Our story is a probably a classic one by yesterday’s standards. We met freshman year in college. Mike in a fraternity and Joanne in a sorority. Strange enough Mike went out with Joanne’s college roommate first while Joanne went our with Mike’s Big Brother in the fraternity.
Our first actual journey together took place when Mike gave Joanne rides home during college breaks with several other passengers, all hoping to share the gas expenses.
What blossomed into a terrific friendship freshman year and the start of sophomore year didn’t really move to a romantic one until, as Mike says: one Friday night we were both over-served at a Happy Hour and found ourselves blurring the lines of a great friendship and an aspiring romance.
Since that December 4, 1976 day we have been traveling this Revolutionary Journey together.
Joanne’s is the rock. She loves structure, rules, consistency, the outdoors , and likes to plan. She decided she wanted to be a teacher in 7th grade and has been following that passion ever since.
Mike is the yahoo. Always looking for adventure, change, fast pace, a challenge, and the next exciting technology, place or thing. Mike’s career path in contrast to Joanne’s has been as diverse and different as Joanne’s has been consistent. He has been in computer sales, and Officer in a billion dollar company, a franchise owner, a professional speaker/consultant, a technology company Director , and has owned his sports photography company BEAR Sports for the past 15 years. Metaphorically Mike often says: he’s a great bridge builder though unfortunately doesn’t like taking tolls.
After getting married in 1980 they spent the next 8 years starting careers, saving, and traveling. together.
Camping really wasn’t on Mike’s radar during those early years though Joanne came from a camping family. In fact she had already traveled across country camping twice before graduating from high school. Once with the Girls Scouts and once with her family.
In 1988 they decided to start a family and had a girl (Caitlin) and a boy (Sean).
Joanne’s memories of family camping vacations were positive and powerful and quickly influenced the family. Summer camping trips and family reunions camping at Assategue State Park (with the ponies) were going to be an important part of the kids and family’s future. Joanne’s family has been having summer reunions there for over 40 years,! Since those early camping days we have made the natural progression from tents, to pop-ups, to Hybrids/trailers, and now to a NEWMAR Class A RV. Our camping skills have come a long way over those years. Just ask Joanne’s Dad.
In 2001 we spent the summer camping and traveling the National Parks of the US so we could pass our love of the camping lifestyle to our children. Caitlin & Sean have commented many times, now that they are adults, that 12,000 mile camping trip was one of the greatest adventures/gifts of their younger years.
Reflecting on that trip and all the incredible experiences we have had while camping we have decided that in the near future we will become Fulltime Rv’ers and take this Revolutionary Journey to the next level camping not just part time but everyday…