Christmas is Coming… What Do We Give on the Road?

On December 1st, 2011 / Alaska to Argentina, How To's / 31 Comments

Christmas at Grandma’s in Alaska, 2010

One question that people often ask us in regards to our simplified life on the road is “What do you give your kids for birthdays or Christmas?”

They realize that we have limited space on our truck (about 321 things), that is all organized with a place for everything (and everything in its place), so naturally they’re curious about whether we add to it or not during those traditional gift giving occasions.

Our personal lives have swung from one side of the pendulum to the other. In the past, we were big consumers. We lived in large houses, drove fancy cars and bought lots of things.

You’ve Got to…Know When to Walk Away, Know When to Run

On November 8th, 2011 / Alaska to Argentina, How To's, Mexico / 8 Comments

There’s an old Kenny Rogers song, The Gambler, that my dearly departed dad used to listen to. It went something like this:

You’ve got to know when to hold them, know when to fold them, know when to walk away, know when to run.

You never count your cards, while you’re sittin’ at the table, they’ll be time enough for countin’, when the dealin’s done.”

Sometimes things just don’t go as planned. This might be due to unrealistic expectations, inaccurate information, or from simply pushing your limits.

Travel is a constant game of adaptation – adapting to a change in plans, a change in location, a change of circumstances.

My Magic Pills for Overcoming Any Stomach Related Ills

On November 1st, 2011 / Health Care, Travel Tips / 1 Comment

Our family was recently hit hard by a stomach bug while in the Lake Chapala area, Mexico.

We all suffered from varying degrees of diarrhea and vomiting, but I seem to get the worst of it – I was out for the count for three days.

I use essential oils as part of our family’s health care plan while traveling.

But it wasn’t until I started taking these pills on a regular basis (approx. every 4 hours) that I started to feel any improvement of my condition.

Until then, I had tried using my oils aromatically and topically, but it was the internal therapeutic doses that did the trick.

12 Things You Must Know to Travel Mexico and Central America With Your Family

On October 6th, 2011 / How To's, Mexico, Travel Tips / Leave a comment

If you’re planning on or dreaming of a trip to Mexico or Central America with your family, then this book is for you.

Author: Rachel Denning

$6.95

In 2007, we drove with our four children from the U.S. to Panama. We shared an incredible journey together, This guide shares personal experiences, tips, and advice.

Filled with information about what you need to know, it answers questions like:

What, if any, visas are required?
What are the road conditions?
Is it safe to travel in Mexico?
How do I handle border crossings?
What about health and vaccinations?
Do I need an international drivers license?
Do I need special auto insurance?

Plus much, much more. This guide includes:

42 pages of much needed information
Free updates
Links to additional resources and websites for planning your trip
Email access for asking additional questions
And more!

This guide is a must have for any family considering a trip to Mexico or Central America.

*Includes free updates as we add to the guide while driving on our road trip from Alaska to Argentina.

Available for instant PDF download and offered for a very affordable price of only $6.95

“In this booklet Rachel gives the basics of what you’ll need to begin planning your own adventure in Central America. A great blend of helpful information and inspiring first person stories, you’ll find the confidence you need to hit the road with your family in these pages.”

Jennifer Miller
EdventureProject.com

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The Unconventional Approach to Family Travel Health Care – (or Our 3-Part Health Care Plan)

On October 4th, 2011 / Health Care / 16 Comments

Staph infection in the Dominican Republic

One of the greatest concerns – and perhaps biggest inhibitors – to traveling with children is the fear of dealing with illness and injury while away from home.

In our travels, our family has personally dealt with the threat of malaria; staph infections; boils; lice; stomach aches; flus; colds; allergies; broken bones; cavities and root canals - to name just a few.

Not knowing what to do if you or your child faces a health concern while traveling can be very frightening.

Add to that the uncertainty of being able to find adequate medical treatment (or insurance) while abroad, and you suddenly have a situation that seems almost overwhelming.

That’s why a proper health care plan is imperative to bring peace of mind.

Our family has that peace of mind while we travel, because of a 3-part health care plan that we’ve adopted into our lifestyle.

If You Do 1 Thing Today, READ THIS POST. It Will Change Your Life!

On October 3rd, 2011 / How To's / Leave a comment

Lake Powell, Page, Arizona

In just the last couple of weeks, we’ve hiked slot canyons, explored historic sites, gazed at Bryce and the Grand Canyon, cliff-dived at Lake Powell, camped on a Navajo Indian Reservation (and ate fry bread and mutton), tested our endurance levels, experienced personal growth, and met dozens of incredible families.

Our life wasn’t always like this. It was only a few short years ago that we lived by the rule of dictators – our employer, mortgage and bills – who told us when and where we could go.

Now we have almost complete freedom to stay; to go; to travel anywhere our veggie powered truck will take us.

How did we get from there to here? How did we create this life for ourselves?

The Ultimate, Unconventional Family Travel First Aid Kit

On September 19th, 2011 / Health Care / 4 Comments

Having the confidence and ability to manage the majority of your family’s health concerns while traveling can bring incredible peace of mind.

Our family follows a three part health care plan, which includes the knowledge of how to use a great first aid kit.

Oh, of course we have the bandaids and triangle bandages and all that stuff (that my husband knows more about using than I do).

But I’m more excited about a recent (and very generous) sponsorship, that amplifies my ability to handle our family’s health needs on the road.

1 Truck, 2 Continents, 7 People – How We Live With Only @321 Things

On September 6th, 2011 / Alaska to Argentina, How To's / 40 Comments

From one extreme to the other, we’ve lived in a 6500 square foot furnished house, and on another occasion, the model home with every furnishing and doo-dad possible.

Now our family of seven, and nearly every belonging we need, is packed into the limited square footage of our F250 Super Duty (that is powered by vegetable oil, by the way.)

The consensus? Did owning more stuff and living in a bigger space make us happier?

Tutorial Video: How to Design the Life of YOUR Dreams

On August 24th, 2011 / How To's / 2 Comments

This isn’t some
‘pie-in-the-sky’.

It really is possible to live the life YOU dream of living.

“It’s absolutely possible Rachel! Not only do we live a location independent life but we employ others who are now location independent too.

Like you say, it is not easy…but definitely possible with the right frame of mind. We take off in February for our year in Europe.”

-Lisa-Marie SoftlyDroppingKeys.com

Four years ago, we lived an average life with a career, mortgage and kids. It was a path we chose by default – based on the choices we made from the only options we thought we had.

Now, we realize there are so many more alternatives.

There’s not just one ‘recipe’ that we all have to follow- college, career, mortgage.

We can choose a life that is uniquely ours – and as varied as we are.

So what is your dream? What is your song to sing? What music do you hear?

Watch the video below. Click here if you can’t view it.

This course begins soon! Don’t miss out, click here to reserve your spot.

4 Quick Actions You Could Do Today to Unplug Your Life and Find More Mobility

On July 18th, 2011 / Financing, How To's / 2 Comments

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things
that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour.
Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

~ Mark Twain

I just picked up my laptop, unplugged it from the cord that connected it to the outlet in the wall, and walked away.

Wow. Mobility.

That’s why I bought a laptop in the first place, because it’s mobile.

But I’d forgotten that feeling.