Notes From The Road #23: RV project time

May is a transition month for us.  It’s a time when we work to tame our wanderlust while simultaneously preparing for our business’s busy season.  For me, that looks like a lot of time at my desk tending to administrative tasks and connecting with our couples to finalize their wedding day details.  For Mark, that means tending to maintenance on our vehicles and getting our RV back into tip-top shape since it’s our home until we move back into the truck in the fall.  All that to say, travel is put to the back burner in May while our property serves as home base.  We’ve now been here for about six weeks, which feels like an eternity in nomad time.  Our internal clocks are telling us it’s time to change locations, and soon enough we will.  For now, here’s a look back at what we’ve been up to lately.

Embracing the magic of solar power

Being in one location for six whole weeks has allowed Mark the time to tackle some big projects.  Since 99% of any work done to our truck, truck camper, and travel trailer is done by Mark, having a property where he can do projects is invaluable.  

DC Compressor Fridge Upgrade

Our travel trailer originally came with a standard 2-way RV fridge that ran on either propane or AC power. For a while now, we’ve been eager to swap it out for a DC electric fridge for a few major reasons. First, continuing to pay for propane felt silly when we produce abundant, free solar power. Second, running the old fridge on AC power meant relying on our inverter, which is notoriously inefficient and drains our batteries faster. Finally, leaving the propane or the inverter on while towing just to keep our food cold always made me incredibly nervous about potential fire hazards.

Enter the Dutchaire DC compressor fridge. One of the primary reasons we chose this specific model is because it is a true drop-in replacement—meaning it fit perfectly into our existing cabinet cutout without any need to modify the framing. It runs directly off our 12V battery bank with a highly efficient, variable-speed compressor, completely eliminating the need for propane and bypassing the inverter entirely. Since we’ve happily used a DC compressor fridge in our truck camper for years, we already knew the value of this upgrade. It brings incredible off-grid efficiency and, most importantly, total peace of mind.

Off-Grid Mini Split A/C Install

Every summer seems to be getting hotter. We used to have no problem living without A/C, but that’s simply no longer the case. The record-breaking heat wave that hit much of the West in March was a stark reminder that anything is possible this summer, and we wanted to be ready. The standard A/C unit that came with our travel trailer was so loud and power-hungry that we almost never used it. Last year, we attempted a temporary fix with a window unit, but it was also loud, highly inefficient, awkwardly placed, and honestly, just looked a bit janky.

Mark decided a residential-style mini split might be the ultimate solution. After rounding up all the necessary parts and specialized tools, he tackled the installation. It’s been up and running for about a week now, and it’s already a total game-changer. It is incredibly quiet, maintains a perfectly steady temperature, and uses a fraction of the power of our old stock unit. Thanks to the robust solar system Mark has built for us, we are now able to run our entire RV—A/C included—using just the power of the sun. It is a beautiful thing.

Under-Sink Doulton Ceramic Water Filter

Counter space in our travel trailer is premium real estate, and for a while now, we’ve been eager to reclaim the spot taken up by our bulky countertop Berkey water filter. Enter the Doulton ceramic filter. Mark installed a single-housing unit tucked neatly out of sight beneath the sink, complete with its own dedicated drinking tap right by the kitchen faucet. It is a simple, inexpensive setup, yet it provides comprehensive filtration that easily covers all of our needs. This setup uses a highly effective ceramic cartridge with a carbon core that removes up to 99.99% of common contaminants—like bacteria, cysts, heavy metals, and chlorine—while still leaving the beneficial minerals for great-tasting water. Because the ceramic outer shell can be scrubbed clean to extend its lifespan, it is a fantastic long-term value for life on the road. Best of all, with its simple push-fit connections, it is a straightforward system that most people could comfortably install themselves. It feels fantastic to finally get our counter space back without sacrificing the quality of our drinking water!

Want more details about these upgrades?

Let us know in the comments if you’d like to know more. If there’s interest, we’ll work towards creating a more technical post with all the details!

My recovery continues

I knew having a hysterectomy meant a long recovery, but I never could have known the extent of it without living it firsthand.  In April, I felt fantastic; I would have told you I was fully recovered.  Then I went on a solo road trip to visit some friends in Kansas and Missouri, and wow, did that trip take a toll.  The month of May, for me, was one week of travel followed by two weeks of resting so that my body could recover from said travel.  “Two steps forward, one step back” is probably the most apt description of recovering from a hysterectomy, but I’m getting there. 

Thanks to all the rest this month, I’ve read some excellent books and watched some interesting YouTube videos that are worth sharing.

Books

The World Walk: At 26 years old, Tom Turcich set out to walk around the world.  Seven years later, he returned, on foot, to his home in New Jersey, having walked 28,000 miles across 6 continents.  His feat is astonishing and reveals what’s possible when simply putting one foot in front of the other for years on end.  The stories told in his memoir are a wonderful reminder of how much good there is in the world.  The best part? He adopted a dog in the first few months of the walk, and she goes on to become the first dog to walk around the world.

The Pathless Path: This book.  Holy moly.  For anyone interested in pursuing an unconventional path in life, this is required reading.  Author Paul Millerd perfectly details what life is like on the Default Path (the traditional American life) vs. following the Pathless Path (a life of uncertainty but one that feeds your soul and feels true to who you are).  I highlighted so many passages in this book that it began to feel silly, but every part of this book was a reminder why Mark and I have made the life choices that we have.

“People are starting to feel the disconnect between what we’ve been told about how the world works and what they experience. You work hard, but get laid off anyway. You have the perfect life on paper, but no time to enjoy it. You retire with millions in the bank, but have no idea what to do with your time.

The pathless path has been my way to release myself from the achievement narrative that I had been unconsciously following. I was able to shift away from a life built on getting ahead and towards one focused on coming alive. I was able to grapple with the hard questions of life, the ones we try so hard to ignore. And I was able to keep moving when I realized that the hardest questions often don’t have answers.”

-Paul Millerd

Tuesdays with Morrie: If I were ever to hand out one book to all my friends and family, it would be this one.  Morrie is a beloved university professor in his seventies who was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).  One of his students from sixteen years prior, a guy named Mitch, hears this news and begins visiting Morrie every Tuesday.  Morrie’s acceptance of his doomed fate and his love of the life he’s lived inspires Mitch to begin recording their conversations.  With every passing week, Morrie’s condition worsens, but the brutal disease never gets to his spirit.  After Morrie’s death, Mitch turned their conversations into this book; a vivid reminder of how precious life is.  

Book Lovers: If you love books but don’t want to pay full-price, I’ve been loving abebooks.com for sourcing used copies that are in great condition.

Videos

How AI is destroying your brain by Mark Manson: I’m not one to watch AI doomsday videos, but I like Mark Manson, and so I was curious enough to click.  He makes a lot of solid points about why we should use AI with caution.  It turned out to be a 25-minute-long video worth watching.  If you don’t want to watch the entire thing, jump to 18:55.  I think this is the most poignant point made in this video and something we should all be cognizant of.

Vanlifers build a home base for less than $50,000: This video takes place in Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, where three full-time nomads went in on the purchase of a lot outside of town.  They started by installing utilities for everyone to share and then split the property into thirds so that each party could create their own unique living space; two people building out containers and one couple acquiring a fifth wheel to call home.  I love seeing what’s possible, especially in a country where relaxed building codes allow for creative and unconventional dwellings.  

Welcome new subscribers

If you’ve joined us recently, hello! We’re excited to have you here. While our goal is to publish new essays & articles weekly, we’re currently pouring all of our energy into rebuilding this website. It’s going to be an incredible resource for aspiring nomads. We can’t wait to share it with you!

In case you missed it

These are the posts we shared in May…

• 13 Easy Ways to Prevent Wildfires While Camping in Colorado
• There are so many beautiful reasons to be happy

Thank you for reading and for being a part of our journey! We hope your summer is off to a great start!

Cheers,
Michele & Mark

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. Please know that we only ever recommend products that we personally know, use, and enjoy!