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Meet One of the Writers from Polka Dot Invitations: Marisa Roman

By now, you may be wondering a little bit about the author of these fabulously entertaining posts on the Polka Dot Invitations blog, right? Who the heck is this wordsmith genius?! Today we uncover the woman behind the curtain, and it’s none other than a wandering nomad who gave up her conventional lifestyle to live and travel in an RV full-time. How about that for an intro?

Officially, it’s been over a year since I gave up my nine-to-five job in South Florida to pursue a more non-conventional lifestyle. After doing things the “right way” my entire life—college, graduate school, career, etc…I realized quickly that something was missing. I wasn’t being fulfilled the way I ought to have been, especially since I checked everything off my goals list rather quickly. It took a few conversations with my girlfriend Vanessa, for us to realize that neither of us were particularly happy in our lives. From the outside, things seemed great. We had each other, well-paying careers, a beautiful bungalow by the beach, our health, and our little pet family. Yet, we couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something missing. We weren’t happy sitting in traffic 12+ hours a week. We weren’t happy paying $1350 in rent for a home we were barely in because we were always at work. We weren’t happy working harder to pay for things we really didn’t need. We weren’t happy with this conventional life that we were raised thinking was the key to happiness.

So, we took matters into our own hands. Together, we figured out what was missing: exploration, travel, new experiences, fewer bills and responsibilities, and true quality time together. Within a few months, we had quit our jobs, sold our belongings, and bought an RV we aptly dubbed Maude. Thus began the adventure of a lifetime.

As I mentioned earlier, we’ve been traveling full-time now for over a year. It’s been such a wild experience, discovering parts of this country we never knew existed. Some of the views and scenic vistas we explore are truly breathtaking. Here are a few shots from this past year.

Oftentimes, we’re asked how the heck we pay bills on the road? We pick up odd jobs here and there in order to gain new experiences and see what the country has to offer. Some work we’ve picked up in the past year includes Austin City Limits Festival, Sundance Film Festival, working on a farm/homestead in Tennessee, and Formula 1 to name a few. However, since I’m a writer by trade, it’s gigs like this one at Polka Dot Invitations, that allow me to live the life I dreamed, and propel my travels even further. What a difference it makes waking up in the morning and knowing you’re in complete control of your life, your decisions, and your direction. That thing that I mentioned earlier that I felt was always missing…no longer exists.

Is it sometimes tough living in 171-sq-feet of space with two humans and five animals? You bet. But I wouldn’t trade our little wandering home and our traveling troupe for anything else in the world.

If you feel like following along on the adventure with us, then head on over to our website: The Roamans Blog

Or follow us on Instagram: @the_roamans