How a 3 month road trip with 2 young kids, & 1 tent came to be

The story, likely not too different from many embarking on journeys these days, had its roots in the pandemic. While I, along with likely all of you in 2020, was gripped in a kind of heavy, dread-filled grind where I tried to live in the moment by smelling the flowers and being kind to others, Chris had other ways of coping. As soon as the libraries reopened he took out many books. He started planning our escape. All the travel books were for some reason completely available...even the most recent copies! 😜I don't give myself any credit for this trip, other than agreeing to it. I am also a planner but since the pandemic and perhaps also since having kids I have been unable to plan beyond a few months to a year. So kudos for him for being able to escape in his mind and plan something that could actually happen.

Why did the SW USA get chosen?? Chris might have to comment and explain how he came to the conclusion that it was the SW USA that we were heading off too at some unknown time. However, from my perspective it came down to a few factors:

1. Realistic: The goal was to create a trip that could be done in the nearish future. At the time the idea of flying anywhere seemed impossible and not likely to happen soon. And due to carbon emissions, I'm not keen to fly. The idea of planning a trip that stayed in North America seemed like a good options (we just had to wait for the USA/Canada border to open --19 months of waiting).
2. Kid-Friendly: We now have 2 kids, 5 & 8. Traveling costs more. Also, I'm not sure my kids are ready for us to take them and show them where we lived in Africa or India or ….or at least I'm not ready to deal with that. Things will be different for them, but not that different. Adjusting to life on the road in a tent in different climates will be enough change for our 5 year old!
3. Somewhere we both have wanted to go: Particularly Arizona, Utah & New Mexico have been on our wish list for awhile but given that it is really hot in the summer when we get our break and Chris being away now every Spring break, the trip idea has been shelved for ~10 years.
4. Connected to nature: Tenting is definitely cost-effective but it has been how we've always traveled as a couple. In the year we got married, we spent 1/3 of our nights that year in a tent. There is something about being on the land to connect to a new place--the stars, the weather, the other species that is soul-healing and wonderful. I never get enough of that in the regular year so why wouldn't we do it this time...(We did concede that we are older though and buy a MUCH larger and comfier mattress for this---never slept on so fingers cross) (and also, we do have a few time shares and some hotel nights booked---its not 100% tenting, just mostly).

Whatever the initial motivation, Chris began this process of planning almost 3 years ago and dug into the planning, honestly, pretty obsessively for about 2 years until the boarders opened. He's got 10 map versions, 'next time' itineraries and enough plans on this journey to fill every day and night if the kids and I were to allow it. Once the border did reopen, we were finally able to think about what we actually needed to do to make it happen. And we did! We got leave from our jobs for 2.5 months, passports, a new PHEV, a bike rack, plans for the house, etc. And we're leaving! Count down is on....13 days till departure. Here we go!