Four People, One Camper: Our Family Journey

My name is Emily, and my husband Adam and I are both adventure enthusiasts. We live in a hard-shell pop-up camper with our two daughters, traveling across the Americas and beyond one mile at a time. Many people can't understand it, but we were born to be free spirits. Our youngest daughter was even born in the camper.

In 2012, we left behind our suburban routine and set out as a fearless family. Our older daughter Clint and younger daughter Hira were both born on the road. To date, we have traveled across much of the Americas and beyond. Leaving our life in California wasn't difficult for us, because our dream has always been to share every experience with the people we love most.

When I was pregnant with our first daughter, Adam was working on a project that might have sent our family to India or Nepal for six months. Fortunately, the project fell through. That near-miss pushed us to start planning our own journey. Before we hit the road, we spent nearly a year getting ready - cutting our expenses to the bone, selling possessions, and saving every penny we could.

A few years ago, we bought a pickup truck and fitted it with a TP07W Hard Sided Camper. We installed solar panels ourselves to power everything on board. For Clint, who was only twenty months old at the time, we created a cozy baby nook with a portable fridge, curtains, and a small rug.

Once we started driving, we never looked back. 'We travel on impulse,' we like to say. 'We go wherever we feel like going. If we want to meet up with friends somewhere, we just tell them ahead of time. Our plans are gloriously unstructured.' We might stay in one place for a while, but as soon as any one of us feels restless, we move on - no questions asked.

From the lush vegetation of Costa Rica to the mountain-ringed lakes of Patagonia, our children are growing up exploring the world rather than merely reading about it in books.

Our youngest daughter Hira has known only life inside the camper since the day she was born.

'We bought this truck when it was just the two of us. Now with a family of four, it can feel a bit cramped. But it has shown me just how incredible and beautiful this world really is.' I prepare our meals - I'm a vegetarian, so our daily menu is pretty simple.

Even with the camper, we still enjoy staying in hotels from time to time because the convenience is unbeatable. We always say: loving travel doesn't mean you have to spend every night sleeping under the stars. We appreciate a hotel's hot shower, private room, and thoughtful service just as much as anyone.

Adam and I have no desire to return to a 'normal life.' To support our travels, we started an online shop called 'Curated.' It sells handcrafted goods and folk art we personally select during our journeys - rugs, blankets, clothing, hats, jewelry, masks, and all kinds of interesting finds.

We also create and sell our own paintings and photography. We ship internationally, which takes some time. I also prepare special drinks using ingredients collected along the way, serving them at gatherings and to guests we meet during our travels.

As a family that travels full-time, we have no intention of giving up this free life, except for occasional visits with friends and family. 'California will always be home - it's where our old friends and relatives live - but it's one home, not the only home,' I always say.