6 years. 6 years of van life! It was November 14, 2019 that we drove away from our home of the previous 20 years in our new self-converted camper van Rigby. And we’ve never looked back. It has been a dream come true and there are no regrets at all.

We’ve seen a lot of places in that time and have driven all over the United States, so far only missing Arkansas, North Dakota and Hawaii. We drove through British Columbia and Yukon Territory, Canada to Alaska, and even down to Baja Mexico.

And the people! We’ve met people in blue states, red states and purple states and you know what - they’re all just people! No bad experiences with anyone. We’ve made new friends & acquaintances, and seen old friends & relatives. Here are just a few of them:

Mike & Amy; Gary & Judy; Josephine & Daniel; Blake & Linda; Anna; Libby & Larry; Deb; Michele; Chris; Sam; Rachel; Lisa; Amy & Casey; Traci, Jeanette & Bev; Tony & Eileen; Bill & Theresa; Gail & Randy; Carolyn, John & Sunshine; Tim & Sally; Clint; Debbi; Alicia; Riley; Carol & Eric; Ryan; Travis; Robin & Tom; Foreman Phil, Marli, Kathy, Linda, Chuy & Gracie; Captain Ron & Anne; Jillie & Robbie; Vance & Bronica; Heather & Jeremy; Hunter, Barbara & Will; Joni; Kerrie & Jessica; Cale, Kelle & Atlas; JP & Lena; Jeremy; Tressa & Notso; Jessica & Rosie; Susan & Blane; Stacie, Jon & 4 kids; Leslie & Bob; April & Carl; Jimmy & Bjorn; Michael & Charles; Mark; Suzanne, Mark & Julia; Debbie; Dennie; Bernie; Bud & Shirley; Marnie; Morre & Katrina; Monte & Heather; Dick & Janice; Tom & Jen; Julia; Jen & Justin; Jerry; Goldie; Angie; Darla & John; Beverly & Brian; Kate; Hope; Karissa; Stella; Bob & Alice; Charlie & Stevie; Ian & Josie, and of course John & Louise; Les; Eric & Jan; Kate & Tom; Alyssa; Tyler; Cody and Courtney… and I think that’s about it.

Anyway, not gonna put photos of everyone (obviously) but here are a few notable places we’ve been.

Over the top:

So many awesome places, this will only scratch the surface:

Rigby and the Milky Way, Escalante, Utah

The Exit Glacier and Harding Ice Field, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

Land of the midnight sun - Midnight at Galbraith Lake Campground, North Slope, Alaska, north of the Arctic Circle. Just a few days before June 21st, the longest day of the year.

We’ve been known to get kinda giddy about these places.

Some extremes:

West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, Maine - Easternmost spot of the United States

Going for a dip at (nearly) the northernmost point of the United States - Beaufort Sea, Arctic Ocean, top of Alaska and the continent

Southernmost point of the contiguous United States - Key West, Florida

Nearly the Westernmost point of the lower 48 - Rialto Beach, La Push, Washington

Not all places are that great

But you do what you gotta do in this lifestyle…

Houston, Texas - We’ve done stealth street camping all over the country and though it’s not “Instagram worthy”, sometimes it just works. (notice the big RV that pulled in behind us?)

We can’t even count how many Cabela’s, Walmart, and (OMG!) Cracker Barrel parking lots we’ve slept in!

It was difficult to pick out photos for this post. There were so many cool places and every photo I chose meant another one was left behind because “one too many…”

We highly recommend this life. If you have issues with work, try the 30-30 plan: Work for 30 minutes, then leave for 30 years.

Do this before you can’t. Ride your bike and hike and kayak and ski and surf and see this beautiful world.

Today is Our Vanniversary

Over the top:

Some extremes:

Not all places are that great

Together Again to Hurry up and Wait