S4:E2 – One Year of Early Retirement

What are we doing? We weren’t really sure either, so today, we are going to make a list; a very long list of all possible options. And then we figure out what we’re actually going to do for the next six to nine to twelve months. Don’t worry, I promise the list is not going to be boring. There are jokes. This episode was written, recorded, and edited by Lisa McNamara and Paul Olson. It was produced by Lisa McNamara. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more.

Come along in the Bobs on an extra-eventful week of our life on the road. Join us as we explore Western Colorado and end up not buying a house, even though last episode I was pretty sure I was going to be telling you this time that we had bought a house. Instead, we did plenty of mountain biking, crying into our cups of cider, dodging rainstorms, and crossing paths with all kinds of interesting people. 0:00 - Intro 2:42 - Friday, August 19th 8:15 - Saturday, August 20th 10:56 - Sunday, August 21st   17:08 - Monday, August 22nd   23:39 - Tuesday, August 23rd 29:42 - Wednesday, August 24th 35:09 - Thursday, August 25th This episode was written and produced by Lisa McNamara. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more.

Our gear lives a tough life. After fourteen months on the road, how have things fared? Paul’s going to share all the dirty, rusty, dusty details. Plus, an update on our travels over the past two months.  This episode was written by Paul Olson and Lisa McNamara. It was produced by Lisa McNamara. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more.

What happens when you get pulled over in the middle of the night by what feels like the entire police force of Missoula, MT? It’s a Driver’s Ed segment featuring three dads from upstate New York who, for a few hours in 1993, found themselves in the kind of situation they never expected to be in when they had left home for a northern Rockies backpacking trip 40ish hours earlier. This story isn’t just about one of the scariest things that happened to these three. It’s also about friendships and inside jokes that last decades. And it’s about memory – how our minds highlight some events while glossing over others; how memory is often a collective, shared experience. 1:34 - My first real-life #adventure #inspiration   2:50 - The intros 3:39 - How the trio first met, their first #adirondacks adventures, and their favorite and least favorite adventure travel destinations 16:07 - The Montana #travelnightmare 34:40 - The trio's top travel tips This episode was written, recorded, edited, and produced by Lisa McNamara. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more. 

Special guest Wendy Allen joins us for a "Drivers’ Ed" segment about the 30 days she spent on her motorcycle, riding solo from Wisconsin to Vegas and back. From cramped hands to making connections with strangers when she needed them most to realizing what was most important in her life, Wendy takes us through the unfiltered story of her adventure. And, she tells us why she’d do it again in a heartbeat. 1:06 - Wendy's story 35:20 - Remembering the kindnesses we've experienced on the road 40:26 - Next time, what happens when three forty-something dads from upstate New York are pulled over by the police in the middle of the night somewhere outside Missoula, MT in a case of mistaken identity? It’s the stuff of true travel nightmares. This episode was written, recorded, edited, and produced by Lisa McNamara. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more.

Ride along with the Bobs as we drive from City of Rocks to Albuquerque, chasing green chiles and New Mexico truths along the way. The fires in the state may be preventing us from camping and hiking, but they can't keep us from eating up everything else as we make our way north. Learn more about New Mexico cuisine, how a town famous for its name got its name, where to find sparkling wine in New Mexico, the tastiest green chile cheeseburgers, heroic hot shot crews, how we save money on splurge days, and more. 1:12 - Waking up in #cityofrocks State Park and the plan for the day 7:47 - #hatch and green chiles 11:43 - #truthorconsequences 17:05 - Lunch at Blake’s Lotaburger   19:40 - Sparkling wine stock-up at #gruetwinery 22:26 - Checking into the hotel 23:17 - The incredible Mormon Lake Hotshots 25:03 - Santa Fe Brewing Company at the Green Jeans Farmery 25:30 - Dinner in the hotel room 27:27 - New Mexico cuisine   29:18 - More #albuquerque flavor You can find some delicious New Mexico recipes here: https://www.newmexico.org/things-to-do/cuisine/recipes/  This episode was written, recorded, and edited by Lisa McNamara and Paul Olson. It was produced by Lisa McNamara. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more. 

Bisbee or Jerome – do you have an opinion on the best Arizona mining town? In today’s “What is it about this place?” we compare the two towns and declare our ultimate, all-time winner with a Drunk History-level, very scientific analysis. And, an RIP to an unlucky Arizona hiker. 1:02 - Background and basic info about Bisbee and Jerome 6:50 - Parking: Bisbee vs. Jerome 11:03 - Breweries, wineries, coffee shops: Bisbee vs. Jerome 17:30 - Old-timey bars: Bisbee vs. Jerome 26:04 - Views: Bisbee vs. Jerome 26:27 - Park proximity: Bisbee vs. Jerome 30:27 - Stairways: Bisbee vs. Jerome 33:53 - Houses and architecture: Bisbee vs. Jerome 36:35 - Hot dogs: Bisbee vs. Jerome 37:27 - Visitors and residents: Bisbee vs. Jerome 42:01 - The ultimate winner, no math needed 44:58 - Ghost experiences 47:10 - RIP Donald Hayes This episode was written, recorded, and edited by Lisa McNamara and Paul Olson. It was produced by Lisa McNamara. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more. 

Another five weeks in Utah! Today, a What is it About This Place? with my top ten most memorable moments from those five weeks. From spider eyeballs to the time that Paul moved my foot and almost killed me – it was unforgettable. And in the latest Stocks and Vagabonds installment, Paul compares our costs from this round to our time in Utah last fall – did we achieve that $2,800/month ideal spend again? 1:18 - Memorable moments ten through six 9:07 - How much it costs to #vanlife in southern Utah 14:43 - Memorable moments five through one This episode was written, recorded, and edited by Lisa McNamara and Paul Olson. It was produced by Lisa McNamara. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more.

We’re coming up on a year of no-job roadlife. Today, it’s an unsolicited advice smorgasbord – what kind of advice are people giving us? And what advice do your two favorite unshowered dirtbags feel qualified to give you? Money, life, relationships...it’s all on the buffet table. 1:08 - The advice people feel we need 3:35 - Money and budget update 6:07 - How much it costs to build out an adventure vehicle 8:27 - Relationship advice for living the #vanlife 12:03 - Our advice to you: do it! Whatever it is! Suggested reading: The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement, by Mr. Money Mustache.  This episode was written, recorded, and edited by Lisa McNamara and Paul Olson. It was produced by Lisa McNamara. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more.

What's it like to actually live the #vanlife? Ride along with us in the Bobs as we explore Utah's San Rafael Swell and try to find a sheltered campsite on a very windy day – a typical day in our road-based life. 1:01 - Back in Utah at a dispersed camping site with a view beyond belief 4:15 - Where we spent the previous few months 8:48 - Exploring the San Rafael Swell and hunting for a campsite This episode was written and produced by Lisa McNamara. It was recorded and edited by Lisa McNamara and Paul Olson. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more.