In 2020, when the world paused, something awakened in all of us. A call to align with our deeper purpose. For years, we had felt the pull to create a life of freedom, but we were caught in the familiar rhythm of everyday life. Then, with my husband’s job loss, the universe whispered: It’s time. Time to follow the dream we’d held close for so long, to renovate a travel trailer and take to the open road.

We had never done anything like this before, but that didn’t matter. My husband, naturally handy and quick to learn, set to work with his quiet confidence, while I brought the vision and a wild heart. We found our blank canvas in a 1996 travel trailer, dusty and worn, and as the world closed its doors, we opened ours. Together, we transformed it, completely gutting it down to its bones and building it back up, from the floors to the walls. When we finished in July 2020, we had a fresh slate, ready for adventure.

And so, we set off into the unknown, just us, our 4-year-old son, and our dog, heading from Corpus Christi, Texas, to the mist covered magic of Olympic National Park in Washington. Camping along the way and ticking national parks off of the bucket list. Each step of the journey was filled with awe – the towering trees, the vast skies, the echo of rivers rushing through canyons. Zion National Park, a long-held dream, greeted us with ancient beauty. The road became our teacher, nature our constant companion. We were nomads, searching for a new place to call home, trusting that we would be guided by our intuition.

But as we traveled, our hearts began to pull us back. We realized we craved the closeness of family, and so we returned to the Texas coast. There, beneath the same familiar sky, I gave birth to our daughter in the sacred stillness of our home. It was my first home birth, and the most transformative experience of my life. The birth unlocked a strength I never knew I had. In that moment, I felt a deep connection to my body, my baby, and the power of birth. It grounded me, made me realize just how capable I was, how much strength and power we all carry within us.

Shortly after, life continued to nudge us forward. My husband found work in the Austin area as a bitcoin miner, and we left the coast behind once more, moving to a place where we were still close enough to family, yet surrounded by the wild nature we adored. Those first days were challenging, though. With my husband working night shifts, I often found myself alone with my son and baby. I longed for something more – a village. Homeschooling tugged at my heart, but I wondered if I would have the support I needed.

After a brief stint in traditional schooling that didn’t sit right with us, I made the leap and began homeschooling our son. We moved into a tiny home on the countryside, and there, something beautiful bloomed. We spent every waking moment outside, our days filled with forest schooling, wild schooling, hiking, learning primitive skills and the joy of foraging. It was as if the earth herself was teaching us, filling us with wonder and knowledge. We grew together as a family, our roots sinking deeper into the soil. But still, there was a piece missing – a community.

And then we found it. An intentional community with a homeschool program that balanced wild and free learning with academics. It felt too good to be true. But the first time we drove over the bridge onto those 170 acres, it was as if we had stepped into a dream, or perhaps a portal. Magic hung in the air, swirling through the trees, telling me this is where you belong. I knew, in that instant, that our family was always meant to find this place. Here, my son thrived. He found friends who felt like family. The bonds we created were deeper than I ever expected, and we felt a sense of belonging.

Over time, we became part of this beautiful community. We left our tiny home to be closer to the school and moved into a larger and more suitable travel trailer that we lovingly renovated again, our skills honed by the lessons we’d learned on the road. It turned out beautiful. A year later, the stars aligned, and we were offered a chance to live off grid – the dream of freedom and connection we had carried with us since the beginning. We submitted our letter of intent for an off-grid cabin, nestled deep in the forest, and were accepted.

Now, here we are. Living off the grid, powered by the sun, connected to a well, surrounded by the beauty of the land and surrounded by people who share our values. Our cabin is slowly transforming into a sanctuary, a true reflection of our journey and vision. With each nail driven, we are reminded that the hard work is part of the magic. Building by hand teaches us patience, resilience, and the deep satisfaction that comes from creating something real. The whole family is involved in this process of renovation, modeling to our children that they are capable of anything they set their minds to! There is still so much work ahead, but every step is a labor of love, a reminder that the life we’ve chosen is worth every ounce of effort.

This is our revolution, a life of true freedom, outside the reach of a world that tries to define us. Here, we thrive, rooted in love, simplicity, wonder, and the magic of living on our own terms. I’ll be sharing more about this process, the ups and downs of renovating and maintaining an off-grid cabin, and the beautiful lessons we learn along the way.

Every step brings us closer to finishing our off-grid cabin, a place for family and community. If you’d like to help us continue this journey, please consider donating to our GoFundMe. Your support will create a space for families to grow and thrive in nature. ✨

Building a legacy of sustainability