About Me

Lynne and Millie at the summit of Engineer Pass on the Alpine Loop 4WD trail, 

San Juan Mountains, Southwestern Colorado. Summer, 2011

My family didn't camp much when my brother and I were kids.  There was one miserably memorable attempt when we were chased by mosquitoes all day, and in the evening, each given a spoon and a lunchbag and told to go into the woods to hunt for small white rodents called "snipes."  Returning empty-handed, we were given S'mores and cups of hot cocoa, and sat around a cozy campfire listening to my stepdad tell us all kinds of tall tales of the "snipes that got away."

There were a few other camping weekends with the Girl Scouts, and a couple in college, but that was about the extent of our encounters with nature.

Fast forward a couple decades.... a workaholic tech career had me traveling frequently.  Lots of airports and hotels, flight delays, lost luggage, and uncomfortable hotel beds.  I had just turned 40, and wondered how my "always connected" work had left me so disconnected from the natural world around me.

Vacations were difficult to find relaxing-- the thought of boarding another airplane to go to yet another hotel, regardless of how exciting the destination, just didn't seem like a vacation to me...it still felt like work. 

Then, in the summer of 2003, my stepdad passed away.  Within a few weeks, my summer vacation plans changed and now, suddenly, made all the sense in the world.  I'd go camping....alone....in the woods.  It was a way to grieve, but also a way to re-discover a whole natural world that I'd been missing.

I delighted in the echoing sound of loons on a northwoods lake, serenely paddled a canoe at dawn, photographed spectacular sunsets, roasted marshmallows over a campfire, and fell asleep to the sound of gentle winds rustling the tall trees above my tent.   I was now hooked....and have been camping, paddling, and photographing ever since!

In 2005, an adorable little yellow Labrador Retriever puppy came into my life. She was a golden yellow color like Miller beer, so Miller (and soon after, just "Millie") became her name.  I had grand ideas that she'd love to go camping and canoeing with me, and while she's loved the camping part, it took well over 5 years to finally become comfortable sitting in a boat.

Kayaking Baja, Mexico - February, 2015

 Millie much preferred swimming instead!  She swam in both oceans, the Gulf, the Sea of Cortez, 3 Great Lakes, and dozens of rivers and lakes.  When she passed away in March of 2015, Millie had ended up visiting 39 U.S. states, 10 Mexican states, and 3 Canadian provinces.  What adventures we shared together!

With a growing love of the outdoors and RVing, by 2012, I knew I needed to make some major changes to my unsatisfied and unfulfilled life.  I turned 50, was caring for a mother with terminal cancer, and starting to see long-time dear friends also face major health crises.  Would I even still be around by normal retirement age?  If so, would I be healthy enough to enjoy it?

So after my mom died in 2013, I knew it was finally time to quit my soul-sucking corporate job and start living a life of my own full intentions.  I ran off to discover Mexico for the winter and gave full-time RVing one final test run.

That felt so good and right that I returned to my house in Chicago in early 2014 and spent the next 6 months selling off all my household possessions.  In August of 2014, leaving only 7 modest storage boxes behind in Chicago, I finally officially began life as a full-time RVer!

Boondocking in Utah - October, 2014

Full-timing has since become far different than the non-stop travel I originally envisioned.  Perpetual "vacation-mode" to so many gorgeous places during the first few months eventually overwhelmed my senses and left me with a strange emptiness and lack of purpose and direction.

Just when I thought I was getting my full-timer expectations readjusted, in April, 2015, my life took yet another major turn (literally changing in an instant) when I was diagnosed with uterine cancer.  While that news might have prompted many to accelerate their "bucket list" travels, for me, it had the exact opposite effect.

I now crave an even slower pace to more fully immerse myself in a particular area per season.  More meaningful and memorable experiences, than a blurred whirlwind of "drive-thru" travel attractions.  

I am also now more passionate than ever about the volunteer work I do on behalf of National Wildlife Refuges and our National Parks. Volunteering fills my soul with greater joy than any paid job ever has!

So, while I still hope to continue living in a "home on wheels" for many years to come, and sharing my photographs of nature's inspiration--

Sunrise over Bryce Canyon, October, 2014

perhaps it is my personal story that will end up providing the greater inspiration to those reading this blog (who might currently feel as trapped in an uncontrolled, unfulfilled, and meaningless life as I once did).   

If you're one of those people, my advice is simple and straightforward-- roll up your sleeves TODAY and start eating that elephant (little bite by little bite)!  Start eliminating any and all of the materialistic, financial, and/or unhealthy emotional chains that prevent you from achieving your soul's full potential and contentment.  No one can do this for you-- you alone control your own destiny!

Our lives (or good health) will literally be over and done with one day in the blink of an eye.  Don't regret waiting until it's too late!