Three Years Nomadic

Exactly three years ago, on April 1st 2006, my nomadic wanderings began.

I set off without a clear plan, other than that I wanted to explore making nomadism a fulfilling life, and not a “trip” with some particular destination or end-point in mind.

I did have some intentions when I set off. I expected that within the first year I would have been to both Alaska and Baja, and that I would be soon heading off for some extended international travel and wilderness backpacking.

Amusingly – none of that has happened. Yet.

As I mentioned in my year one recap two years ago:

I’ve found that I strongly prefer a slower and more intentional pace of exploration. I like not needing to race to get somewhere, and instead focusing on enjoying where I am at and the people I am with. Alaska isn’t going anywhere – it can wait till the time is right.

The one thing I did not expect when I set off was to find a life partner along the way. But as is often the case, if you do what you love and pursue your passions, the universe often conspires to help you. And by the end of my first year on the road, it was clear that I would have a partner sharing in my second.

Cherie proved to be just as willing to shed the anchors of stuff and place as I was, and after an extended trial run to determine that our paths really are so fully aligned, we committed to each other at Burning Man 2007.

The story of 2008 was building our “dream house” together. It even comes equipped with rainbows that follow us everywhere:

Right now, on my three-year-nomadic anniversary, we are camped on a beach just a bit north of Malibu. As I write this, I’m watching the oean waves crash through our back window over my love Cherie’s shoulder. Yesterday we saw dolphins. I have a purring and playful kitten crawling around in my lap. My laptop is being powered by the light of the sun, and I’ve been using wireless internet to get work for a client done right here from the beach. We have a fabulous tech-filled yet comfortable home on wheels that is a joy to live in. We have a social calendar full of fabulous friends (old and new) ahead of us this week, and an intentionally vague and open ended route ahead sketched out for the next few months on the road. Life is good.

A fulfilling life indeed. And still no end in sight. *grin*