Desir�e van Welsum was born in the Netherlands and now lives in the United States. She is an internationally trained Ph.D. economist, has worked and lived in six countries, and speaks four languages. Desir�e spent most of her career as a senior economist and economic policy adviser with International Organizations, including the United Nations, the World Bank, and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.Desir�e and her husband Jonathan suffered near-death experiences resulting from serious health issues. This was the catalyst for a lifestyle change which started with buying a boat and traveling extensively up and down the U.S. East Coast and to the Bahamas for several years. When Covid hit they changed things up again, selling the boat and buying an RV. In 2021 they, and their four rescued Beagles, set off on an extended road trip which evolved into a multi-year plan to cover the entire United States, and beyond. The Long Way Home series chronicles their adventures.