I finally did it!  My book is finished!  I wanted to take a second and share 5 steps to push past your inner critic (And let me tell ya, she was loud) that helped me get my book done.  

I’ve been thinking about writing this book for almost two years now.  The actual writing part was finished this winter but I let myself listen to that inner critic.  Telling me no one will read it, no one will like it, I don’t know what I’m talking about.  ALL the things!

Maybe some of those things will be true but I know that I have the experience, we all do, to write about our own experiences, what has helped us and how that might help someone else in a similar situation.

The actual writing of the book and editing is done.  Currently, it is heading to formatting and cover design.  I set a date near the end of September 2020 to launch!

I wrote this book with y’all in mind.  

As well as those just getting started or thinking about getting started with pipeline travel.  I hope I did ya proud!!  I know I didn’t cover everything but I wanted this book to focus on the beginning of the journey.

It was hard at times, to remember how I felt in certain situations.  Trying to remember all the questions I had, the places we had been (and when), sharing some of the stories.  But it felt right.  It felt like there might be someone out there that needs to hear our story, to get an idea of what it is like to travel with the pipeline or to know that they are not in it alone.

Because it was a journey to get to this point and through the writing, I wanted to share with you…

The 5 steps to push past your inner critic that helped me were;

Making a plan

It can be as simple as writing down the things you want to say.  Mindmapping, brainstorming, or anything else you want to call it.  Get the ideas out of your head and on to a piece of paper, Google docs, or any way else you want to write.  Set a timer, get your sh*t together, and GO!

Put together not only your thoughts for what you want to share but also ideas on how you want to organize it.  Think back to when you were in school and they taught you to create sections for writing.  Get your intro started, your chapter ideas, and your closing thoughts.

Taking action

After you’ve spent some time really thinking about what it is you want to share, take some time to actually do the writing.  It doesn’t have to be perfect.  Put whatever comes to mind, put it in your notes.  Then you can take some time to edit and make adjustments to how you want it to flow.

Creating affirmations

Another huge help in pushing past my inner critic was creating affirmations.  Just the act of thinking about what you want to accomplish is helpful.  Then when you put them into your daily habit and repeat those affirmations.  Say them out loud!  Put them ALL over your camper, phone, house, whatever.  Use sticky notes and put them where you will see them and when you see them, say them proud!  

Making it a priority

How many good ideas have you had only to forget about them?  Scheduling them into your day makes those ideas a priority.  It took me a long time to see this one.  I always considered myself as a person that preferred to not have a schedule but so many things slip through the cracks when they are not noted.

Blocking out time in my schedule to focus on the writing helped, to make it a habit.  I do this with so many things including break periods.  It helps me to see where I’m spending my time and where I can add something else.  I use a combination of my phone calendar and a physical planner (click here for my favorite planner) to help track my days.  Below is a screenshot of my calendar when I was in the thick of things.

Be consistent

This one ties into Making it a priority as well.  In order to make a habit, you have to stay consistent.  That may mean setting it up at the same time/day.  It may mean setting a set time period.  Consistency also means that if you miss a day, you pick right back up.  Don’t go down that rabbit hole where you find every excuse because you missed one time.

If your interested in more info on creating or resetting a routine, read here.

There you have it, 5 steps to push past your inner critic.  

• Making a plan
• Taking action
• Affirmations
• Making it a priority
• Be consistent

These steps can be applied to just about anything you are trying to achieve or when you feel that self-doubt creeping up.

My book was a big hurdle but I’m so glad I was able to get it done.  What hurdles are you ready to cross off your list?

My hope for this book is that it will help future pipeline families.  I hope it resonates with those of us in the middle of it and I hope that it inspires you to go after your dreams.

I’m building my launch team and would love for you to be on it! 

If you are interested in reading this book and helping spread the word, please reach out below or send me an email at travelingwivesclub@gmail.com.

This was a short job and I was currently working back in Michigan.  The job was in a remote area of Maryland, closer to the WV border.  It was a beautiful little resort town that got pretty dang busy during the summer, probably the winter too!

No campgrounds close by that had any openings and the job wasn’t long enough, about 3 months, to warrant finding a home rental.  This was before Airbnb too so, finding an extended stay was not quite as easy.

Highlights

The Inn at Deep Creek– Oakland, MD

• 12ish rooms
• Very clean, spacious rooms
• Close to town
• Friendly staff
• Bars/restaurants nearby
• Beautiful scenery
• Ski resort and large lake in town

Layout

The layout at the Inn at Deep Creek was pretty standard for a small inn.  Two-level building, with a front or back deck.  The rooms were simple and spacious; bed, bathroom and a small deck that looked out to the lake if you were on the backside.  The rooms even had a Keurig in them which was pretty rare at the time.  Some I believe have kitchenettes as well.

The Inn was situated about half way on the lake and at the south end of McHenry (it has an Oakland address).  It was on a main two lane road that took you right through all the amenities.

Favorite things

The staff was so great when my husband stayed there.  Always friendly, helpful and kept things very neat in the rooms as well as the Inn itself.  The Inn had good parking for big trucks and the amenities were easily accessible.

My favorite part of the area was the outdoor opportunities!  The lake was long and had a ton of activities on it.  Lots of places to rent jet skis and boats.  There was plenty of hiking trails to explore. Our favorite was the Swallowtail Falls area.

It was also close to the Ohiopyle State Park and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater.  Both absolutely beautiful areas!  We have been several times since our first visit.

The town

The town of Oakland was relatively small but has grown since we were there for the first time. Picture most small tourist-oriented towns, a few quaint shops, restaurants and a small market lined the main drag.  I don’t remember visiting a typical downtown area, most of the shops and attractions were stretched out along MD-219.  There was a cute little deli style market that we went to a couple times as well as UNO pizzeria.

Nearby

As I mentioned earlier, Ohiopyle and actually 2 of Frank Lloyd Wright’s homes are about an hour to the north from the Inn at Deep Creek.  Ohiopyle offers a chance to walk part of the Appalachian trail as well as areas for fishing, white water rafting and a little rock waterslide.  Both Wright homes are open for tours with gift shops, snacks and hiking opportunities.

Continuing with the outdoor theme if you continue south, closer to about a 2-hour drive, you can access the Monongahela National Forest in WV.  We didn’t actually explore here until last year but it has some beautiful areas as well!  Blackwater Falls being the closest from Oakland, followed by Spruce Knob.

If you are interested in a bigger town you have the option of heading west to Morgantown or to the east for Cumberland.  Both offer beautiful mountain areas, shopping and a bigger selection of restaurants. Catch a college football game over in Morgantown

Overall, it was a great experience for my husband’s stay(we enjoyed visiting as well).  We have come back to the area several times since his first job there.

I hope you have found this review and information helpful!

Please remember that anything written above was my opinion and experience of the area/s.  I have also linked to the Inn’s page and McHenry’s website for more information.

Let me know if you have visited this place or surrounding area!  What did you think?

If you are curious about other places we have reviewed, click here.

As always, thanks for reading!

–Kate

That’s why I wanted to share my 7 unique gift ideas for the “hard to buy for” father on Father’s Day!

This category of men tend to

buy what they want, when they want it and

respond with, “I don’t need anything” when asked for ideas

This is great for every ordinary day but so frustrating for special occasions!

I grew up in a gift giving family so it feels so strange not to give something on a special occasion.  I find myself scrambling last minute to get something together.

So, what do you get the guy that can get himself anything?  Keep reading to see my 7 unique gift ideas for the “hard to buy for” father

Experiences

Being that we travel often and usually have limited space for storing stuff, a great gift idea would be an experience.  I’m thinking like race car driving, wine/beer tasting, or an evening out to a concert or comedy club in the closest area that offers such an event.  Groupon is a great resource for finding ideas like this.

I know most only get Saturday evening free and time to rest on Sunday so try to plan it around those days.  If that is not a possibility look at something in the future, hopefully during a layoff.  Of course, check to see if there is a refund policy and/or a date exchange in case something comes up and he cannot attend.

Something pipeline related

Have something pipeline related or job related made just for him.

There are a ton of shops selling items online that can create something unique.

I love shopping in the FB groups as well as on Etsy to find things like T-shirts, wallets, mugs, wall hangings, etc.  Check out Home Businesses of the Pipeline on FB or ask in one of the groups to see if someone makes something you are looking for as a gift.

Sentimental

Sentimental gifts like a nice card, a love letter, a back rub or helping to create a gift with the kiddos are always a nice gift.  These gifts generally show more expression of your love because of the time and/or effort it took to put together.

Unique on Etsy, Uncommon Goods

I like to try to find unique gifts to give.  Some of my favorites are found on Etsy, Uncommon Goods or Amazon.

One of my favorite gifts (his too) was a big photo of our first dog together that was made up of smaller pictures of us.  I had it matted and framed.  He was so surprised and it turned out great!!

Kid’s gifts

Skip something from you and head right to the motherland of gift giving ideas, Pinterest!

Pinterest is my best friend when it comes to finding crafty ideas for celebrations like Father’s Day! I usually have my kids make a card or something on canvas to give to the man who can get anything for himself.

Nothing says “we love you Daddy” like a few handprints and some sweet words from the kids.

If you have older kids, another option might be to have them fill out something sentimental like this book you can find on Amazon.

A trip

Taking a trip is always a nice gift too!  I know we travel a lot but going somewhere because you want to is way different than going because your job tells you to.  Find something close by for a Saturday night away or again, plan something for in the future.

Sometimes just a night in a hotel can be relaxing!  With kids, we usually opt for a nice place with a pool.

If you need more tips or ideas for finding things to do near you, check out my post here.

Donate or Save

If gifting really isn’t your or his thing why not donate the money you would have spent.  You can choose a charity that is close to his heart or has some meaning to either of you.  Another option is to donate to yourself!  Put it in your savings account, vacation fund or pay on a bill!!

Whether you choose from the 7 unique gift ideas for the “hard to buy for” father or come up with something completely different, the idea of the day is to show your love and appreciation.  Enjoy your time together and try not to sweat the gift giving.

As always, thanks for reading!

–Katie

That is quickly followed up by…

Asking my husband 100 questions he doesn’t have answers to

Anyone else do this? No?  Just me then.  LOL

I know I annoy him to no end but he still insists on telling me before he has all the details.  So, who is to blame really?

Part of it is the excitement of a new place but the other part is fear that we won’t find somewhere decent to stay.

My next steps all involve one word…internet!  I don’t know how we survived sometimes without it!  The internet has been such a big help though when it comes to finding out about new locations and places to stay.  So, my next steps are as follows:

Look up the location

If he doesn’t already know this answer he will generally go back and ask to satisfy my need.  LOL

I consider myself a planner. Not one of those super organized and well thought out planners though.  More like I need to have all the info to make a plan but I will only make half the plan and procrastinate the rest.

If I know the general area then I can scout out about a 50-mile radius of all the amenities we may need. Puts my mind at ease until I get more details.

See how long the drive will be and best route

I am always the navigator as my husband generally does the driving.  If I know how long the drive will be then I can find stops along the way to break up the drive so that our kids are not going nuts locked up in their car seats.

If it is a long drive, we like to look for a half way point to stay for the night.  None of us like to be in the vehicle for an all-day excursion so we make it about 6-7 hours max.

Locate closest campgrounds, hotels & short-term rentals

I check out ALL the housing options because I never know what we are going to find.  We try to stay in our camper as much as possible but there have been times because of lack of campgrounds nearby or them being full that we have had to find other options.  This is always dependent on when we are coming in to a job or how many other jobs are around the same area.

Check out city/town webpage

Another great resource is the closest town websites.  They often list any events happening and I have come across others that also help with rentals.  At the minimum, they list the local businesses which can help you decide if you want to stay near that area or a different one.  This is great for finding hair/nail salons, restaurants, healthcare or any services you may need.

My next focus is usually on what the city has to offer while we are there.  Any events, gyms, parks, kids’ activities, etc.

See if there is a local FB page

If there is you can connect with local businesses and any events that may be happening while you are in the area.  I tend to search for indoor play options for rainy/cold days, any unique shops or farms for trips and children’s museums or at least some museums the kids might be interested in checking out.

Don’t forget to look at a map to see what other towns may be close by and what they have to offer too!

Check out FB events

FB events is helpful for finding any festivals, art classes, food/drink tastings or other special activities that may be taking place near you.  It will default to the last place you used or biggest city nearby if you have location services on.  With smaller towns, you may have to type it in or look at towns close by.

To access FB events, go to your Facebook.  If on your computer, click on events on the left side.  Then Discover and type in your city.  You can also search a date range to help narrow things down.

If you are on your phone, click on the 3 lines at bottom left.  Find events then select your location either as nearby (preset) or change to town needed.  You can also select a radius to help find things close by.  Once you select your town you can choose from today, tomorrow or this weekend.

Groupon

Groupon is helpful for finding coupons to local activities, events or service in a location you choose. It will not be a complete list of things around but it can save you some money on a few of them!

Local hotel or chamber of commerce for pamphlets and info

We often go to a hotel to let the kids swim in the pool if we don’t have one at the campground.  Hotels usually have a shelving unit full of pamphlets for local attractions.

Chamber of commerce also has a ton of information and usually a knowledgeable person to speak with about the local area.  Both are great resources when you get to a new town.

See what activity options are near

My kids are just getting to school age so I usually try to find activities to keep us busy a couple days/week.  We have found sports camps, indoor play areas, farms, zoos and plenty of hiking trails to keep us busy.

For more information on finding things to do check out my post here

By this time the location has changed or time has been pushed back…LOL. Sound familiar?

Once we know for sure that we are going I either start from scratch for the new location (see above list) or start focusing on a place to stay.

Take a drive

If we are within 2 hours of the new location, myself and the kids or all of us will take a trip to the new area.  Look around. Find out where we are warehousing and map out what places we are considering staying (if there are options).

Most reputable places are honest with their pictures of their property and what sites may look like but there are other businesses that are not.  It’s just nice to be able to see them in person and also scout out other places to help anyone else that might be looking for a place to stay.

Visiting also gives us a chance to time and find the best routes to the yard from potential campgrounds, hotels, etc.  As well as routes from the current location to the new location.

Our most recent move we actually did about 3 trips.  Two to scout the area, to see what was around and potential yard locations.  The third was more of a drive by once we found a place we wanted to stay.  The kids and I were heading home to MI anyways so, we just drove an alternate route to see if that would work for taking the trailer and also to check out the campsite.

The two scouting trips were to check out some places I had already called on and to review a potential yard site.  Glad we made the trips because all the locations were not so great.  Definitely doable in a pinch but not ideal for us.

Peace of mind

All of the above tasks are essential to me getting comfortable with a new area.  I like to research and learn about the new place and see what options we have.  It helps me feel like I am participating a bit more with his work and gives me a sense of connection.  Some tasks are necessary for getting us set up but others are more for my satisfaction and mental health.

I hope these tips were helpful.

Let me know if you have a similar process for your moves, send me a message or comment below!

As always, thanks for reading!

–Katie

How about an RV?! Sounds simple enough, right?  It can be but first check out these 10 questions to consider before buying an RV.

Continue reading to find out what those questions are and how it will affect your decision.

10 questions to consider before buying an RV

1.What type of RV should I get?

There are a variety of different types of RVs to choose from; The motorhome which allows you to drive and live in the same space.  These can also be broken down into Class A, Class B, and Class C.

There are travel trailers that are pulled behind a vehicle attached to a hitch at the bumper.

Fifth wheels are pulled behind a pickup truck and attached at a hitch in the bed of the truck.

Finally, a few other types, like the van and bus conversions, not as popular but still great options depending on your situation.

Learn more about the different types of RVs here, https://www.thorindustries.com/rv-types

2.Will you be staying in it full time?

If you plan on staying in your trailer for the majority of the year there are a few features you may want to consider.

The top 2, in my opinion, being a bigger fridge and storage.  These two are my necessities in a trailer that we will spend a lot of time in.

I am not a big fan of going to the grocery store every couple of days so I like to have more fridge space.  Plus, my two littles eat like they are teenagers already!!

Lots of storage is great for being able to rotate your clothing in seasons as well as toys if you have kids.

Having lots of storage inside and out means you can bring a few more of your favorite things and also have space to store the tools and necessary RV items.

Our current camper has the most storage I have seen in a fifth wheel to date.  We found this one in 2017.  It is a Grand Design Solitude 375RES.  It has a middle kitchen and elevated bedroom in the front and elevated living in the back.

In the kitchen, there is a pantry as well as wall and bottom cabinets.  The elevated living room in the back allows for more basement storage with a slide-out tray in the middle.  Seriously, SO much storage!!!

3.Will you be traveling to cold climates?

If you think you might be spending lots of time in colder climates you may want to check out the insulation packages for the trailers.

Many claim to be 4 seasons but I can tell you from experience that our 2007 Forest River Flagstaff with the rear kitchen was NOT!

It was our first job in the camper in northern Missouri.  We had bought the 4-season camper because we were unsure of where we would be.

I believe it was November. It had gotten pretty cold, quickly. After the first real cold night we had (maybe high 20s) we woke up the next morning with our pillows frozen to the walls!

In the camping industries defense, most are meant just for a weekend or a week or two trips and not long term.  So, when they say 4 seasons you could handle it in mild winters or for a weekend.

4.If considering a travel trailer or fifth wheel, how much can I tow?

This question really depends on the vehicle you have to tow.  Usually, a diesel dually will give you the most towing power but there are many full-size pick-ups that can handle the load as well.  Some travel trailers and fifth wheels can be pulled by a light truck (F150 or Chevy 1500).  This is what we initially started out with, an F150 pulling a Forest River Flagstaff lite(not in the picture below)

5.What is my budget?

RVs range anywhere from really small pull behinds around $20,000 brand new and go up to as much as $500,000+ if you look at motorhomes.

We have always bought brand new but I have to say that I would recommend buying used and an older model!  You lose SO much money buying brand new.  There are plenty of trailers out there that have been well taken care of or just didn’t sell the first year on the market.

Consider the time of year you buy as well if you are buying from a dealership.  It is better to buy towards the end of the camping season (Oct-Dec).  Most places aren’t wanting to have to store older inventory through the winter so they may discount them to get em’ sold!

After you answer the above, check out these questions to consider before buying an RV;

6.How often do we cook?

The kitchens in most trailers are not big. The industry is changing a bit in order to get a bigger kitchen but in doing that you sacrifice space elsewhere.

So, you have to be honest with yourself.  How often do you really cook?  Do you need that oven or can you make do with a stovetop and convection microwave?

Speaking of ovens, how awkward are those?!  Who wants to get down on the floor to light the pilot??  Am I right?

For those of you that do cook a majority of your meals, check out a few of these trailers…

https://www.rvingplanet.com/blog/top-5-best-fifth-wheels-with-front-kitchen/

I would also suggest

Grand Design Solitude 375RES (our current model)

Keystone Montana 3820FK

7.How much time do we plan to spend inside?

Think about how much time you will be spending inside your trailer.  Will you be spending most of it in the living room?  Kitchen?  Will everyone be there at the same time?

In most trailers, your biggest areas are your living room and bedroom.  If you will be inside a lot you will want more space that allows you to convert areas to function for multiple activities.  Think pull out couches or tables that convert to other sleeping areas.

8.How much storage do we need?

If you are like a good majority of the country, you have a lot of stuff!  Moving into about 200 sq. ft is NOT going to accommodate ALL of that stuff.  But it can hold quite a bit.  So, make sure you take into consideration how much storage, both inside and outside, you will need to hold your items.

Need help deciding what you might want to have in your RV?  Check out my post here for some ideas.

9.How old are your kids, if you have them?  Don’t forget about those pets too!

Accommodating babies and toddlers is way different than accommodating teenagers.  They need privacy and take up more space physically.

Most people with children, no matter the age, opt for trailers that offer a bunkhouse and a half bath, a toy hauler (has a “garage”), or something with a mid-bunk room. This gives a bit more privacy to your kids and a place to close the door on clutter and some noise.

10.Will your family grow in the near future?

Same as above, think about how your family might look in the future and what kind of setup you may need. Not that you can’t sell your current and upgrade to a different layout but wouldn’t it be nice to have something that would last!

There you have it!  My initial 10 questions to consider before buying an RV.

I know there are a ton more factors to consider when buying an RV.  This was just a list to get your mind going and really think about what is important to your family for this purchase.

If you have already purchased, what was your biggest deciding factor in choosing your trailer?

As always, thanks for reading!

–Katie

So, how do we fix that?

Keep reading below for more information!

I love to look at them over and over but don’t always get to share as many as I would like with others.  With more pictures being taken on our phones or digital cameras they are not being seen and shared as often anymore.

I have always loved looking at them, taking them.  There is something about the jog down memory lane it can take me down.  I love seeing a look in to my family’s past and how they lived.  When I think about it, it may be a bit strange that I didn’t pursue a career in photography.  Back when it was time to figure out initially what to do with my life photography wasn’t exactly a great paying job or an encouraged profession to get in to.

I had considered it when I decided to join the Army but again it was encouraged to choose an occupation I could use outside the military.  Ultimately, I chose linguistics because I liked the places my sister in law had traveled and she was a linguist.  Isn’t that how everyone chooses their profession?  LOL  Now I’m a SAHM (stay at home mom) who is dabbling in blogging about my family’s travel lifestyle.  Now, if only his work would take us overseas!  Funny how our lives play out sometimes.

Back to those pictures and memories…

There are several reasons I focus on preserving those picture and memories now;

Your story to tell

As I mentioned above those pictures can provide a flashback for you or a talking point if you are sharing the pictures with someone else.  You could be showing your children, another family member or a friend. If you get in to some business with photos it could be a complete stranger.  Whoever it may be, you have a story to tell and you SHOULD tell it!

Family history

Whether it be for your own children or maybe your family historian your pictures are able to show how you lived, what you liked to do and where you traveled.  They document the growth of your family.  The types of things you were in to, the clothes you wore and even the food you enjoyed.

Pictures capture all your achievements too!  These pictures help us remember where we came from and where we are now.  What obstacles we crossed to get to here.

All in the details

If you are anything like me, you will forget a lot!  I barely remember what we did yesterday let alone what job we were on back in 2007. My pictures help me with that, along with my chronicles on Facebook and most recently Instagram.

Our memories play tricks on us as well.  I remember a trip that I took with my oldest brother, his wife and my parents to a wilderness area near Ely, MN that escapes me right now.  (SEE, I told you your memory will fail!). It had Boundary or boundaries in it.

OH WAIT!  I remember now, Boundary Waters.  Beautiful place in northern MN!!  Anywhoo, for years after I told everyone that we went there for a month right before I went to basic.  When I shared this fact with my family, they looked at me like I was crazy.  We had spent just two weeks there.

You would think based on my exaggerated timeline that it was not an enjoyable trip but on the contrary it was
one of my most memorable!  I went kayaking for my first time, we camped in a tent the entire time, crossed paths with moose and my mom tried to save her camera over me when we capsized in the lake.  Who could forget those moments!!

Now on to where you should keep these photos.  Obviously, it is your choice what pictures to keep and how you want to display them but here are some of the ways that I help preserve our memories;

Annual book

The annual book is something I started around 2013 when I found out we were pregnant with our first child.  I wanted a reminder (hello pregnancy brain!) of what we had done through the year, whether it was travels or special occasions within the family.  The ones I use are through Shutterfly and I generally do an 8×11 book using their storytelling layouts.  They basically create a template and you insert your pics. They can store your pics and they usually have pretty great sales all year!  Plus, on Groupon you can get them for $5 when they run specials.

Social media

Social media is great for the daily remembrances.  Sometimes just a lot of fillers or random pics but generally we document something interesting that happened.  These have been great for helping me remember where we were and specific dates.

Blogging

Blogging is something new that I have added.  This pertains more to me sharing my story of our life and hoping that there are people out there that want to read about it! Saving your pictures here means you also get to tell the story that goes along with the picture!!  I’ll be sharing our travel pictures, family pictures and also pictures I have created in relation to the blog.

Scrapbooks/Baby books

Scrapbooks are more like just a photo album with some random mementos thrown in at the end.  This used to be all I did until I found Shutterfly. This was prior to most social media as well so I am talking real camera photos, not just on my phone photos.  We had to take the film out of the camera and bring it to a store or professional where they would develop the pictures. You had no idea if they were any good most of the time and almost everyone I know got duplicates because you might want to hand them out.

Baby books are another great option for documenting your little one’s lives.  I did pretty good with our first and got a bit behind with our second.  For both books I have yet to actually print any pics and put them in a book.  At least I tried, right?

Hindsight is 20/20 so, of course, I wish I would have started blogging or keeping a journal a lot sooner to document our travel life.  Even just my life earlier.  I did actually do interesting things before I met my husband!!  LOL

Most of us tend to think our life is not exciting but to others not living it, it can be.  Even if you don’t share your pictures with others do it for yourself!!

As always, thanks for reading!

–Katie

Here are a few links for the type of memory preservation I used…

https://www.shutterfly.com/custom-path/stylecatalog.sfly?fromLocation=lightbox&order=false&defaultBookTitle=My%20Photo%20Book&bookSize=8×11&occasions=Our%20Top%20Picks

https://www.amazon.com/Pearhead-First-Memory-Sonogram-Insert/dp/B072PSF84S/ref=sr_1_14?crid=2XT8EDSLJVNNW&keywords=baby%2Bmemory%2Bbook&qid=1552654556&s=gateway&sprefix=baby%2Bmemory%2B%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-14&th=1

Hello! I’m Kate.

Hey there!  Thank you so much for stopping by to my blog, Traveling Wives Club.  You are probably wondering what is Traveling Wives Club?  I’m here to provide support and an inside look to this “glamorous” pipeline travel lifestyle we live!!  Look for my posts on Wednesdays.

Let me first tell you a little bit about me…my name is Kate.  I am a Michigander!  Go blue!! I grew up in Marion, MI (imagine me holding up my hand and pointing to almost the middle of it).  I grew up on a farm outside of this small village (one traffic light, downgraded to a 4 way).  We had a variety of animals, did our own hay and I got into as much trouble as I could growing up, sorry Mom & Dad!!

I have always had the travel bug since I was a kid!  I was lucky enough to go on vacations with my family and see a lot of amazing places. Travel stuck with me as I got older, I moved to Virginia after graduating, then back home, then on to Kentucky with my brother and his family.  While I loved living with my niece, I needed to do something more for myself.  I needed to really be on my own so I did what any 19 year old would do…I joined the Army!

It was a perfect fit! I got to continue traveling AND they trained me to learn another language!!  I mean, I knew other things could happen while serving but I was pretty optimistic about the whole thing.  Unfortunately, I treated my training like I was in college. I was into doing the bare minimum for studying, eating/drinking what I wanted and not really worried about any consequences.   

Let me clarify, that I was never the studious type to begin with, that is why I moved and got a job instead of going straight to college.  I was lucky enough to graduate high school!  Not because I wasn’t smart but because I just didn’t care my last 2-3 years of school.  I was over it and wanted out but that is another story.

While serving in the Army I traveled to Missouri, California, Texas and then on to Germany and Kosova.  Not to mention all the states in between to get to those places.  I got one on one time with each of my parents, my Mom on the way to California and then my Dad drove to Texas from California with me. I got to take a few more trips while overseas as well, exploring almost every country bordering Germany!  There are SO many places to see!!!  I don’t share this to brag, more to assure you that I have and do LOVE to travel!

This is why I feel so fortunate to have married a man that also loves to travel!  This form of travel is waaaay different than what I was used to and quite honestly had no idea it even existed.  His job is with the pipeline, natural gas to be specific.  He works for a variety of companies under a union. The jobs can last anywhere from a couple weeks to years.  The work may be steady or you could be off for years.  His work has taken us to 11 different states and 31 moves in 12 years. It is one of the most unpredictable jobs I have ever experienced but we love it!

Together we have two wonderful little knuckleheads, most would call children.  They are 4 and 2 and keep life even more interesting, if that is even possible!  We all travel together and for the most part I think everyone is still happy where we are but there will be a day when I’m sure that will change.  We are currently living it up in West Virginia since about April of 2018, although we moved in October to a different city.

Now that you know a little about me, come back and hear about our travels, the ups and downs of this lifestyle, life in general and any tips/tricks I can provide to navigate these travels!  

Let me hear from you too!! Let’s connect!!  Comment below, share and tag this post or find me on social media!!