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How we got started!
Both of us have always loved to travel and explore new places. We camped with friends when we lived in California as often as possible, and when no one was available to camp with, we would go on our own. We had very busy schedules back in California so getting more than two days off in a row, more than twice a month was a rare occasion. However, when we did get a bit of free time we would take full advantage of it, go as far as we could and squeeze in as much sightseeing as possible! After lots of research and discussions, we decided that with all of our years of hard work, planning and saving that we would do something different. Something that many people (including us up to this point) only talk about doing or wait until they are retired to do. We decided that while we are young, energetic, physically capable, healthy and crazy enough to do so, we would take the plunge and travel around the country living full time in our motorhome. Yes, we are working a bit to subsidize our adventures and to give us something to do aside from playing tourist, however our job, still to this day, rarely feels a bit like work. This way not a penny of our retirement savings will be touched, in fact only added to, and when retirement age comes and if we do want to settle down somewhere, we will be prepared. When our adventure began we looked into all sorts of different work while traveling. We both agreed that we didn't want to work in an RV Park as hosts for months on end seeing the same place day after day, at least not at this point. We both wanted something that would take us to as many states as possible and keep us busy with new things to do and see and with new people to meet in each location. We started out in 2005 working for MainGate, a company that does retail merchandising for the NHRA Drag Races and other big sporting events such as the various Barrett Jackson Car Auction's around the country, NBA All-stars, the Indianapolis Colts and other sporting teams along with a few National Rodeos. This way we could travel the country from one event to the next and be able to take in the sights along the way, but most importantly, explore different parts of this great country when time allowed. We worked for MainGate most of 2005 and all of 2006. We thoroughly enjoyed it and met lots of people. We towed the Budweiser NHRA souvenir trailer all of 2006 and sold Budweiser merchandise, things like hats, sweatshirts, t-shirts and memorabilia at all 23 NHRA events of that year and got to know the team owners quite well. In 2007 we traded in the 13,000lb merchandise trailer for our Jeep and took on a new career with a little more added freedom. We still work for the NHRA circuit, but our job has changed. We are now part of the Kenny Bernstein race team, which consists of a Top Fuel Dragster - sponsored by Copart Inc. We are the hosts of the hospitality tent at each of the 23 races and entertain the invited guests of the above sponsor, which is great. We pretty much host a very fun party every other weekend and make sure fun is had by everyone invited and no party crashers are allowed into the hospitality area. During racing's off season, which is from November to February, we spend our time with friends and family in California. We have been very blessed to be able to do what we are doing while we are still young and so glad we made the decision we made, including the companies that we work with. Working less than half the year can't be beat. We have made a great number of friends out here in the world of NHRA. Most of them are also full-time RVers so it makes it fun. Sometimes we caravan together and vacation together, and sometimes we each go our own way. It's perfect! This way everyone can do what they want on their days off, but we still have a little community to camp with each time we arrive at a new event. We have met so many other people on the road as well and have increased our circle of friends and extended family literally to each corner of the United States. Fellow RVers are some of the friendliest and nicest people you will find, literally, anywhere. They are so much more relaxed and love to meet all their neighbors, well at least most of them and if you have a cranky neighbor, you can always drive away. We have now been on the road almost five years and are still having the time of our lives. Click on the Itinerary Page to see our schedule for the year, or browse a past year's itinerary page or see 'where we've been' above! If any of you are ever near us come over and join in on the fun of watching a Drag Race. If all else fails you can at least help us cheer the Copart Top Fuel Racing Team this upcoming year via ESPN2 or The Speed Channel. Follow along and see how our 2010 adventure unfolds. Maybe our story will challenge you to take a step towards fulfilling your dream, whatever it may be. This life is short. We are only here for a limited number of years, so make the best of those years, fulfill your dreams and always live life to the fullest! Live life today, for tomorrow is never promised. Life passes most people by as they sit around and make grand plans for it! We are living out those grand plans and we plan on living every moment of the rest of our lives the same way.
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