Nathan & Marissa Moss

Nathan and Marissa Moss were not really the type of people who enjoyed camping, but one video sparked an idea that changed their lives.

The video, “Tomorrow Somewhere New,” features a couple who sold all of their belongings and bought an RV to travel the country in.

Since 2015, Marissa, a Jackson County native, Tennessee Tech basketball player and a ’08 nursing graduate, and Nathan, a Putnam County native and ’03 MIS graduate, have been traveling the country in an RV.

Selling nearly everything – including their house – was a bold move for the couple who had no initial plans to do this type of thing.

“This wasn’t in the plan initially,” Nathan said with a laugh. “The closest I came to camping was a pop-up camper that was used one time.”

Before they made the decision to travel around the country in an RV, Nathan had his own business. Marissa worked at Cookeville Regional Medical Center as a nurse in labor and delivery and surgery.

Since going on the road full-time, Marissa changed her status to a PRN, where she can set her own schedule and get paid at a higher hourly rate.

“Marissa loves helping people and she still does that, but in a different way,” Nathan said.

A little more than five years ago, Nathan and Marissa welcomed their first child, Hensley.

“Marissa had just gone back to work when I got the idea to sell everything and buy an RV,” Nathan said.

“I just wanted to be home with Hensley,” Marissa said. “So I thought, ‘Let’s sell everything, live simply and have more time with our family.’ As much as I loved my house, I loved the idea of adventure more.”

It took some time to transition from a large house to a smaller space. It also took some stepping out of their comfort zone and doing something bold.

Like the couple in the video that started it all, Nathan and Marissa wanted to have the freedom and flexibility to create their own adventures and memories.

“We could wake up in the comfort of our home with the beach, mountains, desert, whatever our hearts desire as our backdrop,” Marissa said. “The country would be our backyard and we can show our daughter the beauty of the world.”

And now, they get to share that with the newest addition to their family, Hensley’s little brother JJ.

“You have to have a motivation to get started,” Marissa said. “Mine was asking myself how I could spend more time with my family.”

Their adventures are documented through videos on their website, lessjunkmorejourney.com.