boondocking Do any of you women boondock

[Becky&Thea]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Hello all,</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I'm going out to the state owned woods today for three days... i really need a break from myself dealing with&nbsp;people<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">&nbsp; </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">This will be my first time by myself, up to now I've been scared out there.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I should be fine.&nbsp; I am very cautious.&nbsp; I have a dingo looking dog, who makes this possible.&nbsp; As you all have taught me, I arrive late and leave early, don't stay in one place for long, always aware of my surroundings.&nbsp; I just hope I can relax and get some spiritual peaceful strong energy going.&nbsp; </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">My question is women doing this alone?&nbsp; Men have you run across bad situations out there?&nbsp; As i said I'm very careful, this is almost a necessity at this point.</p>

 

[squire]

<p>I am AMAZED and surprised at the number of women vandwelling. There were more single women than single men at the RTR and the men just were blown away by them. </p>

 

[rvwandering]

&nbsp;There really are a lot of women living and boondocking in vans and RVs. Here are a couple of blogs. As far as I know neither of this women had ever owned an RV before they started fulltiming. At least one is a member of the forum. <a target="_blank" href="http://tumbleweedsandlemonade.blogspot.com/2012/05/slab-city-chilly-94-degrees.html">http://tumbleweedsandlemonade.blogspot.com/2012/05/slab-city-chilly-94-degrees.html</a><br><br><a target="_blank" href="http://rvsueandcrew.com/2012/05/31/wildcat-willies-and-what-to-do-with-the-crew/">http://rvsueandcrew.com/2012/05/31/wildcat-willies-and-what-to-do-with-the-crew/</a><br><br>Let us know how it goes!<br>

 

[gadgetMe]

Welcome Becky,<br><br>Although I so far have not fulltimed, yet, I do part time on the road about 1/2 of the year,<br><br>I have stayed at BLM lands , Army corps engineers sites, big box stores, casinos, forest service lands, truck stops (my least favorite because of the noise), even abandoned farm steads, since 2005<br><br>I have never had a reason to feel threatened...<br><br>So, enjoy the solitude for as long as you can.<br><br>Here is a blog of a young gal I met that we helped install a solar panel on her teardrop, her latest blog post speaks to what your concerns are... <a target="_blank" href="http://theblondecoyote.com/">Blonde Coyote&nbsp; </a><br><br>Putz<br>

 

[mockturtle]

My personal experience is that I feel safer 'in the middle of nowhere' than I do in town.&nbsp; That said, I have an early warning system [small dog] and a backup protection device.&nbsp; <br>

 

[cyndi]

Hi Becky! Hi Thea!<div>Check your PM's! I sent some information regarding women only groups, for support!</div>

 

[Becky&Thea]

<p>You all are awesome!!&nbsp; I'll be reading the blogs you sent, right now!</p>

 

[Becky&Thea]

<p>cyndi i responded hope it came through... my battery is dying... no where to charge it right now... I'll be back on later tonight or tomorrow.</p>

 

[LaughingWolf]

It doesn't entirely apply, but I spent several years living in remote cabins in Alaska. I never had any problems with anything other than wildlife, and at that it was mostly just squirrels and the occasional moose.<br>The first cabin I moved into, I was scared for a long time, but I had 2 Great Danes and a GSD so I relied on them to alert me to any problems. I only ever had one unintentional human visitor and it was an older woman who was lost and somehow made it to my cabin at the end of a very narrow dirt road. Her car got stuck trying to turn around, and I helped her get out.<br>Personally, I feel much more in-tune with nature, and therefore trusting of it, than I am with people. I'd take BLM land in the middle of nowhere over a WM parking-lot any day (night). The key is that someone knows where you are and when you're expected to return or be in contact again, just in case something happens. Even if the only person you tell is the Ranger. <br>Happy boondocking. Can't wait to do some myself!!<br><br>LW<br>

 

[akrvbob]

As several have said,&nbsp; I am blown away by the number of women vandwelling, and even more by the number of them boondocking. And I mean boondocking in the true sense of the word, they go out into the National Forests and BLM&nbsp; desert land and are all alone. <br><br>As also has been said, you will be much safer in the woods than you are in any city. Statistically there is extremely little violence in the nations Public Land. The very, very few times there is crime on Public Land, it becomes big news and gets lots of attention so you think it happens pretty often, BUT IT DOESN'T, IT IS VERY RARE.<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> I've lived on Public Land for over 4 years, and neither I, nor any of the many people who I know who live this way have every felt threatened by other people on Public Land.</span><br><br>You shouldn't feel bad that you are afraid. It is so very far out of the average persons comfort zone, that most of us were afraid to some degree in the beginning. One trick is to take as many precautions as you can so they help you feel comforted. You don't need them to be safe, you need them to FEEL safer. Your feelings are important so don't fight them, try to roll with them. When you are afraid remind yourself it is okay to be afraid, it is normal and healthy. Then remind yourself that you have taken reasonable precautions and you are very safe. Try to find humor in your fear. Laughter is a natural antidote to fear. Try to find the joy and beauty that is everywhere around you in nature.<br>&nbsp; <br>If you give it a chance you will probably find you love it. Bob<br>

 

[Becky&Thea]

<p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="1">Thank-you all for specifics on how long and under what circumstances there has been no problem!&nbsp;Really helps&nbsp;</font></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="1"><em></em></font>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="1"><em></em></font>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="1"><em>You shouldn't feel bad that you are afraid. It is so very far out of the average persons comfort zone, that most of us were afraid to some degree in the beginning. One trick is to take as many precautions as you can so they help you feel comforted. You don't need them to be safe, you need them to FEEL safer. Your feelings are important so don't fight them, try to roll with them. When you are afraid remind yourself it is okay to be afraid, it is normal and healthy. Then remind yourself that you have taken reasonable precautions and you are very safe. Try to find humor in your fear. Laughter is a natural antidote to fear. Try to find the joy and beauty that is everywhere around you in nature.<br> <br>If you give it a chance you will probably find you love it. Bob</em></font></p><p><font size="1">Thank-you... Feelings out of control was the problem.&nbsp; cool you said that about accepting them and rolling with them.&nbsp; In desperation I&nbsp;started doing mindfulness, paying attention only to what was in front of me and breathing and I calmed down and could think.&nbsp; And see the beauty... and get some perspective.&nbsp;</font></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="1"></font>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="1">&nbsp;I was out where I'm going to stay this afternoon it is beautiful.&nbsp; Raining and 40's so i came back to town to catch up on here and&nbsp; bought inverter so I can charge the computer, that will help the stress level!!!&nbsp; yes when I'm not fearing it I'm loving it.&nbsp; Thanks for such a powerful helpful site.&nbsp;&nbsp; peace Becky</font></p><font size="1"><p style="margin: 0px;"><em><br></em></p></font>

 

[grammahugababy]

Becky,&nbsp; you have received a lot of really good advice here and Bobs idea that you need to feel&nbsp; safe is important.&nbsp; Baby steps are always good.&nbsp; Things like going out where you are going to be parked and just looking it over in the daytime like you did.&nbsp; I seldom park out in the middle of nowhere in an area I am not familiar with.&nbsp; I usually stay somewhere near other campers for a day or so while I look around for the perfect site.&nbsp; No matter how safe a place is I need to FEEL safe there.&nbsp; Be sure someone knows where you are and when you will be back.&nbsp; Learned that the hard way when my daughter had a medical emergency and no one knew how to find me.&nbsp; The more you do this the better you will feel about your safety.&nbsp; There really are not a lot of bad guys out in the forest and desert.&nbsp; They are all in town hanging out together convincing each other they are macho bad guys.&nbsp;&nbsp; GRIN &nbsp; Yep, there are a lot of us women out here and we are enjoying the solitude we need and also the friendships we make along the way.&nbsp; <br>Just keep your eyes open and be aware of your surroundings&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Grammahugababy &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br><br><br><br><br>

 

[Becky&Thea]

<p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;Grammahugababy, Thank-you for telling me about your daughters medical emergency, that brings home the need for someone to know where i am!&nbsp; The need to FEEL safe makes so much sense, no way to make anything a 100 percent safe.&nbsp; I think i take my image of the gangstsa's in the city and put them all by a camp fire, next to my campsite, in my mind!&nbsp; No offense to gangsters<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">.&nbsp; I read the post on no political statements<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">.&nbsp; My sense of humor is coming back thank-you all</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">laughing wolf Living in Alaska, miles from no where applies to what i was wondering<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p>

 

[Becky&Thea]

<p>You guys are making me excited to do this again.&nbsp; thoseblogs were really helpful, this seems fun again<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">&nbsp; Tonyandkaren, beautiful blog.&nbsp; was just talking with some people in wheelchairs i'll make sure they know about your blog.&nbsp; I've been alternating between feeling like I'm homeless, then like I'm on vacation.&nbsp; today it feels like vacation again!&nbsp; Peace&nbsp; I'm on really short battery charge on computer... gotta go for awhile.</p>

 

[rvwandering]

Becky -thank you for the kind words and also for passing the blog on. I'd love to see more of us in wheelchairs enjoying traveling and camping.<br><br>And just to backup what everyone has been saying.. While there are two of us which helps keep runaway fears at bay , we have never, in over 19 years of traveling and camping and parking in every conceivable place, been faced with any real danger. It's pretty safe out there!<br>

 

[mockturtle]

Karen, I just bookmarked your terrific web site!! What a gem!&nbsp; I'm looking forward to doing a lot of catching up.&nbsp; Hope we meet on the road some day. <img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br>

 

[rvwandering]

Thank you Mockturtle. I hope that we meet on the road someday too. Sorry about your current circumstances. It has to be hard.<br><br>&nbsp;Planetmoon -Thanks!<br>&nbsp;We've passed the train station a couple of times and I wondered about it. Now I'll have to stick it on my attractions maps. The pictures of the remodeling work on their website look fantastic! Unfortunately we're on our way out of town so it'll have to wait for our next trip through.<br>

 

[MK7]

<span id="post_message_1273767418">I am a 64 year old woman and travel alone. I've never stayed on BLM land that was 30 miloes from somewhere alone, but I've stayed just about all other types places. WalMart's (my favorite quick stop) Casino's, all types of campgrounds. I love to travel in the "off" season and often catch a National Park campground so deserted that there are only 3 vehicles in a 300 space campground.<br><br>I don't carry a weapon, don't have a dog, don't attempt to disquise my vehicle so it will appear to be occupied by a 25 year old Marine. <br><br>I have never been afraid, I just use common sense to alert me to the safe places to stay. I think you will be fine.

<br><br>Usually nothing ever happens to anyone. Whether they're armed to the teeth, trained as a ninja, or prepared for every type of situations known to man or on the other hand.... have no forms of preps against violent acts, such as yourself.<br><br>But it only takes that one time out of a million that makes someone a believer about being prepared. Except that once that one time happens, the repercussion(s) may last for a lifetime (ie. rape) or serious/disfiguring injuries or even death. <br><br>It's like skydiving 1000 times, why do they wear a helmet and a backup parachute that 1000th time when all 999 previous times, nothing bad happened? Or even more common, driving,. Why wear a seatbelt that millionth time if all you need is common sense (ie. drive slow)? People wear seatbelts automatically now, not just because it's the law, but it's just so unusual and uncomfortable to not wear it. Same goes with being prepared. I feel very strange when I don't have my pistol concealed on me. And as an added plus, you're learning new skills, ie. marksmanship, martial arts, etc. <br><br><br></span>

 

[Becky&Thea]

<p>mk7, thank-you for sharing this.&nbsp; I'm going to start martial arts or take a self defense class.&nbsp; I'm primarily doing it because i want my two daughter in their twenties to go with me<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">&nbsp; I've tried to shoot a gun a few times and i got all weird about it.&nbsp; worrying someone would just take it away from me.&nbsp; It does seem to boil down to what makes us feel safe, so i can have fun, peace, serentity.&nbsp; going to walmart tonight.&nbsp; feel i can do it about once aweek in the same town.&nbsp; thank-you for responding.&nbsp; peace becky</p>

 

[Becky&Thea]

<p>I did it I went to the woods bymyself it was awesome!&nbsp; first time I've felt peaceful in along time!&nbsp; Very little fear.&nbsp; I saw the sherriff out there and asked him if it was ok to camp and had there been any problems recenty.&nbsp; he said yes to camping and no there had not been any problems.&nbsp; I felt good he knew i was out there.&nbsp; I knew I wanted to face this fear soooo glad i did.&nbsp; thanks all for support.&nbsp; becky</p>