Back to the Desert
The end of January brought us back to one of our favorite places — out in the desert, tucked into our go-to boondocking spot. The mountain views never get old, and neither do the sunsets. There’s something about the quiet out there that just resets us.
And of course… the grasshoppers. Lots and lots of grasshoppers. Trygg was in heaven, catching as many as he could.
We spent a few peaceful days working, homeschooling, and soaking in desert life before things started shifting in a big way.
Big Changes in Motion
We sold our Jeep and bought a 2015 Ford F-450 — which feels like a very big upgrade. Huge shoutout to my brother for tracking it down and even test driving it for us. We are so grateful for family who jump in and help make this lifestyle possible.
With exciting changes on the horizon, we headed back to John & Carrie’s driveway during the last week of January. That’s when reality hit.
We found every tote and box we could and began the overwhelming task of unloading our entire Renegade into my brother’s trailer. I still have no idea how we fit SO much stuff into our RV. It felt like one of those clown cars where things just keep coming out and coming out and coming out.
All of this was because two days later, we were supposed to head to Quartzsite to trade in our Renegade and pick up our new home on wheels — our 2026 Brinkley G3950 5th wheel.
Or so we thought.
The Delay We Didn’t See Coming
Less than 24 hours before we were set to arrive, the dealership called to tell us it wasn’t ready. It would be at least another week.
I had just completely emptied our entire rig.
But if this lifestyle has taught us anything, it’s flexibility. So we pulled out the essentials, loaded them back into the Renegade, and headed right back out to the desert for another week.
What followed was frustrating.
The pickup date kept changing. Communication was inconsistent. We were told we’d have to drive to Laughlin, Nevada instead of Quartzsite, Arizona — a four-hour drive from Apache Junction. That was especially frustrating since John and Carrie were planning to help us move the Brinkley back to Apache Junction with our truck.
After more phone calls than we cared to count — and being convinced that all RV dealerships are a pain to work with — we were finally given a pickup date.
So we unloaded the Renegade. Again. Prepped everything. Sent Trygg with Derek’s parents. And made the four-hour drive.
When we arrived, it quickly became clear that very little had actually been done during the week we had waited. Most likely, they oversold during their RV show, overpromised pickup dates, and didn’t have enough staff to keep up.
Honestly, we would have been completely fine waiting — if they had just been upfront from the beginning.
It was a lesson in patience… and managing expectations.
Grateful for Our People
In the end, the waiting and frustration were completely worth it.
We are absolutely loving life in the Brinkley (interior photos coming soon!). But more than anything, this whole process reminded us just how grateful we are for John and Carrie.
Not only did they let us park in their driveway — multiple times — but they gave us space to store our belongings during the transition, listened patiently while we vented after dealership phone calls, and helped us transport our new home on wheels back to Apache Junction.
That kind of support doesn’t go unnoticed.
This season was a great reminder that while we may live on the road, we are never doing this alone. Having a support system — people who show up, make space, and offer listening ears — is everything.
Life in the Brinkley
We’ve officially been moved into our new home for two weeks now and honestly… it has been life-changing.
The Brinkley is a beast at 45.5 feet long, so yes — we’ll definitely have to travel and camp a little differently. We won’t be squeezing into every little campground the way we could with the Renegade. But the additional living space? Completely worth it.
Derek’s Favorites
Derek’s favorite things so far? Our larger bedroom, the big kitchen (the oven is a major win), the second bathroom — because sometimes two bathrooms is simply essential — and the fact that the Ford is much more comfortable on long driving days than the Freightliner/Renegade ever was.
What does he miss about the Renegade? The portability. The Renegade was faster to pack up and easier to maneuver on moving days.
My Favorites
The kitchen is an absolute game changer. I am in heaven. The extra counter space, the storage, the ability to prep meals without bumping into someone every two seconds — it feels luxurious.
I love our bigger bedroom and bathroom. Having a couch we can all sit on together is simply wonderful. Having separate spaces for Derek’s work and Trygg’s homeschooling has been incredible; it has shifted the tone of our days in the best way.
And the back deck. And the extra room for workouts.
Honestly? Pretty much everything. This thing is amazing.
What do I miss about the Renegade? The portability. We won’t be able to fit this 45.5-foot rig into every campground. The Renegade was easier and quicker to clean…but I’m willing to overlook that because right now, in this season, the space feels like exactly what we needed.
Trygg’s Favorites
Trygg is absolutely thriving in this new setup.
His favorite things so far: the fireplace, the big TV, his own bathroom, his own bedroom, the back deck, the oven, and the “real” light switches (this one cracked me up — apparently they’re very important to him).
He’s also loving having more room for homeschool and not being shuffled around when Derek has meetings. That alone has changed the rhythm of our days.
What does he miss about the Renegade? Nothing. Well, maybe his bunk, maybe.
The other day, after looking around our new home on wheels, he casually said, “Yeah… I can definitely get into this lifestyle now.”
I laughed — but if I’m being honest, it was music to my ears.
Derek and I have loved this lifestyle from the start, but it hasn’t always been easy for Trygg. He misses his Grandma Janet and Papa John. He misses his cat, Thor (thank you, Mom and Dad, for taking him in and loving him so well — we love the pictures you send us!). He misses his friends… and even winter.
People often say what an amazing adventure this is for him — and it truly is. But the truth is, we uprooted his whole world. We changed his home, his routines, his community — everything familiar — and that’s a lot for an eight-year-old to process.
Hearing him say he can get into this lifestyle now made my mama heart so happy and eased a little bit of the quiet worry I’ve been carrying.
Looking Ahead
In just a couple of weeks, my mom and dad will be arriving for a visit. We haven’t seen them since Christmas — the longest we’ve ever gone without being together. They’re bringing their RV down, and we cannot wait to do some boondocking with them, soak up some much needed time together, and show them our new home.
My aunt and uncle from California will be joining us for part of the time, too, which makes it even more special. One of the unexpected gifts of this lifestyle has been getting to see them more often — this will be our third visit since we hit the road. Time together just feels sweeter these days and we’re soaking up every second.
In March, we’ll be heading to Winterhaven, CA for our very first Fulltime Families Gathering. Back in January, we joined Fulltime Families — a community created specifically for families who have chosen to live and travel full-time in RVs. It’s a support network for nomadic families like ours, and one of the things they offer is in-person gatherings.
We’re really hoping this will be a meaningful step for us — a chance to meet other families living this same lifestyle, most importantly, to help Trygg connect with new friends and begin building a community that makes this lifestyle even more joyful for him.
A New Chapter
This transition wasn’t seamless. It tested our patience, required flexibility, and stretched us in ways we didn’t expect. But in the middle of the unloading, the re-loading, the long drives, and the frustrating phone calls, we were reminded why we chose this lifestyle in the first place -more time together, the growth, the adventure, the flexibility, and the chance to live differently on purpose.
Growth rarely happens when everything goes according to plan. More often, it shows up in the waiting. In the pivots. In the moments when you choose gratitude even when it would be easier to complain.
As we settle into this new chapter — grateful for the growth, the people who carried us through it, and the space that already feels like home — we’re reminded once again why we keep saying yes to this adventure. We know this life isn’t always easy, but we also know this: every challenge brings growth, every adventure adds to our story, and in the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take.
