I haven’t hung any pictures of Ellen in my camper yet. I have my favorites with me in a box. The pictures I have of her remind me of better days. I won’t hang any until I can look at one and not start crying. That may never happen.
Author: Steve Ainslie
I See No People
I’ve been alone for two weeks. The first week, I “camped” in parking lots and rest areas surrounded by truckers and other travelers but not interacting with them. The second week, I camped in National Forests and BLM land. Other than waving to a few drivers passing by and talking to cashiers when buying supplies…
Nothing To Buy
When I am the least bit inconvenienced my first thought is “What do I need to buy to make this better?” For example, my first night in New Mexico, the temperature dropped to 35 degrees inside my camper. After shivering uncomfortably all night, I thought, “I need to buy a portable heater”. I tried to…
Control Freak
My entire life has been about control. In school, I was determined to get straight As and be recognized as the smartest kid. I complied with the system, studied and worked hard to do this. At work, I sought autonomy, money and authority. I followed the rules, used my brains and worked hard to obtain…
Dirt Man
When I was a kid I loved playing in the dirt. My friend had a dirt yard under his side porch where we built a hideout, played with trucks, shot toy guns and hung out all summer long. I’d go home with dirt in the creases of my elbows, dirt on my knees, dirt under…
One Bowl, One Plate, One Fork
When I asked my friend Craig, the experienced outdoorsman, for his advice on what to pack for my kitchen he said, “One bowl, one plate, one fork, one spoon, one mug, one sharp knife, one pot to boil water, a spatula, a can opener and a frying pan. It should all fit in one small…
Showering On The Road
Something that everyone talks about when living on the road is showers. Everyone seems obsessed with replicating as close to a home based shower as possible. Some travelers stay in full service campgrounds with showers (expensive). Others get gym memberships and go to towns to shower (traffic). Some use public recreational facilities (yuck). Some have…
The Project That Saved My Life
Back in 2006 I saw a therapist. I had just quit drinking. I clearly was struggling with depression and anxiety, among other issues. In time, therapy and sobriety helped me to deal with my problems and become the man I always wanted to be. One day, after making a lot of progress, I told my…
Thinking About My Wife
I think about my wife every day. i don’t think about her every minute of every day because some minutes I’m thinking things like: Oh crap, was that my exit I just passed? Where am I going to sleep tonight? Is that wheel on my camper bowing outward? How am I going to turn around here?…
It’s All Theoretical Until You Have Experience
I’ve been planning my road trip for months. I’ve done hundreds of hours of research. I’ve talked to experienced friends, bloggers, campers and survivalists for advice. I’ve read books, scoured the Internet and watched far too many youtube videos. I studied maps. I practiced packing. I obsessed over every detail. My planning was flawless. Things…