Redundancy is Critical

Redundancy is Critical in Key Situations

Life on the road can be a bit of a balancing act. Without a traditional home to, well, go home to, the safety nets we normally rely on are absent. There is a certain groundlessness to drifting about that is intrinsically appealing and yet at the same time one’s mind searches for ways to create fallbacks and security. This is true both in terms of the relative ease and peace we seek in our daily activities, as well as the predictable comfort we may feel is necessary for our meditation practice to be "successful".

True, I haven’t been out here very long and I have much more to learn. However, from the beginning of this venture I have recognized the need to think through potential scenarios that might leave me stranded or without key supports, such as a place to sleep, water, food (and the ability to cook it), power, lighting, heating and cooling. I have also given careful consideration as to where I will meditate and find space for the quietude of study and reflection. As my tech friend once said: “Redundancy is critical in key situations.” Here is a look into how I provide backup for those things which are key. And really, they are key-“ish”. Because, after all, what do we really, truly need to survive?

Housing About a month into my journey, my car battery died. Not knowing if I just needed a new battery, or something more grave, and as my friend Dan and I stood around watching my car not react to the jumpstart, it became very clear that I needed a tent. I had left my original tent with the first campground I stayed at as a donation. Not only was it ginormous, but it was a pain to set up single-handedly. Memories of previous trips were also tethered to it, so it felt right to let it go. I hadn’t replaced it yet – but I sure did begin my tent research frenzy right after my car finally started up. Luckily it was only the battery. Had it required days of time with a mechanic, I would have been sleeping under the stars. I now have my RAV4 tiny home and a 3 person tent as a backup. Incidentally, some campgrounds do not allow car camping, so having a tent really is a must.

Lighting While I can certainly sleep on the ground in the dark (surrounded by lions, tigers and most certainly bears), lighting makes life a bit more bear-able. I have solar, AC, USB, propane and battery operated lights. So far, my USB light (Biolite) has provided the most bang for the buck by generating many hours of use off of a small amount of chargeable watts.

My lighting includes: headlamps, small clip-on reading lights, LUCI lantern (solar), Biolite 500 (USB), battery powered lantern, propane lantern, USB fairy lights, and outdoor lights powered by AC electrical current. I also have two solar powered motion detector flood lights for safety at night. I have not had occasion to use the propane lantern yet this time, but will keep it on hand should power fail me.

Water I carry 5 gallons of clean drinking water with me. But, what if…? Boiling water or putting a small amount of bleach into water from an unknown source seem like reliable ways to get clean drinking water - although I have not tried them. I have brought my EHM water filter pitcher with filters from home, but find it really isn’t suitable for treating iffy water. Currently, I am researching UV wands and gravity bags to up my water redundancy game. Please refer to Water Log post for ways I find sources of clean drinking water.

Staying warm To date, 28℉ is the coldest nighttime temp I have slept through (in Florida!). My staying warm methods include reflectix window covers (hand made) and about 7 blankets, including two wool. I condense my sleeping area on colder nights by hanging a blanket behind the front seats, which seems to keep things a notch or two warmer. Sleeping bags are just not my thing.

Staying cool Staying cool hasn’t been much of an issue yet. I carry both battery powered and USB powered fans. In addition, I purchased a mosquito netting canopy which I drape from the edge of my SUV awning, creating a mosquito-free(ish) outdoor living area which allows me to stay outside where it may be cooler than in the tent or car.

Power This big adventure of mine really doesn’t seem all that daring when I consider all the stuff I have, and especially all the stuff I have that needs charging – phone, laptop, kindle, lights, tea kettle – yikes! This is a pretty comfy life I’ve arranged for myself and perhaps not so minimalist after all. While I will write more extensively about my power unit, the Jackery 1000, I will say I am mighty glad to have a power unit that uses solar, AC, or 12V (car battery) to charge. If the Jackery goes, though…I do have a small inverter that uses my car battery and will charge USB and AC devices while I am driving. And, well...I can read by candlelight if all else fails.

Cooking For now, I carry a two burner propane stove and an electric kettle which plugs into the Jackery. My cast iron skillet can be used over a fire and of course food can be cooked on the fire by itself. I will write more about my own personal style of eating and cooking on the road. At my current campground there is an outdoor kitchen (and microwave! – which I didn’t even have at home). Life is indeed easier with an outdoor kitchen on hand.

Coffee Yes. Coffee. Use of an electric kettle makes pour over coffee a cinch inside the vehicle in any weather. Boiling water over the propane stove or open fire are alternative ways to ensure a hot cup of java every morning.

Keeping food cool

I purchased an Igloo electric cooler, but have yet to really use it much plugged in as it does use quite a few watts of power. Primarily I carry foods that don’t need to stay cool. And again, I am lucky enough to have access to a fridge at my current location. I am learning that the key here is to find a way to insulate the cooler with reflectix and use a combination of dry ice and regular ice to create a system that will keep food cool for a few days (tip from my friend Momma Donna). Wrapping the dry ice with reflectix and other materials such as cardboard will also help insulate and keep things cool. For me, it’s really yogurt and some produce that I refrigerate. It is totally possible to create a diet eating only foods that don’t require refrigeration.

Internet

My 50 gig hotspot (Verizon, iPhone 14) has been more than sufficient for me to work on the road. I download anything I would like to watch (movie, show) onto a kindle fire whenever I am near a public Wi-Fi to avoid using the hotspot. I have already stopped at public libraries for this purpose. They are also terrific places to charge a device or two.

Meditation practice

Ah, the age old conundrum of creating the perfect conditions for meditation. As someone who is relatively new to the world of meditation, I definitely had the misconception that quiet solitude (which I had back at home) is essential for quality practice. In truth, each moment that passes in our lives provides us with the exact right conditions to practice. My formal sessions normally include use of a small bench for kneeling and I have set up a space in my vehicle for meditating. But ultimately, I can be anywhere – outside sitting on a fallen tree branch, kneeling in a clearing, perched on a cement stoop on a busy street, or just eating a meal - resting my mind is a forever and anywhere practice. I write this to you, dear reader, with full self-realization that every atom of my being yearns for a life in nature far from the madding crowd of dogs, cell phones, and other people’s voices. For me, the key redundancy and aspiration is to just keep practicing - any and everywhere - so that my practice is always with me. Over time, this should lay the groundwork for stability should an outage, system failure, or other malfunction of mind occur.

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