Wines and Wanderlust : our next chapter
We’re Juanita and Brandon Pettersen—a pair of Veterans, full-time remote professionals, the parents to needy cats and overly independent teens, and soon-to-be full-time RV explorers.
Our story began in Mons, Belgium, where we met while serving at NATO. Juanita is a retired U.S. Army Colonel originally from Branson, Missouri. Brandon is a proud U.S. Air Force Veteran from Boston, Massachusetts. After decades of military life and living around the world, we’ve been out of uniform for four years—and recently decided we’ve been sitting still long enough.
So, we bought an RV.
This blog is the story of our next adventure: transitioning into life on the road, working remotely while exploring America’s National (and other) Parks, and adapting to our new lifestyle one campsite at a time. This won’t be anything like military camping!
We travel with our two Covid-era cats, Dinkelsbühl and Ærøskøbing (yes, they’re named after charming European towns we visited while stationed overseas), who are adjusting to the idea of life on wheels—slowly.
We hope this space gives fellow Veterans, remote workers, RV dreamers, family, friends, and travel lovers a real look into what it takes to make this kind of lifestyle work—from the practical to the personal. Whether you’re here for wine reviews, gear tips, National Park inspiration, or the occasional cat photo, we’re glad you’re along for the ride.
Choosing the right RV
Once we made the decision to buy an RV, the next step was obvious—and overwhelming:
Which one?
We spent months researching, virtually touring models, watching endless YouTube walk-throughs, reading Facebook groups, and mentally measuring our cats against floorplans. The options were endless—and honestly, a little intimidating.
But eventually, we landed on the one that felt just right for us:
The 2025 Winnebago 29NP.
Why We’re Doing This
When we tell people we bought an RV and are planning to live on the road full time, we usually get one of two responses:
“That’s amazing—what a dream!”
or
“Why would you do that to yourselves?”
Both are fair. But here’s our “why.”
Our Next Assignment—Hitting the Road
It started with a feeling. A quiet itch we couldn’t quite scratch. After years of serving around the world, from dusty bases in Iraq to NATO headquarters in Belgium, we thought we were ready for a quieter, more settled life. We’ve been out of the military for four years now, living the remote work dream and adjusting to a steady rhythm.