Life & Work with Karl Rowley

Today we’re excited to be connecting with Karl Rowley again. If you haven’t already, we suggest you check out our prior conversation with them here.

Karl, always such a pleasure connecting with you and thank you for sharing your stories, insights and inspiring messages with our community. We’re looking forward to getting the download and what you have been up to since our last interview, but first can you briefly introduce yourself to folks who might have missed the prior conversation.
I’m a French-Canadian graphic designer from Quebec City who worked in Europe during the dot-com bubble and is now based in California. I freelance for my own clients, including the Palm Springs International Airport, through my studio at Krafix.Design. I also operate an online store at MidCentury.Style offering my very own exclusive Mid-Century Modern designs on a selection of products.

Awesome, so we reached out because we wanted to hear all about what you have been up to since we last connected.
The last few years have been a rollercoaster. I’ve never had any health issues but as I said in 2020, life is a magician. Last year, I was diagnosed with an unusual fast-progressing prostate cancer. This year, after surgery and recovery, I realized that you never know how long you’ve got, so I paused to plan what’s next. First observation: I love my creative work, the autonomy of being self-employed, and my beloved Palm Springs community. But I also miss my folks. Second, I had a thirst for mobility, to travel around and see more. Finally, I wanted to greatly reduce my responsibilities and possessions. In short, to be free! This led to an existential question: How could I keep my passions if I cut so many ties? The answer started taking shape last year. Every summer, I return to my hometown for a few months to escape the scorching California desert heat. I visit my best friends who spend the sunny season outdoors in an RV. One thing led to another, and I came up with an idea that checked every box: Become a nomad! I was already one partially so why not take the plunge: Sell everything and go full-time in a trailer! It was a natural decision and the plan almost wrote itself. Soon, I’ll be shuttling between my 2 loves: Quebec City, my hometown in the summer, and Palm Springs, my winter joyful oasis. The rest of the year, I’ll be touring North America, work on the road, and enjoy sightseeing. Niagara Falls, Key West, New Orleans, Grand Canyon, Route 66, here I come! While still in my hometown, I discovered a local RV manufacturer, Safari Condo, offering some of the lightest and most reliable trailers in the world. How lucky I was! I custom ordered my future cabin on wheels to be delivered in a few months. I’ll be completely self-sufficient. I also grabbed a vacant lot in my friends’ RV park so we’ll be neighbors! An incredible stroke of luck. Since my return to California, things have been moving fast. I’ve sold my condo fully furnished, quit the HOA board, rented a place for the rest of my stay, shopped RV parks for next winter, and gave my car to a friend. I’ll get a tow vehicle once back in Quebec. I’m very excited and grateful. I’m about to start a new life, partly on the road, combining the best of all worlds: my East Coast roots, my West Coast paradise, my design work, my online store, and a new platform via CabinKarl.com where I’ll share my new adventures. The last few years have taught me so much, it feels like I was destined to this point. All of which brings me back to one of my favorite quotes from André De Shields when he won his first Tony Award at 73 in 2019: “The top of one mountain is the bottom of the next, so keep climbing!” I don’t know if the universe will grant me 20 months or 20 years, but I’m sure going to make the best out of it.

Alright, so let’s do something a bit more fast-paced and lighthearted. We call this our lightning round and we’ll ask you a few quick questions.

• Favorite Movie: Victor Victoria
• Favorite Book: Dictionary
• Favorite TV Show: Golden Girls
• Favorite Band or Artist: Tony Bennett
• Sweet or Savory: Both
• Mountains or Beach: Mount San Jacinto
• Favorite Sport (to watch): Ice Dance
• Favorite Sport (to play): Disco Dancing?
• As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up: Everyone knew I’d be some kind of visual artist
• French Fries or Onion Rings: Homemade Rosemary Fries

What are you most excited about in the coming year?
Moving into my new travel trailer, seeing North America, and having fun new projects to share with the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://CabinKarl.com