I know, I know, I have to stop watching you tube. But lately I have been fascinated by the "nomad" lifestyle. Basically you live in a car / SUV / RV / camper and travel around the USA. I am not considering it for now, much, but when I retire.

I just can't help but think how this might really be the lifestyle I want, not because I like to travel, because I don't really. They call it the nomad lifestyle... but I want to call it the -- loner lifestyle. Or maybe the lazy lifestyle? But why I think this could be prefect for me.

- I always like to be in small organized spaces. When I was a kid I had a small bedroom, when I got apartments they were always small. I enjoyed my one room bedroom and had all I needed in one room. I enjoy small cars... my sister always makes fun of my desire for the smallest thing. I always want the small washer and dryer etc. While she like everything big big and bigger.

- I am not the fine dress type of person. I just don't have a perfect body and so most quality clothing doesn't fit me right. And typically I spill something on it. Nomads typically have no need to dress up for anyone. T shirt and jeans is my jam.

- I am not a gourmet cook. I hate cooking or baking and basically prefer to eat sort of the "same" / processed foods. I also have an appliance phobia.

- I am not an uber clean person. You know the type.. the person who has to take a shower every 10 seconds. I actually believe some dirt is good on you because it builds up your body's defenses. I wouldn't have issues with cleaning up in a camping type way.

- I am a loner by nature and I can't get more alone than sitting and sleeping in a car all day. No one coming over to visit. No one bothering me all day unless I want it. But if you want to meet other nomads you can at camping sites.

- This lifestyle seems tailor made for single loners and you know... there aren't many things that are tailored just for single people. You kind of can't do it if you have a family or commitments.

- The entire thing seems a great way to get rid of 50% of life hassle. And that is what I really want.. and end to hassle. In a car / van etc.. there is no home to clean. There is no condo fee to pay. No fight with the condo over issues. No fight to find an electrician when something breaks. No property tax. No neighbors who make noise. No neighbors over head walking at 2 am. No electric bill, no water bill.. no mortgage. I mean it is practically like I am going back to being a kid. I want to have just one credit card statement per month!

-It doesn't hurt that since you can live so cheaply you save money hand over foot.

I had planned on selling my place when I retire and moving to the south but what if I just got a van or RV and lived on the road for two years. Sure I might travel but, wouldn't have to. Since I have about 10 years before retirement I was thinking maybe I would give some test runs now.. just in the car.

[Skeezyks]

I could see this if a person could afford a nice RV (it needn't be BIG.) But I think living in one's car would be tough. There are people in our town who live in their cars. I don't envy them...

[guilloche]

It sounds like you might really enjoy it, Emily!

I'm sort of curious though, how do you get by with no water or electricity? Where do you stop the RV at night - do you have to pay for space somewhere? I haven't seen the shows, so I'm not sure of the logistics... ?

Originally Posted by guilloche

It sounds like you might really enjoy it, Emily!
I'm sort of curious though, how do you get by with no water or electricity? Where do you stop the RV at night - do you have to pay for space somewhere? I haven't seen the shows, so I'm not sure of the logistics... ?

There is free land all around the US.. federal public land. And websites just to show you it. Cheap campgrounds $10 per night) and of course.. stealth camping. So you park on someone else property. (but there are venues that don't usually mind) churches etc. *****arts on highways have cut a deal with the transportation department that you can stay over night there (as people were falling asleep driving).

Not 100% sure on the other things but I wonder if there is really a need for electricity. Or that a much. However I have seen campers with solar powered batteries. That they charge up during the day on suitcase solar panels. (actually solar has come a long way in the last few years).

I am not a social justice warrior but it also tickles my funny bone a bit on that. I am growing totally tired of corporations and their endless greedy consumer driven ways. Same with the greed of real estate. Well, this makes it so I am not contributing to that. Nope, I am not going to buy your latest thing, because, I don't have room for it. Nope.. I don't need your couch or your ikea.. Nope I am not going to contribute to property tax so your CEO can drive his new Telsa on new highways. Nope I am not going to eat out with friends and pay ridiculous prices. Nope not going to pay ridiculous prices to live someplace that doesn't provide the maintenance they promised anyway. I will sit in my car / van / camper and collect money from you (via dividends) / social security without ever contributing to you.

[WishfulThinker66]

Have you given thought to wash-up and toilet facilities? What is your plan there?

Originally Posted by WishfulThinker66

Have you given thought to wash-up and toilet facilities? What is your plan there?

Yup. I don't think anyone wants my plan on this particular issue.

[unaluna]

There are websites for the RV lifestyle that answer a lot of these questions. You do have to have a home base, i.e., be a resident of a state, cuz you have to register your vehicle in SOME state, and have health insurance.

[guilloche]

Oh wow, solar panels for electric would be amazing and go a long way towards helping it work, I'd think!

Very cool!

[*Beth*]

Wow, I can soooo understand your OP, Emily! I relate, really well.

My thoughts are...I would have to have an RV. A car would be just too uncomfortable for me, at my age. So I'd pretty much have to live in campgrounds. Most of them allow a stay of up to 1 to 2 weeks at a stretch, which could be an advantage in certain ways.

I'm in California, our homeless issue is enormous. So parking in a car - someone would be lucky to last a night without being hassled by the cops, told to move on, fined. Or even arrested and car towed. Another major problem is vandalism and violence. So living in a car wouldn't be an option for me, unless I immediately get out of state, which I wouldn't want to do right away. There are so many gorgeous places to experience here.

Safety would be an issue, for sure. I've stayed in campgrounds many decades ago in Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and down south. Sometimes the campgrounds were fairly well-populated; other times empty or close to, with no one overseeing things. I was with my husband when we camped out back then. There were a couple of times that, had I been alone, I would have been afraid of some creep.

I think of the possibility of the money that might be saved...but then I also wonder if, when all was said and done, there would really be a savings. Gas and whenever I've traveled between 1,000 and 3,000 miles I've always experienced at least 2 times when my car needed mechanical work. If I was far from a town or city when a breakdown occurred, it was pretty sticky. And I was a lot younger.

The two biggest issues for me would be bringing my cats. Huge issue. Keeping them safe, and what to do if emergency care was required.

The other gigantic problem would be psych meds. I can't even begin to figure that one out.


So to me, the off-the-grid life is not impossible, but I have to wonder of it's more stressful (and dangerous) than homed living is.

I do know two different couples who have spent three months (each) on the road. That said, both were financially well-off, left pets in care (I couldn't stand to be separated from my cats like that), and none of them were on psychiatric medications. Both couples owned homes that they rented out while traveling. Everything went just fine for both of those couples, but they had access to plenty of money.

All that said, I still dream of a nomad life....sort-of

Interestingly I did see a woman on the road with a cat. She had him on a leash -- but I am not sure I could ever do that. I am guessing this would be somewhat short term, 2 years or so..

[Stuck1nhead]

I dreamed and watched so many vids of the nomad lifestyle. Always thought one day I would do it. Looked up off grid living and everything. Then I got married

Originally Posted by Stuck1nhead

I dreamed and watched so many vids of the nomad lifestyle. Always thought one day I would do it. Looked up off grid living and everything. Then I got married

Well that isn't happening here. Though I have seen many couples out there.

I have also considered why this is so attractive to me and it seems simplicity. So I am also looking into ways to simplify my life. That might help me.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Emily Fox Seaton

Interestingly I did see a woman on the road with a cat. She had him on a leash -- but I am not sure I could ever do that. I am guessing this would be somewhat short term, 2 years or so..

Yes, I saw a homeless man with a cat on a leash, riding on his shoulder in Berkeley. The guy and the cat both looked happy. But I have five cats....

[Seafarer]

I have dreamed of the nomadic lifestyle. I am a nomad at heart. I think it would be great to be like a turtle or a snail and carry my home with me so that I would never have to pack or unpack again or pay movers. I have never liked accumulating stuff.
When I retired (on a very low income, mostly Social Security) I started doing a lot of online research. I learned that it costs a lot more to live in an RV than it does to live in a HUD-subsidized senior apartment. I would have to pay lot rent, plus all utilities. And I know that I, personally, would not be comfortable having to learn to connect and disconnect water, electricity, and gas lines. I'm just not good at that sort of work.
If I lived in a motorhome I would need some sort of vehicle to get around in. If I lived in a trailer I would need a huge pickup truck to tow it -- at least a one-ton, probably a 4x4, and those not only cost a lot, they use a lot of fuel.
I have Medicare, which is federal, but Medicaid is state, which means I need to be a legal resident of some state, as I would for a driver's license, and to license the camper.
I joined some of the many senior RV online communities, and I learned that a lot of retirees split their time between the north (summer) and the south (winter). Some of them earn their lot rent, and other money, by working at the campgrounds where they stay.
But again, it is that HUGE initial expense to buy the RV. And I was surprised to realize that an RV costs more than a single-wide mobile (manufactured) home.
I also learned that, unlike a house, an RV is not an asset. It does not appreciate in value, it depreciates, like a car.
And I know I would freak out my first night in the RV if a big storm came up.

[unaluna]

Seafarer - not to mention having to flush out the rv's carry-along septic tank, or whatever they call it. I have only ever seen it done on tv, like a Chevy Chase movie, but it's not fun!

And also... yet another thing I wouldn't have to worry about -- Radon. I am on the condo board and one of the units tested up at 8 PCL and 4 is the safe limit. It was a reminder to me that I have to test my unit again -- it previously came back at 3 PCL. Radon can change with the seasons so

But if I lived in a car it is another hassle I wouldn't have to worry about.

[Ashini Fernando]

Originally Posted by Stuck1nhead

I dreamed and watched so many vids of the nomad lifestyle. Always thought one day I would do it. Looked up off grid living and everything. Then I got married

Hey same thing happened to me. I used to watch "LivingBigInATinyHouse" videos and dreamed so much on off grid living. When I was about to marry I stopped watching those videos and completely forgot this this. After the marriage I showed one of these videos to my partner. He really liked it and he did lots of research on this. Then together we made a plan and now we are working on it together. Maybe you should talk with your partner and share your interest on this.