My grandparents were born in the Indian Territory / Oklahoma. My parents were born in Oklahoma, as was I, my wife, my children and my grandchildren. I was an irresponsible teenager (it was the 60′s, what can I say?) but managed to mature a little. I attended the University of Oklahoma and received a BA in History and went to work for a Fortune 500 company where I was unhappy. Eventually, I went back to OU for my MBA and PhD in MIS (ABD). I became a contract programmer because I programmed much better than I published. I also became a VAR for a firm selling accounting software written in a computer language called dBase that was designed for the Intel 8088 processor. I stayed firmly seated at the grindstone like a typical American. I had a family and I struggled to accumulate legal tender. In the first years of the new millennium I decided I needed a change. The nest had emptied. My youngest child’s college tuition was taken care of. I no longer had the desire to accumulate material possessions. I figured that if I was ever going to to do all those things I said that I wanted to do, I’d better get going. I started divesting myself of assets. The first to go was the Beech Bonanza. The last was my Corvette. In between was my home and business. In 2005 I went to to truck driving school. I bought a Big Rig and was an independent over-the-road trucker, trying not to work more than 6 months a year. My CB handle was Rolling Okie. I have been able to spend an average of several months a year traveling inside and outside of the U.S. since 2005. I’m married. My wife and I have 6 kids and 9 grandchildren. Maybe that’s why I like to travel so much.

In December, 2010 I hung up my Driver’s Cap for good. The road had taken its toll. I was no longer willing to drive up to 180 days a year, regardless of the money and the ability to work when I wanted. I had seen America and more of the rest of the world than the average person ever dreams about seeing. I was tired of being gone from home for as much as nine months a year. I needed a rest. I sold my truck and trailer and have been unemployed since. However, I’m not inactive. I still plan on traveling several months a year for as long as I can. I’m up to 114 countries and counting. At home, my wife says I’m still addicted to working on my computer. As for tomorrow, who knows what the future will bring?

This website is about my travels. It originally started as some pages I stuck on the web to show my friends and family what was going on in my life when I traveled. It’s now a place where I go when I want to reminisce as well. Someday, I’m hoping it will help me to maintain my lucidity for as long as possible. There are also sections where I try to help others find resources to cut travel costs. It’s my way of helping those who share my passion for travel. I still have my health, a reasonably sharp mind and a passion for life.

Rolling Okie OKC, Jan 1, 2013

Addendum: I’m still unemployed. It’s going on 7 years now. I’m still looking for something to do. I am, fortunately, staying busy and, as for my travels, I’m up to 148 countries and counting. My last trip was 85 days in Asia in the Spring of 2017. I enjoyed it immensely. I’m thinking that Cuba needs to be my 150th country and I’m wondering if I should try to get to 200 countries before I leave this Earth. I still believe, as I stated above, no one knows what the future will bring. Right now, I’m just planning for the next 20 years, hoping they’ll be as good as the last 20.