True Love Story: Leaving Everything to Travel

We Left Everything to Chase a Dream.

Ever feel the urge to do something extremely dramatic because you want change in your life? That’s how Tatum and I felt back in 2021 when we decided to quit our jobs, buy an RV, and leave everything behind for the sake of trying something new.

I would like to tell you our story. How we met, our decision to leave everything behind, and the struggles/blessings we encountered while pursing this lifestyle.

We Matched on a Dating App.

In 2019 I matched with Tatum on an online dating app called Hinge, you know, the one that says it’s designed to be deleted. But even before our first date, there were these bizarre coincidences that had us wondering why we hadn’t bumped into each other sooner.

Around that time, Tatum was working at this outdoor retail store that I was obsessed with – and still am, to be honest. Turns out, she had actually sold me a pair of pants one day. I don’t exactly remember this encounter, and neither does she, but imagine our surprise when she checked her account and saw that she had rung me up before.

To top it off, we lived in the same apartment complex, just a stone’s throw away from each other. We shared similar interests, frequented the same hangouts, and yet, somehow, our paths had never officially crossed until I sent her that first message.

Job Burn Out & Big Decisions.

The idea of traveling the country had always lingered in the backs of mine and Tatum’s minds. It was a topic we discussed, an idea we often entertained, but one we never quite committed to.

At the time, I was knee-deep in the healthcare field – a profession that had become increasingly taxing, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was amid this chaos that I finally turned to Tatum one morning and said, let’s start traveling.

Coincidentally, Alabama had just joined the nursing compact, which enabled me to work in other states. No, I don’t do photography full-time. The reason our travel lifestyle works well is because I have a job that can be easily taken wherever nurses are needed (which, as it turns out, is pretty much everywhere).

While my job burn out provided the initial push, Tatum’s experience at her long-standing job mirrored my own situation. After years of dedication, she too felt the weight of burnout and internal company issues. Together, we knew it was time to switch things up.

Just before we set off to start our new lives, I asked Tatum to be my partner forever, proposing marriage as the first step on our new adventure.

The Ups and Downs of RV Life.

I want to keep it real with y’all. Traveling in a 35-foot RV with your wife and two furry companions isn’t always the glamorous adventure it’s made out to be. Sure, the freedom and exploration is undeniable when you see peoples dreamy Instagram posts, but let me tell you, there’s a lot they don’t show you.

Some of the toughest challenges Tatum and I have faced in our relationship have unfolded on the road. We’ve encountered situations that pushed us to our breaking points, and, truth be told, times when we did break. But here’s the thing – we didn’t give up. We rolled up our sleeves, dug deep, and worked through it together.

Advice for Life on the Road.

Traveling is tough. It’s not all sunsets and campfires. It’s hard work, and not everyone is cut out for it. Heck, there were times when we questioned if we were cut out for it ourselves. But through the trials and tribulations, we’ve grown stronger, both as individuals and as a married couple.

So, if you’re considering life on the road, just know that it’s not always easy. But if you’re willing to embrace the challenges along with the joys, the rewards can be truly extraordinary. And who knows? You just might find yourself living your own love story on the open road.