the park was an absolute blast!

With close access to wildlife and lots of activities, Everglades National Park is truly unlike any other national park in the United States. In this guide, we’ll be sharing the best things to do both inside and nearby Everglades National Park, to help you fully experience what this special park has to offer!

Things to know before you visit Everglades National Park:

Due to the park’s large size and accessibility to wildlife, there are a few important things to know before visiting to ensure you have a safe and fun adventure.

WHEN TO VISIT

There are two seasons at Everglades National Park: dry and wet. The wet season is from April to November and is very hot, muggy, and mosquito-filled, while the dry season is from November to March. We highly recommend visiting during the dry season to enjoy nicer temperatures and fewer bugs. We visited in January and had perfect, sunny weather. Despite it being the busier season, the crowds were not bad at all.

ENTRANCE FEE

It costs $30 per car to enter Everglades National Park, which covers seven days. (We highly recommend the “America the Beautiful”

pass, which is $80 a year and gets you into all National Park Service managed sites and federal lands.)

DO NOT APPROACH WILDLIFE

One thing that surprised us about Everglades National Park is that you have fully unobstructed access to the wildlife. There is no fencing keeping you from the alligators, for instance. This can be a bit unnerving, but it’s also incredibly cool to get to see wildlife in their natural habitat.

With that said, it’s important to keep your distance (at least 15 feet) and not approach or feed the gators.

DRIVING AROUND THE PARK CAN TAKE HOURS

Everglades National Park is split into four regions and there are three main entrances to access them—the North Entrance at Shark Valley, the Main Entrance by Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center (the entrance for the Royal Palm and Flamingo regions), and the Northwest Entrance in Everglades City (the entrance for the Gulf Coast region).

These entrances are not connected, so getting between them requires a bit of a drive. If you’re short on time, we recommend prioritizing the Royal Palm and Shark Valley areas, as they offer easier activities and are closer to some of the nearby cities.

PROTECT YOUR CAR FROM VULTURES

When visiting the Royal Palm section of the park, our van was swarmed by 20 massive black vultures. We learned while on the trail from another visitor that these vultures are notorious for picking off the rubber seals of your vehicle. To keep your car safe, there is a bin of tarps located near the restrooms that you can toss over the front.

DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED

Just like the majority of United States national parks, dogs are not allowed on any trails. They are allowed at campgrounds and on paved areas.

The Best Things to do at Everglades National Park

THERE ARE MANY trails and activities to consider when planning your time at Everglades National Park, but if you’re like us and have limited time, here are what we consider the best things to do in the park, split up by region.

Royal Palm

ANHINGA TRAIL

If you can only do one thing in the Royal Palm area of the park, we highly recommend the Anhinga Trail, which is a flat, 0.8-mile boardwalk trail that takes you through a sawgrass marsh. Along this trail you have the chance to see alligators, turtles, anhingas, herons, egrets, and many other types of birds. We especially suggest visiting at sunrise for beautiful morning light!

GUMBO LIMBO TRAIL

The Gumbo Limbo trail is only 0.4 miles round trip and goes through a hammock of gumbo limbo trees and royal palms, giving it a much different type of scenery than the Anhinga trail.

PAHAYOKEE OVERLOOK

At about 0.2 miles, this super quick boardwalk hike takes you to an overlook with views of the “river of grass.”

GET A SMOOTHIE AT ROBERT IS HERE

Robert is Here, a family-owned fruit stand, is a must-visit stop just outside of the park in Homestead. This fruit stand has tons of local and exotic fruits and vegetables, jams, and salsas to purchase. But they are famous for their milkshakes and smoothies, which are made only out of fruit and milk or ice and are incredibly delicious!

We recommend the key lime milkshake, but their guanabana (also known as soursop) milkshake is very popular too.

EAT GATOR AT THE GATOR GRILL

If you’re a meat eater, eating gator is a unique experience you may want to try while in the Everglades. We had gator kabobs at Everglades Gator Grill, which had great flavor and tasted a bit like (slightly tougher) chicken. If gator isn’t for you, they do offer other types of meat, and their french fries were very good!

Shark Valley VISIT THE SHARK VALLEY OBSERVATION TOWER

The Shark Valley area of the park is most famous for the Shark Valley Observation Tower, which is 15 miles round trip from the Shark Valley Visitor Center.

There are two main ways to get to the tower besides walking to it, which we wouldn’t recommend, as it’s just a long, paved path with no sun cover. You can either ride a bike (they have rentals onsite for $22) or take a tram tour, which is two hours long and costs $28 for adults, $22 for seniors, and $15 for kids.

We rented bikes, and it was so much fun! We spent three hours riding to the tower and back and while the tower itself is interesting, with 360-degree views, our favorite part was the journey along the way, with many stops to see gators— we saw at least 50!

Whether you bike or ride the tram, Shark Valley is definitely one of the best things to do in the Everglades!

GO ON AN AIRBOAT RIDE

One of the most popular things to do in the Everglades is ride on an airboat, which is a flat-bottomed boat with a propeller. In order to protect the park’s underwater flora, there are only three park-authorized providers for airboat rides— Coopertown, Everglades

Safari Park, and Gator Park—all located in the Shark Valley area off State Highway 41. On these tours you’ll not only get a fun ride and scenery, but also learn about the park’s ecosystem.

Flamingo

KAYAK NINE MILE POND

Another way to explore the Everglades by water is to kayak! The Flamingo region is a great place to paddle, with a popular 5.5-mile kayaking trail called Nine Mile Pond.

You can bring and launch your own kayak or rent from Flamingo Adventures right by the trail. There’s also a 3.5-hour Canoe the Wilderness tour with a park ranger that’ll take you through the Nine Mile Pond trail. The tour is free, but reservations are required up to seven days in advance.

Gulf Coast VISIT THE SMALLWOOD STORE AND TAKE A BOAT TOUR

On the Gulf Coast side of the park, the Smallwood store is a must-visit stop. It was created by Ted Smallwood in 1906 as a very remote trading post and is still standing today after six hurricanes.

The store is now a small museum, which costs $5 and shares the history of the pioneers who settled one of Florida’s last frontiers, as well as a gift shop. You can also book a variety of boat tours from the store, which are led by the sixth-generation Florida family.

Where to stay at Everglades National Park

With four different areas to explore, where you stay when visiting Everglades National Park will depend on what you’d like to see.

HOMESTEAD

Homestead is the closest smaller city to the Royal Palm area of the Everglades and is about an hour from Shark Valley. Homestead has a handful of chain hotels, so it’s convenient if you’re looking for an easy place to stay.

MIAMI

If you want to explore Shark Valley, Royal Palm, and Flamingo, Miami will be the most convenient major city to both fly into and stay in. Miami is about 45 minutes to an hour from both Shark Valley and the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center. Miami has tons of hotels and Airbnbs to choose from and is a great home base, as it offers so much to do as well!

NAPLES

If you plan to spend your time in the Gulf Coast region, Naples is a closer option and is about a 40–55 minute drive. Naples is much more relaxed than Miami and has gorgeous beaches and a variety of lodging options.

CAMP INSIDE EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK

If you’d prefer to stay in the heart of the park, Everglades has two drive-in campgrounds—the Flamingo Campground (Flamingo area) and Long Pine Key Campground (Royal Palm area).

We stayed at both campgrounds, which were very affordable at $25–$35 a night, depending on if you need RV hookups or not. The sites were not very private, but the convenience to the park was a huge perk.

If you would rather go backcountry camping, there are backcountry campsites accessible by canoe or kayak, as well as a few accessible by foot.

We hope you have a blast visiting Everglades National Park and enjoy the unique scenery and wildlife that make this park special. Be sure to grab a milkshake for us!

Sprinter van. You can find them driving all around the U.S. and Canada scoping out the best coffee shops, eating tacos and ice cream (they’re a five-plus taco and two-plus scoop household), and enjoying nature. To see more of their travels and detailed travel guides, check out their website, adventuresofaplusk.com, or follow them on Instagram and YouTube

@AdventuresofAplusK

Shark Valley Observation Tower

HUNTING Powder Powder

How Nomads Can Chase Snow-Filled Winters on the Road

By Alexis Nascimento

WHILE MOST FULL-TIME travelers chase warmer temperatures in the winter months, there is a group of folks with another agenda on their minds: making the pilgrimage to ski and snowboard the best powder throughout the winter. Sound wild? For some adrenaline-seekers, it’s the ultimate dream. We talked to four nomads about how they fulfill their snow-filled goals while on the road.

IN 2020, HANNAH FORKELL (@hannfork)

and her boyfriend Jeff Henderson took a break from their grad studies to find adventure in their 2000 GMC Savana Sportsmobile. The couple loves to ski, both at resorts and in the backcountry, so during their first winter on the road they set out to find the best places to ski and met up with cross-country friends along the way.

Forkell and Henderson discovered there was no shortage of places to visit in the winter. They chased the powder in Tahoe, California; Crystal Mountain in Washington; Mt. Bachelor and Mt. Baker in Oregon; as well as Deer Valley, Brighton, and Solitude in Utah. The couple spent a good chunk of time skiing in Colorado as well, hitting the slopes in Winter Park, Copper Mountain, Eldora, and Arapahoe Basin.

“Each state offers something a bit different,” Forkell said. “Mt. Bachelor is huge and has plenty of runs for every skill level. Brighton is easy to navigate,

and Winter Park has different sections of the mountain where you can spend an entire day at each to keep things interesting. Also, they allow beginners to ski on the multiple bunny hill runs for free, so I was able to incentivize friends to tag along!”

To stay warm and keep dry on the road, Forkell and Henderson got into a groove of immediately drying out their gear after skiing. They hung extra hooks in their van so they could hang and spread out their snow gear. The couple also kept a lot of rags and towels on hand to wipe down their skis and boots so they could put everything away immediately.

Forkell couldn’t imagine traveling in their van without spending the winter skiing. Her advice?

“Just do it! You’ll want to invest in the Ikon or Epic pass, or one that is similar. You will certainly get your money’s worth, even if you only ski five times,” said Forkell. “Also, make friends

with people on the chair lift—they will provide great insight on where to stay and where to ski, and they may even offer a hot shower!”

FULL-TIME NOMAD Jessee Deal (@jesseedeal) traded in her comfy SoCal apartment to snowboard across the country. Her plan was to travel for a year, but she’s still on the road four and a half years later.

“I can’t imagine it ending,” Deal said of her travels. “I have an Isuzu Rodeo Motorhome that I had imported from Japan. It’s only 19 feet long, has 4WD, a furnace, a toilet/shower wet bath, is a Turbo Diesel (~21mpg), a right-hand-driver, a manual, and the body is a two-piece fiberglass shell. I’m a bit obsessed with my

Aside from her rig, Deal considers snowboarding her pride and joy. She had the Ikon Pass and stayed in the western part of the country, following snowstorms and available reservations. During the pandemic, Deal had to adopt what are typically foreign concepts to snowboarders— ensuring she had parking and snowboarding reservations. Out of all the places she has been snowboarding, Brighton in Utah is Deal’s home away from home. “I’m not sure why I have the comfort level I do there, but being there makes my heart happy. Camping isn’t allowed in either canyon in Utah, which makes van life out there a bit different; however, I park in Sandy and drive in early in the morning and haven’t had too many issues,” Deal said. She uses the same Facebook group as Napoli to find places to camp. “I was able to camp in the lot one night because the road was closed from an accident in the ice. That was my favorite night last season. There is nothing that can describe waking up in a snow bubble when your favorite activity is finding pow stashes on your snowboard.”

ANOTHER COUPLE THAT feels just as passionate about hunting powder is Alex Napoli and Frankie McCullough (@fnavanlife). Since December 2019, the YouTube couple have lived in their self-converted 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500, and now their second build, a 2019 RAM ProMaster 3500 Extended. McCullough is incredibly passionate about snowboarding and credits his initial desire to pursue vanlife to fellow snowboarders he saw on YouTube, Austin Smith and Danny Davis. Although the couple were building their second van in Florida and missed the snow completely last winter, they hit 71 mountains the season before!

Before the pandemic, the vanlifers were on track to get to all 83 of the Epic and Ikon mountains on the passes in North America that season. They plan to continue hitting as many Ikon mountains as possible this winter.

To find places to camp, Napoli got tons of great information on a Facebook group called Epic and Ikon Pass Van and RV Dwellers, where they would search the mountain in the forum and find out where to park at each resort. In other cases, they used iOverlander to scout out free camping.  “Most East Coast mountains were totally cool with camping for a night. Big Sky in Montana was the first resort where we spent a whole week camped in the lot designated for vanlifers and RVs,” Napoli said. “Snowbird had some of the best conditions in Utah, and Salt Lake City is much warmer than the canyons. June Mountain in California was the biggest surprise. It’s very van friendly, has great workspaces if you need to break out your laptop, and it felt like we were the only ones there.”

But isn’t living in a van during the winter freezing cold?

Napoli and McCullough built out their van with winter in mind, making sure they had plenty of room for their four snowboards, helmets, boots, and other winter gear, which is tucked under their U-shaped bench seat. Having a well-insulated van was a must during their conversion, as well as a set of window covers. The couple uses a heavy curtain to separate the front cab area—which can get pretty

cold—from the back living space in the evenings. Napoli and McCullough also use a heater that’s tapped into their main gas tank to stay nice and toasty. This, along with cooking lots of piping-hot meals like soups and stews, keeps the couple nice and warm.

“Make sure you have good tires and snow chains. Storm chasing is great, but you need to arrive alive to ride the mountain. If the weather is getting dicey, just pull over somewhere safe and get cozy for the night,” Napoli said of their most important tips for nomads looking to spend the winter in snow towns. “Also, be nice to everyone you meet. We got tours of mountains from locals, guest passes to hot tubs, and hikes to epic backcountry terrain. Heck, Shaun White even held the door open for Frankie. You never know what a simple hello will turn into!”

Make sure you have good tires and snow chains. Storm chasing is great, but you need to arrive alive to ride the mountain.

FOR FAMILIES WHO love full-time travel and the snow, it’s also possible to do both. Just ask Kaitlin Musser (@runawaymusbus) and her family.

Musser is a self-proclaimed mountain junkie, even though she grew up in the below-sea-level state of Florida. As she started traveling the past two years with her husband, two kids, and dog, she wanted to learn and experience new things.

“Learning how to navigate winter activities made it possible to still enjoy my mountains in a new, exciting way,” Musser said. The family lives in an 18-foot short bus skoolie that appears to be equipped for any upcoming zombie apocalypse. “And once we figured out a new heating system to keep us toasty in the skoolie, I was sold!”

For now, the Musser family’s main focus is skiing. The entire family is new to this activity, but they’ve been able to teach themselves downhill skiing this past winter season. When they’re not hitting the powder, Musser and her husband have gotten to ice climb, which is basically rock climbing on majestic frozen waterfalls. Recently the family took a three-day crevasse rescue and glacier travel safety course so they can add mountaineering to their list of all things snow-filled and fun.

Even though they are new to skiing, Musser and her family have already found a few favorite places to dig in and learn.

“I have a soft spot for Silver Mountain up in Idaho. This resort was the location of my first ever skiing experience just a year ago. Other favorites are the Snowbowl in Arizona and Mount Spokane in Washington,” Musser said. “Since I am still so new to this sport, I have really loved smaller ski resorts where I feel less pressure. They tend to be more affordable and less crowded. One day maybe I’ll tackle a bigger one, but these have been so welcoming to us as beginners.”

This winter, the family has more plans to get out there. They bought Power Passes to seven ski resorts throughout the southwest, and want to hop from state to state and ski resort to ski resort to follow good powder. Musser also wants to begin avalanche training so the family can safely explore backcountry skiing more.

“Chasing snow was nothing I ever, ever, ever thought I would do. I was terrified of the discomfort and the extra effort it would take,” Musser said. “But the joy of learning a new sport, seeing the majestic beauty of snow, and seeing my kids’ joy has made it so worth it.”

BOONDOCKING

Blue Lakes, Colorado

39.387698, -106.086663

Blue Lakes Dispersed Camping in the White River National Forest of Colorado is one of my favorite boondocking spots. It’s nestled between Quandary Peak and North Star Mountain at an elevation of 11,300 feet. The summer temperatures are comfortable, and the views are impressive! There’s lush vegetation, forest, and rocky terrain to explore. If you’re lucky, you might encounter the herd of mountain goats that meander about the area. A hike up to Blue Lakes Falls will reward you with a peaceful spot

to take in the surroundings, relax, or even meditate. The views of the stars at night are amazing, and there are many tent camping spots within the timber line and along the lake. Blue Lakes is a great spot to kayak or paddleboard. There are so many areas to explore and some great hiking at various difficulty levels. You can get fresh, clear moving water from Monte Cristo Creek to fill your freshwater tank. There are even opportunities to fly fish and forage if you like—I gathered several pounds of delicious Porcini mushrooms on my last visit. As for parking your rig, there are a few locations that provide some privacy, although large rigs could pose a challenge. However, there’s a wide-open gravel area at the end of Blue Lake Road that would accommodate most any size rig. One benefit is that a 4x4 isn’t required to access the location, which is key for me since I’m pulling my Airstream Basecamp 16x with an AWD Tesla Model Y. It’s also convenient that there’s a small town just 15 minutes away if you need to get some additional provisions.

DAVID CARNES @dave.carnes

Dominguez Escalante National Conservation Area, Western Colorado

GPS 38.669965 - 108.32823

Solitude and serenity are abundant in the Western Colorado High Desert. The Dominguez Escalante NCA, located between Grand Junction and Montrose, is a boondocker’s paradise.

Your adventure will begin when you turn off Hwy 50 onto Escalante Canyon Road at the Bridgepoint Trailhead. It’s a slow roll down 12-plus miles of winding, narrow, gravel road surrounded by chiseled red rock canyons in a surprisingly green fertile valley, which follows alongside the meandering Escalante Creek most of the way to your destination.

For American history enthusiasts, you will find marked petroglyphs, early 1900s settlers cabins, and even an abandoned mine shaft along the way. Nature lovers can literally soak in the abundant beauty from your own private cool water soaking tub carved throughout the steep canyon walls. Hiking, rock climbing, bird watching, stargazing, and spotting bighorn sheep sitting perched atop overhanging cliffs are popular pastimes while visiting the area.

There is a designated free campground about 12 miles in called The Potholes. However, if you push just a mile or so further, BLM sites are plentiful and more spread out, and some have direct, secluded access to the river below.

The road is accessible for most rigs less than 45 feet in total length, but it’s not for the faint of heart or those unfamiliar with driving Colorado mountain roads. We chose to leave our RV behind to do a 4x4 remote truck camping trip.

You will find yourself in a surreal, time-forgotten setting at a 5,500-foot elevation. Be warned, if you forget essentials, it is at least 45 minutes to the nearest store, and you might as well just turn that cell phone off for the duration and enjoy an unplugged experience. The heat of summer is a force to be reckoned with, so choose your timing wisely!

Watching the sun bounce rays off the red canyon walls at sunrise and sunset was magical. Soaking in the cool river in the heat of the day was refreshing, and sleeping under a blanket of endless stars ranks this as one of the top three boondocking spots we experienced in 2021. SUSAN AND NORM

FERGUSON @silverbadgeradventures

GEAR GUIDE

SHOP ALL OF OUR GEAR GUIDES AT ROOTLESSLIVING.COM/GEAR

INSULATED FRESH WATER HOSE

Avoid frozen water lines with a heated water hose. Made with NSF61 certified drinking water safe hose. 18AWG power cord with LED indicator plug, operates on 120V AC power.

PROPANE TANK HEATER

Keep your propane tank warm with a heated blanket. Works for 20/30/40 pound propane tanks. 120 Volt, 120 Watts, 1.0 Amp Draw

SPACE HEATER

Warm up with an efficient catalytic space heater. Use less propane and heat up to 290 square feet. Start-up doesn't drain the RV battery and it comes equipped with a 100 percent safety shut-off valve.

HEATED MATTRESS PAD

Keep the night-time chills at bay with a heated mattress pad. Quilted Electric Mattress Pads Fit up to 19" thick mattresses, have 5 Heat Settings, a Dual Controller and an Auto Shut Off at 10 hours.

TANK HEATING PADS

Avoid frozen water tanks by using a heating pad. With a low power draw, the heaters turn on and off to maintain the temperature you set.

INSULATED FAN & SKYLIGHT COVER

Block bitter cold drafts with insulated cover that has 2.75 inches of foam to help stop heat transfer. Fits standard 14-inch RV vents. Reflective surface blocks the sun's damaging rays.

INSULATION

Add extra insulation to water tank holding areas and storage areas to cut down on heat loss. Non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, fiber-free, safe to handle and does not require protective clothing or respirators to install.

RV WINTERIZE KIT

If you're not staying in your RV this winter, get it ready for the cold with this 10-piece kit that includes all the essentials you need to store your RV through the winter.

TONGUE JACK COVER

Keep your tongue jack accessible and well-maintained by using a jack cover. With adjustable both-side pulling drawstring that holds the cover securely and tightly in place, this cover will ensure no hazards penetrate and damage your electric tongue jack.

SNOW CHAINS

Heavy duty snow chains can make your snowy trip easier. These easy to use tire chains can be installed without having to move the vehicle. Check tire size before purchasing.

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ROOTLESS LIVING MAGAZINE

Volume 3 | Issue 13 | January/February 2022

Publisher Demian Ross

Editor-in-Chief Nikki Kirk

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PODCASTS FOR THE DRIVE

The Shrink Next Door

A story about power, control and turning to the wrong person for help. Written and hosted by Joe Nocera, a columnist for Bloomberg.

Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!

NPR's weekly current events quiz. Have a laugh and test your news knowledge while figuring out what's real and what we've made up.

Without Warning

Go behind the scenes with renowned private investigator Sheila Wysocki as she pulls back the curtain on police investigations that just don’t add up.

Best Whatever Ever!

A podcast for kids that features original stories all about the stuff that kids really care about… like: “Are unicorns real?”

Bad Blood: The Final Chapter

John Carreyrou broke the Theranos scandal. Now he’ll take you into the courtroom as he examines the case against Elizabeth Holmes.

Slow Burn

For the sixth season Joel Anderson returns to explore the people and events behind the biggest civil disturbance in American history.

Smart Passive Income

Weekly interviews, strategy, and advice for building your online business the smart way with host Pat Flynn

The Stoop

Digging into stories that are not always shared out in the open. Hosts Leila Day and Hana Baba start conversations about what it means to be black.

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