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Jason “Deep Dive” Lord • • About the Author
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Write It Off and Ride Into the Sunset

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Write It Off and Ride Into the Sunset

✍️ Write It Off and Ride Into the Sunset

How Blogging, Campfires, and Content Creation Became the Perfect Tax-Deductible Adventure

Welcome to Write-Off Woods, where the pine trees whisper "Schedule C," the receipts crackle like campfire flames, and the best ideas are seasoned in Dutch ovens.

This is not just a blog post. It's a manifesto for every content creator, remote worker, and side hustler who’s ever wondered: “Could this trip count as a business expense?” Spoiler: Yes. And here’s how I made a s’mores-fueled summer getaway into a perfectly legal tax deduction—without faking a thing.

🌲 Scene: One Blogger. One Laptop. Unlimited Possibilities.

There I was, parked deep in Michigan's pine woods, typing furiously at a picnic table under a string of Edison bulbs. A soft summer breeze rustled the trees, but the real spark was coming from my keyboard.

Title of the draft glowing on my screen?
“NEW BLOG POST: How Camping Became a Deduction.”

Beside me, a tin mug of coffee warmed my soul. On it? The words: “Camp. Create. Claim.”

On the firepit: a Dutch oven bubbling with maple-bacon beans.
On the bike leaning against a tree: a GoPro still warm from shooting a trail ride review.
On the log nearby: receipts pinned like trophies from the day's research and restaurant stops.

This wasn’t a vacation. This was a tax-deductible business trip.

🧾 IRS-Approved Creativity (Yes, Really)

Let’s pause for a second. Here’s what made this trip totally above board:

  • Purposeful Content: Every stop, meal, and mile had a clear business reason—travel reviews, affiliate video footage, campground guides, and local feature posts.
  • Documentation: GPS logs, timestamps, meal receipts, and itinerary all backed it up.
  • Separation of Fun and Biz: Personal downtime stayed personal. Content capture and editing happened on scheduled hours.
  • Published Work: This blog post itself is proof the trip was productive.

In the corner of my imagination floated a sparkly winged figure—the “IRS Fairy”—gently stamping my Schedule C notes: ✅ 100% Legit

🔥 Welcome to Write-Off Woods

At this little slice of Michigan forest, everything became metaphor:

  • A squirrel roasting marshmallows on camera? B-roll footage.
  • A hammock tied between two trees labeled “Inspiration” and “Deduction”? That’s just how I rest between drafts.
  • A trail ride turned product review of my folding e-bike? That’s field testing, not recreation.

Even my smug Russian Blue cat got in on it—lounging in the hammock, sunglasses on, clipboard in paw. Her note?

“Blog Drafts: Approved ✅”

She was right. I was living the dream—and writing it off.

🏕️ Tools of the Trade (and the Write-Off)

You don’t need a cabin in the Rockies or a van conversion to make your travel content deductible. Here’s what turned my weekend into a revenue stream:

🔹 Portable Blogging Gear:

  • Lightweight folding table
  • Power station for laptop/charging
  • Wireless hotspot
  • Folding camp chair with back support

🔹 Capture & Create:

  • GoPro Hero + flexible tripod
  • Ride1UP Portola folding e-bike
  • Canon mirrorless camera
  • Dutch oven + fire gloves
  • iPhone voice memos for ideas

🔹 Workflow Apps:

  • Notion – trip log & shot lists
  • Canva – blog graphics
  • QuickBooks Self-Employed – mileage and expense tracking
  • Google Drive – syncing and scheduling

If it supports your business, and you document it properly—it’s probably deductible.

📸 The Sizzle Reel: A Content Day in the Life

  • 7:30 AM – Coffee and blog edits
  • 9:00 AM – E-bike trail ride to a local bakery
  • 11:00 AM – Drone shots of the campsite
  • 12:30 PM – Dutch oven mac & cheese demo
  • 2:00 PM – Power nap (not deductible)
  • 3:00 PM – Record voiceover in the car
  • 5:00 PM – Upload thumbnails and schedule video
  • 7:00 PM – Livestream Q&A
  • 9:00 PM – S’mores + stargazing

💡 So Can You Actually Do This?

If your content is real, your intent is documented, and you treat your side hustle like a business—even part-time—then yes:

Your next camping trip could be tax deductible.

Blog it. Post it. Share your process. That picnic table is now a remote office. That marshmallow stick? A business tool. Your memories? Tax-free—and monetized.

🛒 Gear That Pays for Itself

Want to duplicate this setup? These five tools earn their keep on every trip:

Your purchases support our podcast and help us keep making smart, satirical, creator-focused content. Thank you!

🌍 Join the Campfire Chat

Have you turned a camping trip into content? Got questions about what counts as a deduction?

Drop your story in the comments or tag us @DeepDiveAI with #CampCreateClaim

Until next time: build the fire, shoot the footage, and don’t forget the write-off.

🎧 Listen on Spotify: Deep Dive AI Podcast
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: Deep Dive AI YouTube

#DeepDiveAI #TaxWriteOffs #BloggingWhileCamping #DutchOvenDeductions #RemoteWork #ContentCreatorTips

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