From California Family Time to Arizona Family Time
After a couple of weeks exploring Northern and Eastern California, it was time to slow down, settle in, and soak up some much-needed family time in Bonita. Finding a campground near San Diego that wasn’t wildly expensive, cramped, or inconvenient ended up being harder than expected—but Derek stumbled upon Sweetwater Summit Regional Park, and what a gem it turned out to be. It was the most affordable full-hookup campground we’ve stayed at so far, the sites were wonderfully spaced out, everything was clean and well cared for, and the staff could not have been friendlier.
There was one major downside, though… the ants.
On our second morning, I woke up to hundreds of tiny ants marching across the RV. To say I panicked would be an understatement. After a frantic Home Depot run and several rounds of ant-battling supplies, we thought we had won—until they came back with a vengeance. It was not our favorite experience, and for the record, we are still finding the occasional ant two weeks later. Thankfully, San Diego gave us plenty of good memories to balance it all out… mostly!
San Diego Family Time
On Sunday, November 16th, we spent the day with my aunt and uncle who live in San Diego. Even though the weather was hit-or-miss with scattered rain, we made the best of it—beach stops, a super fun rock garden where Trygg got to paint a rock to add to their display, pizza and ice cream, swimming, and warming up in the hot tub. We ended the day with a delicious dinner at their home, full bellies and happy hearts.
The next day my brother arrived for a few days of camping and family time. With the sun finally peeking out, we soaked it up—walks around the campground, time at the playground, and lots of togetherness. Tuesday afternoon we wandered through a few RV dealerships and toured several 5th wheels… stay tuned to see what we’re up to!
On Wednesday, our two very special guests—my mom and dad—flew in from Minnesota. The next few days were all about family: hiking, watching the seals and sea lions in La Jolla, swimming at the pool, and enjoying good food together. The time went by far too quickly, as it always does, but we were grateful for every moment. My parents flew home on Sunday, November 23rd, and we packed up and pointed the RV toward Arizona.
Due to days of heavy rain, the main road we were supposed to take was completely washed out, forcing us onto the road less traveled—literally. We ended up winding our way down a series of narrow farm roads that had turned into deep, slippery mud. The farm workers were not thrilled to see a 50-plus-foot RV and tow vehicle trying to make its way through and were waving for us to turn around. But with the ditches full of mud and nowhere safe to maneuver, turning around simply wasn’t an option.
It was one of those classic reminders that travel days rarely go exactly as planned—you just breathe, stay flexible, and hope for the best. Thankfully, we crawled our way through the mud-slicked maze without incident. The only casualty was our clean RV and Jeep, both of which were absolutely caked in mud by the time we reached solid ground.
Into the Desert: Quartzsite, Arizona
We arrived in Quartzsite that afternoon. If you’re not familiar with Quartzsite, it’s a tiny desert town that transforms each winter as hundreds—if not thousands—of snowbirds arrive. With endless BLM land available, people spread out in every direction, from basic 14-day boondocking spots to long-term stays of up to six months. It was fascinating to see the creative setups people had built for their RV life out in the desert.
We spent four days enjoying the sunshine (finally!) and warm weather. Trygg quickly discovered the town park with a splash pad, and it became our daily after-school stop. Quartzsite isn’t a place I could picture staying long-term, but it was the perfect spot for a few slow, peaceful days.
Thanksgiving in Apache Junction
From Quartzsite, we made our way to Apache Junction on Thursday, November 27th, arriving at my brother and sister-in-law’s later that morning. They have a great setup for us with space to park, a 50-amp hookup, and water when needed—RV luxury! For Thanksgiving dinner, we stayed true to tradition… our tradition, that is. If you know my brother or me, you know we’re not big holiday-food people, so we feasted on steak, potatoes, green beans and crumbl “pies” —and it was absolutely delicious.
The next few days were filled with sunshine, pool time, long walks, and more RV browsing. We toured a few more 5th wheels, and let’s just say… our wheels are turning. Some changes to our living situation and travel setup might be on the horizon!
On Sunday, November 30th, we made the quick 24-mile hop over to Queen Valley, where Derek’s parents live. The drive was short, but the scenery was beautiful as always. We spent the afternoon scouting a few new boondocking spots for the upcoming week and found some fantastic options tucked into the quiet desert landscape. We’re excited to settle in and enjoy the peaceful stretch ahead.
Looking Ahead
After a few days of boondocking, we’re gearing up for a very different kind of travel day—one that involves airports instead of wheels. We’ll be flying back to Minnesota for nine days. We’d originally planned a mid-December trip so Derek could attend his holiday work party, but life shifted our plans. Another one of Derek’s uncles passed away unexpectedly, and we want to be home to honor his life and be with family.
We’re packing the trip full: doctor appointments, family visits, play dates, and as much connection as we can squeeze in. While it will be wonderful to see familiar faces, I’m not exactly eager for freezing temps and snow. Trygg, on the other hand, is thrilled for a snowy adventure and can’t wait to soak up a bit of Minnesota winter.
As we wrap up this stretch of desert days and prepare for a return to the chilly Midwest, we’re reminded once again how fluid this season of life is—how plans shift, miles change, and our hearts move between places and the people we love. This journey continues to shape us with every stop, offering its own blend of beauty, challenge, and gratitude.
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.
We’re grateful for the freedom to be where we’re needed, for the memories we’re gathering mile by mile, and for the simple joy of doing life together—one chapter at a time.
