Welcome!
In the spring of 2014, I made the decision to change my life. I decided to get rid of 90% of my possessions and move into a travel trailer. I want to see the world. But thought I’d start with the US since I’d seen so little of my own backyard. More importantly, I want to experience it.
I launched this blog on my 50th birthday in July 2016. The first 15 months of this blog was about preparing for life on the road. It included everything from the downsizing process to making a decision about which RV to purchase. Now, I travel in a 2017 Oliver Legacy Elite II travel trailer (named Quill) towed by a 2017 Chevy Express Van. I travel with the road dog, Solstice, and the road cat, Kitty. We have been a full-time RVers since October 24, 2017. Since then, the blog has focused on wide-ranging topics relating to RVing, exploration and adventure, and life on the road.
I grew up in Laramie, Wyoming. I attended college at New York University (NYU), moving from a small town to the largest city in the country (and the most expensive private institute of higher education, according to my dad). After graduation, I moved back to Wyoming for a year, then went to San Diego where I lived and worked for four years.
In 1993, I moved to Anchorage, Alaska to attend graduate school. My BA is in English Literature and my MFA is in Creative Writing. After I graduated in 1996, I stayed in Alaska. In the subsequent 21 years, I held two jobs, both at nonprofit organizations. During the first seven years I worked at a rape crisis center in many capacities, Administrative Assistant to Volunteer Coordinator to Program Manager. The next 15 years, I spent at YWCA Alaska as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). It was all on-the-job training since creative writing has no place in finance. Most of the time, anyway.
Creating a Supersize LIFE
Deciding to buy an RV to live in was a drastic life change. People who knew me were surprised. I am not naturally a risk taker. I’m not spontaneous. I’m not one for embracing the unknown. I liked the safety and security of my life.
All that changed for me in 2012 when I decided 2012 was going to be the year I wrote a novel. I promised this before. But this time I decided I either was going to do it or I was going to stop talking about wanting to do it.
Something clicked because I started on the first day of that year and finished a first draft of my Alaska mystery novel by November. I spent 2013 revising it and, in 2014, turned my efforts to getting it published. A few agents asked to see it but nothing materialized. I wasn’t nearly as aggressive in trying to get it published as I was in getting it written.
But it taught me two very important things. First, I could do it! I could write a novel, something I’d been saying I wanted to do since I was at NYU. Second, I learned I wanted to spend more time writing. I didn’t want to get up a 5 a.m. every weekday and squeeze in an hour of writing before heading in to work. So I turned my attention to finding a way to make it happen.
After exploring many options, I came up with the idea to transition to an RV, live small and cheap. And basically buy time to write. I had no idea that would transform into a passion for RVing itself. But it has.
Now every day includes writing, adventure and a good dog walk. It’s is about embracing what the day has to offer entirely on my own terms. It’s not always easy but it is so worth it. I love my life. I liked it before–no complaints–but now I truly love it.
New content is posted every Monday and I hope you’ll follow along on the adventure and contribute to the conversation as I work everyday to create a Supersize Life!
