Followed this thread over to your blog - really enjoying reading it and following along in your travels! Visiting parks and being outdoors for 6-9 months sounds like bliss.
This year, DH and I have re-discovered just how much we love camping. We camped a lot when we were dating and then only 1x every 1-2 years after the kiddies came along because it just all seemed like too much work. We are making up for lost time and have gone out 5 weekends so far this year and plan to go even more next summer.
I'm inspired by your trips to the various National Parks with your dog along. I'd love to visit more NPs but a few months ago, we adopted a small mini poodle from a rescue who goes everywhere possible with us and it's really been frustrating dealing with all the restrictions on dogs in the NPs. Thankfully we live in Ontario and our Provincial Parks all welcome dogs.
As a side note, I loved your post about not just driving through the scenery, but getting out and being in it. I've always loved doing more than looking but for many years thought I was only capable of doing shorter 2-3km hikes. Last weekend my DD, my dog, and I completed our longest hike yet, a 10km loop that helped us realise we are capable of much more than we dreamed.
We are hoping for early retirement and DH and I dream of getting a truck camper/campervan/5th wheel/whatever....and do what you're doing. Drive across North America and explore the highways and the byways for 1-2 years.
Our big difference is that we love cities too and enjoy basking in the excesses of the Las Vegas Strip (while spending our days hiking in Red Rock Canyon/Valley of Fire), cruising in the lap of luxury through tropical islands and even being a kid again in the artificial magic of Disney World (yes, I drank the Disney kool-aid). Hmmm...I guess I just love travelling - indoors, outdoors, the high life, the simple life - I love it all.