We’re Almost There (And So Is the Dog)

We’re Almost There (And So Is the Dog)

We’re less than four weeks away from being official empty nesters.

Not “they’re off at volleyball practice” empty. Not “they’re spending the night at a friend’s” empty. We mean actually empty—the kind where the silence is louder than the TV and your fridge items no longer disappear like a Vegas magic trick.

For 20+ years, our compass pointed toward carpools, volleyball tournaments, late-night school projects (that we definitely didn’t know about until the night before), and the ever-shifting coordinates of raising kids. That’s been our North Star, our GPS, our Google Calendar.

But now, as our youngest prepares to take flight, it’s dawning on us that we’ve got an entire chapter waiting to be written—and a really excited German Shepherd named Bruno who has no idea he’s about to become an only child.

So What Is Empty Nester Explorer?

It’s not a travel blog (though there will be travel).
It’s not a parenting blog (though there will be flashbacks).
It’s more like a field journal for this new frontier—equal parts adventure, reflection, and “how do we even pack for a trip when no one needs snacks every 20 minutes?”

Here’s what you can expect:

• 🧭 Weekend Wanders & Big Dreams – From cozy getaways to bucket-list trips we’ve been postponing since we had to budget around prom and braces.
• 📸 Real-Life Travel Moments – The kind with car karaoke, hiking detours, questionable motel choices, and that one magical meal that made it all worth it.
• 🐾 Adventures with Bruno – Our beautiful, slightly spoiled, always-ready German Shepherd. He’s the last “kid” at home, and yes, he’s definitely coming along. (Someone needs to sniff every tree between here and Montana.)
• 🍷 Sips, Bites & Local Delights – Because part of exploring is tasting, and part of empty nesting is finally getting to order what we want without checking anyone else’s food allergies.

Why We’re Doing This

Because honestly? We need it. We need something new to point the compass toward. After years of raising humans, it’s time to rediscover who we are—outside the roles, the routines, and the school pickup lines.

We’re not trying to escape our past. We’re carrying it with us, proudly. But we are choosing to walk into the next chapter hand-in-hand (with a leash in the other hand) and see what’s out there.

Want to Come Along?

You don’t need a suitcase to join us. Maybe you’re right behind us on the empty nest trail. Maybe you’re still in the thick of it and just peeking ahead. Or maybe you’re already there, nodding along thinking, Yep. Wait ’til they come back to do laundry.

Whoever you are, there’s a seat for you.

Let’s make this next season full of discovery, laughter, Bruno selfies, and probably at least one wrong turn that leads to a great story.

We’re almost there. And honestly? We’re kind of excited to find out what’s next..