Great American Gatherings

The American Dream

For years I’ve photographed the people I meet on the road and asked them what they think of the American dream. These are their answers, in their own words.

Photographs by Joseph Philipson · 15 portraits

Joseph Philipson and Ashley Bonetti standing in front of their yellow school bus home

01 of 15

Joseph Philipson and Ashley Bonetti

34 and 34 · Southern California and Phoenix, NY

“My idea of the American dream is the pursuit of happiness. For this, we need equal access to the tools that develop greatness in people and harness that greatness to ensure the greatness of all people around the world.”

Joseph Philipson

Joseph Philipson, 34, from Southern California (left) and Ashley Bonetti, 34, from Phoenix, NY (right) have their portrait made outside their school bus converted into a tiny home, aka “Skoolie,” which they live and travel in full-time, with their three cats, documenting the lives and stories of the people they meet across America.

Niagara Falls in heavy mist with gulls overhead
Niagara Falls, NY.
Nimai Wong smiling, waist deep in the Tecopa Hot Springs

02 of 15

Nimai Wong

35 · Honolulu, HI

“I think the American Dream is being able to choose your path in life, to actually have a dream for your life, and then to have a chance to work towards it.”

Nimai Wong, 35, from Honolulu, HI, in the Tecopa Hot Springs, in Tecopa, CA.

Bighorn sheep crossing striped sandstone at Zion
Bighorn sheep at Zion National Park.
Canyon view of Zion National Park
Zion National Park.
Clouds pouring over a forested ridge
San Bernardino National Forest, California.
A white horse in a field under an orange sky lit by the Thomas Fire
Thomas Fire, Ojai, CA.
Eroded badlands at dusk at China Ranch
China Ranch, California.
Olivia Shows standing on the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

03 of 15

Olivia Shows

25 · Buffalo, NY

“In school, I was always made to think that the American dream was a nice house with lots of rooms for all of your children, a nice car and a steady job. Now that I’m older and actually in the thick of trying to establish my own life, that view has changed for me. It is extremely difficult to start your own life in the current era with the economy the way it is and the fact that this country is set up to benefit the elite. Because of this, I feel the American dream has drastically changed. My own dream for my future is to be able to afford to live without fear that I won’t be able to pay my bills or feed myself. I would like a steady job that I enjoy and enough comfort to not have to worry about the well-being of myself and my family if I choose to have one. If circumstances allow, actually being able to own my own home, regardless of its size would be the cherry on top.”

Olivia Shows, 25, from Buffalo, New York, hiking the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park, CA.

A long freight train curving through the Cajon Pass
A train snakes through the Cajon Pass in San Bernardino, CA.
Sunlight over the sandstone of Mormon Rocks
Mormon Rocks, California.
Salt flats of Badwater Basin under dark mountains
Badwater Basin, Death Valley National Park, CA.
Saira Marleen lying on the salt flats photographing the sky at dusk

04 of 15

Saira Marleen

32 · Bellflower, CA

“My idea of the American dream is having and taking the opportunity to live out your passions in peace.”

Saira Marleen, 32, from Bellflower, CA makes some photographs of the sky at Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park, CA.

Kyle Riordan in a straw hat and sunglasses, standing in the hot springs

05 of 15

Kyle Riordan

44 · Danbury, CT

“Man I wish I knew what the dream was or is, I guess it’s to have a dream and to have fun while doing so.”

Kyle Riordan has his portrait made in the Tecopa Hot Springs in Tecopa, CA. Riordan is 44, from Danbury, Connecticut, and has been living on the road full-time for 3.5 years.

A creek winding through marsh grass at Tecopa
Tecopa Hot Springs, California.
Golden grass below desert mountains at Tecopa
Tecopa Hot Springs, California.
A yellow school bus parked among saguaros at dusk
The Yellow Cucumber, a 1991 Blue Bird school bus converted into a tiny home, or Skoolie, in Quartzsite, AZ.
James Miller playing bass guitar at night in a tie dye hoodie

06 of 15

James Miller

54 · on the road 23 years

“Cruisin’ in my 1975 parlor bus on the roads of America look in for music!”

James Miller, 54, plays his bass guitar with some traveling musicians he just met. Miller has been living on the road full-time for 23 years.

Jake Jarz playing guitar beside his white van at night

07 of 15

Jake Jarz

Traveling guitarist

“Playing music on the road with friends in different places everyday.”

Jake Jarz, traveling guitarist, has been living in his white van for 3 months.

Monica St Laurent in the driver’s seat of her bus holding her dog

08 of 15

Monica St Laurent

Buffalo, NY

“My idea of the American dream is to be happy. that means something different to everyone. If you wake up every day excited and full of joy, then you’re doing it right. The dream is defined by one’s own desire, not everyone wants a white picket fence!”

Monica St Laurent, from Buffalo NY has her portrait made in her school bus and home in Quartzsite, AZ. Monica sold her home and possessions in October of 2018 and has been on the road full-time since. Monica has come to Quartzsite looking for work, she was hired as a camp host in Montana from Spring to Fall in 2019.

A long panoramic mural of saguaros at sunset
Photo mural of Saguaro National Park at sunset.
Georgie Popovitch smiling among saguaros in a leather jacket

09 of 15

Georgie Popovitch

57 · Calgary, AB

“Capitalism is the American dream, but I think we’re changing our attitudes and now it’s lifestyle and its just living the good life, don’t you think?”

Georgie Popovitch, 57, from Calgary, Alberta has her portrait made at the visitor’s center at Saguaro National Park East.

The Dixon family posing in front of their painted school bus

10 of 15

The Dixon family

Snyder Hill BLM, AZ

“I think the American Dream has always been an illusion. A made up attraction that’s part of a carnival sideshow. Everybody should be able to live, and the idea of the American dream, work hard, be successful, it can be done, it has been done, but it’s not nearly as common as its purported to be.”

Daniel Dixon

(Left to right) Akira, Dorge, Mia, Andie, Daniel, and Vadra Dixon have their portrait made outside their school bus home while camping at Snyder Hill BLM south of Saguaro National Park.

Devin Kelly in a skydiving suit and helmet camera

11 of 15

Devin Mudcat Kelly

30 · Perris, CA

“I’ve chased the Dream, I’ve certainly lived my share of dreams, and yet fulfillment is always fleeting, the baseline regresses to zero, the grass on the other side seems greener again. Maybe the real American Dream is to remain grateful for all that we do have and somehow sustain that gratitude. Otherwise, the Dream is as elusive as enlightenment. One thing is certain: the American Dream is dynamic, it changes with each generation. Our parents’ Dream is not our Dream. My dream is to keep pursuing my goals, to keep making incremental progress developing all facets of my character and life. To grow each day and have the freedom to pursue the things I want to do--maybe that is the American Dream.”

Devin Mudcat Kelly, 30, from Perris, CA, has his portrait made just before climbing into a helicopter and skydiving 3500ft back to earth.

Bob Swortzel standing on the wing of a small green warplane

12 of 15

Bob Swortzel

55 · Phoenix, AZ

“Freedom, freedom to do what we want, and to take care of our loved ones.”

Bob Swortzel, 55, has his portrait made at the Motown Airport, AZ. Swortzel is a USAF veteran and now flies commercially for Southwest Airlines out of Phoenix, AZ.

Matt Black in a helmet sitting in the open door of a small plane

13 of 15

Matt Black

Motown Airport, AZ

“I think my ‘American dream’ is not following the societal norm. I like to go against the grain, chase my dreams and do what I love because if I die tomorrow then I’ll have had no regrets with living it”

Matt Black prepares to skydive from 4,000ft at the Motown Airport near Gila Bend, AZ.

Scott Ritchie lifting off under a paramotor wing

14 of 15

Scott Ritchie

Para-motorist

“The American dream? That’s kind of easy. I don’t know if it’s the American dream, but the dream is to have something to do, have something to hope for, and someone to love.”

Scott Ritchie, a para-motorist, has his portrait made during take-off at the Motown Airport near Gila Bend, AZ.

Scoop Willingham on top of his Jeep behind a mounted machine gun

15 of 15

“Scoop” Willingham

Retired FedEx pilot

“Find happiness, wherever you can find it, find happiness, and don’t screw your buddy over.”

“Scoop” Willingham, retired FedEx pilot has his portrait made atop his Jeep while holding a .50 caliber machine gun.

Everyone