The Waiting Place: Meet the Crew

Hi and welcome! We are so glad you’re joining us here for this grand adventure!

We are a family of four (plus dog) who are selling almost everything we own and planning the experience of a lifetime! We are currently in the process of selling our belongings in preparation to sell our home in the Chicago suburbs. We recently bought an RV and truck, to become full-time RVers and roadschoolers. Our timeline is two years to travel around many of the lower 48 states, then our plan is to settle back down in TN where the winters aren't as brutal as IL.

Let's begin with introductions...I’m Kara, the mom and main writer behind The Waiting Place. If you’re here to learn more about who we are and why we have decided to travel full-time, then you’ve come to the right place! But first, let me introduce you to our crew:

Nick is the adventure leader and the rig driver. He loves being in nature, whether it is hiking, biking or running. He is most looking forward to this RV life to experience new places with his favorite people!

Kara is a creative person through and through, always having her hand in some project or another. You can find her sipping decaf coffee, reading a good fiction book, blogging, cooking vegan recipes, and simply enjoying family time. Professionally, Kara loves to support businesses by incorporating beautiful designs. She currently works as a freelance graphic designer and content writer, specializing in advertising, marketing, and editorial design. You can see her work, along with her personal blog at KaraSmith.me.

Valor is the oldest who is a kindhearted boy that loves nature and all things creative. He enjoys drawing, engineering robot ideas in his head, and is an excellent storyteller. He lives for parties and is always up for a new adventure.

True is the youngest, whom we affectionately call “Smiley Smith,” because he has been wearing a smile on his face since birth. He’s a toddler who fiercely loves all things vehicles and looks up to his big bro.

Braxton is our dog. His original adoption papers say he’s a maltipoo, but we definitely think there is something else in that mix. We bought him off of a Craigslist post, and he has been with our family almost nine years.