For a long time, I did the "normal" version of life — just not always in the order the pamphlet suggests. Married, three kids, school, divorce, raising the kids, a job, and finally a diploma, with the last few of those somehow happening all at once. Eventually the pieces settled into a solid career, the kind you're supposed to want.
Then in 2017, I took a two-week vacation to Bryce Canyon. By the end of it, I knew an office was not where I wanted to spend my days.
Bryce was born September 2, 2019, and I met him at six weeks old — he's been by my side since he was eight weeks. He had about two and a half years of house life before vanlife came along, and he's taken to it like he was built for it. He's always first in line to jump in the cab when it's time to roll to the next stop, always up for a break to chase a frisbee, and always ready to hit the trail for a run.