Our family set out in January 2010 in our RV to embrace life and laugh, live and learn together. Build on six years of traveling together, we decided to stop collecting stuff to focus on collecting experiences.

We use these pages to share our journey and our experiences on the road, including road schooling (not just for kids), running a business, fitness and nutrition. And we’ll share pictures and stories of the people we meet and places we experience.

We welcome comments, questions, encouragement and company at the campfire.

Here are some answers to common questions. Check back as we answer more questions and share more experiences!

What led you to a life on the road?

The seeds of the decision were sown early in my career – I did not want to watch my kids grow up in pictures. After our son demonstrated why kids are called “curtain climbers” we began traveling by RV.

After five years of “part timing” we questioned returning to a stick house when we were happier on the road – and experienced less stress with better business. It started with a question, “why not?”

It grew from there and nine months later… we set out.

How do you get by?

I am a speaker, an author and a catalyst. Ours is an optimistic and essential message that delivers transformative results.

What better way to get the message out there then to walk the walk, talk the talk, and live the life?

I have a degree in Human Ecology and focus on the way organizations manage people, information and risk. Specifically, I work with organizations to provide Awareness that Works™ — a guaranteed program that engages individuals, shifts their thinking and inspires behaviors change.

We run a business that provides solutions (books, resources, training, keynotes and implementation guidance) to a wide range of organizations. As such, we have designed the business to be run “virtually” – even our other team members (and planned additions) are able to work from wherever they want.

As long as we have cell phone reception we can work.

We “get by” the same way we did when we lived in our stick house. Actually – it’s better: we routinely hosts guests (we prefer people bring their families when we meet) at our Catalyst Campfire Conversations™ (we even have a special beverage called the Catalysta) as we travel the country.

This leads to better relationships and more business opportunities. Our focus is people – we live a life that exposes us to a lot of great people.

How much does it cost?

We are not normal when it comes to cost. Many who choose a lifestyle on the road do so to reduce costs – we choose a life on the road to live simply, run our business and work with people where they are.

We look to stay at campgrounds that meet our business needs and we feel comfortable at. Campgrounds for us can run any where from $700 – $1200 a month.

Cost of the full time lifestyle will vary greatly from family to family. You can dramatically reduce costs by buying your coach outright then you have no mortgage payment. If you choose to stay at state parks you can reduce your campground fees. There are also several different campground membership networks that will have yearly fees but can also reduce your monthly costs.

However, we are finding that the simpler life in the RV is already saving us a considerable amount each month – and it we gain so much. When we compare the price versus cost versus value – we end up paying out less and getting so much more in return – it’s amazing.

What is the most difficult part?

The transition for us has been pretty easy. As a family, we cherish the close connection. As a result, the hardest part is explaining to others why we choose to live a simpler life – we are literally outside the box (the RV is a rectangle).

We don’t conform to the societal standard of running a business or raising children. We find some friends, family, and acquaintances often do not understand what it means to travel and live in an RV; helping others understand our choice and our lifestyle is the most difficult part.

How long have you (or do you intend to) lived like this?

We have been full time since the beginning of the year but we have been part time for the last five years.

Part of the lure of this approach is the ability to live in the moment, and to be fluid and open to new opportunities (business or personal). As such, our plans our fluid: we will full time for as long as it works for us.

We agreed to evaluate every few months if the lifestyle is still working for us. If it is hurting the kids, the business, or our family we will stop. Right now we are enjoying it and seeing huge benefits for the business, the kids, and our family.

What questions do people commonly ask you about life on the road, and what do you tell them?

Depends on who is asking.

Fellow full-timers and RVers ask us how it is going and if we need any help or advice.  We exchange stories and advice on what campgrounds to avoid, where to go for the best RV service, and what campgrounds are a must.

Everyone else asks if we home-school the kids or what about school for the kids, if we miss our house and extended family and friends, and how long are you planning on doing this – some are really great questions.

I had someone ask me last week if I would miss mowing the lawn. For the record: I won’t. But if I did, I am confident I can find someone willing to let me mow their lawn.

We explain we home-school the kids using Sonlight (a litertature based curriculum). Tricia usually answers that keeping 400 square feet clean is much easier then 2500 square feet. Since we have been traveling for five years we have friends all over and so do the kids. We try to meet up with family and friends on the road whenever possible.

Would you recommend living like this to others?

I have come to realize that living on the road in an RV, a boat, or in hotel rooms is a personal decision. I was once asked, directly, which “big moments” in my childrens’ life I experienced because of the RV. I answered that the point was I was there for the small moments in life AND the big ones.

I recommend anyone try this – absolutely. But I also understand some people appreciate the stability of their house and routine.

I totally recommend people learn lessons from our experiences – whether they want to travel or not. Some key lessons we have learned:

-       collecting experiences instead of things is rewarding

-       the less stuff you have, the less stuff has you – it is incredibly liberating

-       life on the road is simpler; from a personal perspective, we spend a lot of time together. From a business perspective, we made better decisions

We also learned the power of questioning things and trying new things. The question that got us started was simple: “why not?” Maybe that same question will liberate others. We welcome others to our experience!

But anyone can question their choices, spend more time engaging with the people they meet and “live simply that others may simply live.”