Are you crazy?
Most people think we are crazy. Granted, we think we are crazy sometimes too.
What about your house?
We still live in our sticks and brick house, but we are happiest living in the state and national parks. We will have spent almost 6 of the last 12 months on the road. We haven't taken that final leap to sell or rent our house and to live in the trailer full time. Fear, and a few practical reasons, keep our feet in both doors.
How do you work?
This year we were blessed with an awesome job where Tim can work from home. Luckily, with Internet and cell service, he can work almost anywhere our home on wheels takes us. We first experimented with this for 9 weeks in summer 2012. It was then that we decided that we could indeed balance work, and the kids, and school on the road. It takes a lot of patience, communication, and flexibility!
How can you afford to travel so much?
Since we live on a shoestring budget, we are really careful how we spend our money. Food on the road pretty much costs the same as at home. We barely eat out. We rarely pay for admission fees, as we choose the free activities instead. We save on gas money by staying in each location for a long period of time. We keep camping fees low by staying in State, National, and Federal parks, which are our favorites anyway. The trailer is so tiny, we don't have room for any extra toys, trinkets, souvenirs or anything of that sort, so we are never inclined to buy anything that we cant eat. Our monthly expenses on the road are about the same as our expenses at home.
Don't you drive each other crazy?
Actually, I think we get on each others nerves more at home than living in the trailer! I think our patience and compatibility on the road has to do with the vulnerability of constant travel, and the teamwork involved to make it happen. Something magical happens when we are pushed outside our norm in new environments. Sometimes we divide and conquer. A solitude walk in nature is rejuvenating. A special one-on-one date with a child is priceless. Coming home to grandparents and having a date without the kids after weeks and weeks with them every minute, is amazing!
Do you miss home?
Nope.
No matter how long we are gone, it is usually not until the day before we get home that we start to look forward to our normal comforts. We both look forward most to sinking into our high thread count, Cal King bed; our trailer bed is sorta like sleeping on plywood. We enjoy our large shower that has not only endless water, but endless hot water! Sinking into our leather sofa to watch a movie while the dishwasher cleans our dishes is pretty magical as well. But after a few days, we are ready to say good-bye to those luxuries in exchange for a nights sleep in a National Park.
Words can't express how much we enjoy catching up with our friends when we come home. Leaving friends and family is certainly one major drawback of this lifestyle.
What are the hardest parts about camping for so long?
Camping is a lot of work. Parenting is a lot of work. Combine the two, and it certainly isn't an easy lifestyle. It is often difficult to maintain cell power and reception in the woods. It's hard to keep a toddler clean and secure in a campsite. Conserving water means there are days on end without shaving and washing hair. It can get really frustrating washing dinner dishes in a kitchen without counter space. Like living at home, the hardest parts are needing a break from the daily small struggles and annoyances. Sometimes parking at a campground with hook-ups - where we don't have to walk to the spigot for water, and where we can enjoy electricity for music, power to upload our photos, or even to possibly watch a movie on the laptop after the kids go to bed - for a few nights is enough to help us reboot.
So why are we leaving the comforts of home and cramming our three kids into 120 sq feet?
- to travel and learn together as a family
- to enjoy our children while they are young
- to challenge ourselves to live simply
- and finally...why not?
