Hello, we are the Peterson family! Welcome to our Blog that chronicles our journey towards a simple, intentional life. A journey that lead us to audit our lifestyle and question what we were spending our time, talents and treasure on.
After 5 years of marriage while awaiting the arrival of our first child our lives consisted of:
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Working long hours with little energy left over at the end of the day
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Little time to pursue hobbies and passions
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Rarely seeing extended family
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Consumer debt with little monthly progress
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Paychecks went to fill our lives with random & futile S-T-U-F-F
As we began to dream about what we wanted our lives to look like we saw:
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More time and energy for our growing family
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Shae having the opportunity to stay at home with our kid(s)
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Space to pursue our passions with work we loved
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The freedom to travel and explore
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Enjoying rich community with friends and family
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The financial freedom to give to others and pursue our dreams
There were many obvious obstacles between the life we dreamed of and our present existence. We needed to make some major life edits to start living our dreams…so we wrote down each of the obstacles then used this as a checklist for what we needed to accomplish. Next, we got to work! This led us to:
- Purchase, Remodel & Inhabit a Vintage Airstream (Come aboard for a tour!)
- Abandon a Steady Paycheck + Benefits
- Set Sail (Hit the Road) to Spend Time with People We Love
- Start Spending our Time, Talents & Treasure – Intentionally!
We hope our journey will inspire you to find & embark on your own simple intentional path! While life is still full of challenges we are not looking back! Join us in Livin’ Lightly!
Cheers!
-NICK, SHAE & PAISLEY + RYDER
We invite you to explore our site, introduce yourself by leaving a comment, join our newsletter for bi-weekly(ish) inspiration & updates or contact us with any questions. We are excited to continue learning, exploring and sharing simple, intentional living! Checkout the links above to dive deeper into our journey or tune into our PODCAST or watch some of our VIDEOS.
Love what you are doing! Would love to hear updates. Best wishes!
Thanks! You can join our Newsletter to get updates via email…
Cheers!
-NICK
Please put me on friends list so I get updates? I like this……
Thanks Brooke!
You can sign-up for our newsletter on the sidebar to get updates.
Cheers!
-NICK
Nick,
Just a quick update from our end. Terry and I are in Kentucky while I spend a few months working for Amazon.com. We have been full-timing in our ’66 TradeWind since the summer and couldn’t be happier. The toilet parts have performed flawlessly (Thank you once again) and no major problems with the vintage appliances. We sold our portable solar setup as I am now shopping for a larger rooftop solution. The portable worked great, but just wasn’t practical while we are vending at flea markets.
Thanks for the inspiration and helpful installments on your blog!
Lou
Hey Lou,
Thanks for touching base! So glad the toilet worked out for you!
Keep in touch!
-NICK
Wow! I am really glad I came across your site! Congratulations on the intentional life. I am looking forward to updates:)
Thanks Bjorn,
You and your wife are kindred spirits!
Keep in touch!
Nick!
Came across your site while searching “Airstream Renovation” on youtube. Incredible! My wife and I were recently married and purchased a ’74 overlander. We purchased it with a vision remarkably similar to what you have done. As we have been living quite conventionally this last 7mo, I have just lately been really trying to muster the motivation/inspiration to finish the project. After watching your renovation updates I feel like I have been able to gain some really good insight into what to replace what not to etc. Also, can’t wait to share the site and videos with my wife.
Thanks! Keep updating, I think your testimony for why you do what you do coupled with your enthusiasm for this lifestyle is really capable of reaching people in a great and unique way.
-Jordan
Thanks Jordan! Keep at it!
Sometimes it felt like our project would never end and little-by-little we kept chipping away!
Let me know if you have any specific questions!
Cheers!
-NICK
I home school our two boys(14 and 12) and my husband works for a local fire dept. Our dream is to serve God and be His hands and feet on the road. We would love to live simple and have slowly started the journey. We sold our home and are renting. We are trying to sell our pop up and purchase a travel trailer to renovate and make our home. I admire your journey. Thanks for sharing and God bless your beautiful family.
In His love,
Brenda
Thanks Brenda!
Wishing you the best as your pursue God’s calling on your life!
Cheers!
-NICK
Like your style. At one point I had nothing but the clothes on my back and my vintage biplane traveling the country giving rides for cash.
Have too much crap now. I’m remodeling my 71 27ft over lander. I like your remodel. Thinking of doing a similar remodel. Curious if you built all your cabinets by hand? Thanks, Mike
wwww.nostalgicwarbirdrides.com
Hey Mike!
Yep, the cabinets are 3/4″ ply face joined with a Kreg Pockethole Jig. They turned out ok. The only thing i’d do different is the cabinets faces…I used 3/8 ply and it warps and heaves with the changing weather. The trailer originally had hollow core doors that were really light and sturdy. Thinking of upgrading to something like this in the future.
Cheers!
-NICK
Love what you guys are doing. I had a similar life epiphany several years ago when I aggressively paid off all of my debt and sold all my things! Now my partner and I are getting ready to move into an off-grid tiny house on a piece of land we purchased. Your blog has lots of fantastic ideas that I can’t wait to explore more!
Here’s my blog documenting our adventures: ameliasmeadow.wordpress.com
Here’s to simple living!
Cheers Stefanie!
Hi. I love your blog. I’ve been totally obsessed with off-the-grid and tiny house living lately. I wish your family the best of luck with your new lifestyle. I think it’s quite grand and preciously honest. I appreciate you sharing with us. I’ve added you to my favorite new bloggers on my Friday Link Love: http://justmeandyoukid.com/friday-link-love-3/
Take care.
Thanks Brandy!
Hi!
Love what you guys are doing and stand for. My husband and I, our 6 month old daughter and dog are about to start on the same journey of living simply. We are shopping Airstreams and hit the road Aug 6th. Do you have any tips for Airstream layout necessities or living with a baby? We are thinking pack n play in place of the dinette table for sleeping and maybe a 27 ft Airstream. Any tips would be great!
Thanks!
M McCoy
Thanks Megan! We wish we had a separate sleeping space we could contain the kids for naps/bedtime. The rear bed layouts are great for this. Bedtime is a challenge for us because there is no divider so when we are up so our the kids.
Good luck!
Hi Guys,
Kudos to you. Livin the life or should I say, living life! My story is too long to tell here and now. I’ll call my situation ‘accident-tionally’. Cut to the quick-I’ve been living full-time (mostly off-grid) in a 1985 21ft travel trailer that I’ve made numerous modifications to including solar energy. I’m not traveling, yet. I stay in a few different locations on forest service land outside Mammoth Lakes, CA at 8,500ft.
So, heating during the winter is of importance. Last winter I used propane (mr. Buddy heater) which kept me very warm but after watching your vid on the Hobbit, I’m seriously considering installing a woodstove. Cheaper and less moisture. I have lots of experience with wood stove heating just never contemplated using inside the trailer until I pulled out the dinette, saw your vid and realized I now have space for a small stove. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts and experience. Maybe a premature question as winters not quite here.
Exciting to see others who are CHOOSING other more satisfying and fulfilling ways of living life rather than wasting the years locked to mortgages and nine to fivers.
Best to You
Hey Kristian,
Thanks! I’d love to get up to Mammoth Lakes and explore!
That’s pretty hardcore to brave the winters up there!
Cheers!
-NICK