Community Magazine

Community-Fall2025

IPC International Community magazine an association member publication

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That duality—precision engineering in the morning, full-throttle exploration by evening—has defined our fami- ly's life for the past 18 months. While maintaining a full-time career in PCB engineering at Lockheed Martin and support- ing multiple IPC working groups, our family of eight has traveled full-time across all 48 contiguous U.S. states. Our journey has been part professional juggling act, homes- chooling experiment, and a masterclass in intentional living. Plotting the Great Escape In 2023, with remote work solidified and the housing market boiling over in our former home base near Den- ver, Lynsey and I decided to ditch the traditional model: Mortgage payments and static routines gave way to curi- osity and Airbnb experiences. Lynsey and I realized we didn't need a permanent house to continue raising our kids. But to make this work, we knew we needed flexibility, opportunity, and fast internet. In the course of our discussions, we made two pivotal decisions: 1. Airbnb over RV life: Rather than commit to towing a fifth-wheel or navigating campground reservati- ons, we chose to bounce between Airbnb homes —sometimes for a week, usually for a month—chas- ing good weather, local charm, and reliable Wi-Fi. 2. Work stays constant: I would keep my full-time job and continue as a core contributor and chair for multiple IPC standards development com- mittees, so wherever we landed, it had to support a high-functioning home office. Once the decision was made to travel, we needed to create a system that would make it work. We filtered Airbnb listings by high-speed internet, family-friendly space, and a washer-dryer. Bonus points were given for nature access, board game closets, and enough bedrooms to keep sibling rivalries at bay. A Typical Day on the Move What is it like with six children living in a rented space in a place you don't know so well? It's different from day to day. In the morning, I might be leading a discussion on microvia design best practices with engineers from three different time zones. By din- ner, I'm deep in a discussion about whether it's okay to eat cereal with a fork.

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