About Us
Not Lost… Just Living Differently
When Everything Shifted
My superintendent job came to an end, and at the same time, rent in the city didn’t just go up it doubled… in some cases even more.
We were suddenly faced with a decision that a lot of families are quietly dealing with right now:
Do we stretch ourselves thin just to stay…
or do we build something different?
We chose different.
Meet the Team
We’re Colleen, Mark, Cameron, our toddler, and our wild crew of four Jack Russells plus Tuxedo the cat living full-time in our 37.5 ft Mountain Aire RV somewhere around the GTA.
What started as a “well, what now?” moment when rent skyrocketed turned into a full-blown nomadic life we never saw coming.
These days, we wouldn’t trade the privacy we’ve built for anything. No shared walls, no common spaces, just our little home on wheels and the freedom that comes with it. It’s a mix of early mornings, muddy paws, toddler giggles, diesel heaters, coffee on the dash, and figuring it out as we go.
Somewhere along the way, we realized we couldn’t go back to apartment living or renting a small space like a basement. We don’t miss sharing our home with others who don’t hold the same hygiene standards or everyday rhythms we value.
Mark keeps things grounded with his steady work, I keep everything running behind the scenes, and Cameron leads the way with curiosity and chaos. It’s not always easy, it’s definitely not picture-perfect, but it’s ours, and we’re living it fully.
Meet Our FAMILY
Happily Homeless Toronto
Our Story
This didn’t start with a dream to live in an RV.
It started with life shifting… slowly at first, then all at once.
Mark and I met online. No big moment, no dramatic story, just two people connecting and seeing where it went. And honestly, he was the only guy around my age that I didn’t already know, so I figured I’d give
it a shot.
At the time, neither of us was starting from perfect places.
Mark was working as a night manager at a grocery store and was already committed to his recovery journey after struggling with addiction earlier in life. I was in the middle of a divorce, trying to hold things together while figuring out what life was going to look like next.
What we built together has never been flashy, but it was real. It was steady.
Before the RV, before everything shifted, we had built a life in Toronto that was comfortable. Work, routine, and the little things we loved like RC hobbies, biking, and day trips.
We spent over 10 years in the same apartment on Kennedy Road in Scarborough. We had established careers, three vehicles, our pets Shadow, Abigail, and Tuxedo, and a place that truly felt like home. We weren’t struggling; we were enjoying our lives.
Then the pandemic hit, and like a lot of people, things started to change.
Mark’s job stayed steady, but mine didn’t.
After a life-altering moment, I started to see things differently. The stress of corporate work, something I had carried for over 25 years across multiple roles, finally caught up with me. For the first time, I knew something had to change.
During that time, we took on a superintendent position in a condo building right next door to where we were living. It felt like a step forward.
A two-bedroom unit, utilities included, internet, cable, washer, and dryer.
On paper, it looked perfect.
But it didn’t turn out that way.
I was wrongfully terminated. I did win my case, but what matters most is what came after.
When we went back to look for a place again on the same street we had called home for over a decade, everything had changed. That same apartment was now over $2,100 a month, plus $150 per car for parking, with utilities not included.
And that’s when it hit us. We could keep chasing rising costs, or we could choose something completely different.
The thing is, RV life wasn’t a brand-new idea for us. We had already been looking at RVs for a year or two before any of this happened. It was always something in the background. Something we thought we might try for weekends(RC events or parks) or travel. We weren’t planning to go full-time.
But when everything shifted, that idea came back in a much bigger way.
What started as a “maybe someday” turned into a real decision.
And even then, this wasn’t about saving money. We didn’t go into this thinking it would be cheaper. We knew living this way full-time, especially in Ontario, Canada, could be just as expensive depending on the season. Fuel costs, maintenance, heating, power, it all adds up. And now, with gas and diesel prices where they are, budgeting is something we’re constantly managing.
In July 2022, we had some serious out of now where decisions to make. We went to look at an RV, the same one we’re still living in today. Mark had been watching it for about a year, noticing the price slowly dropping. We decided that buying an RV was the way we wanted to go, and we decided to just go see it.
In July 2022, we had some serious out of now where decisions to make. We went to look at an RV, the same oneWhen we stepped inside, it felt like something we could actually make work. Not perfect. Not brand new. But solid, practical, and something we could turn into our home.
In late July 2022, we bought our RV, a 1999 Newmar Mountain Aire.
In August 2022, we moved out. No long transition. No backup plan. Just go.
We spent three nights in a hotel finishing the roof, one night in Mark’s friend Stan’s driveway, and then stepped straight into RV life.
Our first real stop was Indian Line Conservation, where we learned everything from scratch. Water, power, tanks, space, all while wondering if we had just made the biggest decision of our lives.
That first year to year and a half was a crash course. We learned how to fix things on the fly. We figured things out as systems failed and real life hit. And when we couldn’t figure it out ourselves, we called our trusted RV tech and kept going.
Nothing about this lifestyle came easy. We learned it by living it, one mistake at a time.
In October 2022, we lost our dog, Abigale. She had been battling a brain tumor for a long time. She wasn’t just one of our dogs. She was my first, my best friend, and my constant.
She’s still part of this story. She always will be.
From late 2022 into 2023, we lived fully nomadic around North York, Scarborough, and Toronto. Parking lots, quiet streets, industrial areas, green spaces like hydro areas with gardens, and parks that allow you to stay. Moving often. Learning constantly. Making mistakes. Slowly, it started to feel normal.
In the spring of 2023, Ladybird came into our lives and brought a whole new energy into our home. We tried campground living again for a bit, but it didn’t feel like us. So we went back to moving, adapting, and figuring it out as we went.
Through 2023 into early 2024, things started to click.
Mark was now shifting his career (still his favorite job to do)
and worked as a tow operator (June 2023 – End of Feb 2024), and we had a setup where we could park on the work side of the road and move every few days. To this day, this is one of our favorite places to stay. The nature is amazing, and we were able to enjoy it.
Then we shifted west toward Mississauga for Mark’s new job, going back into heavy equipment operating (March 2024), and on the fifth of May 2024, Cameron was born by emergency c-section.
Everything changed again, navigating recovery from an emergency C - Section, enduring the nasty, mean, crazy people at Indianline Campground, and trying to enjoy every moment I can with Cameron.
Later that year, in October, Ladybird and Chase had five puppies, which meant our already small space got even fuller. More noise, more mess, more chaos, more love.
After our horrible experience with seasonal living, we stepped away and went back to what feels right for us, and living this life in real time again. Weather watching, planning our next six moves, and planning safe places to stay for a short time.
We do have a bit of a base through Mark’s work, where we’re able to mochdock for hydro (especially in the super cold winter and hot summer), which has been a huge support for us. They also help us out with water fill-ups a few times a week. Even with that, we’re still fully nomadic and move often.
From the beginning, the plan was to live off Mark’s income alone.
I would stay with the RV, not just to care for our pets, but to manage systems; an RV isn’t something you can leave unattended.
If something goes wrong, someone needs to be there.
This wasn’t about escaping responsibility. It was stepping into a different kind of responsibility.
At the same time, going back to renting just didn’t feel right for us. The cost was overwhelming, but it was more than that. We now have four dogs and a cat. Finding a place that would realistically accept that, and give them the space they deserve, just wasn’t something we saw working. And even beyond that, we didn’t want to go back to apartment living.
The constant repairs. Elevators breaking. Hot water issues. Trying to maintain a lifestyle that didn’t feel aligned, and constantly having landlords needing access whenever they decide. Living wall-to-wall with people who don’t share the same standards.
The noise. The smells. The lack of control over your own space.
It just wasn’t for us anymore at the end of the day; this wasn’t just about money. It was about how we wanted to live.
We’re now several years into this. Raising a toddler. Managing multiple pets. Navigating Ontario's four seasons. Moving regularly.
Some days are calm. Some days are chaotic.
But this life? It’s ours.
This spring feels like a milestone in so many ways.
On May 5th, 2026, Cameron will turn 2.
On May 14th, I will turn 46.
On May 18th, Mark and I celebrate 16 years together.
And on June 6th, Mark turns 50.
If things line up this spring, summer, and fall, we hope to explore a few campgrounds along the way, testing out different spots to see which ones truly feel right for us, with the hope of returning to the ones that fit our lifestyle best or that we can add into a rotating schedule.
Life looks very different from what we ever imagined, but somehow now it feels exactly like where we’re meant to be.
For now, we’re taking it day by day, open to the road, open to change, and ready to adapt whenever this life calls for it.
Our Families Nomadic Timeline
2022
July 2022 — Bought our RV (1999 Newmar Mountain Aire)
August 10, 2022 — Moved out of our superintendent condo in Scarborough, Ontario
Stayed in a hotel for 3 nights while completing the roof
1 night in Mark’s friend Stan’s driveway
August 14–20, 2022 — 1 week at Indian Line Conservation (Brampton)
Our first real stop learning RV systems
September 9–16, 2022 — 1 week at Indian Line Conservation
October 15–17, 2022 — 2 nights at Indian Line Conservation
October 28 – December 1, 2022 — Post-season stay at Indian Line Conservation
October 2022 — Lost our dog Abigale 💔 (brain tumor)
August 2022 – Mid-April 2023
Full-time nomadic living (approx. 9 months)
Areas: North York, Scarborough, Toronto
2023
April 10 – May 26, 2023 — Camp stay at Indian Line Conservation (46 days)
Placed in the Poplar section (not a great fit for us)
During this time, Mark made the decision to change jobs due to stress in heavy equipment work
Spring 2023 (March/April) — Added Ladybird ❤️
June 2023 – End of February 2024
Full-time nomadic living (approx. 9 months)
Main area: Sewells Road, Scarborough
Mark worked as a tow operator
Company owner allowed us to park nearby
Access to hydro when needed
Moved the RV every few days
2024
March 2024 – April 19, 2024 — Nomadic (6–7 weeks)
Area: Mississauga / West End
Mark’s work allowed parking
Unlimited water access available
April 19 – May 3, 2024 — Pre-season stay at Indian Line Conservation
May 2024 — Cameron was born 💙
May 3 – November 3, 2024 — Full seasonal stay at Indian Line Conservation
Seasonal living didn’t align with our lifestyle
August 2024 — Ladybird became pregnant
Late October 2024 — Ladybird and Chase’s puppies were born 🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶
November 2024 – January 2025
Parked beside Mark’s work shop
Later asked to move due to property appearance expectations
2025
January 2025 – Present (2026)
Fully nomadic living
Moving regularly, especially through winter
Adjusting travel based on weather and RV limitations
Spending time exploring the waterfront and beachfront areas
2026
Our hopes if we can afford it, is to do a nomadic Niagara Falls trip
Testing and reviewing RV parks within one hour of Toronto
Family Milestones
August 2022 — Started RV life with Chase, Abigale, and Tuxedo
October 2022 — Lost Abigale 💔
Spring 2023 — Added Ladybird
August 2023 — Became pregnant with Cameron
May 2024 — Cameron was born 💙
October 2024 — Puppies were born 🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶
Why a Class A
We didn’t choose a motorhome because it looked cool; we chose it because it made sense for how we needed to live. Right from the beginning, we knew we weren’t weekend campers. This was going to be full-time, in every season, here in Ontario., Canada. That meant we needed something self-contained, something we could move quickly, and something that didn’t require setting up and tearing down every time we did move.
A Class A gave us that. Everything is in one space: you drive, you park, and you live. At a time when life already felt uncertain, we needed our home to feel as simple and manageable as possible.
Our Home on Wheels
Our home is a 1999 Mountain Aire Newmar, and honestly, she found us more than we found her. She wasn’t perfect, and she certainly isn't brand new, but she was solid, warm, and built in a way that made sense for real, everyday living, not just weekends away.
Over time, we’ve learned every inch of this coach. We’ve figured out how it works, how it breaks, how to fix it, and how to truly make it ours. She’s not just an RV; she’s the reason this life works.
How It All Started
There wasn’t a big, dramatic moment where we felt like we had everything figured out. It was messy, fast, and honestly a little scary.
We went from living in a condo to moving into a motorhome, and just like that, everything changed. We downsized our entire life, learned how the systems worked as we went, made mistakes, and slowly built a rhythm that made sense for us.
There was no perfect beginning. There was just a decision to not pay someone else's bills by paying double the rent, and this was followed by a whole lot of figuring things out along the way.
The Reality of This Life
Ontario winters don’t care that you live in an RV. We’ve lived through freezing temperatures, snowstorms, condensation issues, frozen lines, and long nights managing heat just to keep everything running. Winter in a motorhome isn’t cozy Instagram content; it’s about systems, planning, and constant awareness of what’s happening around you and inside your home.
At the same time, it teaches resilience. It shows you what you’re actually capable of handling when things aren’t easy.
Parking is another reality people often underestimate. There is no one solution, and no two days look exactly the same. It becomes a constant rotation between industrial areas, parking lots, and legal spaces. You move often, stay quiet, and learn to respect the space around you. Over time, you learn where you’re welcome and where you’re not, and that awareness becomes part of your daily routine.
Bylaw is also part of this lifestyle, whether people openly talk about it or not. We’ve had knocks, conversations, and situations that tested both our patience and our confidence. Through those experiences, we’ve learned to stay calm, respectful, and informed. This isn’t about avoiding rules; it’s about understanding how this lifestyle fits into a system that was never really designed for it.
And truthfully, this life isn’t always easy. Things break, plans change, the weather hits at the worst times, and there are moments when everything feels overwhelming. There are days when you question what you’re doing and whether it’s all worth it. But those moments pass, and what you’re left with is a life that you chose for yourself.
Life as a Family
Cameron is growing up in a way that looks very different from what most people would consider normal. He is learning through movement, new environments, changing views, and a lifestyle that isn’t tied to one place. His version of normal is built around adaptability, curiosity, and being surrounded by us every single day.
Then there are our dogs. Four Jack Russells Chase, Ladybird, Tatonka, and Dip-Dip each bring their own personalities, energy, and routines into our small space. Chase and Ladybird are the parents of Tatonka and Dip-Dip. It’s chaotic, loud, and sometimes overwhelming, but it has also taught us patience, structure, and how to live with a lot of love in a very limited space.
Tuxedo, our cat, balances everything out. He’s calm, observant, and completely unbothered by the chaos around him. He has adapted to this life in his own way, finding his routines and his comfort in a world that is always changing.
Living in a small space as a family isn’t about squeezing in or making do. It’s about learning what actually matters. You become more intentional, more organized, and more aware of how you live day to day. There may be less space, but there is far more connection.
Why We Share This
When we first started this lifestyle, we didn’t have clear answers. We saw the highlight reels online, but we didn’t see the reality behind them. We didn’t see the hard days, the learning curves, or the moments where you question everything. Because of that, we made a decision early on to share this life honestly. We didn’t want to show only the good parts; we wanted to show the real ones, too. The truth is, living this way is possible, but it takes more than just wanting it. It takes backbone, planning, a sense of adventure, and a willingness to learn and grow as you go.
What We Hope You Take From This
We’re not here to tell you to live the same way we do. What we do hope is that by sharing our experience, you start to see that there are other ways to live. You can come along with us and learn with us, and better yet, learn from our mistakes so you do not make them.
You can question what feels “normal,” build something different, and create a life that fits you better. Even when things feel messy or uncertain, it is possible to figure it out over time.
What We Do
I share our journey to help future and curious nomads understand what this lifestyle actually looks like, especially here in Ontario, Canada, or in a four-season climate. I talk about the real costs, the real challenges, and the day-to-day reality of living this way so people can make informed decisions and avoid common mistakes.
Behind the scenes, I’m the one caring for our home, managing life with Cameron and our animals, and creating everything you see across our platforms. From filming and editing to writing, designing, and building out our website and digital guides, I handle the full creative side of our brand while keeping our day-to-day life running.
Mark works full-time as a heavy equipment operator, and his steady schedule is what allows us to maintain this lifestyle. His work brings structure to our days, while everything else we’ve built fits around it.
And Cameron… well, his daily role is to explore, learn, and keep us on our toes. His days are filled with movement, curiosity, snacks, and discovering the world around him in a way that only a toddler can. He’s growing up right alongside this lifestyle, and in many ways, he’s at the center of everything we do.
Then there’s the rest of our crew. Chase, Ladybird, Tatonka, and Dip-Dip, our four Jack Russells, bring energy, routine, and a whole lot of personality into our everyday life. They keep us active, keep things loud, and definitely keep things interesting in a small space. And Tuxedo, our cat, balances it all out. He’s calm, observant, and perfectly content doing his own thing, even in the middle of all the chaos.
Together, we’re not experts; we’re just living this life every single day and sharing what we learn along the way so others can decide if this path is right for them.