My name is Tim. For most of my life, I’ve worked in mental health and crisis intervention—helping people navigate some of their hardest moments. That kind of work changes me. It teach me that life is fragile, and time is limited. The waiting for “someday” often means missing today.
That’s why my wife Tamara and I believe in living for now. We travel often to experience life while we can, so that one day, we can look back with no regrets. And among all the ways we travel, camping holds the most special place in my heart.
That love for camping started long before adulthood. My family spent a lot of time camping, and we even slept in tents at first. Over time, my parents moved through several types of RVs, and camping became a constant in our family life.
Back then, camping meant community. Campgrounds with electrical hookups, shared water spigots, neighbors you’d talk to in the evenings—it was simple, social, and joyful. Those memories with my parents, shaped me deeply. That’s what eventually brought me back to camping.
In late 2021, my wife Tamara and I started talking about buying an RV. I still remember that conversation clearly. I brought it up, and she looked at me and said, “Huh? What?”
But the idea stayed with us. And before long, we realized we weren’t just planning a trip—we were talking about reconnecting with something meaningful.
Honoring Family and Tradition
My parents, Delores and Conard, were avid off grid campers whose love for the outdoors left a permanent mark on me. To honor their legacy, Tamara and I took a decisive step in June 2022: we purchased a 2022 Airstream Basecamp 16X and named her Delores after my mom.
Naming it after my mother was more than symbolic; it was our way of carrying family history forward—of acknowledging that this journey didn’t start with us. It started decades ago, with a family that believed time outdoors mattered.
In many ways, Delores represents everything we value: trust, longevity, and the idea that the best things in life are built to last.
The Present Connection
Since then, camping has taken on an entirely new meaning for us. Living in the southeastern U.S., surrounded by water and woods, cemented our love for the outdoors. However, it was Delores that elevated this passion to a new level. It’s given us the freedom to explore places we’d never seen and experience destinations we might otherwise never reach.
From the start, I wanted the ability to go off-grid confidently. The key to that freedom was building a reliable power system. About two years ago, we installed two 100Ah smart lithium deep cycle battery for camper units. This upgrade was a game-changer; these robust caravan batteries provided the reliable foundation our off grid camper lifestyle needed.
As our confidence grew, so did our power needs. Even though our first solar setup worked well, it wasn't perfect, especially as we started to plan longer, more remote trips. Therefore, we enhanced our setup with a 3000W pure sine wave inverter, which marked a turning point.
We had it professionally installed while our Airstream was still under warranty, and the difference was immediate. Suddenly, our system felt complete—quiet, capable, and dependable.
What mattered most to us wasn’t just individual components, but the fact that everything worked together as a single system. Being able to build, expand, and improve without starting over gave us the confidence to travel farther and stay out longer.
Camping has also created a bond between Tamara and me that feels irreplaceable. We travel in other ways, but nothing compares to this. Out here, we disconnect from our careers and the constant demands of daily life. Hiking, biking, kayaking, and fishing have become some of our favorite ways to truly unwind in the wild.
One of the defining moments of our journey so far was our 7,000-mile road trip in the summer of 2024. Over 35 days, we traveled west across the United States and visited 11 national parks. It proved our off grid camper lifestyle wasn’t just a dream—it was our reality.
Built for the Road Ahead
Off-grid camping has given us freedom, and now we’re pushing further. In June and July of 2026, we’ll be heading up the East Coast of the United States and continuing on to Newfoundland. It’s a 9,000-mile round trip, and we expect to be boondocking for roughly 95% of the journey.
Off-grid trips like that leave no room for uncertainty. Reliability becomes non-negotiable. To prepare, we’re expanding our power system with a 40A DC-to-DC RV Battery Charger, helping keep our batteries charged on travel days when there’s little or no sun. We’re also adding a 20A PWM Waterproof Solar Charge Controller and two 220W Lightweight Portable Solar Suitcase, giving us flexible solar input through our external port wherever we stop. All of it serves one purpose: staying independent, even when the road gets long and unpredictable.
And this won’t be our last big journey. In 2027, we’re planning to head west again—traveling through the Pacific Northwest, visiting Glacier National Park, and continuing into Canada to explore its national parks as well.
Still on the Road
For us, off-grid camping is more than travel. It’s a legacy passed down, a deeper connection forged, and the freedom to keep moving forward on our own terms—powered by systems we trust to continue our story, mile after mile.
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