Military Nostalgia, Wine Country & Friends
Two weeks in one place. A little military nostalgia. A whole lot of wine. And a reunion with friends who remind us that home isn't always a place. Sometimes, it's people.
Our home for the past two weeks has been Travis Air Force Base in California, where we experienced our first stay on an active-duty military installation since launching our full-time RV adventure. We stayed on base in the Family Camp– a privileged benefit of our military service.
And let us tell you, some things never change.
Reveille, Retreat & a Military Nostalgia
There is something uniquely nostalgic about being back on an active military base.
Every morning at 0700, Reveille blasted over the loudspeakers. At 1630, it was time for Retreat. And at 2100, the familiar sounds of Taps closed out the day.
For us, these weren't just background noises. They were a soundtrack to a significant part of our lives.
The last time Brandon lived on an American Air Force base was back in 2016. Nearly a decade later, hearing those familiar bugles brought back a flood of memories.
Being back on base also came with some very practical perks - tax-free shopping at the Base Exchange, grocery shopping at the Commissary, and discounted laundry.
A Reunion in Napa
As wonderful as the military nostalgia and convenient amenities were, the real highlight of our two weeks was getting to see our friends in Napa.
If you've been following along, you know we left Duvall, Washington, to start this adventure. Loren and Amanda were our neighbors there, and they moved to Los Angeles in July.
These two made the nearly seven-hour drive each way to meet us in Napa for a couple of nights.
We enjoyed some fantastic wine tastings in Napa, but the most special part wasn't the wineries or the wine. It was the time together.
Life has taken all of us in different directions. We've moved, changed careers, traveled, and started new chapters. Now we're living in an RV, they're in Los Angeles, and somehow, we still managed to find ourselves together with good wine and conversation.
That's the kind of friendship that makes a place feel like home.
We were also grateful to reconnect with Juanita’s Army friend Samantha and Brandon’s Air Force friend Anthony while in Napa. Brandon and Anthony deployed together 20 years ago and haven’t spent time together since, but they were laughing and reminiscing within minutes as if it were yesterday.
Wine Country, Jelly Belly & More Wine Country
We also explored some new territory!
First up was the Suisun Valley wine region, which was a first for us. California has no shortage of wine country, and we're always happy to investigate another corner of it. Read more about Suisun in Brandon’s blog post.
We’re rounding out our explorations with a trip to the Lodi wine region. Look for Brandon’s blog about that on Anchored Vines soon.
We also made a stop at the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield.
Because sometimes you need to take a break from wine tasting and appreciate a different kind of indulgence. The factory visit was a fun change of pace. Oh, and there we also experienced a wine and chocolate pairing that was a fun surprise.
Two Weeks of Staying Put
One of the biggest changes this fortnight was simply staying in one place.
Having a stationary home base made it possible for Juanita to fly out of Sacramento for four days to attend a conference in Washington, D.C., something that couldn’t be done if we'd kept moving every few days. We’re proof this can work!
What We're Taking With Us
These two weeks reminded us of something we've always believed but are appreciating even more now:
The best adventures aren't just about the places you visit. They're about the people you share them with.
We loved being back on a military installation, hearing familiar sounds, and enjoying a few conveniences we hadn't had in a while.
We loved discovering new wine regions and exploring more of California.
But what we'll remember most is spending time catching up with friends.
Next Stop: Our 20th National Park!
This weekend we pack up and head to Pinnacles National Park!
This will be our most remote location yet, and we're especially excited because it marks our 20th National Park together as we continue our quest to visit all 63.
We'll be trading the convenience of an active military base for a more remote setting, so we are checking maps, stocking groceries, and applying lessons learned so far.
Hopefully, we've learned enough over the past six weeks to avoid any major surprises.
Then again, this is RV life. Surprises are practically part of the itinerary.
