Five years ago, if you had told me my family would live in a fifth wheel full time, I would have laughed. Traveling the country, working from campgrounds, and making friends from all over the world seemed unrealistic to me.
And yet, here we are.
In May of 2024, we hit the road with two kids and two dogs. We had a whole lot of faith. Our savings account? Practically empty. Our hearts? Completely full. And while our journey has been anything but smooth, it’s been worth every single bump in the road.
Before the Road
Before this chapter of our lives, I was an administrative assistant for a mental health and substance abuse counseling center. My husband was running a construction crew. We were living what most people would call a “normal” life—steady jobs, a house, routines.
But “normal” never quite felt like “us.”
From the day we met, my husband had a dream: to travel full-time. Long before me, he had a plan to buy a van and hit the road with his small dog. But life had other plans. The day he bought that van, it broke down on his way home. I had to pick him up from the side of the road. As he climbed into my car, he told me he was going to start over. He said he would try again someday.
That “someday” became our shared dream.
From Van to Fifth Wheel
Fast forward three years. The van was long gone. A fifth wheel replaced it; It was big enough for all of us—my two kids, his small dog, and my 65-pound dog with a ton of anxiety. It wasn’t just his dream anymore. It was ours.
When we finally pulled out of our driveway for the last time, we had no idea just how many mishaps we were about to face. RV issues, travel hiccups, and a steep learning curve became our new normal. But nothing compared to the moment we pulled into our very first campground for a work camping job…
We had exactly zero dollars in our bank account. Not “low,” not “tight”—zero. We parked that rig, took a deep breath, and prayed it would all work out. And somehow, it did.
The People Who Changed Everything
That first year, we met some of the most incredible people—fellow travelers, campground neighbors, complete strangers who became like family. They taught us, helped us, encouraged us, and reminded us that even when the road is rough, it’s worth traveling.
We also had the joy of bringing our own family out to visit us. Instead of just telling them about our adventures over the phone, we got to show them firsthand. They saw what this lifestyle looks like. We revealed the places we were exploring. They saw the little routines we’d built. They experienced the beauty we were getting to enjoy every day. Watching our kids share their new “backyard” with grandparents, cousins, and friends was one of the best parts of this journey. It made everything feel even more real and reminded us that the memories we’re making stretch far beyond just the four of us.
We learned that mishaps make the best stories, that you don’t have to have it all figured out to begin, and that the biggest risk is never trying at all.
Why We’re Sharing Our Journey
We didn’t choose this life because it was easy. We chose it because it was ours.
Because we wanted more sunsets and fewer commutes.
Because we wanted our kids to learn about history by standing in it, not just reading about it.
Because we wanted to live fully, not just exist between work weeks.
If you’ve ever dreamed of walking away from the day-to-day grind, I want you to know—you can. You don’t need to wait until you have it all perfect. You just need to start. This proves that if you want it bad enough, you can build a life you love. You can do it one mile at a time.
What about you?
Have you ever dreamed of packing up and chasing the open road? Tell me your dream in the comments—I’d love to cheer you on.
