“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough,” as Mae West once said. Doug and Elizabeth Winters live that idea every day. Adventuring their way around the country in their 2015 Airstream Interstate, affectionately called “The Freedom Wagon,” this couple has redefined the way they live. Doug and Elizabeth are quick to tell you that their Airstream’s moniker is more than just a snappy name; it sums up the most important thing they’ve found in their new life.
“This whole journey is really about freedom…we are no longer bound by the normal standard things in life. We let go of all of that. Freedom just colors everything.”
Living on the road full-time has given the couple more freedom than they ever imagined and they revel in it, calling their new chapter of life their “Epic Detour.” Doug describes each new day as its own invigorating adventure.
"Imagine the moment you've loaded the car and you're starting a vacation or going on a big trip. For us, the excitement when we get in our Airstream is the same magnitude, every time we move.”
Before embarking on their journey, Doug and Elizabeth lived a typical life—they owned a home and two cars, and both had comfortable jobs. She worked as a nurse practitioner, and he owned his own business. But they weren’t energized by daily life. For these outdoor enthusiasts, their shared love of adventure wasn’t being attended to. And the couple felt they had stopped growing.
"This whole journey is really about freedom…we are no longer bound by the normal standard things in life."
Remembering what she and Doug felt at the time, Elizabeth says, “You get to this middle age of life and you start looking forward at what the rest of your life is going to be like. We weren't willing to wait until retirement to pursue balance in life, to explore, to travel. We wanted to do it now.”
The first step towards their Epic Detour came when the couple visited an Airstream dealership. They stepped inside an International model, and “it felt like home.” They later purchased a 2010 Airstream International Serenity 27' and towed it with a blue high-roof cargo van called "Big Blue." They outfitted the Airstream with solar panels and filled the van with toys: a motorcycle, five bicycles, two stand-up paddleboards, and all their fly-fishing gear. After a year on the road, they sold their set up in exchange for a smaller-footprint 2015 Airstream Interstate Grand Tour EXT towed by an SUV.
Although Doug and Elizabeth spent more than a year planning their transition to living on the road full-time, the couple didn’t plan on the rich friendships they would build along the way.
“You're so engrossed in all the details of what it takes to transition from having full-time jobs and a large home...You are completing tasks and checking items off a list. Then you hit the road and the first thing that happens is you meet people who've done the same thing. They are on the same journey. The friendships are fast and easy," says Elizabeth. Doug echoes his wife’s sentiment. “There's a sense of community amongst full-time travelers, especially Airstreamers. We are all after the same thing: freedom, exploration, and life balance. And we all happen to live in really cool trailers, " Doug laughs.
One common question they get asked on the road: "How do you afford to live?" Doug still manages his company and Elizabeth works temporary assignments in medical clinics. While on the road, both have been offered jobs that would quadruple their yearly income. But for now, they aren’t willing to let go of their newfound nomadic freedom. Their travel life allows them to tap the roots of who they are. They are growing. They are connecting with themselves and others. They are constantly exploring new places. They are learning.
"We can go anywhere, anytime, and it has changed us."
“We love coming into a new town—new restaurants, new breweries, new mountain bike trails, new hiking trails, new people. Everywhere we go is an adventure. It keeps us moving. We just love it,” muses Elizabeth. Again, Doug echoes her thoughts. “If you could see us when we travel, we are glowing, we are excited, we are happy. We can go anywhere, anytime, and it has changed us.”
