About the Lady Behind the Blog

Since my stories are rooted in real life, here’s a tiny peek at the life behind the writing…

My Age

My physical age: I’m in my 6th decade of roaming this planet.

The age I act: Depends on the day.

I’m a Single Mom gone Empty Nester

My daughter, Nikki, was 2 years old when I left a 15 year toxic relationship with her dad.

Nikki left the nest in early 2016, a few days shy of her 20th birthday. She moved to southeast Florida from northwest Illinois.

Nikki’s departure began my journey into the empty-nester chapter of life.

I Co-exist with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS)

MCS is complicated but here's the short version:

Everyday products and pollutants, things most people don't think twice about, cause allergic-type reactions in my body. It's not a true allergy but that's the simplest way to describe it.

My reactions range from a nagging headache to anaphylaxis.

The severity shifts. Some days I get by with mild discomfort while other days the same trigger knocks me flat.

I've had small reactions my entire life. But things took a downward spiral in 1990 after installing new carpet. That's when MCS stopped living in the background and I had to learn to co-exist with it every single day.

I Live the Van Life

My cozy little home on wheels is a self-converted 2015 Ford Transit cargo van.

My nomadic adventure began on October 1, 2015. Nikki and our dog, Cookie, traveled with me the first several months.

I lived off-the-grid the first few years - mostly out west.

In 2018, I took a 2 year hiatus from the road to live with my Dad as a Caregiver. Dad passed away in early 2020.

Since getting back on the road, I enjoy campgrounds more than being off-the-grid.

Why I Decided To Live Nomadic

I felt van life might be a better way to live with MCS.

The reality is, every lifestyle has its pros and cons.

This lifestyle may not be 100% MCS-proof but, for now, it works for me and I enjoy it!

I Tried Travel Trailer Life - ever so briefly

In June 2021, I had a brain fart and thought a travel trailer would be a good idea.

In February 2022, I sold the trailer. Life wasn’t simple anymore and the trailer had become too toxic.

I don’t consider this a fail because you never truly know unless you try!

Thankfully, I towed the trailer with the van - which made moving back into van life easy-peasy.

Where I Usually Spend My Time

I was born and raised in northwest Illinois. I spend several months a year in my hometown area.

I also spend several months over the winter in southeast Florida - visiting Nikki.

My time in-between these 2 places is spent wandering willy-nilly.