Hi, we’re Barbie and Johnny! After more than 30 years of working at NASA, we recently retired and traded launchpads and countdowns for campgrounds and open roads. These days, I (Barbie) write the blog and capture most of the photos, while Johnny takes the wheel and keeps our camper running smoothly. Just like during our NASA days, we’re still a team — balancing each other’s strengths and working side by side on this next big mission.
Camping has been part of my life since 1970, and when Johnny and I started dating, I pulled him into the adventure. We began with a simple tent, then upgraded to a pop-up to get off the ground. In 2004, we made our first leap into a fifth wheel — a 33-foot Cedar Creek — and thought we were set.
By 2016, we were ready for something bigger and purchased a 37-foot Cedar Creek, imagining it would be the camper that carried us into retirement. But as retirement got closer, we realized our grand adventure would need more space for storage, cooking, and living on the road full time. So, in 2023, we launched into a new chapter with our 43-foot Vanleigh Vilano — our true home on wheels.
Looking back, our careers at NASA were all about exploration, discovery, and teamwork. In many ways, those same values guide us now. Every trip is its own kind of mission — whether it’s finding the perfect trail, stumbling across a hidden gem of a town, or sharing a meal under the stars.
This blog is our logbook: a place to share the stories, lessons, and memories we gather along the way. For us, camping has never just been about the camper — it’s about the freedom of the open road, the people we meet, and the chance to keep exploring together. Retirement is our biggest adventure yet, and we’re excited to see where the road takes us.
