Camping had never, really, been our thing. But the bougie, active, urban life we'd built – like every version before it – kept draining us.
It wasn't the people; they were amazing and remain ever-present in our lives. It wasn't the city; Minneapolis will always be the hottest and homiest under-the-radar food, culture, human, and sports scene around.
It was a building heaviness and hollowness at the same time. It was the kind of routine that turns mundane. It was a stewing pot of expectations we'd built for ourselves that were no longer true to who we are.
And when life handed us a hard reset in January 2023, we hit the road to heal our hearts…and never really came back. We found freedom and the kind of fresh air that sends oxygen bursting to your fingertips and toes, all amid a dynamic backdrop filled, all at once, with adventure and contentedness.
We'd stumbled upon the better way for us to live – and refused to wait for permission from anyone to get started.
We sold and donated what we could, kept what mattered, and turned a 232 square-foot travel trailer into our favorite home yet. The tiniest footprint. The biggest lives.
We learned that fullness didn't come from societal norms. We didn't need prescribed success. We needed our own, new guide for living. And we adopted the one most perfect for us — and gave ourselves permission to hit the road.
What Glampalong actually means.
Glampalong \GLAMP-uh-lawng\ (n.): Not a vacation from life, but a completely different one; one on your own terms, at your own pace, and it doesn't wait for "someday." See also: we bought a trailer instead of waiting for retirement; who says you can't live now.
Three words do all of the work for us (literally, not a vibe):
Intentional: We chose this life on purpose. For real reasons. Reasons that make us stronger and healthier and happier. Nobody handed it to us and nobody's making us stay.
Unhurried: Slow is the whole point. If a place is worth seeing, it's worth staying long enough to actually see it. The world is built on rushing around, and we're done with it.
Local-first: We live in places, not visit them. That means the honey stand before the chain grocery store, the family-run diner before the drive-through, and the local boutiques and art shows whenever possible.
Who’s along for the ride.
Dawn — the one behind the camera more often than not, and definitely the reason for all of the words and a caption for every sunset. Full-time storyteller by trade catering to clients around the US (as well as her own side projects), slowly convincing Rodney that yes, we do need to stop for the lighthouse. And the beach. And every scenic view. And buy the local wine. And collect the local food items. And buy all of the postcards. And maybe even some art. And then he can find room for everything in the tiny rig.
Rodney — the one who thinks of everything and every process before it's even needed, whether it's for his full-time gig or fixing whatever needs fixing on the rig or truck without ever complaining. At least not out loud. He lives for creating and completing project lists, watching every nerdy show on YouTube, listening to eclectic music, and enjoying an old fashioned. He knows where every Ace Hardware store is within a 60-mile radius of wherever we're staying. And, if anything gets technical, it's his territory. Related, if a caption on this account gets technical, it's his fault, and we mean that as a compliment.
Cali — full-time supervisor, bodyguard, and master 10-pound furry traveler. Approves all campsites after a thorough sniff test. Has strong opinions about sunshine, bugs, laptops, and how, exactly, she'd like to be cuddled at any particular moment. She is certain the world revolves around her and, frankly, she's right.
