We Gave Up Ev to Live in a Tra They Hit 27 States!

FAMILY OF SIX: The Johnsons left behind their cushy life for a cramped camper — and never looked back

The Johnson family was living the American dream. Michael, a successful investment banker, his wife, Marisa, who owns an essential-oils business, and their four kids and two dogs lived comfortably in a fivebedroom house in scenic Eagle Mountain, Utah. But they couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. “I was always working and never home,” says Michael. “We started wondering if we were creating a life, or if we were letting life take over.”

So they decided to do something about it. Michael quit his job and they sold or donated almost everything they owned and bought a $55,000, 400square-foot RV. Then they rented out their house and, in August 2015, the family of six ( plus their two yellow Labs) took off for destinations unknown. “We had some fears about what we were doing,” Michael, 41, tells In Touch, “but the fear of not following our hearts and being in the same spot five years down the road was greater than not doing what we were inspired to do.”

The 25,000-mile, yearlong journey took them to 27 states. Their kids, Reece, 16, Maya, 13, Mason, 11, and Madelyn, 7, were allowed to bring a limited supply of clothes and two bags’ worth of toys, books and electronics. (Earbuds came in handy when family members needed to tune out in the cramped camper.) While Marisa, 38, kept her business going from the road, the children continued with their homeschooling, doing several hours of homework a day. “They missed being able to hang out with their friends,” says Marisa, “but luckily they could stay connected through social media.”

There were lots of adjustments to be made. “Going from Mike working 60 hours a week and us not really seeing him to being together in a small space 24 hours a day required a transition period that was difficult,” admits Marisa, who says they stayed at RV parks along the way, stopped to grocery shop about every three days and made it a point to find a nearby church to go to every Sunday. “We missed having space,” she adds. “And a bathtub!”

They don’t regret it for a second. “We thought the best part of the journey would be the sights and places,” says Michael. He was wrong. “It ended up being about relationships. Marisa and I became closer. We saw our kids become closer and better friends than before.”

That’s why they’re doing it again. In March the family moved to South America, where they’ll spend the next year volunteering with Operation Underground Railroad, working to comfort and rehabilitate rescued child sex-trafficking victims. “If we can have some influence on people and give them courage to break out of what they’re doing and find their way to living a better life,” says Marisa, “then it has all been worth it.”

— Reporting by John Blosser The Johnsons made this map showing all the states they visited. “Seeing the amazing diversity of our country was the best education [our kids] could have asked for,” says Marisa.

The family hit the road in a pickup truck and a $55,000 Jayco Fifth Wheel RV, which features a small kitchen, living room area, one bedroom, two bathrooms and a small room for the kids with two bunk beds. “We wanted to experience a lot of America,” says Marisa (at Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park with the family dogs and — clockwise from left — Reece, Maya, Madelyn, Mason and Michael).

This pup has the same striking model looks and reddish strands as the alum. Among his favorite pastimes? “He loves vacationing,” says owner Nancy Brome. Based on the countless pics of the actress clad in a bikini, we’d say they have that in common, too!