From left to right: Currently Wandering, Take That Exit (us!) and Up In the Airstream
When we first announced we were going to travel for a year in an Airstream we got mixed reactions. We get it – it’s not your typical choice for a family with kids. We’ve had lots of questions about the social implications of this lifestyle . . . would our kids miss their friends? Would we be lonely?
As I mentioned recently in a post addressing our most frequently asked questions – our social interactions have been anything but lacking! Although our kids aren’t in traditional school, they are interacting more with kids at campgrounds than they ever did in our old neighborhood. We have had the great pleasure of connecting with other Airstream families on Instagram (where the community is surprisingly vibrant and active) and we recently had the great fortune of meeting up with two of these awesome families!
It just so happened that all our paths intersected in Minneapolis, Minnesota and we spent nearly a week with the Curren Family from Currently Wandering and the Schrum Family from Up In the Airstream (instagram). Between the three families we had seven kids range in age from 5 to 12 – and they all clicked instantly.
All three of our Airstreams were parked in a row – right next to the playground. The kids ran from trailer to trailer, playing soccer on the grass, having a blast on the playground and occasionally playing Minecraft. Normal kid stuff.
Just two 5-year-old girls seeing who is taller. Photo credit: @Telegramsam
While we could have spent nearly every day driving into Minneapolis exploring the city – we opted to sit back and let the kids play. We believe there is value in just PLAYING with other kids. While the kids giggled, ran around and played games – the adults had a great time visiting, too. We learned so much from both families – who have been doing this much longer than we have (the Schrum family have been on the road a year, the Curren family about a year and a half!).
Tips on maintenance, storage, organization – we all geeked out sharing our experiences and I’m grateful for the recommendations and advice we got from the other families. We stayed up late after the kids were in bed, chatting under a mosquito tent (we’re in Minnesota, remember?) and I’m grateful for the memories we made.
If you’re considering this lifestyle – I encourage you to check out Instagram and following families like the Currens (Sam here and Jess here and the main Currently Wandering feed here) and the Schrums here – and start connecting with other families on the road. You’ll be surprised how many amazing people are following their dreams and traveling with kids in tow.
How many kids can we fit on the slide? Photo credit: @UpInTheAirstream
After our time together, we all headed in different directions – but I’m confident our paths will cross again. Our kids are counting on it!
Leave a Reply