Resetting Expectations: How Life on the Road is Surpassing Our Dreams

Before we left, we had so many questions. Would we be comfortable? Would the kids sleep well? Would we be tripping over each other in the tight space? We hoped for adventure, freedom, and family connection—but we braced ourselves for the chaos too.

Now that we’ve made it to Regina, with a few Walmart parking lots and community pools behind us, I can honestly say: it’s even better than we imagined.

There’s something deeply freeing about waking up wherever we parked, sharing breakfast with sleepy smiles, and knowing that the day is completely ours. We’ve swum in pools we never would have known existed, met kind strangers, and found joy in the simple rhythm of road life.

What’s surprised us most, though, is just how at home we feel in our little bus.

We’re ridiculously happy with some of the small choices we made in the build—like our clothesline, which has already become an everyday essential. Hanging swimsuits and towels to dry after a dip at the pool feels so satisfying (and smells like sunshine). The thoughtful storage we created has kept the space feeling open and functional, and our Reflectix black-out blinds have made nights restful and cozy—something we weren’t sure we’d have, especially sleeping in parking lots.

Even the girls have said it feels like we haven’t really left home yet. And maybe that’s because we did a full week of sleeping in the bus while still parked at home—practicing the bedtime routine, testing our systems, and letting them ease into the idea of this new way of living. That transition made all the difference. It doesn’t feel like a dramatic break—it just feels like we kept living, but with more sky overhead.

One of our favorite moments so far? We pulled over at a lookout spot and were surprised to find snow still covering the ground—and not just any snow, but a perfect hill. It was a bit icy, but Simon and Élyssa seized the day and strapped on their snowboards anyway. It wasn’t ideal riding conditions, but that didn’t stop them. It was totally unplanned, totally magical, and totally us. Moments like that remind us why we chose this lifestyle: for the freedom to follow joy, even when it shows up in the form of an unexpected, slightly crusty snow hill.

There’s a calm that’s settled in—something about being less tethered to stuff, to schedules, and to expectations. We’re not racing to tourist attractions or trying to “do it all.” We’re just being together. Exploring. Breathing. Laughing. Living the question, “What if it really can be this simple?”

If you’ve ever dreamed of shaking things up or living more slowly—this is your sign. You don’t need perfection. You don’t need a five-star plan. You just need to start, trust your instincts, and leave space for the magic.

We did—and we’re still pinching ourselves.