The 2 Month Nomadic Review

Yesterday marked two full months of being nomadic with Chris. In some ways, if feels like years.. and in others, if feels like it’s only been days since we left. It’s odd the time perspective shift that happens while out on the road.

I’ve been asked by several folks to talk about what it’s like to be nomadic – the good and the bad. I didn’t think it would be fair to start making judgments of it until I had been out here for a bit of time. Two months seems about right to start forming opinions.. it’s the time when things start to shift from being a ‘vacation mode’ into living.

So first.. the good:

– New views out my window on a daily basis.

– People stopping by our set up to admire the life we’re leading. It’s a great conversation starter, and has introduced us to so many cool people along the way.

– I’ve been on snow capped mountains, rainforests, deserts, redwood forests, Atlantic beaches, Pacific beaches, damed lakes and more. Sometimes, many of those in the same day.

– Getting to visit and meet with new people regularly.

– Getting to attend so many fun and interesting events, even using them as routing points.

– Great variety of wildlife – bears, antelope, bunnies, birds, cows, buffalo, etc.

– Nomadic Serendipity.

– And everything else I’ve already posted about in the last two months.

Now, the negatives:

– Lack of community is likely the biggest pitfall for me. While I get to meet a lot of new folks, there generally hasn’t been time to actually form lasting connections which merit keeping in touch after we leave an area. The isolation of not having a community to turn to when I just want to talk to someone besides Chris.. does get, well.. isolating. I’m very very grateful for the folks who have kept in touch via e-mail & IM, and even those who keep reading/commenting. At least some sense of connection helps a great deal towards not feeling so far away and still feeling like I’m part of people’s lives.

– Sometimes, it’s exciting to not know where I’m sleeping tonight. Other times.. it gets old having to put so much effort into finding campgrounds that are 1) cheap/free and 2) in cell phone range and 3) not ‘RV Hell’ (ie. those KOA-like campgrounds where you’re parked so close together that you can hear your neighbor breath) and 4) feel safe. A lot of times, nomadic serendipity helps out and presents great opportunities, and for the most part – it’s not been much of a problem. But other days.. grrr.

– There are times I just want to be still. Not for too long.. but being stopped in one location for more than a couple of days sounds really, really great. I’d love to be stopped somewhere for a couple of weeks. I’m still recovering from the dash across the US. I like the variety of my life, but I would like to enjoy it at a more relaxed pace sometimes and get to experience a location for more than a day or two. Less time sitting in the car, and more time out doing things. I’m hoping this levels out sooner than later.

All and all.. the positives far outweigh the negatives for me so far.. and I’m loving my life.