It’s hard to believe June has already come and gone. I knew these summer months would fly by, but I’m still amazed at how quickly it’s happening. Somehow, we’ve already turned the calendar to July, and while I’m hoping it feels just a little slower, I have a feeling it probably won’t!
June was packed with summer camp, swimming lessons, RV projects, boat projects, and soaking up as much time with family as we could.
Camp Days & Swimming Lessons
June was an incredible month for Trygg.
He spent four wonderful weeks at Camp Milkweed in Two Harbors, and he absolutely loved every minute of it. His days were filled with catching bugs and critters, playing soccer, relaxing in hammocks, and simply getting to be a kid outdoors. There’s something so special about watching children spend their days exploring in nature instead of staring at screens. One of my favorite parts was seeing him reconnect with friends from last summer while also making new ones along the way. I’m so grateful he had the opportunity to attend camp again this year.
For the first three weeks of camp, Trygg’s days didn’t end there. After camp, we headed straight to swimming lessons. Even after spending the entire day outside, he continued working hard in the pool and has become an even stronger swimmer and diver. He’s excited to continue lessons throughout July—this time without a full day of camp beforehand!
As much as Trygg loved June, I think he’s looking forward to a little slower pace and some downtime this month.
Making Our House Feel Like Home
While Trygg was busy making memories at camp, Derek and I were busy with…paint. Lots and lots of paint.
We tackled our kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanity, bedroom cabinets and trim, and all of the trim in Trygg’s room. Unfortunately, our painting adventure didn’t exactly get off to the best start. We followed some advice that, in hindsight, wasn’t the greatest, so our bedroom and bathroom didn’t turn out quite as well as we’d hoped and may not hold up as long as we’d like. Time will tell, and if we need to redo them someday, we will.
Thankfully, by the time we reached the kitchen, we had learned from our mistakes. We did everything the right way, and we absolutely love how it turned out.
Some people might wonder why we’d spend so much time painting the cabinetry in a brand-new fifth wheel. The answer is simple: because it’s our home. Yes, it’s an RV, but it’s also where we live every day. We want it to feel like us.
We even painted the kitchen cabinets the same color we had in our house before we hit the road. It was one of my favorite things about our old kitchen, and since we didn’t get to enjoy it for nearly as long as we’d planned, it felt special bringing that little piece of home with us.
For our bedroom and bathroom, we chose a calming green that makes the space feel peaceful and cozy. We also added some fun retro wallpaper to the bathroom—and discovered Derek is actually pretty talented at hanging wallpaper! Who knew?
One of my favorite projects was completely transforming Trygg’s bathroom. We removed the fold-down sink, added wallpaper, and installed what might just be the cutest sink ever made. The space is so much more functional now, and we’re both thrilled with how it turned out.
I’ll be sharing a full blog post soon with all of the renovations and before-and-after photos!
Projects on Land… and on the Water
Apparently one painting project wasn’t enough, because we also decided to paint our boat this summer.
Progress has been slower than we’d hoped thanks to the weather. While most people think of June as warm and sunny, Lake Superior had other plans. There have been plenty of days at the marina where temperatures barely reached the low 50s—definitely not ideal painting weather.
Despite the less than ideal temps, we’re making steady progress and hope to wrap everything up within the next week.
Painting wasn’t the only boat project on the list, either. We also tackled replacing all six chain plates—the long stainless-steel supports that help hold the mast in place. It was a big job, but one we’re glad is behind us.
Of course, no boat project is complete without at least one mishap. If you’re wondering whether getting hit in the face by a chain plate hurts, the answer is a definite yes. Don’t ask me how I know! Thankfully, I was incredibly lucky—it missed my eyeball by about two inches. It could have been so much worse, and I was very grateful it ended with nothing more than a sore face and a story to tell.
Originally, we had hoped to repower the boat with new motors this summer, but as the weeks have disappeared, we’ve decided we’d rather get the boat in the water and spend the rest of the summer sailing instead of working. New motors can wait until next year.
Sometimes the best decision is knowing when to stop adding to the project list and start enjoying the reason you own the boat in the first place.
Finding the Balance
Every once in a while someone says,
“I thought you sold your house to simplify your life and have fewer projects.”
They’re not wrong—we do have fewer day-to-day responsibilities than we used to.
But the reality is, whenever you own something, there will always be maintenance and projects. Whether it’s a house, an RV, or a sailboat, things need attention.
The difference is that these are projects we genuinely enjoy. Truthfully, we didn’t sell our house because we thought life would become easier. We sold it because we wanted more freedom.
We wanted to explore this beautiful country, spend more time together as a family, and create experiences instead of routines. And that’s exactly what we’re doing.
There will always be another project waiting for us, but there will also always be another harbor to sail into, another hiking trail to explore, another campground to discover, and another memory waiting to be made.
We’re learning that balance isn’t about eliminating responsibilities—it’s about making sure they never keep us from living the life we dreamed about.
I’m also incredibly grateful that we get to spend these summer months parked on my parents’ property. It adds such a wonderful balance to this lifestyle. We get to reconnect with family and friends, enjoy the familiarity of “home” for a season, and still look forward to setting out on new adventures when September arrives.
Looking Ahead to July
July is already shaping up to be another busy month.
We’re planning a boat trip to Silver Bay Marina for the fishing tournament, where we’ll meet up with my parents, my aunt and uncle, and some family friends for a weekend of fishing, sailing, and relaxing on the lake.
Later in the month, we’ll make a trip down to the Twin Cities to get new tires on the truck, visit the homeschool store, and see a play directed by one of my childhood friends.
Somewhere in between all of that, we’re hoping to spend as many days on the water as possible before it’s time to hit the road again in early September.
If June taught us anything, it’s that summer doesn’t wait.
So we’re going to do our best to slow down, soak it all in, and enjoy every moment and adventure we can.
This life we’ve chosen isn’t always easy—but it is ours, and it’s filled with so much more than we ever could have imagined. Through it all, we’re reminded that every challenge brings growth, every adventure adds another chapter to our story, and in the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take.