Fur-mula For Love: Journey of a Lifetime

Embracing the Unknown. The Lunar New Year. The first day of the Year of the Fire Horse. I woke up this morning to the quiet hum of winter in Michigan—snow finally not blanketing the roof of the house I’ve called home, the kind of stability I clung to through some of my darkest days. But today feels different. Electric. Like the universe just lit a match under my feet and whispered, Go. This isn’t just any year. 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse —a rare cycle that rolls around only every 60 years, the last time being 1966. In Chinese astrology, the Horse embodies freedom, action, independence, and fearless forward motion. Paired with Fire, the blazing, yang energy of the sun at its peak, it’s all about impulse, passion, transformation, and galloping toward breakthroughs without looking back. Horses hate being reined in; they thrive on open roads, wide horizons, and the thrill of what’s next. Sound familiar? For me, it’s no coincidence that this is the exact season I’m trading solid wa...

  Celebrating Valentine's Day with Your Pets and the Planet Valentine's Day is often seen as a celebration of romantic love between partners, filled with chocolates, flowers, and candlelit dinners. But love comes in many forms, and some of the purest, most unconditional versions come from (and go to) our animal companions and the natural world around us. This February 14, why not expand the day's spirit to include the furry, feathered, or scaled loved ones who greet us with wagging tails or purring contentment every single day? And while we're at it, let's weave in care for the environment—because loving animals means loving the planet that sustains them (and us). Our pets don't need a special holiday to show affection—they do it constantly. They offer comfort on tough days, joy in simple moments, and loyalty without strings attached. In many ways, pets embody the truest essence of love: no judgment, no expectations, just presence. This Valentine's Day, cele...

Embracing Low-Impact Camping with Leave No Trace Principles There’s something magical about hitting the open road in our camper, our dog curled up in the passenger seat or peering out the window at passing forests and mountains. We chase sunrises in national parks, boondock under starry skies, and let our furry co-pilot lead us down quiet trails. But as much as these adventures fill our hearts, they also come with a quiet responsibility: to leave every place we visit exactly as we found it—or better . That’s where the seven ‘Leave No Trace’ principles come in, and when you’re traveling with a pet, they take on extra meaning. Pet waste, curious paws, and the little extras we bring along can add up quickly, but with a few thoughtful habits, we can keep our impact light while still creating unforgettable memories. The 7 Leave No Trace Principles are core guidelines that apply to hiking, camping, backpacking, RV travel, day trips, and more—anywhere from remote wilderness to local parks, ...

it's green, blue, and all colors of nature! Our Biggest Eco Contradictions  One of the biggest eco-dilemmas we've faced in preparing for our full-time RV life with a dog is the constant tug-of-war between conserving resources and lessening our impact on the environment. The main one is between saving water and reducing waste. It's the kind of contradiction that hits hard when you're boondocking in the desert or trying to stretch every drop in a remote national forest. You want to be a responsible camper—low-impact, mindful, leaving no trace—but the "green" choices often clash with each other, especially with the level of greenwashing! In our travel trailer, we have a limited fresh water tank, about 20 gallons, and refilling means either driving to a dump station or finding a safe source. To conserve water, we were planning on using plastic utensils and paper plates for quick cleanups, snacks, and meals. No washing dishes or rags means no extra water used for r...

Hey everyone— I am currently knee-deep in spreadsheets, endless Chrome tabs, and a dog who's already sensing something exciting is coming. We are pulling our travel trailer from Lansing, Michigan, down (parts of) historic Route 66 to Joplin, Missouri, then continuing along the Mother Road through Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico all the way to Santa Fe, before finally heading north into Colorado. We're doing this as newbie boondockers with occasional paid RV sites only when we need to dump, fill, or recharge batteries (and ourselves). The planning has been equal parts fun and frustrating. Here's the honest breakdown of what we've obsessed over most: how far we can realistically drive each day with a trailer and a dog, how much we're actually spending on overnight stops, and why finding spots along Route 66 feels like a treasure hunt with way fewer treasures than you'd expect. Daily Driving: Keeping It Sane with a Trailer We started by googling our journey from J...

As we gear up for our big lifestyle shift, finding the perfect travel trailer has been our top priority. We're a couple plus our sweet little dog Margarita (she's the real boss), so we need something cozy, functional, and most importantly, safe and easy to tow with our Toyota Highlander. Our Highlander gives us a maximum towing capacity of up to 5,000 lbs and about 500 lbs for tongue/hitch weight. That's solid for a midsize SUV, but we know the key is staying well under those limits—aim for 80-85% max for safety, especially with hills, wind, and long hauls. Loaded weight (water, gear, propane, food, Margarita's treats, and bed) adds up fast, so distributing weight and finding a lightweight trailer is everything. We've narrowed it down to two exciting Keystone options that keep popping up in our searches, YouTube review videos, and dealer visits: the Springdale Mini 1750RD OR the Coleman Light 17RX Both are compact (around 21-22 ft overall), couples-focused,...