Why the Nomadic Lifestyle?

As you can guess, the answer to this question isn’t universal. Some people hit the road to avoid spending money on traditional housing costs, some have no choice due to economic circumstances, and others are leaving, or running away from, a painful past. And then there are those who just feel a deep yearning to live life on the fly with few possessions and a thirst for travel. Those who know me well know it’s been a bad couple of years. And, those who know me the best know I’ve been dreaming of this life for a very long time. When I finally decided to take the plunge, I wanted to be sure my motivation was not muddied by the desire to run away from a crappy end to a (mostly) beautiful career. In fact, I sat through an extra winter of seasonal depression in upstate New York just to give myself time to reflect that this decision was based on true wanderlust and not the desire to delay facing my demons.

It can be an affront to hear how American society is so driven by work and consumerism, bookended and manipulated by the constructs of time and permanence. After all, it’s how most of us have been raised to interact with the world. How can it be wrong? As my perceptions have changed over the past two years (with much gratitude to my meditation teachers), I have begun to understand that my own innate desire to live life ever so simply with few (OK fewer) attachments is natural. It does not go against the grain – it is the grain.

I grew up in an affluent suburb of Buffalo, NY, a child of “the wrong side of the tracks” syndrome that pervades so many childhoods. In addition to our modest home, my parents also owned 20 acres of land in the rolling hills of Chautauqua County, NY where we would spend much of our summers exploring the creek beds, woods and fields. Humble living indeed - a one room cabin with no running water or electricity a good quarter mile from the road. It was predictable, then, that when I came into possession of a copy of The Whole Earth Catalog at the age of 12 I would begin to plot out my future off-grid life. Over the years my love of travel and camping has grown, as has my inclination to mesh my own life with the rhythm of the natural world.

Although it can be, for the most part the nomadic lifestyle is not off-grid living. However, the two do share the desire to be unmoored from standardized societal anchors. My own particular brand of nomadism includes spending as much time outdoors and living as harmoniously with the earth as is possible. For me, it is a knowingness that contentment just simply is. It is not dependent on a place, a person, or a thing. By creating space to just be without the distractions of a brick and mortar house or traditional job, I am allowing each moment to unfold in a way that illuminates the clarity and peace that is already present in our lives. Life moves slower. The basic activities of daily life become life’s activities rather than things to rush through to get to the next task we must accomplish. Each meal or brush of the teeth is done in thoughtful concentration. And through this, I notice my mind slow its anxious pace and begin to rest.

It’s true – I am just beginning to live this life. But, I feel I have always been preparing for it. In relative terms, what can I say? – I love the challenge of organizing such a small space and living with only the essentials. Indeed, the sun heals me, both mentally and physically and I am blessed to be able to travel and see some very beautiful places. Sure, I will go without a shower for days, get stuck in an SUV during an all-day rain, and accidentally pee on the floor. But, ultimately it is all just each moment going by and I celebrate my good fortune to live life in this way. In my heart, I know it will make me a better mother, friend, and traveler to those I meet along the way.

There are many ways to find our peace. This is mine.

Safety First or Surviving the Buffalo Blizzard

December 23, 2022: As I sit here nice and toasty in my daughter’s Buffalo apartment listening to the blizzardy winds blowing between the houses, I can’t help but wonder about the countless people who are houseless today trying to ride out this storm in their vehicles. This first leg of my journey keeps me relatively safe while still up north with family. And, this epic weather can’t help but be the exclamation point on why I want to head for sunnier skies. I must say, though, my awareness of and empathy toward those who don’t choose to live without a house has increased. Finding and connecting with others who value the nomadic life has been a gift. These groups, though, highlight two very different realities – the reality of many who desire the houseless lifestyle and the reality of so very many others who have no choice.

Overall, my family and friends, and most importantly my daughter, have been encouraging and enthusiastic about my lifestyle change. There is one overriding theme I am hearing, though – “just be safe”. As you might imagine, much of the past four months has been spent researching what goes into living life out of a car. I’ve come up with a few safety measures and it will be interesting to see how they work, or don’t, as time goes by.

Keeping Safe on the Road

#1 Maintain stability of mind and do not panic no matter the safety issue. Respond to situations rather than react to them.

#2 Stay indoors or drive away from area if there is a weather-related emergency.

#3 Be aware of surroundings at all times (no looking down at phone while walking through parking lots!).

#4 Carry a fire extinguisher and carbon monoxide detector in vehicle.

#5 Be informed about carbon monoxide. Fight the urge to use a lot of appliances, including those run on propane or butane, inside a vehicle

#6 Don’t unlock vehicle until hand is on door handle; lock car immediately upon getting in. Every. Time.

#7 Hang solar motion detector flood lights from windows.

#8 Keep safety whistle, stun gun & pepper spray (not sold everywhere) at hand at all times.

#9 Share location with at least one family member on phone (difficult for those of us who value privacy).

#10 Provide family members with itinerary.

#11 Don’t stay at truck stops.

#12 Carry a purse or bag that has external hard drive, passwords, wallet, phone, extra car key. Hide extra credit card in car.

#13 Put up privacy window coverings so no one can see inside vehicle, even when in a parking lot.

#14 Do not exit vehicle at any time if parking overnight in a place that is not a campground.

#15 Stay primarily at campgrounds.

UPDATE: December 26, 2022: I began writing this column during the early stages of the storm (Blizzard of 2022) on Friday, thinking it was a clever way to tie in nomadic safety to the current weather crises here in Western New York. I can tell you now, reader, that I have never been as frightened by weather as I was Friday night listening to the wind outside my daughter’s apartment. The wind was fierce, unrelenting, and hurricane fast, shaking the house so hard I thought it would just fly away. An old, midcentury window had iced over on the inside by early evening, and with every crack and blast of bitter cold breathing into the room, I anticipated the window exploding. How it didn’t, I will never know. By 4 a.m. I had put on my noise cancelling headphones to get a few hours of sleep.

The power had been out since 3:30 p.m. Friday and we had draped the living room windows and doorway with blankets. By early Saturday we had moved our living quarters into my daughter’s bedroom. Our downstairs neighbors brought us a warm breakfast, although we were all cautious about using our gas ranges. My off-grid portable battery of 1000 watt hours kept phones charged for us all, and other camping gear came in handy. We did try the heater…but…too many watts! Using our pets and one another for warmth, we made it until Sunday around 2 – it was a Christmas miracle to have heat again.

We are now hearing the stories of folks who were not lucky enough to be indoors during this blizzard. So many lost power. So many got trapped. The storm came fast with its fury. As Buffalonians, we usually believe with any storm we’ll have at least an hour or two leeway. If the storm starts at 7 a.m., we figure we can still run out and get some groceries. Not so, this time.

Two of the Facebook groups I belong to are for women travelers who live or camp frequently in their vehicles. As the arctic cold surged across the country this past week, a great many sisters reached out to the tens of thousands of women who are members of these groups. Strangers offered homes, bedrooms, driveways with electric, warm meals and more. There are other stories locally of heroic rescues and small kindnesses that make every difference. Indeed, a warm breakfast made a huge difference in our lives. So now, I offer tip #16…

#16 Don’t forget, we are a community, all of us, everywhere.

Spare Me

2015 RAV4 Spare Tire Compartment

Did you know a Toyota RAV4 is 136 cubic feet or if you'd prefer, approximately 90 square feet? Minus the engine compartment, the RAV4 provides around 98 cubic feet and 60 square feet of passenger space. This makes for the tiniest of tiny homes and yet one in which a remarkable amount of stuff can be, well…stuffed.

One of my primary goals as a full time traveler is to leave as light a carbon footprint as possible. I also recognize that I do my psychological and emotional best in an uncluttered and minimalist environment. I definitely knew I wanted everything as tucked away as possible for my new lifestyle. My backseats had already been removed prior to going full time, and a two person platform had been built. I was now a singleton and yet also needed room for kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and den.

One of the first things I did when I decided to live in my compact SUV was to check out the spare tire area. Did I even have a spare? (JK – I know I did.) What I didn’t remember was how to use it or even how to take it out of the car. So, I investigated and took it out. I removed its Styrofoam nest. I stood there in my driveway staring at this empty pocket of space and I began to wonder. What if…I just didn’t carry a spare? My guess is you, dear reader, are either aghast with worry, or you are nodding along with my cleverness. I’m hedging 80/20 on aghast.

When I began to really consider the probability of me changing a spare tire at any time in my future life, I knew it just wasn’t going to happen. Let’s face it, I could barely get the thing out my car. It seemed to me that I would need to contact my road service to change it for me, and I would need a new tire sooner or later anyway, so I opted for AAA premium, fix a flat, and a lighter vehicle.

I took my idea to the SUV/Car Living & Camping Women Only fb group I had joined. Well. This wasn’t a fabulous idea according to almost everyone. The main concerns were the fact that AAA does not provide service on unpaved roads. Some folks also reported long wait times. As I am not an off-roader (yet), I’m comfortable going spare-less for now. And either way, I’ll be waiting for AAA.

The space I freed up was a gamechanger. I no longer had to consider traveling with a rooftop cargo carrier, a priority in maintaining some anonymity on the road and keeping my load relatively light. And, I now had plenty of space for my tent, stove, kitchenware, and more.

So, if you’re wondering if losing the spare is an option, consider your own particular travel style and check back to see how I made out. I may be blogging from the side of the road!

2015 RAV4 Spare Tire Compartment

Full of My Stuff