ROVA Forty-Six: December 2024/January 2025

I wasn’t raised with a religion, so “faith” hasn’t been a huge part of my life. I’ve always found it hard to accept that I’m not in control of everything (apologies to my family, partners past and present, and anyone who’s had me as a passenger in their car). The concept of faith is weird, right? Allowing the universe, or God, or just the chaos of life to have its way with you? How do we do that? And, my brain urges me to ask: why? The answer has become clearer the more I’ve learned to just go with the flow. Faith is, to a large extent, freedom. Surrender to your desires, to a whim, to the world, and suddenly your restraints are gone. And you know where I’m going…

Romance Is in The Air Irish indie-rock band Fontaines D.C. have recently released their fourth LP, Romance, and it’s a force to be reckoned with. Fans of The Smashing Pumpkins, The Cure, Deftones, and any Brit-pop alumni will be sonically delighted with the post-punk, often gothic, but always rock ‘n’ roll sounds from the Dublin-based quintet. Listen to “Bug” and “Here’s The Thing” while road-tripping, “Starburster” if you feel like participating in some passenger-seat groovin’, and “Favourite” while frolicking outdoors. fontainesdc.com Telepathy Gamified Get ready for a brain-bending good time with Wavelength, the party game that challenges your telepathic skills! Perfect for RV trips or game nights, this two-player (or team) game from CMYK has you and your friends guessing how closely you can align your thoughts. One player gives…

Crate Job! Rugged roads, outdoor adventure, extreme temps? None of these are a match for the SidioCrate Starter Pack 2.0! This rugged set of storage boxes includes two full-sized crates, a half-sized crate, dividers, and lids—perfect for keeping your gear organized and ready to roll. With 41 divider slots, a watertight base, and over 250 pounds of carrying power, you can stack, pack, and customize these crates to fit anything from tools to camping supplies. Built tough from recycled plastic right here in the United States, this pack is the ultimate storage solution for your next road-trip outing. sidiocrate.com, $168 Hydrated and Hands-Free Meet the WanderFull HydroBag™—the original puffer waterbottle bag that keeps you hydrated and hands-free! Whether you’re hiking, sightseeing, or walking the dog, this stylish bag securely holds…

Chris and Morgan What started as a dream became a necessity when we realized how much we could gain from life on the road. Leaving the dock was hard, but the experience has been worth it. We’ve become grounded in what matters most—strengthening our relationship and embracing a life less planned, where “making plans in butter” allows us to fully savor the freedom and joy of this incredible adventure. Instagram: @chorgantravels Jess I hit the road in my converted minivan in June 2024 after developing an infatuation with van life during college. My desire to pursue van life is simple: I’m not interested in waiting to get old to travel. It can be challenging traveling the Western United States solo, but this freedom is what I’ve always craved. Vicariously travel…

You know what you don’t often see in fantasy novels? Vehicles designed for sleeping. Sure, medieval equivalency and all that, but to retort: fantasy. The travelers on their journey are always bedding down by the fire, or in a handy cave, or in their tents. If they have a wagon, sometimes they’ll sleep under it or sprawl out across the sacks of grain or whatever, but I can only think of a couple of books where characters had a wagon specifically outfitted for living in. Fortunately*, we live in the real world, and there’s no shortage of awesome campers to choose from when we’re ready to undertake our own epic quests. Let’s take a look at what’s new for 2025! *Your opinion may differ. Class Bs: For the Knight Errant…

Stagnation can be a powerful thing. It can suck you in to its deep, dark hole, or… it will piss you off and cause impetuous behavior. Like driving cross-country entirely inexperienced and somewhat unprepared. After the humdrum of a certain pandemic, getting on a plane and booking a hotel just seemed too easy. I found myself craving a new style of exploration. More excitement. More adventure. More unknowns. Despite having some miles under my belt, I hadn’t logged many hours sleeping under the stars with no phone signal. After years of playing city slicker, I’d had just about enough of civilization. So I decided to embark on a mother–daughter road trip. My mom and I crammed our sedan with everything we thought we needed to survive a month on the…