The author, Kirsten Badger, grew up in Nazi-occupied and post-war Denmark. After graduating with a master's degree in chemical engineering, she emigrated to the U.S. "to try it for a year or two." Then she met Ray! Deciding that adventure was more important than careers, the two set off on a life full of surprises. From the sub-tropical Texas Gulf Coast to the sub­-arctic Canadian bush; from motorcycles to airplanes; from research to selling trinkets to tourists; from publishing a scientific paper to brokering raw gold; from trailer life to building a house nail by nail, Kirsten Badger weaves her fascinating life story, including a tip on how easiest to get water from a lake through four feet of ice for a household with a baby in diapers.