The road up the the Gila Cliff Dwellings is worth the trip. The hot springs are nice there, too. Honestly there are a million hidden gems in NM. Depends on where you are. You can also drive right by them and never know. The ghost town of Mogollon is worth a visit though it is mostly closed until May. It is up a paved, but terrifying road. It probably won't be there in a decade due to gold mining starting up.
Check out the following Vanners who have ' done it all! '. VanWives; Todd and Tyler as well as Ride and Seek.They have made all the mistakes and rectified most of them.
Not van life specific, but if you're in the area, it's definitely well worth your time to see Carlsbad Caverns. It's insanely beautiful down there. I haven't been there in ages, so I don't know if it's gotten touristy or not, but either way, it gets my highest recommendation as something to see..
Mariah, you are an incredible young woman. Wise beyond your years. I had to chuckle at your comment about time going by so quickly. Time goes by much faster with age. That said, if you're living in the moment - time seems to disappear. You ask yourself where did the day, week, month go. I worked my tail off my whole life. I finally retired early and have been doing vanlife for the past year and a half. It is both the most challenging and most rewarding thing I have ever done.
Minute 11:00 an ongoing are SO true, it’s not only about hustling to fulfill your dreams, but also about the way you get there! It is so often downplayed in the idea of the pursuit of happiness.. thank you for talking honestly about it:)
Excellent scenery! You have quite the eye. You’re also very wise. Life is too short. I’m 55 years old, I started playing guitar which was a bucket list dream and started a TH-cam channel. People wonder why but it gets right back to your point, life is too short and why not? Take care and be safe.
Happy Birthday ! I'm one of those that waited till I retired to get into overlanding but I did have a lot of fun between 18 and 25 and then marriage and kids came along . But now I live in Washington at my daughters house which is my home base now . I bought a 4Runner and a bunch of gear and then started some traveling , next destination is Boca Chica Texas to watch the launch of SuperHeavy/Starship next month hopefully but I'll be starting the journey next week so I can stop a lot on the way and get out of this Washington weather ... Maybe I will see you out camping sometime , I have a little clip on my channel of South Padre Island where my son and I went camping last year and just happened to catch a bunch of horse riders come up the beach , looked like practice for a re-enactment or something .
I was gonna comment on an older video but I wanted Mariah to see. She recently replied to a message of mine about "wasted gasoline" and how to differentiate waste and wandering aimlessly as a nomad. I worry about it a lot. In an old video, she said something about not chasing pretty places and finding peace in where you end up. I took this to the frickin heart. This completely changed my perspective on the "mediocre" places I go. I often have to stop at rest stops just to use a sink and I find so much freedom in just stopping here and there. It's truly about the journey and not the destination.
I really liked the message at the end, I find that im always planning for the next adventure and when I get there I appreciate it for a bit before im planning for the next thing. Its important to have dreams and aspirations but also to enjoy the moment youre in and appreciate the current thing. And what you taught me is to not stress so much about the next thing, enjoy where I am now and the process.
watching your videos is one of the most relaxing and rejuvenating parts of my week! so grateful to get to feel along for the ride with ya and dream big alongside you. happy birthday and congrats on so many new subscribers! thank you for letting us into a bit of your life.
Birthdays alone can be great. Ive taken myself on a hike or gone skiing or bought myself a nice meal. No expectations from others, just enjoying your own company!
You talking about not being attached to the end goal, rather, enjoying the journey and process to getting there! so true, thank you for sharing that. You’ve inspired me to start planning for van life and it’s so drastic from what I’ve ever known but I know it will support my growth in this next season of my life. happy birthday mariah!! Sending love to Finn as well :)
Dear Mariah I enjoy following you on your travels and the spectacular scenery that you are lucky to experience. Here in the UK we are having some lovely early Spring weather with lots of sunshine and long may it last.And a belated Happy Birthday. Kind Regards Michael
I love how you chopped your own wood and made a fire. I've seen grown ass men throw a match on a log & expected it to start a fire. You go girl! Also, for your safety don't post where you're at until after you've left that place. Good advice for any single woman. Keep on keepin' on. ☮️✌️
if you wish time to go by slower, experience new things regularly. time flys by when your mind is no longer confronted by new sights, sounds, smells and ideas. that's why when your a kid every day feels like a lifetime, but as you get older, time seems to fly by faster. the more new things you experience, the more your mind has to process it and the less focused it becomes on the passage of time. take it from a forty year old man that stopped experiencing new things for a long period of his life and regrets it.
Thanks for the beautiful video, Mariah. I have been having a really tough month now and its still going. I needed this 13 min break from my life. What you said makes a lot of sense for this 43 year old dude! Happy Birthday! Stay safe out there! - hello from Canada
I'm so glad you're in such an excellent mental space now, Mariah. You've grown so much in the year I've been watching you. ❤Love your videos, give Finn a big smooch from me! 😘HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
I heard other van lifers use moth balls to keep the mice away and 100% peppermint oil to keep the bugs away too! Just wanted to give u this tip! Not saying u have mice. It’s a tip
Thank you for sharing Mariah Alice. The process is more important to her, than the end goal, regardless of success. Like her attitude. This cheerful girl is like a butterfly hovering from flower to flower. Her films are mood boosters.
I interpreted what you said and that about the journey is the goal. This reminds me of the process of being in solitude and becoming closer to yourself as that is neverending while unconditional.
Happy happy birthday Marriah and Fynn... I feel the same and yes it is a ritual to spend my birthday alone. I have done it for several years Now. I am 72, and i admire you because you tell me what i just found out... Jou are so blessed to already learn that lesson... You will get there... And love yourself..... Love your videos, and Fynn is a hunk💗🤗💪🌺
Such a good video Mariah! Felt like you worked hard on all the shots in this one and it turned out really well. Loved what you said about not beating yourself up about not accomplishing the goals that you set but instead just work towards them slowly and be proud of yourself along the way. Look forward to every video and Safe travels as always! Also Happy belated Birthday!
Happy belated birthday, Mariah!🎉🎊🎉 I’m so happy you got to spend it in one of your favorite places! White Sands happens to be one of my favorite places too! I always get sunburned, no matter how much sunscreen I put on. I have some amazing memories of the beautiful sand and blue skies. Can’t wait to get back there. Thank you for sharing your birthday with us!
Happy Birthday from Northern New Mexico! It is still cold up here and snow is predicted on Thursday. Funny I am up North still feeding my fire all night while you are in shorts. Have a great time!
Great Video. I love how you go to the places that aren't so crowded. I feel most myself and so at peace when I'm in a place alone with my pooch. A lot of people I think are afraid of being alone but I find myself thriving in those situations. I've converted an Ex Ambulance into a camper and will be hitting the road very soon. Going to travel around Canada, Mainly British Columbia and check out the old ghost towns/mining camps and other places with history. Always wanted to so am going to do it finally. I've always been one for the road. Road tripped as far north as Alaska from Vancouver Island by myself and have vice versa gone as far south as San Diego. Can't wait to hit the road. Thanks for the great peaceful and very angelic video's you make. Keep up the great work and stay safe. Cheers, Danny.
I just wish I had the clarity you seem to have at your age. You’re a rare bird Mariah, and that’s definitely a good thing. Fly your own path. The nighttime time-lapse, very well done. You may have just sparked up a new hobby for me to try out. And of course, Happy Birthday! Safe travels MA.
I love spending my birthday alone. Get to treat yourself and do exactly what you want. I mean I do that regularly, but especially on birthdays. Happy Birthday, Mariah.
I couldn't help but laugh at what was occurring at approximately 11:46 of this clip lol. Been watching your videos for a while now and I think its safe to say your friend brings you a lot of joy...I think it would be hard to be solemn with that kind of energy running around lol. Safe travels
Happy birthday 🥳🎉 I hope the week was everything you hoped for! Completely agree that sometimes we are so focused on reaching a goal, we don’t live in the process of getting to it. There is a slowing down and a patience that needs to occur to have balance both in the working toward a goal and in the post achievement of the goal.
As someone who has spent over 40 years in the Sonoran Desert near Tucson and have backpacked the desert backcountry, I can attest that coyotes will not be a problem. Enjoy their yelps as they lull you to sleep. Having said that, don't let your pup wander around too far from the van without you. You've done a great job capturing the essence of the desert.
Happy birthday Dear One. I’m so grateful you chose this journey & to share it with us. Finding that balance in life-ahhhh-a constant challenge for me. Keep up your Joy 🤩
Happy Birthday! you inspired me to take a month off from work and follow my dreams of van life to see if its something i can do with my dog fulltime. I always look forward to your videos!!
I love Arizona...happy early birthday....🌹💐🦋🧜♀️ fun to van travel but I would be lonely without someone to share it with whether its a boyfriend or just a friend t😬sitting around the fire chatting and drinking wine 😉
Hi Mariah I watch your vlogs while doing these long night shifts here in Pakistan. I really want to spend my life like this hopefully one day. Keep up the good work.
I really enjoy your videos and the freedom of the road that you experience. Have always enjoyed camping. As a hiker and deep woods tent camper, I just want to caution you about Finn and coyotes. Keep him close and do not let him chase one under any circumstance. Stay safe out there Mariah!
Yesterday I've discovered your channel by accident while looking videos of the new Iveco Daily, the first video I watched was the #63, then the 64 and other two including this one, but that was a beautiful place you have visited... I love your content😊.. Happy Birthday🎂🥳 Cheers from Venezuela😊
Very cool talk at the end - we all need to find great places. Also - I think think Finn LOVES White Sands - he certainly zips around when there. Thanks for sharing
Fin running around in circles at the end looks like a good post-credit scene. def. A post-credits scene (commonly referred to as a stinger or credit cookie) or mid-credits scene is a short clip that appears after all or some of the closing credits have rolled and sometimes after a production logo of a film, TV series, or video game has run.
Please always carry in a pouch a pair of small snub nose pliers just in case your doggy gets some cactus stickers or thorns in him. It could save his life! He is adorable by the way! Nice music and not too loud...perfect volume with your calm voice. Love the scenery. Ooh, be careful with coyotes with doggy. Your dog loves you. Great sky shots.
I HOPE YOU WERE NAMED AFTER THE SONG (THEY CALL THE WIND MARIAH), CAUSE IT'S LIKE YOU, FREE TO DRIFT IN THE WIND. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE LADY. (CHIC'S RULE).
Happy birthday Mariah ❤️ I can very much relate to your thoughts of work-life-balance. I think it’s difficult not to work hard when you’re creative and you’re in a state of flow. But it might be useful to only film and edit every other day or only half of the day. I wish you a wonderful week 🍀
You remind me of my daughter so much that I shared one of your videos. She told me today that she would be watching another one. I really think she relate to you and the topics you talk about. . Have a Great Life.
Your videos are very pleasant. Thanks for sharing your adventures! I agree when alone it is important to be in a beautiful place. Fin looks like he is enjoying the desert!
in december i took my first roadtrip (solo female) and was looking at that same air bnb!!! i stopped in sedona, phoenix, and tucson.. seriously some of my favorite places ive been to by far. the energy is just special there. tbh we share a lot of similarities and i'm SO on board for it < 3 happy birthday as well ;')
I'm just itching to start travelling this summer in my van. Your videos are always so relaxing and nice and at the same time hype me up for travel. 😁🤗 keep up the good work. And keep being you!
Happy Birthday!! I know the feeling of spending birthdays alone and it can be hard but I admire your positive angle on it. I always appreciate the insights you offer in your videos :)
Happy birthday to you. White Sands is beautiful and an oasis in the middle of New Mexico. Go see the cheeziness of Roswell, the Trinity Bombing site, and the VLA satellite dishes.
After viewing about 30 of your vids, I think you tell an important story. Much better than making a fairy tale. You let people know that life has struggles and these struggles continue throughout life. You let people know that in the darkness, there is light afterwards. Which is a great thing when it comes to mental health alone. So yeah, continue your stories of ups downs and uncertainty because that IS life. The thing is, you are right...van life is difficult...why? I because you have a lot of free time to THINK. Whereas with a job, you have no time to think. Thank goodness for Finn....they are such healers. also find that when you are feeling "unclean" you are not at your best mentally.
This is your journey, stop looking in the review mirror… The past is for learning, future is for planning and the present is living, no matter how that looks. Mariah enjoy it!!
Love watching you! Me and my husband live in a tiny home it’s beautiful and we love it. But in the Future I’m wanting to live in a van and just see how it goes. And watching lives make me want it even more!
Hi Mariah...Great journyies. Happy birthday 🎂 🥳 Its hard to find yourself in life. Being alone is ok and being happy being alone is ok too. Im learning that as well. Finding what makes you happy is what life is all about. All different things can make us happy. Be safe and have safe travels. Follow the sun for me!🌞 as I'm in chilly Wisconsin 🌞❤🍀
Happy Birthday Mariah.....one Pisces to another. Did some traveling through Arizona and New Mexico on business before retirement. Beautiful country check out the crater some time if you can. Be careful out there.
"Not looking for something to fix the life I already have." sums it up perfectly. When is enough, enough? And how do you keep your focus centered on what really matters to you? The answer is that it's a *daily* practice to bring yourself back to center 🙏 We do only have so much time, and energy, on this planet in this body. What will you focus on?
#1 Packrats and mice are real. I recommend a few sticky traps strategically placed around. I had a mouse living with me for a few weeks. You know those irrational fears that keep you staring at your ceiling while trying to fall asleep at night? I just knew it would leave droppings in my shoes or run across my face at night. It was after all only at night that it would be out and about 🙄 …THEN a friend said “maybe it’s a girl and she’ll lay babies”. 😑I didn’t sleep for weeks. You can use duct tape on the bottom of the traps to keep them from sliding around. The trap that finally caught it was actually taped at a weird angle high on the wheel well where the break and gas pedal are. I wonder how many miles I drove in flip flops with it right next to my foot 😑😬 #2 I previously offered for you to stay on my boat in Juneau Alaska. It’s under renovation so realistically it’s not looking like it will be ready to go till summer of 2023. Mostly because of a change of life plan: I’m headed back to Tucson in the fall to do a fresh van build with the intent of snowbirding (vanlife in the winters/boatlife in the summers). So in the big picture I’m stoked. But it means the boat will not be complete this summer. Dunno if you’re interested but I’ll keep you posted just in case ✌🏼 P.S. Two recommendations: El Charro Cafe in Tucson, 311 N Court Ave. Also walking around the historic town of Mesilla right next to Las Cruces N.M. It’s the town where the boarder between the U.S. and Mexico as we know it today was officiated. The town is a thoroughly Mexican/Spanish remnant now in the United States. That is definitely the longest message I’ve ever typed on TH-cam ☺️
Happy birthday Mariah 🥂🌮.. it is great to go somewhere alone for your day. Have fun in new mexico...🥳🥳 I do it, too every year I go somewhere for a day or two trip 😁
so wise for so young--do this life the rest of your life--I am approaching 76 and spent a lot of time pleasing others and also trying to please myself with outside things--I don't do that any longer and I also don't regret my past or beat myself about it--anymore--I used to--but if you remain true to yourself, fearless about what others are thinking and within your square you have a possibility to be my age, with NO REGRETS--
Can I suggest since you mentioned picking up a guitar, if you're willing to spend a little extra, get a small carbon fiber parlor guitar. Climate changes in a vehicle can wreak havok on a wooden instrument.
Hey happy birthday! Hope you enjoyed my homestate during your birthday week/month! You keep showing me the places I need to visit while I'm still around in AZ. Thank you and keep on truckin
Happy Birthday! I hope you have the greatest year of your life and, the most rewarding. Thanks again for another beautiful video. Keep being the strong young woman that you are.
![#1 Buying an old Ford Box Truck [to live in]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/7PIKm95bSB8/mqdefault.jpg)
P.s. if anyone has any tips on van life in New Mexico- I’ll take them 🤓. Thank you guys for being here ❤️
The road up the the Gila Cliff Dwellings is worth the trip. The hot springs are nice there, too. Honestly there are a million hidden gems in NM. Depends on where you are. You can also drive right by them and never know.
The ghost town of Mogollon is worth a visit though it is mostly closed until May. It is up a paved, but terrifying road. It probably won't be there in a decade due to gold mining starting up.
Check out the following Vanners who have ' done it all! '. VanWives; Todd and Tyler as well as Ride and Seek.They have made all the mistakes and rectified most of them.
Lmk if you cruise thru Santa Fe 🤍
@@ChristianSchaffer I was about to text you hahaha -
Not van life specific, but if you're in the area, it's definitely well worth your time to see Carlsbad Caverns. It's insanely beautiful down there. I haven't been there in ages, so I don't know if it's gotten touristy or not, but either way, it gets my highest recommendation as something to see..
Mariah, you are an incredible young woman. Wise beyond your years. I had to chuckle at your comment about time going by so quickly. Time goes by much faster with age. That said, if you're living in the moment - time seems to disappear. You ask yourself where did the day, week, month go. I worked my tail off my whole life. I finally retired early and have been doing vanlife for the past year and a half. It is both the most challenging and most rewarding thing I have ever done.
Finn running circles at the end 😂
Minute 11:00 an ongoing are SO true, it’s not only about hustling to fulfill your dreams, but also about the way you get there! It is so often downplayed in the idea of the pursuit of happiness.. thank you for talking honestly about it:)
Excellent scenery! You have quite the eye. You’re also very wise. Life is too short. I’m 55 years old, I started playing guitar which was a bucket list dream and started a TH-cam channel. People wonder why but it gets right back to your point, life is too short and why not? Take care and be safe.
Happy Birthday ! I'm one of those that waited till I retired to get into overlanding but I did have a lot of fun between 18 and 25 and then marriage and kids came along . But now I live in Washington at my daughters house which is my home base now . I bought a 4Runner and a bunch of gear and then started some traveling , next destination is Boca Chica Texas to watch the launch of SuperHeavy/Starship next month hopefully but I'll be starting the journey next week so I can stop a lot on the way and get out of this Washington weather ... Maybe I will see you out camping sometime , I have a little clip on my channel of South Padre Island where my son and I went camping last year and just happened to catch a bunch of horse riders come up the beach , looked like practice for a re-enactment or something .
I was gonna comment on an older video but I wanted Mariah to see. She recently replied to a message of mine about "wasted gasoline" and how to differentiate waste and wandering aimlessly as a nomad. I worry about it a lot. In an old video, she said something about not chasing pretty places and finding peace in where you end up. I took this to the frickin heart. This completely changed my perspective on the "mediocre" places I go. I often have to stop at rest stops just to use a sink and I find so much freedom in just stopping here and there. It's truly about the journey and not the destination.
you comfort me so much, and happy birthday.
This couldn't have come at a more perfect time! I love the relaxing vibes of journaling by the campfire in the desert, agh that looks so amazing! ☺
Happy birthday Mariah! Congrats on all the success this year, here's to almost 100k subscribers 🥂
I really liked the message at the end, I find that im always planning for the next adventure and when I get there I appreciate it for a bit before im planning for the next thing. Its important to have dreams and aspirations but also to enjoy the moment youre in and appreciate the current thing. And what you taught me is to not stress so much about the next thing, enjoy where I am now and the process.
watching your videos is one of the most relaxing and rejuvenating parts of my week! so grateful to get to feel along for the ride with ya and dream big alongside you. happy birthday and congrats on so many new subscribers! thank you for letting us into a bit of your life.
It took me until much later in life to realize I should treat myself to solo hiking trips for my birthday. Keep it up. Happy birthday week!
Finn looks like he had the BEST time at white sands 😍
Birthdays alone can be great. Ive taken myself on a hike or gone skiing or bought myself a nice meal. No expectations from others, just enjoying your own company!
You talking about not being attached to the end goal, rather, enjoying the journey and process to getting there! so true, thank you for sharing that. You’ve inspired me to start planning for van life and it’s so drastic from what I’ve ever known but I know it will support my growth in this next season of my life. happy birthday mariah!! Sending love to Finn as well :)
Dear Mariah
I enjoy following you on your travels and the spectacular scenery that you are lucky to experience. Here in the UK we are having some lovely early Spring weather with lots of sunshine and long may it last.And a belated Happy Birthday.
Kind Regards
Michael
I love how you chopped your own wood and made a fire. I've seen grown ass men throw a match on a log & expected it to start a fire. You go girl! Also, for your safety don't post where you're at until after you've left that place. Good advice for any single woman. Keep on keepin' on. ☮️✌️
if you wish time to go by slower, experience new things regularly. time flys by when your mind is no longer confronted by new sights, sounds, smells and ideas. that's why when your a kid every day feels like a lifetime, but as you get older, time seems to fly by faster. the more new things you experience, the more your mind has to process it and the less focused it becomes on the passage of time. take it from a forty year old man that stopped experiencing new things for a long period of his life and regrets it.
Thanks for the beautiful video, Mariah. I have been having a really tough month now and its still going. I needed this 13 min break from my life. What you said makes a lot of sense for this 43 year old dude!
Happy Birthday! Stay safe out there! - hello from Canada
I'm so glad you're in such an excellent mental space now, Mariah. You've grown so much in the year I've been watching you. ❤Love your videos, give Finn a big smooch from me! 😘HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
The white sand and grass against that blue sky, just beautiful. Living your (and Finn's) life to the fullest. Thank you for sharing.
PS - Happy birthday!!
I heard other van lifers use moth balls to keep the mice away and 100% peppermint oil to keep the bugs away too! Just wanted to give u this tip! Not saying u have mice. It’s a tip
Thank you for sharing Mariah Alice.
The process is more important to her, than the end goal, regardless of success.
Like her attitude.
This cheerful girl is like a butterfly hovering from flower to flower.
Her films are mood boosters.
Happy Birthday!! Enjoy your badass self thanks for taking us along
Please give extra hugs to Finn this week as I lost my fur baby Teddy
I’m so sorry for your loss :(
I interpreted what you said and that about the journey is the goal. This reminds me of the process of being in solitude and becoming closer to yourself as that is neverending while unconditional.
Happy happy birthday Marriah and Fynn...
I feel the same and yes it is a ritual to spend my birthday alone. I have done it for several years
Now.
I am 72, and i admire you because you tell me what i just found out...
Jou are so blessed to already learn that lesson...
You will get there...
And love yourself.....
Love your videos, and Fynn is a hunk💗🤗💪🌺
Such a beautiful video! My favourite so far 🖤
Such a good video Mariah! Felt like you worked hard on all the shots in this one and it turned out really well. Loved what you said about not beating yourself up about not accomplishing the goals that you set but instead just work towards them slowly and be proud of yourself along the way. Look forward to every video and Safe travels as always!
Also Happy belated Birthday!
Personally Arizona and New Mexico are my two favorite places. The weather and terrain are incredible!
Happy belated birthday, Mariah!🎉🎊🎉 I’m so happy you got to spend it in one of your favorite places! White Sands happens to be one of my favorite places too! I always get sunburned, no matter how much sunscreen I put on. I have some amazing memories of the beautiful sand and blue skies. Can’t wait to get back there. Thank you for sharing your birthday with us!
Happy Birthday from Northern New Mexico! It is still cold up here and snow is predicted on Thursday. Funny I am up North still feeding my fire all night while you are in shorts. Have a great time!
Great Video. I love how you go to the places that aren't so crowded. I feel most myself and so at peace when I'm in a place alone with my pooch. A lot of people I think are afraid of being alone but I find myself thriving in those situations. I've converted an Ex Ambulance into a camper and will be hitting the road very soon. Going to travel around Canada, Mainly British Columbia and check out the old ghost towns/mining camps and other places with history. Always wanted to so am going to do it finally. I've always been one for the road. Road tripped as far north as Alaska from Vancouver Island by myself and have vice versa gone as far south as San Diego. Can't wait to hit the road. Thanks for the great peaceful and very angelic video's you make. Keep up the great work and stay safe.
Cheers, Danny.
I just wish I had the clarity you seem to have at your age. You’re a rare bird Mariah, and that’s definitely a good thing. Fly your own path. The nighttime time-lapse, very well done. You may have just sparked up a new hobby for me to try out.
And of course, Happy Birthday!
Safe travels MA.
I love spending my birthday alone. Get to treat yourself and do exactly what you want. I mean I do that regularly, but especially on birthdays. Happy Birthday, Mariah.
I couldn't help but laugh at what was occurring at approximately 11:46 of this clip lol. Been watching your videos for a while now and I think its safe to say your friend brings you a lot of joy...I think it would be hard to be solemn with that kind of energy running around lol. Safe travels
Happy birthday 🥳🎉 I hope the week was everything you hoped for! Completely agree that sometimes we are so focused on reaching a goal, we don’t live in the process of getting to it. There is a slowing down and a patience that needs to occur to have balance both in the working toward a goal and in the post achievement of the goal.
As someone who has spent over 40 years in the Sonoran Desert near Tucson and have backpacked the desert backcountry, I can attest that coyotes will not be a problem. Enjoy their yelps as they lull you to sleep. Having said that, don't let your pup wander around too far from the van without you. You've done a great job capturing the essence of the desert.
Happy birthday Dear One. I’m so grateful you chose this journey & to share it with us. Finding that balance in life-ahhhh-a constant challenge for me. Keep up your Joy 🤩
"I'm not looking for something to fix the life that I already have." love that. Also really miss that Sonoran desert
I love how real and raw you are. Never change. And happy belated birthday!
Wishing you an amazing Happy Birthday ever and many happy years to come Mariah !! Take and be safe.
I appreciate the openness and vulnerability. You're rocking it. See ya on the road.
Happy belated birthday (by now)! Love your channel and I’m enjoying your insights into your becoming and being! Personal growth is alway worth it. 💚
I love your honesty. Have watched so many Vlogs and you are refreshingly real. Happy Birthday from Scotland.
Recently found your channel and am really enjoying the combination of beautiful places, self-analysis, and peaceful music. Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! you inspired me to take a month off from work and follow my dreams of van life to see if its something i can do with my dog fulltime. I always look forward to your videos!!
I love Arizona...happy early birthday....🌹💐🦋🧜♀️ fun to van travel but I would be lonely without someone to share it with whether its a boyfriend or just a friend t😬sitting around the fire chatting and drinking wine 😉
Hi Mariah I watch your vlogs while doing these long night shifts here in Pakistan. I really want to spend my life like this hopefully one day. Keep up the good work.
I really enjoy your videos and the freedom of the road that you experience. Have always enjoyed camping. As a hiker and deep woods tent camper, I just want to caution you about Finn and coyotes. Keep him close and do not let him chase one under any circumstance. Stay safe out there Mariah!
Happy birthday and thanks for taking us long on the journey.
Yesterday I've discovered your channel by accident while looking videos of the new Iveco Daily, the first video I watched was the #63, then the 64 and other two including this one, but that was a beautiful place you have visited... I love your content😊.. Happy Birthday🎂🥳
Cheers from Venezuela😊
“Oh simple thing, where have you gone? I’m getting old……..” for some reason that song always makes me sad, but I love that song at the same time.
I'm just so envious... I'd give anything to be in those wide-open spaces!
Very cool talk at the end - we all need to find great places. Also - I think think Finn LOVES White Sands - he certainly zips around when there. Thanks for sharing
Fin running around in circles at the end looks like a good post-credit scene. def. A post-credits scene (commonly referred to as a stinger or credit cookie) or mid-credits scene is a short clip that appears after all or some of the closing credits have rolled and sometimes after a production logo of a film, TV series, or video game has run.
You just keep getting better and better as you relax into your life. Love your stuff!
Please always carry in a pouch a pair of small snub nose pliers just in case your doggy gets some cactus stickers or thorns in him. It could save his life! He is adorable by the way! Nice music and not too loud...perfect volume with your calm voice. Love the scenery. Ooh, be careful with coyotes with doggy. Your dog loves you. Great sky shots.
I'm also a pisces and love the solo birthday ritual too!! Happy belated!💐
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARIAH!!... BE BLESSED AND ENJOY THE BOOONDOCKIN LIFE, YUR A DEEP THINKER... I KNOW ALL ABOUT THAT... SMILES.
I HOPE YOU WERE NAMED AFTER THE SONG (THEY CALL THE WIND MARIAH), CAUSE IT'S LIKE YOU, FREE TO DRIFT IN THE WIND. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE LADY. (CHIC'S RULE).
Happy Birthday Mariah! You are a very special young lady!
Happy birthday! And thank you so so much for all you do. 💓💓💓
Happy birthday Mariah ❤️ I can very much relate to your thoughts of work-life-balance. I think it’s difficult not to work hard when you’re creative and you’re in a state of flow. But it might be useful to only film and edit every other day or only half of the day. I wish you a wonderful week 🍀
Fin seems so happy in the sand! I enjoy watching him run amok. Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday, you have grown so much this year. Looking forward to more adventures and thanks for sharing. Stay safe.
You remind me of my daughter so much that I shared one of your videos. She told me today that she would be watching another one. I really think she relate to you and the topics you talk about. . Have a Great Life.
Your videos are very pleasant. Thanks for sharing your adventures! I agree when alone it is important to be in a beautiful place. Fin looks like he is enjoying the desert!
in december i took my first roadtrip (solo female) and was looking at that same air bnb!!! i stopped in sedona, phoenix, and tucson.. seriously some of my favorite places ive been to by far. the energy is just special there. tbh we share a lot of similarities and i'm SO on board for it < 3
happy birthday as well ;')
Happy Birthday! May you have a year with wonderful adventures both exciting and quiet and may you enjoy every step on the way. 🎉
Loving your vids :) I am sometimes alone in my van and you really give me inspiration! Keep it coming x
Happy Happy Birthday! Enjoy your journey. 😎
I'm just itching to start travelling this summer in my van. Your videos are always so relaxing and nice and at the same time hype me up for travel. 😁🤗 keep up the good work. And keep being you!
Happy Birthday!! I know the feeling of spending birthdays alone and it can be hard but I admire your positive angle on it. I always appreciate the insights you offer in your videos :)
Happy birthday to you.
White Sands is beautiful and an oasis in the middle of New Mexico.
Go see the cheeziness of Roswell, the Trinity Bombing site, and the VLA satellite dishes.
Happy Birthday!! 🎂 Love the way you piece together your adventures! ❤️
After viewing about 30 of your vids, I think you tell an important story. Much better than making a fairy tale. You let people know that life has struggles and these struggles continue throughout life. You let people know that in the darkness, there is light afterwards. Which is a great thing when it comes to mental health alone. So yeah, continue your stories of ups downs and uncertainty because that IS life. The thing is, you are right...van life is difficult...why? I because you have a lot of free time to THINK. Whereas with a job, you have no time to think. Thank goodness for Finn....they are such healers. also find that when you are feeling "unclean" you are not at your best mentally.
I hope you have a fabulous birthday, Mariah! I love following along on all of your adventures. Keep living your life and enjoy every single day 😊❤️
Happy birthday Mariah. Your videos are always so inspiring and calming too
Happy birthday Mariah.. big smile here .. enjoy your surroundings...
This is your journey, stop looking in the review mirror… The past is for learning, future is for planning and the present is living, no matter how that looks. Mariah enjoy it!!
Love watching you! Me and my husband live in a tiny home it’s beautiful and we love it. But in the Future I’m wanting to live in a van and just see how it goes. And watching lives make me want it even more!
Hi Mariah...Great journyies. Happy birthday 🎂 🥳 Its hard to find yourself in life. Being alone is ok and being happy being alone is ok too. Im learning that as well. Finding what makes you happy is what life is all about. All different things can make us happy. Be safe and have safe travels. Follow the sun for me!🌞 as I'm in chilly Wisconsin 🌞❤🍀
Happy Birthday Mariah.....one Pisces to another. Did some traveling through Arizona and New Mexico on business before retirement. Beautiful country check out the crater some time if you can. Be careful out there.
"Not looking for something to fix the life I already have." sums it up perfectly. When is enough, enough? And how do you keep your focus centered on what really matters to you? The answer is that it's a *daily* practice to bring yourself back to center 🙏 We do only have so much time, and energy, on this planet in this body. What will you focus on?
Thank you for this beautiful video and happy birthday Mariah 🎈Have a great time 🍀
Thanks for your videos that makes me peaceful in my spare time.
Aww I love Hitomi! Might see you on the road soon. I just bought an RV this week and am heading out soon 😄
Happy birthday Mariah!🎉🎊🎂 Have an awesome day! You always do!
Once again, I just loved your video and am so glad you do what you do!
Happy birthday Mariah!! you're and Finn are sooo adorable!!! we all love you for just who you are!!
You're so great keep making videos please
#1 Packrats and mice are real. I recommend a few sticky traps strategically placed around. I had a mouse living with me for a few weeks. You know those irrational fears that keep you staring at your ceiling while trying to fall asleep at night? I just knew it would leave droppings in my shoes or run across my face at night. It was after all only at night that it would be out and about 🙄 …THEN a friend said “maybe it’s a girl and she’ll lay babies”.
😑I didn’t sleep for weeks.
You can use duct tape on the bottom of the traps to keep them from sliding around. The trap that finally caught it was actually taped at a weird angle high on the wheel well where the break and gas pedal are. I wonder how many miles I drove in flip flops with it right next to my foot 😑😬
#2 I previously offered for you to stay on my boat in Juneau Alaska. It’s under renovation so realistically it’s not looking like it will be ready to go till summer of 2023. Mostly because of a change of life plan: I’m headed back to Tucson in the fall to do a fresh van build with the intent of snowbirding (vanlife in the winters/boatlife in the summers). So in the big picture I’m stoked. But it means the boat will not be complete this summer. Dunno if you’re interested but I’ll keep you posted just in case ✌🏼
P.S. Two recommendations: El Charro Cafe in Tucson, 311 N Court Ave.
Also walking around the historic town of Mesilla right next to Las Cruces N.M. It’s the town where the boarder between the U.S. and Mexico as we know it today was officiated. The town is a thoroughly Mexican/Spanish remnant now in the United States.
That is definitely the longest message I’ve ever typed on TH-cam ☺️
Happiest of belated birthdays to you! I can see I’ll need an axe when I start my van journey
Happy birthday Mariah 🥂🌮.. it is great to go somewhere alone for your day. Have fun in new mexico...🥳🥳 I do it, too every year I go somewhere for a day or two trip 😁
so wise for so young--do this life the rest of your life--I am approaching 76 and spent a lot of time pleasing others and also trying to please myself with outside things--I don't do that any longer and I also don't regret my past or beat myself about it--anymore--I used to--but if you remain true to yourself, fearless about what others are thinking and within your square you have a possibility to be my age, with NO REGRETS--
Can I suggest since you mentioned picking up a guitar, if you're willing to spend a little extra, get a small carbon fiber parlor guitar. Climate changes in a vehicle can wreak havok on a wooden instrument.
Hey happy birthday! Hope you enjoyed my homestate during your birthday week/month! You keep showing me the places I need to visit while I'm still around in AZ. Thank you and keep on truckin
Happy Birthday! I hope you have the greatest year of your life and, the most rewarding. Thanks again for another beautiful video. Keep being the strong young woman that you are.
That Lord Huron song is STUCK IN MY HEAD right now. Good to know I'm not alone.