I have been thinking about what you son told you, something like that "you are having fun doing nothing unplugged from the world".
Anyway, my point is that back road exploration enable one to build a truck to take you and your family (and come back) reliable, give you a bit more comfort than a tent in the ground, a lab/project in constant improvement mode, and a place for you to put your money in good use for many years. While your kids come along (

) they learn quite a bit about the environment, bio diversity, and other cultures. And learn about some trial and errors too seeing the project worked and the ones that need improvement.
-JACK