Today is our nomadiversary, the day we started our life of full-time travel. This year, 2021, marks our 7th nomadiversary and the start of our eighth year on the road!
Seven years ago, we locked the door to our Austin apartment for the last time and moved into our first home on wheels. Since then, we haven’t owned a house or property, or rented living space of any kind.
Constantly shedding possessions, we believe in verbs, not nouns.
This past year has been almost entirely different than what we planned. Big-picture overview:
- Completed a 2,000-mile overlanding journey through the Baja Peninsula of Mexico, living our of our Jeep Wrangler.
- Six out of seven public speaking events we had planned were cancelled due to COVID-19.
- Sold our largest blog, The Austinot, handed off Coast Guard Jeep Club, and consolidated Jeepsies and RV Wanderlust into a new brand: Hourless Life. From the five business projects we had at the beginning of 2020, we’re down to two (Hourless Life and our boutique online marketing agency).
- Met the milestone of sleeping in all Lower 48 states in our home on wheels.
- Put a deposit down on a 2021 Jeep Gladiator, the vehicle that will take us around the world. We’ll pick it up at the dealer in Denver around June 1, 2021.
- Sold our Winnebago RV, “Basecamp,” that we purchased in March 2019.
- Completed a million little tasks and transitions that are necessary when you plan to leave your home country and live on the road for 10-15 years.
During this year of transition, we’ve spent more time off the road than ever before–though initially not by choice. We ended up sheltering in place in Seattle for six months, at Eric’s mom’s.
What a crazy time that was. But the timing ended up being providential. Off the road, we were able to focus on the sale of The Austinot, get our 19-year-old Javen ready for Coast Guard basic training, transition my mother-in-law to assisted living, and complete the massive job of emptying her home of 30+ years and renovating it for rent. There were days we thought we’d never leave Seattle. But, looking back, we’re so grateful for how everything turned out.
It was hard to let go of our identities as RV Wanderlust and Jeepsies, and the distinct communities we’d built. Thanks to those of you who stuck around, and others who have joined the adventure since the launch of Hourless Life in November. It’s isn’t lip service when we say we value your support and encouragement. This lifestyle can be lonely and has many unique challenges, and you help us keep going.
Here’s to another year on the road, the one we’ve been waiting for. One year from now, I will not be writing our nomadiversary article from the United States.
No matter how many miles we go, may we never cease to stay true to ourselves. May we inspire, empower, and encourage through transparency and love, never bending to create an image that “plays well” online.
Transparency is harder than it looks. But we think it’s why you’re here and we believe it has inherent value.
If you’re interested in our drive around the world, which begins later this year, your (virtual) ticket is free! By subscribing to our email list below, you won’t miss any of the highlights. We can’t wait for you to join us.
-B
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