Living In Beauty

We could be in New Orleans right now.

Journaling our travels is like a two-fer. First, we get to go there, and later while creating the blog, we kind of get to go there again to say a proper goodbye.

But, whenever we think about New Orleans, it's not about closure, it's about planning our next stay.

Something keeps calling us back to The Big Easy. Each time we return we feel more like locals with a better understanding and appreciation for the cuisine, the music, and the most unique cultural history in America.

The post Civil Rights Trail – Chapter 5: New Orleans appeared first on Living In Beauty.

We're here! We're ok!

You haven't heard from us in a while, but that's because we've been out adventuring. Oh boy, have we been adventuring – but more about that later.

For the next few ... however long it takes ... I will be handling the blog solo. That's right, Living in Beauty will be the "Jim Show" until Carmen writes a first draft of her screenplay.

Living in Beauty isn't just sun-kissed scampering these days.

We've been busy. Beauty is serving as Carmen's writing retreat and my comfort station following a short stint as a camp host.

As we age, we don't want to lose the feeling that every day is a deeper plunge into beauty in every color and dimension, for as far as the eye can see ...

The post Olly Olly Oxen Free appeared first on Living In Beauty.

Today we start our 9th year traveling full-time in our 2001 30' Airstream.

Grooving on numbers and designing colorful infographics based on analysis is my thing – not so much for Carmen. Every Living in Beauty Anniversary, she steps aside as I release the pretty shiny numbers.

Even if you don't like numbers, you can depend on them. I mean it doesn't seem that long ago since we left Fiddler's Cove on a beautiful summer day in 2016 ...

.. and here we are, still Out There in 2024, wrapping up 8 years of freedom of movement, living wherever we want whenever we want. A lifestyle widely known as "Living The Dream," which we call Living in Beauty.

We're looking forward to a fantastic and adventurous, yet slower and more immersive 9th year. But, today, we're looking back at what we've already experienced in our first 8 years of full-time travel.

The post The Magic of Number Nine appeared first on Living In Beauty.

"What's the most amazing place you've ever seen?"

We're asked this question so often we should print the answer on our t-shirts.

We always respond with something impressive: "The Canadian Rockies," "Autumn in Vermont," "Yukon," "Denali," "The Outer Banks," "The Upper Peninsula," or "Canyonlands!" And, with all sincerity, any one (or every single one) of those responses is true.

But, in the course of a passing conversation, it's way too blunt to surrender the most complete and truthful answer: "The most amazing place on Earth is ... right here, right now."

If nature can explain the universe and our place in it, then Cane Creek Park served us well for our two week maximum stay.

The post Campground Review: Cane Creek Park, Waxhaw, North Carolina appeared first on Living In Beauty.

In honor of the upcoming Juneteenth National Independence Day, we are publishing our latest blog post on our Civil Rights Trail journey in the deep South.

As we drove north toward Mound Bayou, on our way to the King Biscuit Blues Festival, we expected to visit a Museum, but we soon discovered that the entire town is a museum.

If you've ever heard of Mound Bayou, then you are the exception.

Former slaves, left to their own resources, built a city that actually thrived all the way into the Civil Rights era... in Mississippi.

Mound Bayou is a remarkable story of Brothers – the Davis brothers and the Montgomery brothers, who knew each other almost intimately, whose children played together and studied together, yet shared nothing in common as they worked side-by-side to opposite ends.

This is a story for our time.

The post Civil Rights Trail – Chapter Four: Mound Bayou, Mississippi appeared first on Living In Beauty.

"So, what's it like to live in an Airstream?"

The answer to that question changes about every two weeks.

The short answer is, "It's magical."

We just released a short documentary about living in Beauty, pursuing moments that add up to dreams.

The post A Day in Beauty appeared first on Living In Beauty.

Merging onto The Blues Trail from the Civil Rights Trail and the Emmett Till Memorial was effortless, and necessary.

We've heard that when life gets heavy, The Blues can soothe woes.

It was almost Opening Day of the annual Clarksdale Juke Joint Festival, and we needed to blow off some steam.

The post Civil Rights Trail – Chapter Three: Juke Joint Festival – Clarksdale, Mississippi appeared first on Living In Beauty.

Our Civil Rights Trail tour began with the Emmett Till Memorial – a good place to start, for several reasons.

First, the murder of Emmett Till launched the Civil Rights movement.

Second, our destination for the night, The Emmett Till Intrepid Center was a scenic Sunday drive from Dad's house in Decatur, Mississippi.

Third, it was Spring – the most beautiful season in Mississippi – when it is customary to reflect on new beginnings, redemption, and reconciliation – these are ideal conditions to immerse in the life-and-death story of Emmett Till.

The post Civil Rights Trail – Chapter Two: Emmett Till appeared first on Living In Beauty.

Every year of Living in Beauty is memorable and different.

Some years are spectacular and adventurous from start to finish.

Other years are simply focused on relaxing color and scenery, or romance and celebration.

Spring, Summer, and Autumn '23 on The Civil Rights Trail with side trips through The Great Smoky Mountains and The Blue Ridge was definitely our happiest year on the road.

I understand if you think I misspoke. How on earth can nine months of immersion into the story of a people's bloody struggle to restore and maintain their lives, dignity, faith, and patriotism, against all odds, be a happy thing?

Honestly, we're still trying to figure that out.

The post Civil Rights Trail – Chapter One: Introduction appeared first on Living In Beauty.

Pitching a tent on Christmas Eve under the stars is an old tradition we picked up from a family of refugees.

You’ve heard the story.

In a time of war and occupation – a man and his pregnant wife – are forced to travel long-distance on foot to register. Arriving to their destination the woman falls into labor and every room in the city is occupied. Giving birth in the street is not an option because cars haven’t been invented yet. Seeing their distress, a lovely hotel manager says, “Don’t worry, be happy” and directs the refugees to a nearby stable.

It’s an old story we see playing out every day as people are caught up or drawn into miserable situations. But dwelling on the socio-political details behind the holy-family’s hardships – and without looking further than the obvious religious message – misses the key point which is: Eventually, everything’s gonna be alright.

Celebrating our 8th Christmas traveling full-time, we share a message of joy and peace with you, our followers.

The post 8 Christmases in Beauty appeared first on Living In Beauty.