Many of you are already aware, but for those who aren't (I'm looking at you, random internet visitor), we are selling {almost} everything we own and traveling the United States in an RV for the next couple of years. While it's always been assumed we were crazy, we've officially confirmed that status in the mind of most. While this has been a topic of discussion in our house for a few years, we had never really considered it as a viable option until recently. Anytime someone finds out what we're doing, they have a myriad of questions, so I'm going to attempt to answer a few for you before I go any further.
Who? (For those who don't personally know us)
Jonathan (29), Molly (29), Jack (7), Grey (5), and Annie (3).
What?
We're buying a 42' fifth wheel and hitting the road full time.
Why?
First: experience! They say a man is made up of everything that he has seen, done, heard, encountered, experienced, lived, felt, and dreamed. While we've learned much where we are, we are looking forward to learning and experiencing from other churches, locales, and people. Second: business growth! I (Jonathan) am fortunate to manage an online business that only requires a phone and internet connection for me to get my work done. My primary client has offices across the US, and I'll be utilizing this journey to visit these offices and grow my business. Third: seeing the beautiful country that we live in! While Molly and I have both done a fair amount of travel, there are so many places we've never visited, and might never get the opportunity to otherwise. Not only are we excited to see new places for ourselves, but we plan to make this a trip of a lifetime for our kids as well, giving them the unique opportunity to see more places than most people do in their whole lifetime. Fourth: visiting family and friends! We have family and friends scattered all over the country, and this will give us the opportunity to visit many of them. Fifth: Why not? Most people talk about doing things like this their whole life, but sadly, most don't, or they wait until they are unable to enjoy it as they once could have. We didn't want to fall into that category.
When?
To give you the whole timeline, we listed our house for sale on March 29th, 2014. Two weeks later on April 13th we accepted a cash offer for not much less than we listed for! Since that time we've been working to sell, give away, or store everything in our house. We close on the house April 28th but will be renting it back for the month of May to have time to purchase the RV and transition into it. We will stay close to home for most of June, getting comfortable driving and parking the RV, as well as adjusting to the 2100 square feet downgrade in living space. We expect to pull out for "the long haul" soon after July the 4th.
Where?
Our goal is to visit every continental state at least once, but we definitely have certain areas we want to make sure we see: the Pacific northwest, Yosemite and Yellowstone, the beautiful terrains in Montana and Wyoming, and the eastern seaboard just to name a few. However, we plan to start off heading east first, staying mainly in the South.
How long?
While this is dependent on several factors, such as how long we can stand living with three kids under seven years of age in less than 450 square feet, how much we enjoy life on the road, how effectively I can manage the business remotely, the answer right now is two years. After a few months on the road, we'll have a better grasp of how long we'll stay on this journey.
How?
As much as I would love to be, we aren't independently wealthy, so I'll continue to work full time just as if I were home to support us on the road. Fortunately, all I require is a solid internet connection to get everything I need to done. To accomplish this, I'll be traveling with a Millenicom Hotspot, and of course, I'll be utilizing any free wireless networks we come across. In regard to school, Molly will be homeschooling the kids through a combination of books and online courses, and we'll use our destinations as learning opportunities as well.
Why Now?
For us, it was really a now or never moment. Our kids are at the age where they aren't too big for us all to fit in the RV, but they're all old enough that they should each have some good memories from this journey. I'm currently capable of managing my business remotely, but just a few short years down the road if it continues to grow (God willing), I may not have the freedom to travel full time. Molly and I are both still young enough to do things that we might not be able to if we waited the additional 18 years until the kids are out of the house. It just made sense.
This blog will serve to document the process for us and will hopefully give you the chance to keep up with our adventure. We still have quite a bit to do before we hit the road full time, but feel free to check back for updates!
~Jonathan
Good for you, glad you go to achieve a dream!
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