Beyond the Feed: What Life Really Looks Like Behind Rugged Destinations

We get a lot of comments like:“You guys are living the dream.”And in many ways, we are. We get to explore wild places, spend more time together as a family than most people ever can, and make memories that feel larger than life. But as with anything, there’s always more to the story.

So today, we’re stepping outside of our regular content to answer some of the most common questions we get—from what we do for a living to how our kids are educated, socialized, and yes, even how we handle things like bathrooms and laundry on the road.

This life we live isn’t always picture-perfect. It’s beautiful, challenging, messy, fulfilling—and very real. Here’s a look behind the scenes.

What Do We Do for a Living?

This is hands-down the most common question we get, and understandably so.

We’re freelance photographers and filmmakers who’ve spent over seven years building our business before taking it full time. We didn’t just wake up one day and hit the road—we spent years learning, investing, failing, growing, and figuring out how to turn what we love into something that could sustain our family.

Today, we specialize in creating high-quality video and photo assets for outdoor brands—everything from web content and social campaigns to print and email marketing. Most of the companies we work with operate in the outdoor space, which aligns perfectly with our lifestyle and values.

In the past year, we’ve expanded into commercial modeling as a family, which has been an absolute blast. Whether we’re trekking across the desert, loading up our gear in the snow, or setting up a backcountry kitchen scene—we’re often capturing those moments both behind and in front of the camera.

Are We Influencers?

Short answer: no. And we’ve never tried to be.

We’ve never used our platform as a vehicle to sell products or promote anything that doesn’t align with who we are. Our social media presence exists for one reason: to encourage people to live fulfilling lives. That’s it.

We’re not here to tell you to quit your job, sell your house, or live on the road like we do. That’s our version of fulfillment. Yours might look totally different—and that’s the point. Everyone has a dream. We believe in identifying that dream, setting goals, and attacking it with everything you’ve got. If we can inspire even a handful of people to do that, then our time on these platforms is worth it.

How Do We Educate the Boys?

We homeschool our boys using a variety of curriculum materials, mixing traditional standards with personalized subjects that fit our lifestyle and values. We make sure they meet or exceed every academic benchmark required by their grade level—and then we go beyond that.

They study handwriting, typing, coding, Spanish, and we weave in real-world learning every day. History and culture come alive when you’re standing on the ground where it happened. Science makes more sense when you’re watching it unfold in nature.

Because of this approach, both of our boys are currently one to two grade levels ahead of their age group. But more importantly, they’re learning how to think critically, ask questions, and stay curious.

Are the Boys Socialized?

Ah yes—the question. If we had a dollar for every time someone asked us about socialization, we’d probably have another project rig by now.

We get it. The idea of being away from a “normal” classroom environment can raise eyebrows. But let us assure you—our boys are incredibly well-socialized.

They have close friends back in our hometown who they talk to regularly (thank you FaceTime!). And over the course of our travels, they’ve made friends from all over the world. The kids they meet vary in age, background, and personality, which has helped our boys grow into confident communicators who are just as comfortable talking with adults as they are with other kids.

They’ve learned how to navigate new environments, make introductions, adapt to change, and build friendships wherever they go. In our experience, they’re more socially capable because of the life we live—not in spite of it.

What About Bathrooms?

This one always gets a laugh—but yes, it’s a legitimate part of life on the road that people are curious about.

When we’re in civilization, we obviously use normal bathrooms. But when we’re out in the middle of nowhere (which is often), we have a trusty shovel. That’s right: the old-fashioned method.

Here’s a quick lesson for those who might not know: your waste doesn’t break down properly when left on the surface. It should be buried at least six inches underground, where the bacteria in the soil can help break it down naturally.

Let’s be real, though—it’s way more complicated for a girl. Between privacy, distance, and finding the right spot, I (Amanda) end up walking a lot farther than Patrick does just to take care of business. So yes, I get my steps in every single day. Not always by choice.

How Do We Handle Laundry?

Laundry is another one of those unglamorous logistics we get asked about a lot. We make it work in a few different ways depending on where we are.

If we’re near a town, we’ll use a laundromat or find a campground that has laundry facilities. Sometimes we plan our stops around places that will let us “reset” everything—laundry, groceries, showers, etc.

But there have been times, like when we spent weeks off-grid in Baja, where we hand-washed everything. We stretched a paracord between the truck and a tree to use as a clothesline. It wasn’t fancy, but it got the job done. You learn to be resourceful when the alternative is wearing the same t-shirt for the fifth day in a row.

Is This Life Really Simpler?

In a way, yes. But “simple” doesn’t mean “easy.”

Life on the road strips away the noise. There’s no HOA meeting to get to, no commute, no rushing to get the kids to school before 8 a.m. We have fewer distractions and more time together.

But it’s also more demanding. There’s no endless hot water, no laundry chute, no reliable Wi-Fi. It takes more effort to do the little things. You don’t just flip a switch or turn a dial—you troubleshoot, adapt, and figure it out.

And in that discomfort, we’ve found something beautiful: a deeper appreciation for what we have, and for the people we share it with.

Closing Thoughts: Why We’re Sharing This

We’ve never wanted to present a perfectly polished version of our lives. We’re not trying to sell an aesthetic. We’re trying to live fully—and invite others to do the same.

If you’ve ever wondered how this works, or if you’ve thought “I wish I could do something different”—just know that we were once there, too. We had doubts, obstacles, setbacks. But we also had a vision for the life we wanted, and we chased it.

We don’t think everyone should live in a truck, but we do think everyone deserves a life that lights them up. If that means taking more weekend trips, starting a side hustle, changing careers, or homeschooling your kids—go for it. You don’t need permission. Just a plan and a little courage.

Have more questions about our life on the road? We’d love to hear from you. Drop your questions in the comments or shoot us a message. We might just answer them in our next behind-the-scenes post.

Until then—keep chasing what sets your soul on fire.– Patrick & Amanda