Profile information
Travel information
We are currently
Travelling
Description
Hello! Dylan and Lucy here. We are a recently married couple, but we've been together for 10 years, and we're taking a break from our careers to travel the world. Our aims on our "honeymoon" are to transcend the mundane, see new places, learn new things, meet and help new people, and promote sustainable living where we can.
Dylan:
I come from a small town of 1,600 people in rural Iowa where farming is the main occupation, though I grew up on an acrage with no crops or livestock. Throughout my life, I have made an attempt to expand my horizons and to live life to the fullest. In my search for everything, I have found very few things that I don't enjoy. My hobbies include activities in the realms of nature, science, construction, music, art, and athletics and my passion lies in creating a more sustainable and intentional future for all. Professionally, I have a bachelors degree and a professional license in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in building systems (hvac, electrical, plumbing) and have worked to design a sustainable built environment for the last 5 years. However, I get tired of the fast pace of the construction industry, and sitting behind a desk, so I would like to use our travels to try different odd jobs that I have not had the pleasure of trying. My top 4 dream jobs are:
- Bicycle Delivery Person
- Goat Herder
- Ski/Snowboard Instructor
- Cafe Barista
My other goals for our trip are:
1. Help People - I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to travel, and as such I hope to use my knowledge, experience, and positivity to improve the lives of others. I want to help others realize their goals/dreams and share in the joy of life.
2. Learn about the world and myself - I am excited for the opportunity to travel around the world in order to reflect on what it means to be human and specifically what it means to be me. My goal is to learn as much as possible about the many different cultures, people, and places that we come across in order to find the things that I enjoy most. I want to enable myself to build my future around what I most enjoy.
3. Promote/Learn Sustainable/Self Sufficient Living - I have implemented many sustainable and self sufficient routines in my own life, but I want to help the world move to a sustainable future wherever I can, and learn better ways to live for the future of humanity. Whether it be by working on large scale projects or helping people with a backyard garden, I want to be less of the problem and more of the solution.
Lucy:
I am so excited for this opportunity to explore the world and get to know and serve amazing people from amazing places. From an early age, I knew that I had a passion for serving others; growing up with a brother with autism has fueled this passion and empathy for all living things throughout my life. I have found great purpose in fostering growth and creativity and giving people of all abilities a safe place to connect and be themselves. Pursuing this passion, I have spent my professional career in healthcare positions working with people with vaious healthcare needs.
Apart from serving others, my favorite hobbies include:
-Spending time outdoors with animals and plants; I love all animals and feel a kinship with most companion animals I come across. I have also spent time volunteering at local animal shelters. I take pride in my garden and house plants and enjoy learning from local organic farmers and foragers.
-Being creative and trying new things; my favorite creative outlet is painting but I also enjoy drawing, writing, singing, etc. I am eager to learn more about art forms I haven’t tried such as pottery and watercolors.
-Thrilling adventures; I would consider myself a thrill seeker. Most of the sports I am interested in involve adrenaline rushes including: snowboarding, rock climbing, kayaking, running, cross-country skiing, etc.
It is my lifelong dream to own a self-sufficient farm and garden that I can use as a naturalistic learning environment for children with special needs. A place where safety and healing are prioritized and everything is approached with curiosity. My goal for this upcoming year is to gather knowledge, wisdom, and guidance from the people I encounter as I serve their families and communities. I am on a journey to discover more about this beautiful world, its many cultures and rich history, in the process of finding myself.
Interests
Blogging
Charity work
Events & social
Fashion or beauty
Hiking
Books
DIY & crafts
Cooking & food
Drawing & painting
Water sports
History
Music
Winter sports
Pets
Sustainability
Mountain
Gardening
Dancing
Camping
Languages
Performing arts
Yoga / Wellness
Van life
Outdoor activities
Nature
Farming
Cycling
Culture
Animals
Adventure sports
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
French: BeginnerMore details about my language interests
We would be able to teach English as it is our first language, but would be interested in better developing our French and Spanish. We are also open to learning other languages!
Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn
We're interested in:
Charity Work
Animal Care
Life at a Farmstay
Some knowledge of:
Art Projects
Helping with Computers/ Internet
Eco Projects
Teaching
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Helping around the house
Being an elderly companion
Able to teach about:
Languages
General Maintenance
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Babysitting and creative play
More details about your skills
Dylan:
I enjoy manual labor, working with my hands, and planning out what the future could hold. I have a bachelor's degree and professional license in Mechanical Engineering and have skills in the following:
- Designing and installing mechanical/electrical/plumbing systems (including those that use renewable energy)
- Commissioning HVAC systems
- Building/remodeling/maintaining fences, buildings, homes, properties, and associated equipment
- Organic Gardening and small scale farming (gardens, orchards, chickens)
- Designing/installing/maintaining landscaping using both softscape (plants) and hardscape (stone/brick/pavers/concrete)
- Soapmaking
- Light automotive/small engine repair
Lucy:
I enjoy working with people, plants, and animals to help them live their best lives. I have a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and my skills and experiences include:
-3 years of Behavioral Therapy with children with autism and other healthcare needs, where I implemented treatments such as repetitive learning strategies with a focus on skill acquisition.
-2 years of managing a team of 20 healthcare professionals where I developed my collaboration, delegation, conflict resolution, and networking skills.
-5 years in the respite field assisting children and adults with various intellectual disabilities and handicaps in their homes and around the community. I was responsible for administering medical and general care as well as maintaining their homes (cooking, cleaning, DIY projects, etc.) to improve their daily lives and overall well being. I encouraged decision making and goal setting in this field and implemented daily recreational and therapeutic exercises and activities. I proudly advocated for my client’s rights, privacy, and equal treatment throughout my years serving these individuals.
-Outside of the professional realm, I have experience volunteering at local animal shelters and assisted with raising and caring for household animals such as dogs, cats, fish, rabbits, birds, snakes, and rodents. I have maintained my own organic garden for the past 4 years and assisted with planting and harvesting from community and family gardens.
Age
30 & 29
What else ...
As a couple, we enjoy a grand number of things that life has to offer. To name a few, we enjoy:
- Living healthfully and mindfully (organic/sustainable living and eating, yoga, meditation, etc.)
- Learning new things
- Spending time outdoors gardening, hiking, camping, bushcrafting, foraging, and generally immersing ourselves in nature
- Studying local flora and fauna and uses for the natural things around us
- Reading/Journaling/Drawing/Painting
- Playing boardgames, card games, and doing puzzles
- Adventure activities: Running, Kayaking, Snowboarding, Rock Climbing, Cycling
- Playing instruments, singing, and dancing
- Making/consuming good food and drink (including cooking, baking, fermenting, brewing, canning)
- Living in the company of good people and animals
Some more information
Smoker
Driver's licence
Allergies
Dylan - Tobramycin; Lucy - Penicillin and raw peppersSpecial dietary requirements
We prefer to eat a plant and fish based diet, but are willing to eat most food that would be provided.
