Today its back to normal for New Life on the Road! After a quick one night away to the gorgeous Eungella Mountains it’s now back on board with blogging. Super excited and super happy as we have our regular Monday Featured Travel Blogger….with another amazing inspirational travelling couple! Nikki and Jason From Gone With The Wynns….
Q:: What was the one thing that made you both go “Yep we so can do this?”
It really wasn’t one thing that clicked. It was more spontaneous and not complicated. We wanted to do something drastic with our lives, we wanted to travel and an RV seemed like the best way to travel the U.S. for a long period of time. We were sick of 110 degree summers in Dallas and our lives revolving around a city. We wanted an adventure and not just one, we wanted as many as we could get our hands and feet on.
(I so can understand that….we didnt want our life to be living the same thing day after day – we wanted more from living then existing! We wanted something that was different from what was expected from us!)
Q:: You both had very successful businesses before changing your lifestyle, and living/travelling on the road. Do you think it’s possible for others to travel with a business (please share your thoughts about yes/no!)
It is definitely possible to work on the road; however it is important to know if travel is a permanent lifestyle or just a short-term journey. “Work travel” and “vacation travel” are 2 very different things. For work travel, there are soo many job opportunities out there: from campground service to magazine contribution to techs and designers to convincing your boss to let you work remote, we have seen it all done. If you are looking for a vacation don’t try and mix work in, the work will take over and control your vacation time.
Nikki and Jason on a big rock at the top of a mountain in Acadia National Park ~
That sure looks magical…love how the rock almost looks like its going to roll down the hill!
Q:: What is the one place that you have visited that you enjoyed so much that you will return to again?
The Redwood Forest! In the late winter / early spring it is truly a magical place. It’s where unicorns, ferries and gnomes go when they are not running around in books and movies. I look back at our photos and still have to remind myself I was there and it really does look like that. We have been during the summer and it’s still beautiful but just not the same.
(Oh gosh…my boys would love a magical place with unicorns, ferries and gnomes. Especially our youngest Kyle….he would be over the moon excited!)
Q:: Can you share how you both manage to live together/work together and keep a happy marriage?
Living in less than 200sq ft and being together day in and day out isn’t for everyone! It’s going to sound corny but open communication is a major player. It’s important to say how you feel and what you need without hurting the others feelings. You have to say when you need personal space or need to go run a few errands on your own. The other thing we do (sometimes several times a day) when one of us or both us of us getting snippy is go for a quick walk. It sounds simple (and it is) but it works wonders. Even a couple of minutes of movement, fresh air and you will feel the tension leave your neck, shoulders and clarity comes back.
Grand Canyon with Jasons Mom enjoying Pizza and Beer after a long hike ~
Gosh what a great place to have Pizza and Beer! Couldnt find a better view.
Q:: What is your day like? Could you share a brief “Day in the Life of the Wynns” routine?
We don’t have a routine, our days consist more of work days and play days. One very big misconception of living on the road full-time is that we are always on vacation. We wish! We still have to make money the same as anyone and we still have to buy groceries, cook, clean and do our laundry. It’s a different way of living life, not a vacation.
Our work days (most days) consist of us shooting (filming parks, places, towns) and mostly sitting in front of computers editing and writing. Our play days are what really make this lifestyle worth it! We could be hiking through a forest, getting to know a small town, fishing or hangin at a beach or lake. Before, in our old lives as we say, we would have days where we would sit around, veg out, watch movies and go to the same restaurants. We have not done that in 2 years, sounds like torture to us now.
(I really like how you share about your day-to-day living, and your play days. Sounds like you both have a lifestyle of living!)
Q:: Do you miss anything about living in a house, living a normal American lifestyle? Do you think you will ever want to go back to “life” or will you want to keep on exploring?
When we first started this adventure we thought it would be 2 years of our lives where we would be searching out the perfect place to settle down, that idea is long gone! After year 1 we knew we couldn’t go back to any sort of typical life. Honestly, as of now we can’t fathom having a “normal home” or “normal life”. That could change in time but as for now we plan on dedicating our lives to searching, discovering, exploring and sharing all that life has to offer.
Nikki in the Redwood Forest ~
One could imagine being surrounded by magical animals…it looks amazing.
About Our Author ::
Gone with the Wynn’s is a story, a travel log and resource of discovery, adventure and the pursuit of life.
Jason and Nikki Wynn enjoyed their artsy careers and urban life in Dallas but felt there was more than the typical American Dream of a good job, house in the burbs and eventually retirement. They made the big decision to sell everything and give up their local businesses to travel the country in search of adventure, a different lifestyle and to create their own American Dream. They share their lives and discoveries with anyone looking for inspiration, help, advice or a little entertainment.
Want to ask either Jason or Nikki (or Both!) anything about Travelling, RV living or even working on the road? Connect with their blog Gone With the Wynns, Friend them on Facebook and start chatting to them on Twitter.
Do You Think You Could Live A Life of Work and Play?
Cheers
Lisa
PS:- Here are the Previous Monday Featured Travel Bloggers….
Monday Featured Travel Blogger :: Everywhere once – Brian and Shannon from Everywhere Once!
Monday Featured Travel Blogger :: Sherri May – Sherri May and her Son!
Monday Feature Travel Blogger :: Newschool News – Jenn and Family from Newschool News!
Monday Featured Travel Blogger :: Albany Kid – Sandra and other travellers from Albany Kid!
Monday Featured Travel Blogger :: Travels with a Nine Year Old – Theodora and her amazing son who is no longer nine years old from Travels with a nine year old!
Monday Featured Travel Blogger :: Road Trip For Families – Sherri and other travellers from Road Trip For Families.
Monday Featured Travel Blogger :: Ytravel Blog – Caz and Craig from Ytravel blog!
Monday Featured Travel Blogger :: Bohemian Travlers – Mary from Bohemian Travelers
Monday Featured Travel Blogger Travel Mamas – Colleen from Travel Mamas
Monday Featured Travel Blogger Special Needs Travel Mom – Karin from Special Needs Mom
Monday Featured Travel Blogger 1 Dad 1 Kid – Windwalker Duo from 1 Dad, 1 Kid
Featured Travel Blogger Travel Experta – Marina from Travel Experta
Featured Travel Blogger – Rachel from Our Wee Trip
Monday Featured Travelling Blogger Revealed – Natalie from Family in a Van
Monday Travelling Blogger Featured – Tracey from Life Changing Year
Travel Blogger – Jess from With 2 kids in Tow
Featured Travel Blogger – Jan from Budget Travel Talk
Featured Travel Blogger At New Life on the Road – Lisa From Gone With The Family
This Week Featured Travel Blogger – Keryn from Walking On Travels
Monday Featured Travelling Blogger Journey – Jeremy from Living The Dream
Featured Travel Blogger Monday – Suzi from Two and A Half Travellers
Thanks for sharing our story! One day we will make it to Australia so we can see what a day looks like in your world!
Hi Nikki,
Thanks for your great adventures 🙂
Welcome down under anytime!
Cheers
Lisa
Continue your sharing of your amazing life and travels, its an inspiration to me and I am sure to so many, thanks
Paul Phillips recently posted..Ningxia Transportation
Hi Paul,
Thanking you for your connection and kind words 🙂
Cheers
Lisa
Thanks for the positive words Paul! We enjoy documenting our travels, sharing them with the world, but even more we love meeting people on the road!
My twenty-five year old daughter would love Redwood Forest. For her 21st birthday party we converted our own mini-forest that has big trees and undergrowth into a fairy garden. With signs, toadstools, and a bird/fairy bath. She in unconventional and an artist so she thought it was cool. If she got into Redwood Forest she would never come out. What a backdrop for pizza eating. Wow!
jan recently posted..Fantastic Friday – Dubai Here We Come
Jan, the redwoods is the most amazing location. Check out our Traveling Art section for some killer photographs http://www.gonewiththewynns.com/?page_id=1360