Eighteen years ago, on September 19, 2005 we exchanged vows at the courthouse in Aruba, amid laughter and light-hearted daydreams of spending a whole month on this island paradise. Each anniversary, we revisited the discussion of a 30-day return to those turquoise waters, life's busy rhythm kept the dream just out of reach—until now.

This year, the tides of time have turned in our favor. Our nomadic lifestyle, with the freedom of the open road under our wheels, has woven that dream into reality. We’re ringing in both Christmas and New Year's with Aruba's warm breezes and brighter sunsets, embracing the full circle of our journey.

As we celebrate, we're sharing every piece of this long-held dream with you, from festive island traditions to our quiet moments of reflection on the shore. Stay tuned for daily updates over on the Move With Mack Facebook page. We will be sharing weekly updates here on our blog.

Nestled in the heart of the southern Caribbean, just off the coast of Venezuela, lies the vibrant island of Aruba. Known for its dry, sunny weather, pristine beaches, and Dutch colonial heritage, Aruba becomes even more alive during the holiday season with its unique and festive traditions

The Bon Bini Festival is a weekly celebration of Aruban folklore, featuring traditional dances, music, and local crafts every Tuesday evening in Oranjestad .The island's Carnaval, starting after New Year's Day and culminating before Lent, is a vivid explosion of parades and music that's the highlight of the year. The Dande celebration on New Year’s Day is a special tradition where groups visit homes, singing songs to wish for prosperity and happiness in the new year. Additionally, Gaita bands fill the air with Venezuelan Christmas music throughout the holiday season, and the lighting of pagaras—long strings of firecrackers—between Christmas and New Year’s Day is a spectacular tradition believed to ward off evil spirits.

We look forward to sharing our Aruba Nomad Adventure with you.

Happy Holidays and Happy Travels,

Kirsten & Mack
Living Life on Our Own Terms
movewithmack.com

P.S. Curious about how we fund these airborne adventures while living the RV Nomad life? Check out our previous blog post where we peel back the curtain on our travel finances here.