Origin & Philosophy
Origin
Life Off Leash Family began with a simple question: What would happen if we built our family life around the things we actually value?
Time together. Work worth doing. Places worth exploring. Things made by hand. And the freedom to follow an idea simply because it matters to us.
After years spent serving as a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, I became accustomed to environments where preparation, judgment, teamwork, and trust mattered. Leaving that chapter of life created an opportunity to ask a different question—not what comes next professionally, but what kind of life do we want to build together?
For our family, the answer has pointed toward the outdoors, craftsmanship, adventure, and a slower, more intentional use of our time.
So we're building it.
The Backdrop
North Idaho became the backdrop for the next chapter of our family's story. Here, our days are shaped by the seasons, the work in front of us, and the people around us.
Our children get to be a part of things being built rather than simply delivered. They get to ask questions, get their hands dirty, and watch an idea become something real.
That's important to us. Not because we think there's one correct way to raise a family, but because we want our children to experience the connection between effort and outcome.
Season One
Our first season follows the construction of an 18'10" Southwester Dory, built by hand inside a canvas wall tent workshop in North Idaho.
It's a boat. But it's also a vehicle for everything we're interested in documenting: craftsmanship, problem solving, family, adventure, failure, persistence, and the satisfaction of making something yourself.
The boat is simply where the story begins.
Our Foundations
The core principles that guide our work, our productions, and our daily family choices.
We believe there's value in making things well, understanding how they work, and taking pride in the work itself.
The best adventures are the ones we can share. Our family isn't an audience for the story—we're living it together.
We're drawn to projects and places that require us to learn, adapt, and grow. Occasionally figure things out the hard way.
We want to leave the places, things, and relationships we touch better than we found them.
We don't have all the answers. That's part of the point. We're interested in learning by doing and bringing people along.
Life Off Leash Family
Stay with us as the story unfolds.
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