Author: No Place Like Gone

Categories
Adventure Lifestyle

Is Van Life as Glorious as Instagram Shows?

Estimated time to read:

9–13 minutes

Is van life as glorious as Instagram lets you believe? Yes, yes, it is. Case closed, stop reading here, let’s all go home!

I’m kidding – but really, every time you go on Instagram and TikTok you see them young kids livin’ their best life in a van down by the river! The worst part is that you can’t escape this content, because it’s all so appealing. Of course it sounds amazing to buy a kitted-out van, decorate it hella cute, and slap your Instagram handle on the outside. Trust me, I get it … we are currently living that life right now!

My girlfriend and I standing with keys in my hand for our new RV.
My girlfriend and I standing in front of our RV.
Me sitting in the driver's seat of our new RV.
Our new RV with great lighting.
Our puppy Luna riding shotgun in the RV.
Me pointing at our brand new RV.
The inside kitchen of our RV.
Dining table and window in our RV.
Plant wall with nine different succulents.
The overall interior of our RV.
Another shot of the inside of our RV.
Here's the tiny bathroom sink and shower.
The front of our RV parked.
Home decor that says, "More Home, Less House".
Luna in the storage compartment.
"Making Memories" flag at the campsite.
Surfboard ready to go in the back of our RV.
No Place Like Gone logo on license plate.
Our RV parked on a beach in Florida.
Sticker map on the back of our RV. Only one sticker is filled in - South Carolina.
Advertisements

Before we jump in, we ask that you consider joining the [gone] community where you’ll learn about travel, van life, minimalism, mental health, and more!

Got any questions about van life? Hit us up in the DMs!

Yes, #vanlife looks AMAZING! But …

Starting out on a strong note, I hope that you like the smell of poop in the morning. When you go to pack up your campsite and leave in the morning, you’ll have to stand out by the lovely “dump station.” What’s that you might ask? Well, it’s exactly how it sounds – your RV takes a dump. You have to connect a hose to your black and grey tanks (black being toilet waste, grey being sink and shower waste). Then you pull a valve, and hear the lovely sound of water rushing through. Oh, and it smells great! Just like a wonderful sewer sanitation facility. Welcome to van life, my friend.

Shitter’s Full – clip on YouTube from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
Advertisements

Much like being a parent to a newborn, expect to have poop all over you at some point. Well, it’s not always that bad, but sometimes it can be. If your waste hose decides to throw a tantrum, expect poop on you. Did you forget to weigh down your hose connection to where it connects to the ground sewer connection? As the waste water is rushing out, the hose could jump off of the connection and hit you in the face. At any single time. Hah – what a life. Even better, if you’re camping in below freezing temperatures, you may be greeted with a “shit-sicle” – where your tanks and/or hoses are frozen solid. The joy.

Snow covering our RV.
Frozen power cord and water hose on our RV.
A few inches of snow on the waste sewer hose.

Not all campsites are created equal. Camping life can often be compared to “roughing it in the woods” as the good old phrase goes. If you’re lucky enough to have a shower in your house on wheels, they’re incredibly small and difficult to use especially if you’re boondocking (no power, no extra water, no waste connection hook-ups to your rig; you are completely self-contained & self-sufficient).

Basically, you’re living primal-style out in the woods like our ancestor cavemen and cavewomen and surviving off the land. Sometimes you only end up showering once every week or two, because you’re traveling so much. And guess what, while some campgrounds have showers – not all do in the wilderness!

Occasionally, you’ll find a nicer shower to use if you pay for the very expensive RV resorts and KOAs. Honestly, most of your cheaper campsites do have a shower – albeit not very luxurious. Picture crouching low enough to fit under the midget-sized shower head, avoiding touching any of the ick of the walls, keeping an eye on that spider’s web & spider staring at you from the corner – all in an ill-lit (non-heated) “outhouse” for lack of a better term. Camp showers can be a real treat.

Advertisements

The majority of RVs, campers, and motorhomes are just made to fall apart. No, I’m not joking … it’s a pretty common thing. Many, many, MANY of the campers and motorhomes of today are built so quickly that they just simply don’t have the same quality of most houses, or even the cars of today. Even if you spend a crap-ton of money on buying a brand new rig, expect it to have problems.

This doesn’t mean buying used is necessarily the better option. The previous owner may not have taken the best care of their vehicle, or fixed the problems that it had when it came off the lot. What’s worse is if you are full-time traveling and every few weeks you’re in a new state and not able to return to your original dealership to get work done – no one wants to do “free” warranty work if they don’t have to. It’s a whole complicated process sometimes. Be prepared to get very handy yourself! An emergency fund is a MUST.

The reality is van life is not always what you see on Instagram.
Behind the scenes of #vanlife.

I’ve learned that sometimes you just have to laugh about things in life … like when your radio literally blows up and catches on fire in a 6-month old RV. It leaves you questioning the workmanship of these rigs. Oh – and since warranty work takes forever to get done with most dealerships (think at least a six week waiting list) it’s just a whole hassle and headache.

So, $2,000 later, we skipped the warranty work and opted for a high-end radio with Apple Car Play capability in place of our original toxic waste of explosion that was installed by Ford and misleadingly called “a radio.” Plus, not to mention that we are full-time traveling so we can’t easily abandon our home on wheels for it to sit in a dealership’s lot waiting for work to be done – we love the outdoors but certainly prefer our bed over sleeping on the street.

Advertisements

Van life can be expensive. Can it also be cheap and a cost effective way to live? Sure, that’s possible too. There are some options for FREE camping like boondocking on BLM land, Harvest Host (click our link here to get 15% off your membership with Harvest Hosts – they offer unique stays at wineries, farms, museums, and more!) or the good ole’ Walmart parking lot if you’re not picky.

Yes, there are ways to literally park your 1987 Chevrolet van down by the river (BLM land offers this frequently out West) and live for next to free if that’s what you want to do. Mad respect, no hate here my brother.

But, if you go the traditional route and stay at average run-of-the-mill state park campgrounds and the like, expect to pay $30-$45 per night of camping. Not too bad, right? But if you find yourself in a place like Arizona, California, or staying at KOAs and RV “resorts,” you can expect to pay more like $60-$80 per night on average. We’ve seen campgrounds charging over $120 per night for premium spots in highly sought after locations. If you’ve opted for a larger rig, expect to pay even more at every place you stay to accommodate the sheer size of your land yacht.

Camping fees alone can be expensive, not to mention that while you travel you will have to consider the cost to fill up with gas and propane as well. If you end up with a monthly payment on your rig, it can sometimes be close to a mortgage payment. Then, you’ll need insurance, of course. And let’s not forget about all of the maintenance items (remember RVs don’t typically have the highest build quality). Then factor in groceries, internet connectivity, cell phone bills, clothing, and all the other necessities you need – the dollars stack up QUICK. You need a budget!

Advertisements

Van life is truly a “choose your own adventure” experience though; and there are, literally, thousands of different ways to camp and enjoy time outdoors. Whether you’re in a tent, million-dollar Prevost, a Subaru, or a travel trailer – we’re all here to camp, just in different boxes.

Shot of our RV under the Moon.
Looking out the window at a beautiful desert canyon, that's van life.
The RV parked under the moonlight, we're basically living the van life dream.
Our RV parked in front of the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado, van lifing it up.
Our RV parked next to Little Painted Desert County Park.

♫ Let’s talk about SPACE, baby. ♫

Are you absolutely in love with the HGTV-inspired DIY project that is your house now? The sprawling 2,000 square feet? Extra bedrooms you hardly ever use? How about the reading nook, loft, great master bedroom, hot tub, backyard, and all of the other spaces that you currently have? How about that three car garage that’s stacked to the ceiling with “yard sale” items and Christmas decorations from your childhood? Well, if you’re considering RV life, say goodbye to it all.

Advertisements
A joke meme about people on HGTV.
A joke meme about people on HGTV.

Hey, I’m not hating – just stating facts. Your average house on wheels will not be much larger than 250 square feet. Yes, you heard me right – 2-5-0. This is probably the size of your current master bedroom if you’re an average American. Most campers are microscopic compared to our luxurious “mansions” of today. And they have to be this way in order to be safely driven down the highway and maneuver under bridges. Having a slide-out (or multiple slide-outs) can help greatly expand your living area but these come with a whole other can of worms worth of issues – and don’t expect more than 400 square feet, even with this addition.

Again, RV stands for RECREATIONAL Vehicle. RVs, motorhomes, and campers were never intended to be lived in and traveled with full-time. Sure, with the right perspective, you can live in just about anything.

While some models are insulated and more suited for forever living, they still aren’t a sticks-and-bricks home. Often campers are made with cheaper, lighter-weight materials, with the intention of decreasing your towing payload and gas mileage. Longevity is typically an afterthought, if considered at all. For example, our toilet, sink, and shower (things we use every day) are all made out of cheap plastic and have already had issues – oooohhh the luxury. Don’t just believe my opinion – here’s the same sentiment from another RV and travel blog.

Advertisements

Out of Touch with Reality – a Van Life Nightmare

Here’s another fun reality for you millennials & Gen Zs: imagine not having internet or cell phone reception. Oh. my. God. That’s possible? Yes, there are still plenty of places that you can drive to and camp that will not have a speck of signal. Wi-Fi is most certainly out of the question a lot of the time as well.

WeBoost RV cell phone booster kit with antenna.

Surely in 2023, they have something to help, right? Sorta. We’ve been in spots where even with our fancy (and expensive!) cell signal booster and Wi-Fi ranger you still can’t connect to the outside world. Sometimes it’s just you, your travel partner (if you have one), and your dog. Imagine this – no internet, no TikTok, no Instagram, no Google maps, no texting or calls. You may be (forced) to connect with the nature around you or to have to talk to your camping companions via real face-to-face human interactions. Oh, the misery.

Woman hanging her head out the window trying to talk on the phone.
Sometimes you gotta hang out the window to find that magical bar of cell signal.
Advertisements

Wrapping It Up:

Is Van Life as Glorious as Instagram Lets You Believe?

The short answer is – well, sorta. Just like anything, there is good and bad. Can it be incredibly enjoyable and look as pretty and glamorous as Instagram shows? Sometimes; but be prepared for plenty of “fun” along the way! You can’t have flowers without any rain – such is life.

My girlfriend and I standing with keys in my hand in front of our new RV.

Overall, selling my house, our cars, every piece of furniture, lawn equipment, and almost every worldly possession we had, was the best decision of our lives. This has been a meaningful stepping stone in my life, that has morphed into much, much more than just traveling the United States. We have learned how to live more simply, to appreciate the small things. We are experiencing all kinds of different cultures. We’ve eaten more than our fair share of new foods. We’ve seen some of the most incredible vistas and unique landscapes on the planet. And, we’ve grown closer together as a couple along the way – especially when the black tank sprayed its wonderful goop on us both. The memories, experiences, and joys of RV life do not have a monetary value. They’re priceless.

Would we recommend that everyone experience the world through travel like van life? Absolutely yes! Every single time. It’s worth it, even if you don’t think the lifestyle fits you – you’ll customize it to allow you to experience the world in new shades of beautiful. We hope to see you on our next adventure.

Advertisements

Join our [gone] community for updates about van life, travel, minimalism, mental health, and more:

If van life sounds awesome to you, check out these similar reads:

Here are the latest posts from our Instagram account if you’d like to follow along with our adventures:

Categories
Lifestyle

What is Missing?

I’m sure that not everyone reads mental health blogs and listens to the woes of therapy podcasts in their daily life. Huh, no one? Just me? Okay, it’s cool. So, I’m super interested in this stuff. And as I geek out consistently over how the brain has created alternate realities for every single one of us, it becomes apparent that we are all so different. Although, we do share one common goal in life – and that’s survival.

Whether you are having the time of your life partying it up on a crystal clear beach in Florida right now even though it’s winter, or whether you are stuck between a rock and a hard place; we’re surviving. [Breaks out into song] 🎵 We’re all in this together! 🎵 If you know where this song is from, I’ll make sure you get extra tax refund money back this year. 😜

Seriously though, we are all in different stages of life and what’s craziest is that we all come from different upbringings and backgrounds. Expecting other people to understand how you grew up and see your lifelong misery is often a futile endeavor.  Just to name a few: growing up in poverty, being a less privileged social class, no one in your family has ever gone to college, ignorance of economic education, and COVID-19, just to name a few things that can separate all of our understandings as human beings.

Advertisements

Wherever you are in your walk of life, one thing becomes apparent – we all need to spend more time on our mental health. In this crazy day and age, you can go from what society considers a “normal” functioning person to full panic attack and mental break down in the blink of an eye. This stuff isn’t a joke – and certainly not to be messed with. I’ve seen it firsthand, as I’m sure others of you have too.

Another huge problem we face as a society is that we reward staying busy. If you work longer hours at your job, you’ll get paid more. If you continue to perform well in your duties, you’ll get a promotion. The more degrees and training you can take on, the more useful you can become as an employee. The more you sacrifice in your personal life – kids’ ball games, dance recitals, anniversaries and birthday parties – the better and more successful you will be with the capitalistic economy that we live under. Everything we do seems to be measured on a scale, like we are just a method of production. Also, as the years progress, computers and technology are replacing many everyday jobs that some of us take pride in doing. It’s difficult everywhere we look.

Advertisements

So, what can we all do differently?

One of the most important things we need to do is focus on our mental health. And to do that, this will require putting a lot of new habits into place for most of us. It’s no surprise that we have evolved as a species of cavemen/women unto where we are now. Unfortunately, it does come as a surprise to find out that our brains are running on ancient technology – a stone tablet if you will. This is essentially the equivalent to a pre-historic Apple iPad, but without all the iCloud and Bluetooth features. I call it the stone phone, instead of the smart phone. Basically, a parchment with some letters, and it’s difficult to even make out the words because they have faded over the millennia. That’s how old the technology of our brain is. It hasn’t been able to evolve as well as the rest of the world has over time.

To explain a little more, let’s come back to our original point above about the need for survival. Our brain prioritizes survival, and this is an innate process embedded deep within us. As far back as pre-historic days, the most important process of the brain was to keep you safe. It was constantly searching for danger in the environment around you. If the brain didn’t keep you alive, well how would we have evolved as a species into the intelligent humans that we are now?

In olden times, if a bear appeared next to you in the jungle – your body would go into shock. Your mind would have the options of fight, flight, or freeze. You’ve probably heard this before, and it’s how your brain is programmed to keep you alive.

Advertisements

The problem comes when we fast forward thousands of years to where we are now. I assume that many of us are not fending for our lives from bears and lions in the wilderness anymore. Although if you are, kudos to you. Keep it up, my jungle friends! Because our brain is still trying to run this script of code that is ancient technology, it hasn’t quite figured out how to adapt to the chaos of today. Science, technology, and infrastructure has shaped faster than our minds ever will be able to do. So, unfortunately, this leaves YOU as the only person who can train and prepare your mind for today’s problems. Lucky for you, there’s plenty of resources on the internet, in libraries, and here on our blog.

Anxiety is an alarm system

When your phone or clock buzzes in the morning, we know that you hit snooze a few times … and that’s okay! Anxiety functions in a similar way to this alarm that we are all used to. Some of the symptoms of anxiety are quicker breathing, faster heart rate, pain in your chest, panic attacks, intrusive or spiraling thoughts, and your logic system shutting off. This results in you being less logical and much more vulnerable and emotional. When you feel some of these indicators and start to think that you are having anxiety, stop there. Think to yourself why you would be feeling anxious and see if you can pinpoint the problem. This can be an extremely difficult process, so keep with it. The same way that it took falling off your bicycle with training wheels as a kid a few times to learn how to ride a bike applies here.

Learning new habits and processes are not easy and you must be patient. Practice writing down your thoughts and feelings when you feel anxious. Observe your environment and see if something has changed recently to cause an alarm bell within you. Maybe you are fast approaching a work deadline and your co-workers keep wanting to talk about their weekend plans. Politely tell them that you are busy and need to get a lot of work done. Even better, ask them for help with your deadline!

Advertisements

You are not broken

Every single person on this planet has a similar brain structure and processes that you do. Although, our upbringing and phases of life do reshape how we think, believe, and the knowledge we hold. Anyone on this Earth can have anxiety or depression, even freaking President Joe Biden himself. No one can escape the importance of mental health and wellness. This is a very important piece of the puzzle – remember that you are not broken. You do not have to be isolated, alone, and you are also not the only one who is hurt. Look around you to the people you know, and even strangers on the street, everyone is struggling in different ways.

Look at COVID-19 as a historic example. Many, many people lost their jobs or their homes overnight. Factories and corporations shut down at the drop of a hat. If you were not prepared for any of this to happen, your world was probably shaken upside down – like many of us. One of the only things we can positively say that came out of the COVID pandemic is that mental health has been given a wonderful spotlight across news networks and social media.

Counseling therapy is important

The word therapy itself means, “treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder.” The reality is that many of us are trying to pay the bills, have family, and just enjoy life. To do this, especially when mental health conditions appear within you, you need to get educated about this stuff. The great thing about counselors and therapists are that they can help you understand yourself, your mind, your trauma, and the brain very well. You don’t even have to get a college degree yourself to learn this wizardry!

Advertisements

A counselor is basically a life coach who is in your corner rooting for you. They have years of psychology education, training and experience of various mental health conditions that you might have and can guide you through the dark when you need it the most. Get a counselor in your corner, even if they cost a lot for their help. Research your local area, and great resources online like BetterHelp.com. Often, you can get discounts through insurance and free session credits through EAP (Employee Assistance Program) if your job offers this.

Community is crucial to you

I am willing to admit right away that I suck at this one. I don’t have very many friends, and I have pushed away or outgrown a large part of the people who used to be in my life. These have been my own personal choices, and I have walked through the solitude that this can often bring with it. I am saying this to encourage others of you to realize that we are all human and make mistakes. Some of us are not very social and have to learn new skills to make friends.

A large part of building community around you is healing through your own personal trauma. You certainly don’t have to do this alone. This why counselors, therapists, family, and friends are there for you. It is difficult for any of us to hold the world on our shoulders and not to let the weight crush us slowly.

Advertisements

As far back as science has been able to find, people have lived in communities. A large group of people would band together to create a tribe, and they would settle down in a practical area or travel together to new environments. If you always keep your mental woes trapped in your head, they will not have a healthy place within this world. Forming community allows us to discuss our problems together, lean on each other’s strengths, and to increase our chances of survival.

Medicine helps in times of need

Medicine often has a bad reputation, especially when it comes to scary words like anti-psychotics and anti-depressants. Those words are enough to scare even a child away from taking these kinds of medicines. Not to mention that medicines can be extremely expensive and difficult to get prescribed in the first place. Regardless of crappy health care and other related issues, medicine does exist as a last resort, or even a supplemental way to aid you. There’s nothing “bad” with taking medicine, especially when it does genuinely help you.

Drop the stigma and contact your general doctor, or a psychiatrist. The way that I like to explain medicine when it comes to mental health is that it can snip the strings of the heavy load that you are carrying around with you. Once it snips the strings, you can combine all of the other above processes (and new skills from counseling) to help you become successful.

Advertisements

NAMI and Other Internet Resources:

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is a very important resource for mental health. You probably have noticed a few of the infographics I have placed on this blog, and they have all come from NAMI. They do magnificent research around mental health and work with health professionals from all over the world to help us fix this ongoing mental health crisis many of us face today.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is another wonderful resource surrounding mental health. Government money helps aid this company with doing research, providing resources, and helping those in need – regardless of the problem.

Call 911 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger, or go to the nearest emergency room.

Call or text 988 to connect with a trained crisis counselor, who are available 24-hours a day when you need them most.

There are plenty of other resources out there, but these are a few of the most important that I have seen available for anyone to use.

The bottom line … YOU are worth being well

The funny thing is that if you look back up at the top of this blog, I was talking about the ways that success is measured in society. A few of these being long hours in the workplace, success in your career ladder, and even the freaking expensive car that you own. These are the things that society, TV, banks, and corporations want you to believe are important. So, maybe it’s time that you start putting what is important in front of you first. I’ll help you with this. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and everywhere else with the buttons below:

Our messages are always open, and we welcome anyone who needs help. That is the whole reason that we do this thing.

No Place Like Gone is a playground for documenting our travels, adventures, and educating everyone that we can reach with the knowledge that we are able to learn from around the world. We want your life to be high quality, and full of what you love the most. We want you to wake up in the morning always smiling for a new day. From my mind to yours, let me pour my insight into you. My name is Matt, and I thank you for reading my blog today. Good blessings to you all, my friends.

Advertisements

Below are the infographic files from NAMI that have been used in this blog. Feel free to download them for yourself to send to your loved ones or anyone who needs these resources:

NAMI-infographicDownload
NAMI-ripple-effectDownload
NAMI-warning-signsDownload

Below are other similar blogs that we have written:

Categories
Giving

How Can You Spread Holiday Cheer this Year?

It’s the most joyful time of year, so how will you spread your Holiday Cheer? The beautiful thing about Christmas music is that it always manages to tap those emotional cords inside of all of us. We can’t resist those nostalgic feelings that take us back to when we were a kid, and the family traditions that we love oh-so very much.

Regardless of how busy the year has been for you, Christmas and New Year’s are always the time to reset and feel like you can start the new year fresh.

“You can have a bite of my apple.”

One thing we quickly forget is being nice to others. In this crazy world, it’s so easy to get worked up and to react emotionally to others in rage or anger. Making generosity a top priority is a vital way to stay healthy and mentally well. We mean it.

You gain nothing from greed and overindulgence. The happiest, healthiest life is through being kind to others. We belong together as community. The wise writers of Proverbs 11:14 says that, “In counsel … there is safety.” Everyone working together will improve us all. Think of the last time that someone did something kind or generous for you. I’m sure it was super impactful for you.

Advertisements

What Can You Do to Be Generous?

  • Hold a door open for someone at the store and greet them with a smile.
  • Offer to help an elderly person carry their groceries out to the car. You can even go the extra mile and load them up in the car, if they want you to.
  • Pay it forward at a restaurant. Pay for the person’s food behind you at the drive through. This is popular especially at Chic-Fil-A and you can start the chain that many others will continue behind you!
  • Find a mother with a full cart at the grocery store. Offer to pay for her groceries at the checkout. This will feel like you moved mountains for her and her children.
  • Give Secret Santa a shot! Find a local toy drive, church, or foster home. Often you can pick the gender and age of the kid so that you can tailor the gifts to fit them well. For some children, even new clothes go a long way.
  • Donate your old clothes to a foster home, church, or charity store like Miracle Hill.
  • Volunteer at Meals on Wheels, or your local food bank/drive to help serve food to people this Holiday.

These are just a few options, that range from spending money, volunteering time, or random acts of kindness throughout your day. There’s something for everyone to try on this list. And if you are short on money, check out our blog here for the newest tips.

Advertisements

We Want to Have a Give-away!

We want to start by spreading the Christmas cheer ourselves, so we are having a give-away! We truly believe that we boost our OWN quality of life when you do nice things for other people. The power of giving can make you want to smile from ear to ear, and also it empowers you to let go of your money.

Dave Ramsey preaches with references to scripture that there’s only three things to do with money and they should all be done equally. He teaches giving first as the most crucial, then saving and spending. When the triangle of money lines up, you will feel the best about your financial decisions. Give, save, spend. I encourage you to just try it. When’s the last time you gave to someone or were generous, and actually regret it? Probably never!

The Ramsey Giving Show 2022 – Ramsey Solutions.

Generosity has power. We are meant to work together with other humans as a society.

Advertisements

To enter the give-away:

  • Follow us on Instagram here or click the Instagram icon above!
  • Comment on any of our posts with the hashtag: #NoPlaceLikeChristmas to enter with one admission.
  • We would also love for you to make a post with your recent giving or generosity and use the hashtag #NoPlaceLikeChristmas for a second admission.
  • This is a no purchase necessary give-away. We are not selling entry tickets or alternate methods to win. It’s FREE!
  • Let’s make it #NoPlaceLikeChristmas for everyone this year!

We will be drawing a winner on Christmas Eve, December 24th, to win a $50 Amazon gift card. Please pay attention to your Instagram inbox, because we will direct message the winner there. We will also announce who has won the give-away on our Instagram story for everyone to see.

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year! Please ask yourself, “How Can You Spread Holiday Cheer this Year?”

Enter your email here to subscribe to notifications about our blog:

Advertisements

See our latest Instagram posts here, and follow us for the give-away:

Categories
Adventure travel

Little Painted Desert County Park

We were luckily enough to speak with a veteran park ranger at a local campground here in Arizona where he gave us some insider details on the most adventurous things to do nearby! We would have had ZERO clue that there is a beautiful work of art right around the corner from the campground where were staying at the time.

A quick 20 minute drive away from Winslow, Arizona is how you get off the beaten path to this excellent wonder of Mother Nature. What is Winslow, Arizona known for you ask? If you’ve heard of the famous song “Take It Easy” by The Eagles, then you are in good company. Not only is merchandise available all over the town for the infamous Route 66, but also you can get yourself wonderful pictures by Standin’ On The Corner.

Standin’ On The Corner – Winslow, Arizona
Advertisements

What is the Painted Desert like?

100% worth it. It’s a little sketch though, I won’t lie. Since the county and state authorities have given up on maintenance and taking care of this park, you’ll be greeted by potholes and graffiti all over the place. Heck, the ONLY other person that we saw there was sleeping in their car… but they didn’t bother us the whole time! No big deal for us.

Seriously, though. This place is worth the views. And even if you don’t want to get out of your car, you can drive around most of the rim and get excellent views without walking. Now the roads are pretty awful and falling apart, so you might feel better driving an SUV or truck, but definitely not required.

Here’s some images we got there:

Advertisements
Advertisements
Advertisements

You can’t deny that the views of this place are magnificent. It’s so unfortunate that the park isn’t funded and taken care of by the government anymore. However, if you are planning on swinging by the beautiful town of Winslow, Arizona then now you know this place is a hop, skip, and a drop away!

Plan your trip of the Little Painted Desert County Park today! The address to plugin your GPS is: Painted Desert Rim Dr, Winslow, AZ 86047.

Do you want exclusive camping discounts to stay nearby Winslow, AZ?

Check out my partners for 30% off of signing up right now:

Harvest Hosts: Celebrate the season with 30% off a year of unlimited overnight stays at wineries, breweries, farms, and more! For only $69.30, a Harvest Hosts membership gives you access to trip-planning tools, $1500 worth of Member benefits, and 4000+ overnight RV stays for a whole year. Start a membership today and see where the road takes you. Hurry, the sale ends on 12/31/22!

Use my exclusive link here for 30% off of your yearly Harvest Hosts subscription. You must use the code FRIENDS30 at checkout for the discount to apply!

Boondockers Welcome: Boondockers Welcome opens up a world of new camping opportunities. Escape the crowded and noisy campground in favor of a private spot on a beautiful property and a meaningful connection with a friendly host.  Enjoy truly unique stay experiences often without any sacrifice to comfort as 70% of Boondockers Welcome hosts offer hookups.

Use my exclusive link here for 30% off of your yearly Boondockers Welcome subscription. You must use the code BWFRIENDS15 at checkout for the discount to apply!

Want our latest travel updates, tips and tricks, camping hacks, blogs, and more sent to you frequently? Get connected with us below by clicking on our social media buttons!

Categories
Products

Cozy Coats – Live Now!

“Oh, the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we’ve no place to go
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!”

It’s that time folks! Winter is here and Christmas is rapidly approaching around the corner. You probably can’t escape your house without seeing an “early” Black Friday ad somewhere. Let’s be honest – we are all looking for the best holiday gift to get for your significant other, or for a beloved family member. And let’s be real, you want something that screams “I LOVE YOU!” to the heavens. With the freezing cold Winter fast approaching us, temperatures are dropping across the nation (except for Florida). It’s time you upgraded yourself, or made that gift purchase for the Holidays.

Advertisements

Introducing:

At Cozy Coats, we found the solution to brutal winter weather. We combined heating elements within a jacket to get a work of art with only the finest materials we could find. These jackets are made unisex and in a wide variety of sizes, so that we don’t leave any person un-included.

We are No Place Like Gone, a travel page who has been dedicated to breaking out of the “normal” mold. We don’t fit within societies’ norms. We don’t believe that working your entire life pays off. We enjoy our creative endeavors that lead us to help people every day, through business and otherwise. We believe that this beautiful life we have all been given is worth exploring each and every day.

Another thing we believe in is changing the world, and that begins with mental health and education. Because of this, we donate 5% of every purchase to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). This is something that is close to our heart, and we truly want to help improve one step at a time.

Thank you for your help in this worthy cause.

Advertisements

KEEP YOUR BODY COZY

CozyCoats is built with quality carbon fiber heating elements and 3 heating levels (Low = 113°F, Medium = 122°F and High = 131°F). This will generate consistent heat during the harshest of weather for 6 core body parts: your neck, back, abdomen, and waist. CozyCoats helps to maintain body warmth, promote blood circulation, and relieve pain, as well as tension in those sore muscles.

USB-POWERED FOR LASTING HEAT

Uniquely powered by a portable charger with 2A or 2.4A USB output to keep warmth in and stand up against rigid elements. Plugged into a 10000mAh battery pack (not included), this polished and heated jacket is capable of retaining warmth up to 7 hours at Low Level, 5 hours at Medium Level, and 3 hours at High Level.

LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN

Featuring quilted, lightweight design and fine interior lining for unrestricted comfort and coziness in the Fall and Winter. With a zipper on the front, you can layer this Uni-sex USB heated jacket over varieties of tops to add a touch of style for fashion refined looks.

3 POWER SWITCHES & HEATING LEVELS

Our triple-switch design allows separate heating levels on three individual body sections: Shoulder and neck, waist and back, and abdomen. These switches can be operated separately to allow for three heating levels from 40℃/ 104℉ to 65℃/ 149℉. CozyCoats lets you customize your preferred temperature based on your needs!

A CAUSE WORTH CHANGE

We believe in changing the world, and that begins with mental health and education. Because of this, we donate 5% of every purchase to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). This is something that is close to our heart, and we truly want to help improve one step at a time.

Thank you for your help in this worthy cause.

Advertisements

The website for Cozy Coats is available here. Please look through our business mantra, cause, and consider purchasing your Cozy Coats today for you and all of your family!

Categories
Uncategorized

Lessons Learned From the Worst Day of My Life

Guest post written by Breanna, my lovely girlfriend.

Never take for granted the blessing to be alive, and also the people that you love. Hold each and everyone close. Spread love every day that you exist.

Two 2️⃣ years ago today while tent camping on Lake Hartwell, Matt asked me to be his girlfriend. 

This was our tent camping spot.

In my heart it was an immediate “Yes!“ 

…. but what came out was, 

“Are you sure?!” 😳😬😅

Sitting under the stars that night by the campfire we laughed and agreed that fate had brought us together, camping is awesome, and to give it a go at being “official.”

The sunrise was so beautiful, especially when I woke up realizing I now had my boyfriend next to me.

Advertisements

Two years later and this has been the best, craziest, most sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat adventure. But it’s also been the most “feels like my heart is at home” adventure.

Last November, to celebrate our very first anniversary, we spent the weekend in Savannah, GA. Our Airbnb host had remodeled a vintage 1960s Shasta camper as a “glamping” experience. Since we were used to tent camping, this seemed like a luxurious splurge. 

Me in front of the Shasta, it was 40 degrees and raining outside but that didn’t stop us from having a blast.

We fell in love. 

Not only with each other – but also with the idea of “glamping” in an RV. By the time we were on the drive home we had a spreadsheet going of costs involved with owning a camper, pros and cons, and what future camping trips could look like if we were to buy one. 

Fast forward to February ‘22 and (with completed spreadsheet in hand) we’re at the RV dealership. We decided to keep adventuring – in style – and bought a motorhome. 

Proud owners of a 2022 Coachmen Crosstrail XL 23XG – brand new off the lot.

Four short months later, we say yes to chasing adventure and abandon “normal.” 

We set our sights on living and traveling full time in the RV. We sell the house, our cars, and 90% of everything we owned. Matt quit his job as a Mechanical Engineer to be our full time driver and to take a break from what is corporate America. Thanks to the power of the internets, and the COVID-inspired shift to working remote, I’m still working with clients & they afford me the flexibility to travel full time and embrace this lifestyle – ya girl got bills to pay! Lol. 

Advertisements

In the six months since we’ve:

  • Visited ✨10 states ✨ (our goal is to hit all 50 before we turn 30). 
  • Camped at state parks, US Army COE campgrounds, wineries, an alpaca farm, national forests, a casino, city parks, beaches, lakes, private RV resorts, and music festivals. 
  • Swam in waterfalls, lakes, rivers, the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, & countless campground pools.
  • Driven just under 10k miles.
  • Watched and photographed many sunrises and sunsets.
  • Matt taught me how to change the oil in the generator – #feminism. lol. 
  • Set up and taken down camp at least 62720932 times. 
  • And we’ve met folks from all different walks of life; we even met someone from our hometown in Greenville at a concert in Arkansas! 

Okay, so those are all the “humble-brag-worthy” things. There have also been plenty of not-so-great things. Things like traffic jams, flat tires, missed turns, mechanical issues, no cell service, wild animals getting into our trash bin, Luna being a puppy and causing chaos, poop hose debacles like in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and baddd weather (like 9 degrees bad 🥶). 

But, on Labor Day weekend, the thing of my worst nightmares happened right before my eyes. 

Advertisements

We haven’t really posted about this yet, but, I feel like I’m ready to now that I’ve had time to process and he’s had time to heal. I really do feel like I’ve learned one of the fundamental purposes of our humanity through this tragic accident & I want to share it publicly here. 

While traveling to a new campsite one morning we found the rock face in the picture below in Rolla, Missouri (you can see a very small version of Matt in the top left of the picture). Being the adventurous tourists that we are, we pulled over and thought this would be a great spot to grab some pictures. If you look at that picture you’ll notice that the boulders were almost stacked like stairs so we thought it’d be an “easy up, snap a few pictures, and come back down” 15-minute pit stop. 

Matt standing at the top of the rock face – proudly conquered.

I’ve never been more wrong. 

After he climbed to the top and I take a few pictures from the ground, it happened right in front of me. 

On the way back down from the top, Matt looses his footing.

I watch as his body ricochets off of the rock face – falling, falling, falling to the ground. He smacks the ground, landing on unforgiving rock.

Mortified, I run to him. 

Blood. Lots of it. 

I call 911 screaming for help. 

Bystanders rush over giving me T-shirts to wrap his head in to stop the bleeding. It felt like a lifetime before the first ambulance arrived. They start to stabilize him and I notice one of the EMS guys making a circular motion with his hand while the others nodded. “What is that? What does that mean?” I thought, trying to remember to breathe. 

A police officer named Jenna (I’ll never forget her face) quickly pulls me aside. She calmly explains what would happen next. 

Due to the severity of the fall, after a quick triage, the ambulance would take Matt to this small town’s hospital with a helipad where he would be medivac’d via helicopter to the trauma center back in Saint Louis. 

I physically heard her words but they weren’t comprehensible to me. She escorts me to the local hospital behind the ambulance. I’ve never been more appreciative of a law enforcement officer; if you know someone working this incredibly complex and emotionally demanding job – thank them. 

Advertisements

While on the way to the helipad the EMS team triaged Matt as best they could. This included cutting away all his clothing so he could go directly into surgery if needed, shaving his chest and hooking him to monitors, wrapping and re-wrapping his head wounds, and pumping him full of chemicals to keep him as stable as possible. The helicopter arrived, I kissed him on the forehead and told him I loved him, and he was up and away. The helicopter ride to the trauma center would be 45 minutes for him. I plug the trauma center’s address into my phone’s GPS, it’ll be an hour and a half drive for me and Luna in the RV. 

The EMS guy that had been calling for the helicopter earlier pulled me aside as silent tears rolled down my cheeks and I counted my breaths to try to stay calm. 

“I don’t lie to my patients and I don’t lie to their families. This doesn’t look good.”

My heart plummets through my chest down to my stomach, landing with a sucker punch to the gut. 

He went on to explain the injuries they were seeing and that their main concern was a brain bleed/swelling or internal bleeding due to the height of the fall and his spiking blood pressure. At the end he reminds me, “You’re no good to him if you’re not calm. You’ve got to stay calm and get to the trauma center, safely. He’s in the best hands possible and your only job is to drive safely.”

I walk back over to the RV and sit in the driver’s seat. I completely fall apart under the weight of what I was just told. The worst outcomes swirl through my mind. 

Luna jumps over to me, trying to understand what was happening, why I’m so distraught, and where her dad is. I shifted her, trying to put the key in the ignition and get going. I kid you not, she crawled over me, down onto the floorboard, and sat on the pedals blocking me from moving. It’s like she knew it wasn’t safe for me to drive until I calmed down. After a few minutes I gather myself, she hops back into the passenger seat, and we leave. 

What should have been an hour and a half drive in the RV turns in to two and a half hours because of rain and traffic jams. I called Lauren (my best friend in the whole world) hysterically on the way explaining what was happening. No doubt, I have the absolute best friend in the entire universe. She stayed on the phone with me – keeping me calm and praying. 

Advertisements

I hang up with her and call the hospital. I needed answers. I ask them if a helicopter with the patient Matthew has arrived yet and for an update. They say they have no one by that name in the system. 

What?!? 

I get transferred what felt like 5000 different times to people trying to find where he is and give me an update. They keep telling me they don’t have anyone by that name under their care and transferring me to different departments. I’m panicking. Later, I learned that because they had to cut off his clothing, and I had his wallet with his ID, they entered him in the system as a “John Doe” until they could verify his identity. After the worst 2.5 hour drive of my life, I finally get to the hospital, whip the RV haphazardly into a spot, crank the generator and AC for Luna, and run into the ER. 

I get through security and walk to the room with the “John Doe” sign.

I knock. 

No response. 

Nothing. 

Heart pounding, I ease my way into the room.

There he is. 

He’s awake, covered in bandages, there’s blood all over the bed, he’s hooked to too many monitors to count. We lock eyes. He’s alive. I run to him and burst into tears.

Advertisements

Here’s where I finally start to see the light at the end of the tunnel and this story turns around. 

His nurse comes in and walks us through what’s happened since he’s arrived. To say he is lucky, blessed, has a guardian angel, has nine lives, or whatever else you may want to call it – is an understatement. Testing shows no brain injuries or internal bleeding- the best, most seemingly impossible, news ever on what was arguably the worst day ever. 

His injuries include 22 staples to close his head, 4 broken ribs, multiple strains of the ligaments in his neck resulting in bulging discs, severe deep tissue bruising across his back and butt, lacerations all over his body, a sprained ankle, and a severely mangled hand/wrist. 

But NO internal damage. 

Lucky, blessed, has a guardian angel, has nine lives, or whatever else you may want to call it. Understatement. 

The last two months until now have been a blur. His mom flew to Saint Louis to meet us and be with him. THANK GOD for a mother’s love, I was so thankful to have her with us. Brooke (another one of my amazing friends) and her brilliant doctor brain walk us through MRIs, scans, test results, and physical therapy exercises. Lauren and I share several teary phone calls talking through his daily updates and progress. Close family and friends reach out as the news spreads and they offer to help however they can and pray. We’re enveloped in love and empathy by the people closest to us. 

Advertisements

After two months, I’m happy to share that Matt is off pain medication, has been cleared to remove the cervical collar on his neck, had his staples removed, is walking, has healed wounds that only left faint scars, and has clearance from neurosurgery to start (safely) traveling again. We’re starting to slowly travel again and have plans to have family fly out and meet us for the holidays. He’s in good spirits and is cracking jokes about it all. 🤪 Humor is cathartic. 

Never been happier to remove this after 8 long weeks of feeling like a giraffe.

There have been so many examples of what I personally call “God Winks” along this journey. Moments where I could tangibly feel the presence of the Divine working directly through someone to help heal, support, or care for him. For instance, if you look at the picture of him standing on the top of the rock face you can see a faint cross above his head in the clouds; this was taken literally seconds before the accident. Even when we felt completely alone and helpless while waiting for EMS to arrive, we were never alone. 

Post accident there hasn’t been a single day that family or friends didn’t check in on us. Through this horrible accident, I was able to experience the outpouring of love and support from our circle of people – and I will be forever grateful for it. 

Advertisements

As I reflect on our two year anniversary, I can’t help but find the correlation between the love Matt & I have for each other, the love of the Divine, and the love between members of our small community of family and friends. Love. 

Love. Love. Love. 

Love is all you need. 

(Beatles reference there for ya 😉). 

Love your partner, love your neighbors, love your doggos, love your karen of a coworker, love your enemies – just be freakin’ kind. Life is too short to be filled with hate. If we all embrace each other with empathy, the world will be a better place – and you’ll be a better person for it.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading my short novel and coming to my TED Talk, lol. This post feels like a blend of a life update, diary entry, and therapy session.

On a serious note, reading this much shows that you love me enough to take time out of your day to read my post and hear our story. Thank you for showing me love, I hope to show you the same. ♥️

Real love,

Breanna

Advertisements

Here are some JOYFUL pictures from our recent adventures, you always have to end on a good note! 😄

Categories
Finance Lifestyle

Turn Your Car Payment into a Million Dollar Retirement

Audio version on Spotify.
Average car payment as of June, 2022 – Business Insider

Wow, that’s a headline huh … according to many studies, the average car payment of Americans is up over a record breaking $700 for the FIRST time in history. Not to mention that the average new car being sold now is around $47,000 off the dealership lot. Oh, and you have to pay all of these new “dealership markup fees” because of Covid-19. Let’s insert the awfully high prices of gas around the nation right now as well, being close to $4/gallon on average.

See, just a few years ago it used to be that you could finance a new car for 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months depending on various factors. Within just the last decade, the car loan term has expanded from 4-5 years to now 6-8 years being the standard practice. Because new and used car prices are at all time highs in history right now, lenders are taking advantage of capitalizing on more profit through interest. To the average person, buying a car seems easier because the price tags aren’t as important, but because the loan term can be reduced to a smaller and smaller monthly payment for flexibility.

Advertisements

Ditch the Car Payment

The average car payment in America is close to $700/month and that leaves me in actual fucking awe. Maybe I’m just not the “average” person in America. I’m weird. Outside of the box. I’d rather pay much, much less for my car – and enjoy a hefty savings account. Better yet, invest a chunk of that money into my future retirement.

Did you know that an investment of $700/month could make MOST people a millionaire in their retirement? Because I did, and I’m here to share that knowledge with you.

Check out this retirement calculator by Ramsey Solutions. Even if you started at 42 years old (halfway to retirement from 18-67) with ZERO initial balance and invested $700/month, you’d become a millionaire in 25 short years. Don’t believe me? I’ll let the numbers do the talking!

The great thing about this calculator, and many others is that you can insert your age, monthly contribution amount, and see how much you’ll end up with! It works magic for anyone. Now I get it’s hard for most of us to just believe that this little calculator knows everything. Technology isn’t always right, or at least I’ve been told that.

Let’s put some actual facts into the equation.

The crazy thing is that this above calculation was almost worst case scenario ($700/month from ages 42-67). I’m not even factoring in the employer match that your job might offer. I’m not asking if you could save up more money, or work another job, to get more retirement money. I’m starting halfway to retirement at age 42 with the numbers. Imagine the money avalanche that you could have at retirement if you are 35, or 20 years old. The reality is, all you might have to do is ditch the car payment and drive an older beat up car. Ask yourself, why do we all need $40k cars anyway? Are we trying to impress society?

Advertisements

Do You Want to Retire?

In a study recently, less than 1 in 4 Americans nearing retirement age believe that they will be able to retire comfortably. What does comfortable even mean in this crazy intense world nowadays? Generally accepted by many now is that you need 70-80% of your working salary income to enter retirement. This is affected by many factors including mortgage, bills, and whether you want to travel or stay local in your later years. You might even pick up an expensive hobby like golf – keep this all in mind when planning your retirement.

I personally don’t think waiting UNTIL retirement age (60’s) is a good plan for my retirement. I also don’t have the most enthusiasm in our government and their social security program to support me single-handedly in my elderly years.

So what’s your plan?

Regardless of your age, income, and other excuses, you CAN start today. You can choose to take control of your money, if that’s what you want to do. You can decide to retire in a beach house down south (Hey Florida!) if that’s what you want. Start dreaming about how you want your retirement to look – whether it’s 5 years away, or 40 years out.

Advertisements

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

-Chinese Proverb

Once your goal is in place for retirement, make a plan. Can you drop your ridiculous car payment to set yourself up for the future? Can you skip the expensive coffee, or eating out a few times a month to help fund your financial future? I can. I am empowering people everyday to help do the same with their future.

Use my link here to get started with a retirement account on WeBull today. If you already have another retirement account, you are ahead of the game!

I highly recommend digging into these similar reads to keep you learning about and investing money:

Follow us on Instagram to keep in touch with our travels, here’s the latest posts:

Categories
travel

Amazing Camping Stays for Virtually Free!

With Harvest Hosts, you can choose many incredible stays that come with unique experiences, privacy, or even life on the farm! Boondockers Welcome is a nice partner program to stay with locals and use their hookups for the night! Keep reading for more.

Have you been scrolling Instagram looking at all of those hippie kids living their happiest life in a van down by the river? Or maybe you’ve seen our top notch social media posts about full-time RV life and it looks like what only happens in dreams. Either way, we want to help you get into living your best life as a digital nomad – or a traveling financial minimalist.

If you weren’t enticed already about outdoors experiences, how about the beautiful face of an Alpaca?

Two Roots Fiber Mill (Harvest Hosts member) – Greeneville, TN
Advertisements

OK, now that I’ve got your attention

One of the best things about owning a motorhome or camper is that you get to set up home wherever you desire next! Are you tired of seeing the same mountain every day? Well, pack up and head to the beach!

Whether you are new to the camping game, or have been doing it for years, there’s so many different ways to experience this lifestyle. The thing I hear from campers the most is that they want new fun ways to stay in the great outdoors, but they also are fed up with packed campgrounds and overpriced nightly rates.

I have the answer!

Harvest Hosts – awesome camping stays!

With Harvest Hosts, you can choose many incredible stays that come with unique experiences, privacy, or even life on the farm! The great thing about Harvest Hosts is that once you pay the yearly subscription, which you can save 15% off with our link here, you don’t have to pay additionally for camping at every stay you choose. It is recommended to buy something from the farm, winery, or museum that you stay at, though. What a small price of admission for an amazing stay.

So what kind of stays can you expect? Well, I can tell you first hand what we have done so far! Scroll through the pictures below to see.

Roos and Coos Farm – Plant City, FL (Harvest Hosts)
Advertisements
Haystack Farms – McAlpin, FL (Harvest Hosts)
Northfield Vineyards – Sparta, TN (Harvest Hosts)

These are just a few of the unique stays we have got to enjoy with Harvest Hosts! There’s so many more though. Recently, we’ve discovered a missile silo that offers tours, a bison ranch, and even a ski resort!

Advertisements

So how does all of this work?

  • Harvest Hosts normally costs $99/yearly as a subscription.
  • You can get $15 off yearly subscription with our code here, just use discount code HHFRIENDS15 at checkout for instant savings!
  • Stay at over 4300+ hosts with no camping fees.
  • Pick from stays at museums, farms, wineries, attractions, breweries, and more.
  • Over $1500 in exclusive member discounts to companies such as Goodyear, Jackery, Thousand Trails, and more!
  • Easy to use Harvest Hosts app you can download on iOS or Android.
  • Check hosts availability within the app or website anytime.
  • Plan stays along your travel route with trip routing features within the app/website.
Harvest Hosts – exclusive camping experiences are only a click away!
Boondockers Welcome – safe overnight stays!

There’s also a partner program called Boondockers Welcome

Want to stay at even more places? Maybe you want to stay closer within a big city, or need hookups so that you don’t have to run your generator all night. Boondockers Welcome is a partner program with Harvest Hosts that allows you to stay at even more places!

Advertisements

What’s it like?

  • Boondockers Welcome normally costs $79/yearly as a subscription.
  • If you have Harvest Hosts already, and purchase Boondockers Welcome, you save $10 making it $169/yearly to combine the two.
  • You can save 15% off your Boondockers Welcome subscription with our exclusive link here, just use discount code BWFRIENDS15 at checkout to save instantly!
  • Stay at over 3000+ places overnight, next to someone’s house or land, so that you can feel safer overnight not being alone!
  • Hosts can provide unique experiences, tell you about local things to do, and so much more!
  • Over 70% of hosts provide electrical hookups on site, so no pesky generator needed in most cases.
  • Small donations are recommended to give to the host if you enjoy your stay.

Take-aways:

We have thoroughly enjoyed our stays with both programs Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome. Between the wineries, museums, and lovely farms, there’s something for everyone. It’s not just the location, but even more so, it’s the people that you get to interact with during your stays. You will get to meet farmers who work their butt off every year to provide food to society. You will see beautiful animals that you don’t even see in many zoos. The kids can enjoy awesome museums and learn about history! Or maybe we can find you at a winery or brewery, discovering your favorite new drink!

We’ll see you at the next farm! 😄

Disclaimer: I am affiliated with Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome, which is why I am able to provide 15% discounts to both services.

Here’s some similar reads to keep you up to date with RV’s:

Categories
Finance Lifestyle

Lifestyle Inflation

You see the neighbor’s sparkly blue BMW sitting out front of their mansion. You notice the new Mercedes they just bought their high school aged kid next. You have a choice of what happens next. Do you want to struggle to keep up with the Jones’?

It creeps up on most of us, and you have to be very careful. You get a nice promotion at work with a hefty raise. Your wife successfully launches her side business tutoring school kids on the weekends. You find yourself with more zeros on your bank account than you’ve ever seen. You have a choice of what happens next.

You see the neighbor’s sparkly blue BMW sitting out front of their mansion. You notice the new Mercedes they just bought their high school aged kid next. It’s getting hot out this Summer and you see them all kicking back and laughing out by the pool. You spend your own time mowing your lawn and doing landscaping almost every weekend to keep up a good curb appeal. But regardless of what you do, that pesky neighbor pays professionals to come out and spread grass seed, spray pesticides, and mow their yards. What is this, the freaking Biltmore House? You have a choice of what happens next.

With your new wealth, you could start paying for a better lifestyle. You could look cool like your neighbors do, at a cost. Everything comes at a cost. Part of this cost is that you are comparing yourself to your neighbor. This could be a lack of confidence. Jealousy. Or it could just be lifestyle inflation, creeping up in your mind. “Well I make more money now, I can afford nicer things.” You have a choice of what happens next.

See, I intentionally ended the last three paragraphs with the same line.

“You have a choice of what happens next.”

Advertisements

Powerful. I’ve learned that we get caught up in the small details. You make more money now, so you can afford more things right? Your neighbor has better things than you, well it must be time to keep up with the Jones’. But why?

Why can’t you make more money and keep the same old things you already have? Because you think you deserve better. Because capitalism and our culture teaches us that we all deserve nice and shiny new things ALL of the time. We all deserve the best. Even YOU can afford a nice BMW with the right financing terms. Marketing makes it seem like all of us can join the wealthy elites with the right utilization of debt.

Flip the Coin

You don’t have to play into lifestyle inflation. Do you know what you can achieve by keeping new found money in your possession? I do. If you manage to keep those greedy car companies, furniture stores, and other consumer products away, that can be powerful.

Imagine living the same life you have been, without purchasing a lot of new things. You could find contentment within the present. You don’t need a new car, a larger house, or a bigger ego. Imagine that.

Contentment is a process, a journey, and a way of life. Can you be content with less things than someone else has? Can you find happiness not within things – but within people and memories? Because I can. I know this exists, and I’m writing about these stories every day. I’m seeing people who walk this life every day. Financial minimalism can be achieved for anyone – who is willing to seek it out.

Advertisements

See, I also left out a key detail about that pesky neighbor we talked about earlier. They have the sprawling mansion, a BMW, the Mercedes, and a pool. Plenty of other things too that you could only dream of having one day. But they are struggling financially. They have so much debt that I’m convinced the father sold some organs to afford those things. They sit up at night wondering how they’ll afford the next thing. Their kid is spoiled and hasn’t learned the meaning of money. The mother and father argue to the point that their marriage is in jeopardy next. Does this look like the life you want?

Happiness doesn’t equal things. Do you really want to strive to be them? The material possessions will not improve your life. Buying too many things and living beyond your means often comes with a hefty price tag.

What Does Moving Forward Look Like?

Decide what’s important to you. Do you want to put your family in jeopardy by buying too many consumer products? That’s exactly what can happen when you let a mountain of debt rack up higher than your bank account. Prosperity, which is the counter-opposite of struggling with debt, would look a whole lot better for your children one day.

Set your values. Are you the type that wants to never use debt again? If you are, start today. Cut those credit cards up, stop watching TV commercials, and run the opposite way of retail shopping. Anything in life starts with intentionality. Then you can build up over time from baby steps, to larger steps, of living and breathing a healthier air.

Advertisements

Regardless of which direction you choose to go in, remember that living beyond your means is not sustainable. Just because your neighbor or someone else has nice things, does not mean you need to compete with them. This also appears that they look good on the outside, but you don’t know how they are truly doing on the inside. Maybe you want nice things like they have, but you can choose to not go in debt over your head for them.

No matter how many things you own, you have to live with yourself. Do you want to own a lot of things, and be struggling financially? Or would you rather not own anything, and be able to smile and breathe normally? You can set the example for your children.

Here are some related reads that I highly recommend:

Categories
Adventure

My FIRST Roller Coaster?

Audio podcast version on Spotify.

Carowinds – Charlotte, NC

The front entrance to Carowinds – we can’t even do it justice! When you enter this park, you are greeted by the Fury 325 screaming through the park, EPIC music blaring on the speakers, and all kinds of beautiful colors.
Are we in North or South Carolina? The world may never know … as you travel through this thrilling amusement park, you’ll cross both state lines many times.
Another thing to mention is that the majority of the kids’ areas in Carowinds are themed after Peanuts and Snoopy, you’ll find plenty of these cuddly creatures in larger than life sizes! Perfect for the kids … or the adults that are still like kids! 😉
Advertisements

Roller Coasters:

Listen, I tried guys. I really did. I was going to bring my GoPro with chest mount into the park to video all of the rides first hand so you could seem them! Or more accurately, document myself screaming like a little child on all of the rides. Unfortunately, I was told that they do not let cameras onto the rides. One, I’m sure that they have had problems with them flying off in the middle of the ride, and being lost. Or worse, knocking someone out in the face. Two, their rides are proprietary and they do not want them all over the internet. Fair play.

Matt, 26 years old, roller coasters = 0

Hi, I’m Matt and I’m 26. I have avoided roller coasters for the majority of my life. I have always had this intense, knee-shaking fear of heights since I was a kid. Roller coasters, heights – not my thing. Although recently my girlfriend and I sold my house, cars, possessions and took off on this grand road trip of America. I have promised myself that we would constantly be trying new things, and that I would be brave every step of the way. Here it is at 26 years old, Matt finally gets on a roller coaster – and spoiler alert – rides many of them, and actually has a blast by day 3 of being here!

Presenting: Carowinds of Charlotte, NC

After Burn

After Burn: a furious 113 feet tall coaster that speeds up to 63 mph, and performs various fighter jet pilot moves for an almost 3 minute ride. The screaming sounds of this coaster echo through the park like a jet reaching Mach speed.
After Burn video – Ground POV

Carolina Cyclone

Carolina Cyclone: Two vertical loops, two barrel rolls, up to 41 mph, for a 1 minute ride! This one was a blast (Matt says)!
Advertisements

Carolina Goldrusher

Carolina Goldrusher: This wooden coaster keeps it chill with only a 43 foot drop, speeding up to 30 mph, and lasting an entire 2 minutes, 20 seconds. Honestly, this was Matt’s favorite coaster for the first two days. A great beginner ride for a scaredy cat.

Copperhead Strike

Copperhead Strike: The Carolina’s first double launch coaster. Prepare for 5 inversions as you launch from 0 to 42 mph in 2.5 seconds, then launch a second time from 35 mph to 50 mph in 2 seconds during the middle of the ride. This is an INTENSE ride. Matt basically closed his eyes for the entire time, and was scared out of his britches.

Fury 325

Fury 325: This is the tallest, fastest, longest giga coaster in North America. You ride up to 325 feet high, instantly drop over 300 feet down, soaring up to speeds of 95 mph for a solid 3 minutes, 25 seconds. This thing is INTENSELY terrifying.

Hurler

Hurler: This bad boy wooden coaster built in 1994 is one to leave you feeling nauseous by the end. Experience multiple jumps with air time and quick turns, getting up to 50 mph. Plus it’s a wooden coaster. You know how that goes.

Kiddy Hawk

Kiddy Hawk: The seats are inverted so that your legs and feet dangle freely from the ride seats. After climbing up a 49 foot hill, you take multiple turns flying up to speeds of 26 mph. You’ll feel like a bird soaring through the skies! This was one of Matt’s favorite rides, as it is very calm and relaxing compared to the rest of the roller coasters here! 😉
Advertisements

And Here We Have It Folks

The moment we have all been waiting for …

Matt’s FIRST Rollercoaster, at 26 yrs old

Ricochet

Ricochet: Looks like your average kiddy coaster at first. It’s only a four seater, and about 25 feet in the air. However, looks can always be deceiving. This sneaky ride has turns with enough jerk to make you think this little cart will fly off the rails at any moment. Great for a beginner … clearly not!

Matt’s first – and last roller coaster. Just kidding, I rode almost every coaster in the park within three days, against my will of course. This one was intense … we thought it was a kiddy coaster, but it feels INSANE! It’s also pretty high up in the air, at least for someone who struggles with a fear of heights. Let me say I was in shock after this one. I’d rather die than get back on one of these death contraptions. And you are telling me that people like to do this for fun? Wow.

The Flying Cobras

The Flying Cobras: Prepare for this 125 feet tall ride that speeds through multiple inversions at up to 50 mph. Oh but there is a trick, half way through the ride you’ll go up a hill … and be launched backwards through the entire ride again. Spicy noodle.

Vortex

Vortex: I hope you don’t get sick easily. This ride spins you through multiple high-speed loops. Oh, but did I mention that you STAND up on this roller coaster? Yes, no sitting allowed. This one is a doozy. Matt enjoyed this one, even though it was scary looking.

We Didn’t Get to Ride:

Intimidator

Intimidator: This MONSTER of a coaster is based off of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, who was a North Carolina native. Prepare for a 232 feet climb, speeds up to 80 mph, and a total ride of almost 4 minutes. They say this one is like taking the victory trophy home with you.
Advertisements

Nighthawk (closed)

Nighthawk: Try laying on your back with a 115 foot hill climb, to then be flipped upside down so that you are facing the ground as you soar up to 51 mph and spiral through multiple inversions for 2 minutes. This one looks fun, and it goes over a nice pond. We wish that it had been open when we were there.

Other Kiddy Rides:

Wilderness Run

Wilderness Run: This is roller coaster training 101 – this features kid-friendly hills with a top speed of up to 6 mph, multiple sharp turns for your kiddos to get their confidence up for the Fury 325! That’s a joke, almost. I did see many kids excited about the Fury. Bless their heart.

Woodstock Express

Woodstock Express: A kid friendly exhilarating adventure speeding up to 35 mph, being the fastest ride in Camp Snoopy (the kid’s area in Carowinds).

Honorable Mentions (these aren’t rollercoasters, but just rides):

Drop Tower: Ready to hurl up your lunch? We weren’t. Once you get 174 feet up in the air, prepare for a free fall of 100 feet in seconds – reaching speeds of up to 56 mph.
Electro-spin: I don’t know about you, but I don’t particularly like being spun viciously in circles, upside down and all around. This one will make you feel intoxicated, to say the least. I’d rather drink a beer personally.
Advertisements
Ripcord: Basically like jumping out of a plane … you rip the cord and free fall up to 65 mph down towards the Earth, skimming it by mere feet as you continue to swing at the mercy of this cord. No thanks.
Scream Weaver (closed): Do you like ferris wheels? How about Ferris wheels that spin faster and faster until you tilt 90 degrees from horizontal to vertical orientation? Wow.
Slingshot: Do you see the little black speck in the picture? Yeh, that’s you if you choose to go on this ride. See you on the Moon, Buzz Lightyear.
WindSeeker: The second tallest ride at Carowinds, only behind the Fury 325. This 3 minute chair lift takes you up 301 feet high, and swings you around and around, allowing magnificent views of the Charlotte, NC area. I can see my house from up here! Just kidding, I sold it.

Water Park:

Barracuda Blasters

Barracuda Blasters: Grab a tube and pick your opponent to race through this ride of total darkness, twisting and turning until you fly out of the end into a pool! Who won?

Blackbeard’s Revenge

Blackbeard’s Revenge: Contains multiple rides. Pirate’s Plank is a near vertical drop down through a water slide to your doom. Captain’s Curse is a tube ride that has four intense 360-degree turns. Cannonball Drop goes through spectacular drops and turns with a tube as your best friend.
Advertisements

Boogie Board Racer

Boogie Board Racer: Doesn’t this picture look fun on its own? Grab a board and race the competition down this high-speed and thrilling experience.

Seaside Splashworks

Seaside Splashworks: Even if you’re an adult, this kiddy playground has something for everyone. You can’t walk through this area without getting SOAKED, it’s the ultimate Summer fun time. There’s slides, sprayers, twists, rain, and a HUGE bucket that sends avalanches of water down. Joy for the whole family.

Tidal Wave Bay

Tidal Wave Bay: Carowinds Ocean. No, literally. This huge 400,000 gallons of water pool has intense wave generators for the entire park to enjoy. I JUST WANNA SOAK UP THE SUN … AND TELL EVERYONE! (song: Soak up the Sun – Sheryl Crow)

We Didn’t Get to Ride:

Coastal Currents (closed)

Coastal Currents: You know what a lazy river is! We all enjoy this fun experience. Grab a tube and soak up the sun on this 1,000-foot long river of bliss.

Hurricane Falls (closed)

Hurricane Falls: Grab your best friends’ arms and slide down this HUGE water slide together on a raft! Everything is better with friends!
Advertisements

Storm Surge (closed)

Storm Surge: The tallest water slides at Carowinds. Over 80 feet in the air, zip through winding tunnels of water sliding goodness. See you at the bottom!

Other Kiddy Rides:

Kiddy Hawk Cove: shallow pools of water with slides, spray jets, splash areas to entertain all of the kiddos!
Myrtle Turtle Beach: This is the name of our RV! Seriously, lol. Bring your tinies here to have a blast, while you can sit on the ground and help entertain them with various interactive water toys.
Pelican Plunge: This one here is a horizontal water slide with barely any slope. You must be a kid, or a parent accompanying a kid to ride this one! A GREAT introductory slide for your little ones.
Pirate’s Landing: This is a much smaller version of Seaside Splashworks which we thoroughly enjoyed! Let the kiddos run around on this one – no adults really here except the ones watching their monkeys jumping on the bed!
Advertisements

Time to Eat!

It’s worth mentioning quickly that Carowinds offers various Drink and Dining plans – whether as a season pass, or day pass. If you do not purchase one of these, you can pay for food individually (albeit expensive per meal). However, we recommend the Premium All Day Dining Pass for $39.99 (at the time we were there). This includes soda refills every 15 minutes and a meal or appetizer every 90 minutes. If you are going to be at the park the entire day, just grab the pass. Otherwise, you will spend close to $15-$20 per meal. The pass is worth it!

Restaurants

Auntie Anne’s Pretzels

Beach Bites: Huge hot dogs, hamburgers, fries.

Beer & Snacks: Good beer tap selections, popcorn.

Beer & Snacks: Matt’s favorite ride at Carowinds.

Boathouse Bites & Beer: Decent beer taps near the waterpark, popcorn.

Chickie’s & Pete’s Sports Grill: BEST food we had at Carowinds. Highly recommend.

Dippin Dots Ice Cream: Everyone likes ice cream, yum! And they were out of chocolate self-serve ice cream everywhere else. They also have an exclusive Fury flavor modeled after their premiere ride.

Granny’s Ice Cream Shop: OUT of chocolate ice cream… but I got popcorn.

Advertisements

Harmony Hall Marketplace: Food hall, offers 4-5 different styles of food. American (hot dogs, burgers, chicken tenders), Grilled Cheese (plain, with chicken, or pork), BBQ Restaurant (Ribs, pulled pork, turkey leg), Pizza Restaurant (cheese, pepperoni, breadsticks), Poke restaurant (health food bowls with veggies, fruits), they also have ice cream, snacks, and soda fountains.

Panda Express: Asian food! Chicken and rice is still undefeated. They were out of rice, which was disappointing. Noodles are a good backup.

Papa Luigi’s: Pizza! Cheese, pepperoni, bread sticks, salads. Absolutely banging food if you love pizza as much as we do.

Schooners: Beer selection, pretzels.

Sharky’s Grille: Pizza, hot dogs, chicken tenders, fries, by the water park!

Honorable Mentions:

We did not try: Blue Ridge Country Kitchen (rotisserie chicken and country sides), Burrito Cafe (Mexican snacks), Camp Cookout (American food burgers, hot dogs, fries), Carolina Candy Shoppe, Chic-fil-a (come on, these are everywhere), Cinnabon (chain), County Fair Funnel Cakes, Fair Fries, Juke Box Diner (American food), Rita’s Italian ice (chain), Shake Central (HUGE milkshakes, hardly open), Starbucks (really?), Sweet Frog Frozen Yogurt (chain).

If you can’t tell by now, they have quite a lot of options to choose from. Getting the Premium Dining Pass allows you to eat at the majority of these places every 90 minutes in a day. Worth it!

Carowinds Camp Wilderness Resort

We camped on site at Camp Wilderness! You know we are loving that RV life, hotels aren’t for us.
Advertisements

We pulled our beauty into Camp Wilderness Resort by Carowinds and enjoyed every minute. Here they have plenty of tightly touching campsites, although we were by ourselves without any neighbors the whole time! They have a camp store with all of your basic necessities on site, bath houses with showers, a laundry room, and a pool. There’s no playgrounds or dog parks here, but they also have a volleyball court and even cabins on site that you can rent as well. I’ll admit, the nightly rate is pretty high for what you get here … but it’s cheaper than a hotel and there’s shuttles that run all day back and forth from the campground to the amusement park!

Our beauty, 2022 Coachmen Cross Trail XL 23XG – Class C motorhome.

Our Thoughts:

Overall, we had a blast at Carowinds. Matt got to experience his first roller coaster, along with many more afterwards. After having rode many of the coasters by day 3, Matt was definitely starting to enjoy them. It’s no longer a wonder why people enjoy these crazy metal contraptions. Breanna, being a veteran roller coaster lady from the glorious land of Florida, thought that the roller coaster selection at Carowinds was superb. Every ride seemed to have a different theme, or gimmick to it, as compared to other amusement parks. The food options were plenty, shopping was located all over, and we spent multiple days walking the park to find new things. We definitely recommend that you stay AT LEAST 3+ days, as we found that still was not fully enough time for the entire park. Well done Carowinds.