September 2023 Canlife Correspondence, Our Almost Monthly Newsletter
September was a BIG month! Our 23rd wedding anniversary, our 11th nomadiversary, the Largest RV Show in the country, the autumnal equinox, not to mention that this month threw in another trip back to Hutch's alma mater for the biggest swimming team reunion in Kenyon College's history - simply amazing to reconnect with nearly 500 of his teammates, representing 60 years. Throw in visits with friends from nearly every stage of our lives, all along the Rocky Mountain west and it has been such an epic 4 weeks that we needed to squeeze another day into the calendar. So, Happy September 31st! To be honest, Hutch thought there were 31 days in September already, which explains a lot, but also why this is coming out today!
“We are not meant to live in isolation. Not in nuclear families or bubbled existence. The richness of life is found in community, in cooperation, in becoming a part of a greater whole. Expand your bubble, drop your shield. Invite love in. Do not attempt to do it alone.” ~ Jeanette LeBlanc
The true gift of this lifestyle isn't just the wilderness, or the freedom, or the epic scenery, or the chances to find new meaning in challenging situations, it is also the connection and reconnection with so many people in our lives who are scattered across the continent. Our visits with old friends, with family and the chance to meet new ones keeps our community ever expanding. While we are never in one place for very long, the community we keep and how they contribute to our journey cannot be underestimated. This month has proven that again; but we have to work at it, we have to make the opportunities happen, we have to say yes, and reach out.
We are so grateful for everyone who comes to our shows, to our friends who reach out or respond in kind, and for the simple act of sharing a meal and meaningful conversation. If you haven't done this in a while with someone you love, give it a try. You'll probably be surprised to hear that they were "just thinking about you, too."
Video of the Month: 11 Years on the Road
We know you have questions, ask us your questions!
We have met thousands of people who tell us that we are living their road life dream. When we hear this, our response is always the same, "Don’t let us!" What’s
keeping you…?
We’ll be sharing our answers in weekly videos throughout the autumn and winter, and maybe something will show up here too? So respond to this newsletter, DM us on social media (Instagram & Facebook), subscribe to our YouTube channel, stop us on the street...whatever. Just keep those questions coming…we love them!
The crew at Renogy jumped in early and set up this conversation about 11 years of living with solar. Oh, how the times have changed in this short time!
Harvest Hosts: Extend Your Travel Season
If you aren't already a member, Harvest Hosts is a great way to extend RV travel into
fall and even winter, especially when many of the campgrounds in your area have
closed for the year. We’ve stayed on
farms, breweries, cideries, and in vineyards while traveling across the continent. We thoroughly enjoy supporting these local businesses who open their properties
to RVers through our Harvest Hosts membership. In addition to unique overnight stays, they
have recently added a whole host of new features to their already great app
including better search filters and saving your favorites.
Save 15% off your annual membership with our link and promo code "HHFRIENDS15"
America's Largest RV Show was a great success!
Many thanks to all of you who joined us for our seminars and welcome to all of our new subscribers and followers! If you’d have asked us 11 years ago if we’d be speaking at RV shows across the nation (especially when we didn’t even know that RV shows existed), we wouldn’t have believed you. Getting the opportunity to share with folks the insights that we’ve learned about living more sustainably while traveling the continent has been a real treat!
In Front of the Mic: Mark Your Calendars for our 2024 RV Show Seminars!
Our 2024 show schedule is coming together!
We’ve got 2 new shows for 2024 as well as some old favorites. Join us in January in Grand Rapids, MI, in
February in both Chattanooga, TN and Birmingham, AL and in September in
Hershey, PA. More details about locations and seminar topics here.
Blog of the Month:
Why Install Self-Heating LFP Batteries?
Cold weather is coming! We even saw our first snow of the season up at 8000+ feet in Yellowstone National Park last week. For those of you who boondock and need to reliably recharge your RV batteries during the chillier times of year, self-heating Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries are a fantastic new innovation that helps solar powered systems be more efficient, even when the outside temperatures have dropped far below freezing. Check out our recent blog to find out the details.
Fat Bear Week in Katmai National Park Alaska (October 4th - 10th)
If you haven’t yet followed the fun on the 
National Park Service Facebook page, you are in for a treat! Fat Bear Week celebrates the contenders of Ursus arctos horribilis (aka Grizzly Bears) who’ve gained the most weight over the
summer before heading into their big nap for the winter. Hibernation to bears, other mammals, reptiles, and even some birds looks different depending upon the environmental situation and the species. Most hibernation occurs over winter, but did you know that some animals hibernate to avoid heat?
Favorite Nature Podcast: Outside / In
Are you a fellow Nature Nerd? Check out the Outside/In Podcast https://www.npr.org/podcasts/497561702/outside-in for some fun program about flora and fauna as well as the latest research about climate change and sustainability. Research shows that people who spend time outside doing human powered activities and take an interest in the natural world are often healthier, happier, and feel comfortable staying out longer.
International Balloon Fiesta 2023, Albuquerque, New Mexico
We are enroute to volunteer at the 51st International Balloon Fiesta as we write this newsletter! We're going to take A LOT OF PICTURES & VIDEO! So stay tuned for next month's newsletter as it will be filled with colorful pictures as well as some shots of the Annular Solar Eclipse which will pass right through Albuquerque on Saturday, October 14. Nope, we aren't excited or anything?!
Over the years, we have volunteered in a number of places from small, family-owned organic farms across the nation to international organizations in Africa to America's National Parks. Want to learn how you can volunteer from the road? Check out our resource page and video.
Parting Shot: The BEST Anniversary Photo Shoot EVER!
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