Malia Lane, who calls Austin home, decided in 2001 that two weeks of vacation a year was just not working for her.
So she quit her full-time job, bought a recreational vehicle, and since, has explored states ranging from Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas to Maine, New Mexico, Oregon and now Michigan -- all on her own.
"As soon as I crossed into Alaska, I pulled over to the side of the road and just sobbed," she said, describing her feeling of accomplishment.
Lane, 60, originally of New Orleans said Alaska was stunning, but Michigan was something else entirely -- something she wasn't entirely prepared for.
She started her RV tour of Michigan's coast on the east side of the state. Lake Huron made a distinct impression.
"I thought, oh, my God, the dunes! Oh, my God, the lake! Why would y'all lie to me!" said Lane about Hoeft State Park near Rogers City, where campers can see the sun rise and set from one vantage point on the park's dunes. "I've lived in Maui, but I've never seen anything like this."
Lane has made her living since 2001 as both a temporary legal assistant and a virtual assistant for lawyers around the country.
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