Katie Botwin grew up in Chicago and began traveling at a young age. She never imagined she would end up surfing in Canada, skiing in Japan, climbing the rugged Tetons or living in a 60-meter van.2.
For four years of relentless adventure and nomadic wandering, Katie and her partner Drew led a life on the move. Until last year, they felt the need to change things up and settled down in a snowy town in California, USA.
"After slowing down, I realized I wasn't running away from home. I was running to find myself," Katie told Insider.
Katie Botwin reads a book in a van in Mexico
Growing up and living in the suburbs
As a teenager, Katie felt deep down that she didn't belong in Chicago. She began to question her place in the world, and wanted to learn more about life outside.
"If everyone I grew up with was happy in the suburbs, then there was nothing wrong with the suburbs themselves. I just didn't quite fit in," Katie shared.
She left Chicago for college and the worries of life made her forget her original intention. Until after graduating from college, she started her journey of traveling. She discovered happiness in activities like hiking, camping, climbing and photography. Katie was hooked.
A life partner with shared interests
Katie met Drew and the two immediately found common ground in love. Instead of finding an apartment, the two built an old Chevy Express van to live together. The van had a small kitchen, a bed, and a wood-burning stove. The wood panels and blue paint made the 60 m box2It looked like a house filled with laughter and their dancing.
Katie and Drew with their truck in Canada
Katie then became a freelance photographer, working in cafes, libraries, and parking lots. Their first truck trip was filled with unforgettable memories. They rode along the rocky coast of Oregon, watched the Pacific sunset, and took a rain shower in Canada. Next was a journey through the American West, from the winding rivers of Wyoming to the deserts of Utah. And finally, the rocky coasts of the Pacific Northwest.
Even when they're not in the car, Katie and Drew are filling their schedules with new adventures. They went to Japan for two months to ski.
“I have grown and learned a lot from the experiences we have had together during this time,” Katie said.
Worrying about the worries ahead
Katie and Drew’s priceless treasures were the photos they took on each trip. But sometimes she felt overwhelmed by the fear of not being able to make concrete progress in her life. Her fear of a static life grew. The couple decided to pause their journey at a cabin in a Sierra ski town.
“After years of traveling, I'm surprised I can actually enjoy the silence,” says Katie.
A ski resort in Japan
The home gave her time to think, to sort through memories and moments. She chose to work through her worries rather than run away from them. Katie realized that quiet doesn’t have to mean stagnation. For some, travel is a way to heal or an escape from the harshness of reality. For Katie, it’s a little bit of both.
Over the years, Katie and Drew have pursued new places and new adventures. But their most exciting adventures these days don’t involve passports, hiking boots, or skis. They simply read a good book in their favorite chair by the fire, write in their journal, and make new friends.
