Check Out Tony Deien’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony Deien.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
It continues to be an amazing journey as I am traveling 48 states in 48 months. Each day I use several social media platforms sharing my encounters. In other words, I am creating a virtual road trip for ALL to experience our great country. I cover the largest of stories to the smallest. I also include culture, local foods, quirky sites and of course the amazing people I encounter along my travels. My goal is for to end with a pictorial book 48 States in 48 Minutes. The idea is anyone can travel our country in 48 minutes page by page of our states. The most amazing take away for me is not only the beauty and uniqueness of each state but the down-right awesome folks living in our country. We live in a great country and I want to promote this through my photos and videos for the world to see and enjoy.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I continue to be on the road for 19 months almost moving day by day. I have been able to document nine states during this incredible experience. Being on the road – living a nomad life – absolutely has its challenges. The simple things most of us take for granted such as water, sewage disposal, and of course having the sufficient funds to do such an endeavor. I find myself sleeping in my 18-foot trailer in Walmart parking lots, city and state parks, and on the personal property of local folks. I also continue to make changes and additions to my travel trailer. I have added four one-hundred-watt solar panels so I can have a continuous energy flow. I have added an inverter/converter so I can run 120-volt items such as coffee makers, laptops and even charge my E-bike. I have added a large pull-down projector screen and surround sound so I can feel at home watching movies and such. In the 19 months of being on the road, I have learned you need to take your travel trailer and create it into a home – your personal home on wheels – my studio apartment on wheels.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
When I was a little boy, my family continued living in many, many homes. A matter of fact, I moved about `14 times before graduating from high school. My parents we always wanting to live a better place for the family which caused us to move a lot. I believe this variable life is in my blood as an adult. I love new experiences and being in new locations. I find myself getting restless if I stay in one location too long. This is why this experience of 48 states in 48 months is perfect for me. In my past, I began a summer camp program for youth. My program was quite unique as the participants never stayed in one location for more than one day. I owned large buses and we took our youth to one to two locations daily hoping to show them the multiple opportunities offered in life. My summer camp program began out my car with three youth and in fifteen years grew to serve over five hundred per year. The program, KIDS TOGETHER won the ‘Best Summer Camp in the State of Utah’ for two years straight. I also spent eight years in the country of Honduras working with young adults living on the streets of the capital city of Tegucigalpa. Prior to beginning my 48-month travel challenge, I was a Case Manager in the City of Seattle, working the homeless. My position was mainly to provide housing for drug court-ordered individuals.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I use the internet constantly helping me learn about each state before and during my travels. There are several sites I use for an example roadsideamerica.com and atlasobscura.com. I also use boondockerswelcome.com to find place to stay during my travels.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.48statesin48months.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/48states48
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/48Statesin48months
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-6oRRLd3Z2Lpo00UyItUFg