Community Magazine

Community-Fall2025

IPC International Community magazine an association member publication

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FA L L 2 0 2 5 C O M M U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E 3 5 home, and leaning on reciprocal museum memberships and free activities like farmers markets, disc golf, and com- munity events. Not Without Its Challenges As much as this sounds like a utopia on wheels, this kind of endeavor doesn't come without challenges, whether it was interpersonal relations or workplace situations. Here are a few things we encountered: • Wi-Fi woes: One mountain Airbnb promised "high-speed internet," only to deliver 3 Mbps. I ended up leading a de- sign discussion from the hotspot on my phone in the van. • Healthcare: Telehealth helped, but finding dental care in small towns required creative scheduling and a few detours in routes. • Long drives: To break up the monotomy that comes with driving on the open road, our kids napped, snacked, studied, played road games, read books, and played Nintendo Switch. • Holidays on the road: Christmas in an unfamiliar house was bittersweet. The solution was a Home De- pot three-foot Christmas tree and shipping gifts via Amazon to a random Hilton Hotel. However, these challenges forged deeper family resil- ience. We've had to learn to trust each other, fix what breaks, and hold the vision even when it gets hard. What's Next? We're now eyeing a potential move to an undisclosed location to settle down for a while and check off the last two states: Alaska and Hawaii. But even if we trade AirBnBs for a more per- manent base, we plan to maintain our adventurous spirit. "We still want to spend summers exploring and winters where the sun is shining," Lynsey says. "A house won't change who we are, it'll just give us a place to unpack the suitcases." The Big Picture The Bowles family didn't just prove that you can work from anywhere, we showed that you can live from anywhere, too. With 48 states behind us, our journey is far from over. Whether leading IPC standards reviews from a desert loft or teaching our kids geography by standing on state lines, Lynsey and I have built a life full of purpose, presence, and unforgettable views. At the end of the day, my committee deadlines still get met. But my kids also grow up seeing that the world is big, fascinating, and theirs to explore. Steven Bowles received an IPC President's Award in 2023. He is a LM Associate Fellow and works as an electromechanical engineer. Steven followed in his father Scott's footsteps. Read here about their journey in the electronics industry in this Community Magazine article. Did You Know?

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