Yesterday was the first day since my wife died that I felt truly useful. I didn’t plan for things to turn out that way.
Category: On The Road
Finding My People
I am camping with a group of 10 others who are full-time vehicle dwellers. This group was formed to introduce newcomers to life on the road. The concept is that a few experienced people make themselves available to offer advice, tips and suggestions. The newcomers get a chance to meet others like them, learn the…
Fearless
I was fearless until I was 6 years old. Life was great. I had a wonderful family. We had a house with a backyard and a dog. School was fun. Playtime was more fun. Summers were fantastic. I had lots of friends. I walked to the store, the park and my friends houses by myself. …
A Real Ghost Town
Yesterday, I visited Tombstone Arizona to get some Mexican food, dump my trash and refill my water. The town of Tombstone is tiny. It’s main street, Freemont, runs about 1 mile through the center of town. There were many FOR SALE signs and empty storefronts on Freemont. I saw at least 3 historical museums and…
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…