I Started Over Again at Almost 40: Homeless, Building, and Choosing a Different Life

Lifestyle & Living

TL;DR / Quick Summary

  • 🚐 Driving my dog minivan (PAW Patrol), headed back to the RV
  • 🏠 Technically homeless, living between van, RV, condo, family aka multiple homes
  • ✨ Started over from scratch multiple times, rebuilding blogs, social media, and life
  • 💔 Lost my brother last year, took time MIA to heal
  • 🍹 Sober for 2+ years, doing Dry January, sharing support on The Drops of B
  • 🙏 Launched Redirected Energy blog + vlog for daily devotionals & mindset
  • 📚 Author of Clutter to Cash, teaching how to turn clutter into income
  • 🐾 Sharing real-life insights on RV life, blogging, vlogging, and unconventional living

>> Watch my full story on YouTube here…

A Blog That Wasn’t Supposed to Be a Blog

This wasn’t supposed to be a blog… but here we are.

It’s the first day of the year, I’m driving my dog minivan (aka PAW Patrol 🐾) back to the RV, and honestly? I’ve started over more times than I can count.

Starting Over — Driving, Homeless, and Thinking Out Loud

So I have tried everything to try to bring my phone up where I could talk to you while I was driving, and I just feel like my phone’s really muffling whenever I hold it. I hate holding my phone and talking, especially while driving.

I’ve got about 20 minutes left on the interstate until I get to, I guess, my “house” — technically, I’m homeless.

A lot of people think I’m super… I don’t want to say rich, but I am blessed. Many might think I’m rich, a celebrity, or an influencer. Some even joke, “Yeah, that B* — rich and celebrity!” But it really depends on who you are and how you discover me.

I have 12 different blogs and several YouTube channels. I’ve literally deleted myself from the internet, added myself back, and built myself from scratch again.

Today is the first day of the year, and I wanted to give you a goal-setting, momentum-style chat. I wanted it to be beautiful, but honestly I’m probably more stressed today than any day, mainly because…

PAW Patrol — My Dogified Minivan 🐾

ICYMI… I have 5 dogs + 1 cat to care for when I’m not blogging, vlogging, and hanging out with you here online!

IRL = I’ve got all the dogs in the van with me (as I’m chatting).

If you don’t know, my minivan is completely dogified. I even got a second seat that NVington surprised me with — super excited about that!

I’ve shared about it on my dog blog.

If you’ve ever seen a 1993 Dodge Caravan covered in paws, with Woody and Buzz hanging off the back, that’s me — Blogging Brandi — with my dogs from Birdie’s Doghouse, and sometimes our cat, Johnny.

They all have their own blogs and social media, and I have my own too.

Running Away for Peace

I’ve had a lot going on and had to say no to a lot of people. I literally ran away — probably for the last 72 hours or even a couple of weeks.

That’s kind of the beauty of my life — it’s not like 90% of America (I AM FREE to work from anywhere, travel anytime I want, just pack up and LEAVE).

Over the holidays, I realized that so many people work a 9–5, follow the system, go to school, and then suddenly realize… that’s not what they want.

People look at my life and are a little shocked. Or, maybe shocked is the wrong word — they never really ask questions. Family especially doesn’t ask how my YouTube channel or business is going. My little cousins think I’m cool because I’m a YouTuber/blogger — which is funny because I think they’re cool too.

Where I live, in a small town of about 5,000, there are maybe five people who even know I exist.

Privacy, Family, and Life on the Road

I mostly keep my location private for security reasons.

It’s also hard because many RVers share every detail — their travel spots, RV park reviews, etc. But the RV park I live in is more like a trailer park, and we’re headed back there now. I’m worried it will be loud and unproductive — which is why I’ve been BEGGING NVington to let us leave (and one reason why I always end up back at my family’s house). 🤦‍♀️

Sometimes I just need quiet — to think, be by myself, and do my own thing. As much as I love my mom and grandma, being over there is stressful at times…

Even though I have my own room, they give me play-by-plays of their day, asking what I want for dinner, etc., and don’t get me started on the HEAT and AC — let’s just say I’m usually sweating since my Grandma is always cold… 🥵

I’m almost 40, and I realize I don’t have to live like everyone else.

The RV Shower Struggle

I hate taking showers in the RV. They’re not long, hot, relaxing showers — you have to turn the hot water on/off repeatedly.

TRUE STORY: I tried to share how I have to take navy showers in my RV, and well… a hundred thousand people also took a shower with me by accident. 😂

I share all about my RV life over @RVersity

Staying Real — Life Updates

Some updates from the past year:

I’ve tried to push the envelope as someone people look up to, but I don’t usually do influencer-style reviews. That is all changing this year.

My Blogs and What I’m Sharing

My Sober Journey — The Drops of B

For the past two years, I’ve been alcohol-free, and this month I’m celebrating Dry January. Not drinking has become my superpower in life and business, and I’m excited to support others on their journey. You can follow all the fun on my sober curious blog @TheDropsOfB

Faith, Mindset, and Daily Inspiration — Redirected Energy

I also launched my faith & religion blog, where I share daily devotionals, mindset shifts, and reflections to help people live intentionally and with purpose. You can WATCH new episodes every day via @RedirectedEnergyTV on YouTube!

Minimizing, Multiple Homes, and Life Lessons

I live between:

I have stuff spread across five different places, which isn’t fun. That’s why I’m minimizing everything.

I also wrote a book, Clutter to Cash, about turning clutter into income. That’s exactly how I quit my 9–5 job at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and started living life on my terms.

Closing Thoughts

I’m getting off my exit, unloading things in the RV, and catching up on content for my blogs.

If you like real conversations, car chats, and honest life updates, you’re in the right place.

Watch the Full Video

Click here to watch my full story on YouTube

Love you, and don’t forget to:

See you on the next video/blog post! ❤️

Join the Conversation

Have you ever had to start over? I’d love to hear your story in the comments below.

>> Stay in the know… Become a bestie and get on my Email List!

RELATED LINKS (MENTIONED)
📲 My blogs & projects
📚 Learn more about how I turned clutter into cash in my book Clutter to Cash HERE
🛍️ Shop my Essentials & Faves HERE

Check out some of my other content:

>> NEXT… PART 2: Learn How I Actually Live While Starting Over (RV, Van, Multiple Homes)

#StartingOver #Almost40 #RVLife #SobrietyJourney #BloggingBrandi

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Updated: January 15, 2026
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