1: Welcome to The Halo Hauler

The idea of having a van was always sitting quietly in the back of my mind. It was one of those dreams I kept filed under “someday.” I talked about it quite a bit during the last few years before retirement, but I never really thought I would do it. Right after I retired, I even went to look at them. The wonderful sales lady at La Mesa RV listened to all my wants and what ifs and blah blah blah, and all the while I kept thinking that there was no way I could buy this thing. I loved it, but I knew I was not ready. Too much had changed at once and I was still trying to figure out how to be a real adult without the Navy holding my hand.

So I walked away, but the idea never left.

A year later I went back. Same model. Same feeling. A different version of me. I had spent the year reading and comparing different models, different manufacturers, and what features I liked and did not like. This time, I had a better understanding of my new life. I had recently lost my soul dog, Dakota, and was once again reminded that time waits for no one. I knew I needed to live my life. I was ready to make the commitment. I signed the papers, took a deep breath, and just like that, she was mine.

After Dakota died, I was not sure I could ever have another dog. Losing her was as bad as losing my mom and brother, except she was my constant and my every day, so in some ways it was worse. She had been my rock through the worst times in my life, and now I was truly alone. I believe in spirits and signs, and on my birthday a blonde lilac beagle with the prettiest eyes was born. The stars aligned and she also became mine, sent from above. Enter Halo.

Well, fun fact though. I know nothing about van life.
I know nothing about RV systems.
I know nothing about hookups, leveling, or what any of those mysterious buttons do.
I do not even really camp.

But here we go.
A fresh chapter.
A new sense of freedom.
And me, learning everything one mile at a time, one mistake at a time, and one moment of “wait, what does this do” at a time.

Just a girl and her puppy on the road learning to live.

Welcome to The Halo Hauler.
A Loose Gravel Journey.

Introduction to RV life