A Journey Honoring a Mother’s Legacy

Dan and Sandy Clouser and their golden retriever, Youkilis, get ready to hit the road in their RV.

For Dan and Sandy Clouser, “home” is wherever they are. Depending on the day, that could be a mountaintop, riverrfront, or a Cracker Barrel parking lot. 

In August 2020, the Clousers sold their house and most of their possessions and hit the road in an RV. Traveling the country with their golden retriever, Youkilis, they volunteer at various locations, make new friends, and share their adventures through blogging, social media, and podcasting.

Before embarking on his life on the road, Dan spent 30 years successfully leading a nonprofit youth sports organization in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Today, he recounts the couple’s adventures on his blog and podcast, The Journey of My Mother’s Son. He authored a book by the same name.

Dan believes the couple’s current adventure was destined to happen; he’s simply following in the footsteps of his mother, Loretta. Described by Dan as a “hippy” and “free spirit”, Loretta quit her job in the mid-80s and embarked on her own cross-country journey. Her home on wheels was a 1967 Plymouth Valiant with the back seat removed to make a bed and a .38 Special for protection. Eventually, she upgraded to a 1978 Toyota camper.

As Loretta explored America, she met some amazing people and spent time helping individuals and communities through volunteering. When his mother passed away in 2005, Dan was able to experience a small part of her journey by going through her old photos and numerous letters from people she met on the road. The Clousers current journey is Dan’s chance to continue his mother’s legacy.

You can hear more of Dan’s story by checking out Episode 10 - Home Is Wherever We Are (RV Living) wherever you listen to podcasts.