From Riches To Rags – On Purpose – 2.0
Hi, we’re Jim and Carol — and we live by what we call The Long Yes.
The Long Yes is saying yes to a life that keeps unfolding, one honest day at a time.
Before this life, we lived a very different one. We owned a 4,000-square-foot home with a pool on an acre in suburban Chicago, plus two additional properties — a photography studio and a business condominium for a company we’d run for over 30 years.
And then we sold it all.
Every stick. Every brick.
In July of 2015, our family of three — Jim, Carol, our teenage son Brian — along with our three dogs, set out to travel the United States full-time in an RV. Family and friends thought we were a little nuts. We thought it was time.
That first year on the road changed everything.
Later, life called us back to East Tennessee to be near family during a medical crisis with our infant grandson. We settled near the Smoky Mountains, renovated two homes, and continued traveling whenever we could — always knowing the road wasn’t done with us yet.
And on May 17, 2024, we said yes again.
We sold it all once more and returned to full-time RV life — this time just Jim and Carol, along with our three dogs (until we said goodbye to our 15-year-old pup in January 2025). Our son has grown and flown, and the road looks different now — quieter, slower, and more intentional.
What This Life Is Really About
We don’t believe full-time RV life is about escape, downsizing, or chasing a trend.
For us, it’s about staying — with our time, our health, our marriage, and the days we’re given.
That’s where The Long Yes comes in.
We make decisions — about travel, gear, routines, and work — through one simple question:
Does this help us keep saying yes to this life?
Comfort matters. Health matters. Peace of mind matters. The little things that reduce friction matter more than flashy upgrades or hustle culture.
That’s why, when we recommend products or tools, they’re things we actually use to make this lifestyle sustainable — not just exciting for a season, but livable for the long road ahead.
A Few Things You’ll Find Here
- Honest stories from full-time RV life
- Travel experiences across the U.S.
- Practical ways to make RV living more comfortable and calm
- Products and tools we use and trust (often linked for convenience)
- Reflections on choosing life before postponing it
If something doesn’t support The Long Yes, we don’t share it.
A Little More About Us
Our current RV is an Entegra Diesel Pusher, which we found quite by accident at the Tampa RV Supershow (fair warning: don’t go if you’re “just looking”). It gives us a smooth, quiet ride and enough space to live comfortably with our dogs.
We still maintain portions of our long-running business and investment income, allowing us to travel without rushing or grinding. You can find that business at bestprepress.com.
Carol is also a professional photographer, specializing in landscape and nature photography. Her work is available on Fine Art America, and her stock photography can be found on Shutterstock and Adobe Stock.
We also share our adventures and everyday life on the road over on our YouTube channel, where things are real, sometimes funny, sometimes messy — and always honest.
Welcome
This space is for people who already feel the pull of the road — and for those who are wondering if it’s time to stop waiting.
We’re glad you’re here.
— Jim & Carol
Just saw your RV as we were riding around Pirate Land with our grandson this evening. We are expectantly searching for the right RV. If we see you out would love to chat a bit.
Hi Tracy!
If the green jeep is here, we’re here, though it may be too hot to be out.
Nikko the huskie dog is always out but he is harmless.
Feel free to drop by anytime.
Jim and Carol
Hey guys, a coworker and myself just saw you in Kilgore Texas. One of your dogs was sitting looking out the front drivers window. My family owns a motorhome and we travel weekend trips around East Texas. We also normally do a summer vacation with our two sons. My wife and I have often talked about doing exactly what you are. How cool that you’re traveling and seeing the US. Stay safe on the road and happy travels…