Bored on BLM?

[rm.w/aview]

In a new camp what gets my attention first is what's closest, unless I just have to see that ____ right away. The binoculars, even for items close at hand, is always a go to with my curiosity. Lizards, spiders, & snakes look like monsters through the binoculars, and just about anything in nature is seen from another viewpoint when viewed up close and has me thinking about getting a macro lens for the camera. A scan of the area will peak my curiosity so the binoculars, camera, & day pack are set for a walk, or bicycle depending on locale. I'll tinker with editing photos when my body has had enough wandering, getting creative & learning more along the way. Points of interest gradually get further from camp as the days pass, until the thought of moving over there comes along. Like you're thinking it's a mix of campsites depending on mood or needs and a park with facilities gets thrown in as well, though not a private/commercial park as much as a state park or COE park or something. The pace in general is slower, excitement is relative but so is normal I guess, and the concept of freedom is very real, substantial, & invigorating to the point that boredom rarely takes shape and when it does it's more like a notion that I should get the map out. Happy Trails!

 

[deadwood]

If I'm perfectly honest I don't really like camping out in the wild all that much. I'm definitely more of the Urban Camper. I love staying in small towns or big cities. Everything I like is usually available to me. By a beach is usually my favorite spot. I never tire of the sound of the ocean.

For the original poster I would suggest finding what you like to do. Try different things and go explore. Try BLM land but also try small towns and cities as well. Find your happiness.

I do work full time. So for the summer I am working out of Philadelphia. Not my favorite place to Urban camp because parking can be a challenge. I just have to stay out of the inner city and I am fine. When I have days off I go explore. I have a few days off coming up and am planning a long weekend at the Delaware shore. I hear their beaches are amazing and will go explore a little and find out for myself. Thats my happiness.

 

[ZoNiE]

Read. Drink Beer. Sit by the fire. Play with the dogs. Hike. Fiddle-fart with the RV... So many things to do.

 

[AntiGroundhogDay]

If I'm perfectly honest I don't really like camping out in the wild all that much. I'm definitely more of the Urban Camper. I love staying in small towns or big cities. Everything I like is usually available to me. By a beach is usually my favorite spot. I never tire of the sound of the ocean.

For the original poster I would suggest finding what you like to do. Try different things and go explore. Try BLM land but also try small towns and cities as well. Find your happiness.

I do work full time. So for the summer I am working out of Philadelphia. Not my favorite place to Urban camp because parking can be a challenge. I just have to stay out of the inner city and I am fine. When I have days off I go explore. I have a few days off coming up and am planning a long weekend at the Delaware shore. I hear their beaches are amazing and will go explore a little and find out for myself. Thats my happiness.

Picking up on your difficulties urban camping in Philly...what does your rig look like?  I'd like to spend some time in big cities as well.

 

[ZoNiE]

oops dup post

 

[Perseverance]

I've been boondocking in the forest for a month now and get really bored! I find that people don't sit outside so they aren't approachable, no campfires allowed due to high fire danger so no community that way! I think people hibernate in their vehicle these days then back before our computer technology and convenience of traveling tv!

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[kaBLOOnie Boonster]

I've been boondocking in the forest for a month now and get really bored! I find that people don't sit outside so they aren't approachable,  no campfires allowed due to high fire danger so no community that way! I think people hibernate in their vehicle these days then back before our computer technology and convenience of traveling tv!

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I have noticed the same thing: boondockers hibernate most of the day, playing with their gadgets. What is a person supposed to do? Walk up and knock on their door?

 

[Almost There]

 What is a person supposed to do? Walk up and knock on their door?

Please don't!

Those people you see that are what you call 'hiding' in their vehicles may very well be serious introverts and/or have other reasons for not being outside!

If they're not outside then it's because they are not open to having visitors for whatever reasons they may have.

A lot of people out there are loners and don't want company!

 

[John61CT]

Not to mention the occasional desperate armed fugitive

 

[Watch_Cowspiracy]

That's the beauty of this lifestyle. Don't like your neighbors? Go somewhete else. Want to have a fire? Go somewhere that allows fires. Need socialization? Join a convoy or a gathering.

 

[Perseverance]

I have noticed the same thing: boondockers hibernate most of the day, playing with their gadgets. What is a person supposed to do? Walk up and knock on their door?

I know, huh!

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[Perseverance]

Please don't!

Those people you see that are what you call 'hiding' in their vehicles may very well be serious introverts and/or have other reasons for not being outside!

If they're not outside then it's because they are not open to having visitors for whatever reasons they may have.

A lot of people out there are loners and don't want company!

Never would! Just comparing camping to like 20+ years ago!

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[Perseverance]

That's the beauty of this lifestyle. Don't like your neighbors? Go somewhete else. Want to have a fire? Go somewhere that allows fires. Need socialization? Join a convoy or a gathering.

I move constantly! I prefer my quite times!

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[Perseverance]

There is no lack of jobs for volunteers. Any thing you like to do can be found. In Utah the department of natural resources gives special hunting privileges to volunteers. They build storage sheds, repair fence, check trails, maintain campgrounds, plant feed lots, help with check stations and this is done on BLM and state lands. BLM offices look for people to man the visitor desk to sell maps and answer questions as well as do surveys, animal counts, creel counts all sorts of work, sometimes just an extra hand on special events. Introduce yourself and let them know what your talents are. Sometimes just starting out picking up trash and hanging around ends up in ride alongs or boat trips to ruins at least it has for me, and in the National Parks seasonal jobs. It is often difficult to find people who like living in remote areas so being short handed is the norm and government bugets are often supplimented by bartering with volunteers, like free utilites or per deim or extended stays.

Thanks[emoji106]

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[Perseverance]

That's the beauty of this lifestyle. Don't like your neighbors? Go somewhete else. Want to have a fire? Go somewhere that allows fires. Need socialization? Join a convoy or a gathering.

Would love to find campfire gatherings!

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[glasschick66]

Finding out what is outside your door would be one of my things to do...plant identification, recognizing trees by their outline, foraging books, birds etc. You could make it a game with your S/O or just yourself and if you see something unknown, research what it is...you would always be learning something and keeping your mind active.

 

[maki2]

I would say if you are getting bored then you are not tapping into your creative side. My time when not relaxing is spent designing and making the things I design. Some things I design become physical objects that I sell. Other things are designed with the intent of selling them as patterns that people can download. But I still need to make physical prototypes to photograph for assembly instructions and so they can see what the finished product looks like. It would be nice to be wealthy enough not to need to supplement my retirement; the upside of that is that I am in no danger of being bored with nothing interesting (or productive) to do.  I only design things that I want to make

No one has to be bored, invent something, write something, paint something, make music, learn a new language, study a subject you have always wanted to learn more about. Take up yoga or meditation, set an exercise goal to improve your heart rate. Get a telescope and learn to identify the stars in the night sky. Get a sketch book and do drawings everyday until you get really good at it, draw from your imagination or draw what is right in front of you. Learn to write a computer program or an app. There are millions of things to do for fun and for profit. If you are sitting around bored while out there on BLM land then you are a person who is only using a very tiny fraction of your potential for enjoying life. Of course all of this requires more effort on your part than turning on a TV.

 

[RoamerRV428]

I get bored very fast.
I am a water baby. Kayak, fish, swim like insanity and when no water is around I 'get bored' out very fast. I don't care to analyze a plant near my campsite. I could care less about watching a squirrel for hrs playing in the trees. Yea I enjoy it but for a minute only Cold weather and snow ain't cutting it ever for me.
Everyone's personality is so different and I am a go go go, hyper type and I like to do what I like to do, rest is just fluff that can't fill more than a few hrs per day to keep me from getting bored. But I can only hike so long and bored. Sightsee and interesting for a bit then scratch that I can only do computer so long and bored. Put me near water and I am instantly NEVER bored....so OP you have to find what ya love to do and get near what is required to do it. I am a water campsite person. Ocean, lake, river, even a creek can entertain us.

What you love to do....get out there and find ways to make it all happen for you. I search out water campsites only. I know then I am doing what I love and right near what keeps me entertained thru the day.


whatever floats your boat, go find it and put yourself in the middle of it.

 

[becida]

Wannabe here who has never visited BLM/National Forest/"Public" land before other than some backpacking in the Northeast as a wknd warrior.  I've watched massive amounts of YT videos of full time RVers but the GF and I are still unsettled on what folks do for entertainment when boondocking away from a city w/ no hookups, in the wilderness after the 10 minute youtube video is over.

Thanks for your input.

What do you do now? Is your "not bored time" dependent on a city? These are questions you need to ask yourself....

You get a van and park in the national forest or on BLM land in AZ or on the beach in Texas... it's still the same you, just in a van somewhere that doesn't cost you rent.

Past those "only you can answer" questions there have been a huge number of suggestions in this thread. Take up gold mining, learn to fish or start carving wooden spoons... making videos seems to be a popular pastime.

Maybe this life is not for you? Nothing wrong with that as we're all different. I had a heck of time dealing with "my" being retired aspect but I came to terms with it.

 

[Desertthorn]

Kind of late to this conversation but have you thought about volunteering as a camp host?