Some great discussion on this topic and probably should be its own thread!
Very sorry to hear about your life events and as we often hear everyone looks through the lens that life hands them. I wish many happy and healthy years for you!
A little background:
Been hiking, camping, backpacking my whole life still have way too much of that gear left. Did a bit of motorcycle on road camping then went to off road dual sports at about 55. Loved my dirt bikes. Did the TAt end to end completely once have done 3/4 of it on dual sports plus some east coast trips.
As I passed 60, sleeping in a tent with no vehicle in predator country (4 and 2 legged out west) I did the tat again plus many off shoots in my jkur. Great set up for solo and doing challenging trails! Had enough water, food and electric to be off grid for 4 or 5 days or more. Great upgrade for comfort and security sleeping in the jeep.
Met my now wife about 10 years ago and she observed my trips. Now she wants to see the country. She is English and still resides there mostly as both of us still work. She has just seen the south east of the US from the keys to the outerbanks and the smokies.
She wants to see the west. She is 60 and I am 67. Another year and a bit and we can take the time to see all of the lower 48, maybe Canada and Alaska also.
I thought my paid off f150 eb would be the last truck I owned but unsolvable electric issues brought me to this 22 rebel.
I had been looking at caps and RTTs mounted on a bed rack and I could tell she was iffy about those.
Next I looked at the go fast stuff, great quality and reputation and she was more interested.
Then I heard about hardsided ones and I think she has finally bought in, especially the hiatus.
So we are looking at some extended trips, 30-60 days maybe longer with her and the 12 pound dog. Try to see most of everything the west has to offer. And it sets us up nicely for comfortable east coast trips.
Right now I am trying to to get everything redone and renewed in our house in SFL and hers in south England so we can pull the plug on working forever.
Fortunately I am in a position where I can work a little longer and afford a hiatus.
Considered a sprinter van but that does not take me the places I want to go, but still an option.
Of course health and life events could change that in a minute but I am working towards our preferred plan.
