Catalina - 1974 Sovereign 31’
Looks like Lee and Brandy are livin’ the American Dream. To coin a famous quote by Robert Kennedy, Some people see things as they are and ask, Why? We dream things that never were and ask, Why not?
This “newly-hitched” couple has stepped out in faith in more ways than one. They’ve decided to live the mobile lifestyle without sacrificing essential luxuries. Their 1974 Sovereign 31’ is temporarily located in the hills of northern San Diego County. Lee, originally from Virginia, is a specialist serving in the US military. Brandy is… well… happy being Brandy. “Nesting, exploring, and loving life!”
We asked them to share a little about their new adventure, living what they call, “the American Dream.”
Would you start out telling us a little about yourselves?
Lee:
We are a military family, so faith, honor and health are three of our priorities. Finding the right lifestyle and livelihood is important to us.
Brandy: I’m originally from California, so naturally, I love the outdoors, paddle boarding, beach, and all things natural such as good nutrition, organic gardening, healthy lifestyle, and I’m a Christian .
What originally attracted you to an Airstream lifestyle? Why not rent an apartment or buy a home?
Lee: Mobility, and it’s shiny! Being in the military we’ll be moving a lot, so it helps with our many moves.
Brandy: Definitely the mobility and I love the iconic vintage timelessness Airstreams possess. Life is an adventure for us. We want to live a clean simple life, have more experiences versus accumulating meaningless stuff, to feel less weighted and attachment to things.
What was the design concept of your Airstream renovation?
Lee: We were going for the beachy, Hawaiian look.
Brandy: A clean island feel, since her name is Catalina, after all! The 31-foot Sovereign layout and size fits us perfectly. I also love the definition of Sovereign. The dictionary defines it as paramount, supreme or independent. My Bible defines it as, God having complete control over everything that happens.
Why did you buy a HofArc Airstream renovation?
Lee: We Google’d “living in a trailer” and Matthew popped up ! His story of living in an Airstream really captured us.
Brandy: After Lee showed me Matthew’s website there was no question we were going with HofArc We really loved Matthew’s story, it resonated with us. It was exactly how we wanted to live. This is our first home and first time living together, so I guess you could say we’re already “hitched.”
How do you like your new home?
Brandy: It’s just like our relationship, shiny inside and out.
Lee: We especially love the bamboo countertops.
Brandy: …and the Acacia floors are stunning against the white walls and cabinetry, plus the generous windows bring in so much natural light inside.
What’s it been like to downsize? What’s been the greatest challenge?
Brandy: I loved the process of downsizing — it was very cathartic. I feel cleansed and refreshed. I’m so ready to start a new adventure with my man. We haven’t had any major challenges, just a few silly stories we could share about adjusting to “full timing,” as it’s called in the trailer world.
Lee: Like our first night with the disposal tank problem. The waste water was backing up, and we didn’t know we were supposed to pull all three valves, rather than just the center one.
Brandy: We were tired and dirty from the move and looking forward to our first shower in Catalina. The shower was filled with dirty water in the bottom and wouldn’t drain — it was a real blonde moment, indeed! This whole process of deciding to live an Airstream dream has been beautifully flawless from the start. I was like the sun, moon and stars all aligned for us.
Any advice for those who may be considering a similar lifestyle?
Brandy: Yes, Be like Bruce Lee and MacGyver — fluid like water, and do more with less.
We could not be happier with the results and hard work you put in to make it happen for us in such a short time, not to mention how amazing it was to visit you in Santa Barbara, find out more about you, and to unfold all the cool coincidences and commonalities we share. We feel blessed to have crossed your path. HofArc’s guys really pulled all of our design ideas together fast and smoothly. You guys rock!
We try and live each day without fearing the unknown, because we approach life by what Solomon said in Proverbs 3:5… Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and He will make your paths straight.
