The Road to Financial Independence
Our number one goal has always been financial independence. At first glance, taking out a loan to live on the road might seem counterintuitive to that goal. But after consulting with professionals and running the numbers multiple times, we realized that this lifestyle would ultimately put us ahead. Not only does it align with our financial plans, but it also fulfills our deep desire for travel and freedom. This move allows us to embrace the life we truly want.
A Love for the Outdoors
We have always loved camping and exploring the outdoors. Every year, we take at least one big backpacking trip, along with several smaller ones. Nature is where we feel at home. As we pondered our future, the idea of van life kept calling to us. Initially, we thought we’d wait three years before making the leap, but over the course of one summer, our mindset shifted from “someday” to “let’s buy it next month.”
The Challenges of Van Life
Despite the rising popularity of van life, securing a loan for a campervan proved to be a challenge. Insurance companies and banks haven’t quite caught up with this lifestyle trend, making financing more difficult than we expected. Even so, we persisted, knowing that this decision aligned with the life we wanted to create. We recognized the risks—after all, a van isn’t a traditional investment like real estate—but the freedom it offers makes it worth it.
Meet the Crew: Charlotte, Mav, and Goose
Our van, Charlotte, originally had a different name—Turtle—given by her previous owners, Mike and Aimee, in Michigan. But we wanted a name that fit our journey and our family’s Top Gun theme. The first movie we ever watched together when we started catching feelings was Top Gun, and when we adopted our two cats from the Animal Humane Society, naming them Mav and Goose felt like destiny. So when it came time to name our new home on wheels, we had to stay on theme—thus, Charlotte (Charlie for short) was born.
The Journey Ahead
So far, we’ve been traveling up and down the country, balancing time between our current home base in Florida and visiting family in Minnesota for the holidays. But now, the real adventure begins! We finally have the freedom to be wherever we want while still making time to visit and reconnect with friends and family along the way.
Right now, we’re in Florida, but we’re planning to land in New Orleans by March. We can’t wait to share our experiences along the way and bring you along for the ride. Follow us on social media to keep up with our travels, and stay tuned for more stories from the road!
Wandering with Charlotte 
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