Ordinary Sherpa: Family Adventure Coaching and Design Heidi Dusek

Our guests today are parents we met at a playground in Alaska.  Our lives intersect through many similar interests and after a 2+ hour parking lot conversation, some time together geocaching, a beach day with swimmers itch and swapping favorite RV stories I decided it would be great to continue the conversation on the podcast. Christine and David  vistit their Alaska roots each summer but align with International Teaching community.  With previous placements in Jamaica, China and Guatemala and the unique decisions and lessons that accompanied each stage.   Join us as we talk through how they navigate us through their adventurous lifestyle at various stages of life with kids.  

Show Notes for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/133
Downloadable Joy Audit: https://ordinarysherpa.podia.com/joy-audit-tracking-form
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In true RV fashion, this loop has not been unscathed from RV fixes.  As we field more and more inquiries about RV life, one area that comes up are in the technical aspects of RV ownership.  In our transition to RV life, my husband went from being a high school tech ed teacher (IE shop classes) to becoming a certified RV technician.  If you or someone you know is interested in RVing or looking for resources when it comes to owning an RV and the maintenance required, Brent (my husband) is a handy resource to have.  His Downloadable RV Inspection Form is a helpful starting point to buying  and maintaining an RV for your family adventures. 

Another fantastic resource is our guest today.  We met through the RV Entrepreneur podcast and later met in person at the RV Entrepreneur Roundtable.  He is a full-time RVer, a proud father and husband, and a total RV junkie. He is the master of practical tips and unique perspectives while RVing, from awesome gear reviews to exciting DIY projects and lots of tips in between on his channel.  We’ll talk through his own RV journey, the process for making RV decisions and approaches establishing an RV lifestyle with a family, even if just for weekend adventures.  He is a skilled storyteller, a gear guru, and a master in creating community and organizing in-person events evidenced by his recent RV Content Creators Meet up at the Tampa RV Show. 
Show Notes for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/132
For those interested in RV adventures, use this downloadable inspection form to save time, catch potential issues early, and enjoy peace of mind on your travels. If you are looking to learn more about RV gear, tips and hacks check out Joshua’s channel or follow him at any of the links below.  
To Follow Josh Sheehan and his RV Gear and adventures
Website: https://rvgearandfar.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rvgearandfar
Email Newsletter: https://rvgearandfar.com/newsletter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rvgearandfar/ 
TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@rvgearandfar
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/rvgearandfar 
Mastermind Group: RV Content Creators
 

In the fast-paced world, where every moment seems to be driven by deadlines, notifications, and the relentless pursuit of productivity, there's a quiet revolution taking place—one that involves the deliberate act of hitting pause. II have hit pause several times on the podcast this year.  In spite of a underlying sense of guilt, I dug deeper into the transformative power of intentionally taking breaks, as experienced by someone who decided to embrace the "Power of Pause" in a year like no other during our family gap year. 
I recognize I am publishing this episode while steeped in the emerging fresh slate of a New Year and the declaration of new goals and intentions.   It was on purpose, hopefully it will remind you to stop, take a deep breath and notice - even if for a few minutes.  Give yourself a grace period to regroup after the holiday season.  If you’d like to consider how you might be intention and explore collective pause with your partner or family members, the joy audit downloadable form (downloadable form) can be a helpful tool to consider the spikes of joy you have experienced this year to set you on a path to support designing your life to include intentional pauses.  If you need a Sherpa, schedule a coaching discovery session (email me to schedule) and we can talk it out. 
Complete show notes: Ordinarysherpa.com/131

Podcasting is a medium that has allowed me to 10x my network, have meaningful conversations with people I wouldn't otherwise have access to, elevate the stories rarely shared in the industry, and establish my voice and share my story.  It wasn't until working with a few podcast coaching clients that I realized that while there is more happening behind the scenes, it doesn't mean everything has to be official there for me to share this episode.  
Show Notes:
If you do have a podcast or are interested in starting one the link to schedule a podcast coaching call  or podcasting resources to help you take advance your podcast are available at my podcasting resource page 
Prior to discovering the financial independence/ early retirement movement, Jonathan Mendonsa followed the “normal path,” which ultimately led him to graduate pharmacy school at the age of 28 with $168,000 in student loans. He has since clawed his way out of debt and is aggressively pursuing financial independence.  He is passionate about the pursuit of financial independence and its power to change lives. He was the co-founder of Choose FI podcast, and the Founder of Talent Stacker, a dad of two young kids, techie, podcast guru, and inspiration behind Ordinary Sherpa taking action and bringing this podcast to life.  
Resources Mention in this episode
Choose FI podcast
Podcast Coaching Call

How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big (Affiliate Link)
 

The basis of our gap year is the foundation of simple and inexpensive adventures we do as a family. Within this episode, you'll discover 10 curated simple adventures that can be embarked upon with ease. From hidden trails to local landmarks, from unique flavors to thrilling challenges, each adventure is designed to ignite your family's imagination and create lasting memories. I know this because over the past 10 months (and quite honestly past 5 years) our bustling family of five has tested these simple adventures.

Why simple adventures, you may wonder? Well, they are the perfect remedy for our busy modern lives. These bite-sized escapades offer a wonderful opportunity to escape the ordinary, to bond as a family, and to uncover the magic that lies within the seemingly mundane. They allow us to see the world through fresh eyes, appreciating the beauty in every detail and cherishing the moments shared with loved ones.

Simple Adventures, I’ve learned, are the key to unlocking the magic of everyday life.  Simple Adventure brainstorming led to joy audits, which eventually led to a career break and family gap year traveling North America in an RV.  From exploring nearby trails to visiting local museums, trying new activities and uncovering hidden gems in our own region. Simple Adventures infuse joy and wonder in our everyday lives.  


Call To Action: Simple Adventure Subscription
If this episode is helping you think differently or infuse a simple adventure into your lifestyle you might enjoy the Simple Adventure Subscription. You can register at any time using the link: https://ordinarysherpa.com/simpleadv
The first 25 can use the code YES to get $2 off per month.  
Each week you will receive adventure tips, ideas, or support via email to help your family take small steps toward big memories.


Show Notes: Ordinarysherpa.com/129
Subscribe to the Simple Adventure Subscription: https://ordinarysherpa.com/simpleadv
The first 25 subscribers get 1 month free with code: YES
Read my Book: https://ordinarysherpa.com/book/ 
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Periodically during our family gap year life in the RV, we have moments when we start to feel like we are missing the comforts of home.  When people ask what we miss from home the kids often - having a bedroom door (instead of a privacy black out curtain), a dishwasher, hot showers that don’t require us to turn on the hot water heater nor having to listen to the groan of the water pump.  Much like the novelty of travel, simple indulgences take us out of our daily routine and can offer a refresh.  In this episode I want to lean into how we might experimenting with indulgences without feeling the slip of lifestyle creep or justifying expenses that don’t align with your values.  
Before we get into this episode, I want to thank one of our sponsors, Elakai Outdoors is a company to help people live their  best life outdoors with high quality and beautifully designed yard games.   One of our favorite outdoor yard games is Kubb, a simple Scandinavian and family friendly game which I like to describe as a cross between chess and bean bag toss.  If you haven’t played, no worries each game includes a QR code to download the instructions for off-grid play.  The outdoor games from Elakai Outdoor  are built to last a lifetime, not just a single season. My husband awed at their custom crafted from premium wood and accompanied with a compact travel bag, you can see a short clip of us playing if you head to the show notes.  It was an indulgent accessory that was perfect for campgrounds or a friends backyard,  it’s a timeless addition to your outdoor adventures, bringing joy wherever it travels. You can check out Kubb and other stunning outdoor games by clicking on the link in the show notes.  Use code ORDINARYSHERPA10 for 10% off. Add a little indulgence to your outdoor play with Elakai Outdoor.
Show Notes for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/125
Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/
Elakai Outdoors: https://glnk.io/r549q/ordinarysherpa Use code: ORDINARYSHERPA10 for 10% off your purchase