FOR WOMEN ONLY: Would like to hear from women soloing on the road

[Kadi63]

Hi ladies,<BR><BR>I am getting more and more into the idea of moving into a conversion van and hitting the road by spring 2013. I am 62, retired&nbsp;and single. Are there many out there like me? Do you feel safe? How to you keep from getting taken by mechanics? I have lots of questions. <BR><BR>I'd also like to hear about your adventures. I totally enjoyed reading Grandma Walker's thread on doing up her van. <BR><BR>Looking forward to hearing from you!!<BR><BR>Kadi

 

[Where~the~wind~blows]

Kadi, I don't travel much, but when I do, I have dogs which make me feel very safe, as I will usually stay at rest area's. I have never felt "taken" by a mechanic, maybe I have been lucky, I try like heck to keep my vehicles in good repair, and take care of the basics for my iron horses. Currently I have a 97 ford conversion, and while I enjoy the space, I prefer my little focus for many trips.

 

[Lifemagician]

Hi Kadi,<br><br>As a regular visitor to North America, I spend much of my time living and travelling in my 1998 Ford Conversion van.&nbsp; I have a very good friend who knows the American automobile - in fact, what he does not know, probably is not worth knowing.&nbsp;&nbsp; I totally rely on him for what needs attention, and when, where to take it and what questions to ask.&nbsp;&nbsp; A friend whom I got to know on another forum, who is always no more than a phone call away.<br><br>During my 2012 visit I covered 25000 miles in 25 weeks, from Key West FL to Deadhorse AK and Yellowknife NWT.&nbsp; I have always felt completely safe, even though I travel alone, without weapon or pet.&nbsp; The same safety precautions you take at home are valuable and necessary in a van.<br><br>If you are interested in reading about this septuagenarian grandmother's exploits, you might like to check out www.tinyurl.com/headingforthehorizon<br><br>Lifey

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

Thanks Lifey for pointing me to your blog.&nbsp; I will be following it.

 

[Where~the~wind~blows]

Lifey, ditto what Dragonfly said! nice blog.... while I don't travel much currently, I do plan to do so at some point! I did want to point out while my dogs add security, they also add&nbsp;companionship...you don't need a big dog, any dog that barks will deter most unwanted persons.

 

[Kadi63]

Thank you all for replying. My family is really nervous about my plans but to be able to let them know I'm not the only "crazy" out there is going to be a big help. Lifey - I, too, will be following your blog! I would like to find out how to do one when I take off.<BR><BR>Pets are out of the question for me as I plan on&nbsp;visiting with friends in various places and don't want to impose that on them.<BR><BR>My daughter said she is going to buy me some mace or pepper spray or some such thing (don't know a whole lot about it but heard it works). My son-in-law said he could rig an alarm thingy so if someone tried to open a door it would go off and scare them away. Still they are nervous. I guess only time will ease their fears.<BR><BR>I am sooooooo glad I found cheaprvliving and this forum!!<BR><BR>Kadi

 

[Kadi63]

I have been through this before with my family and friends. In 2000 I took off in my Geo, traveling to different places to house sit for friends, spent time camping at a lake while earning some extra money. They thought I was nuts then, too. But now I am 12 years older and they think I'm downright crazy with this idea!

 

[Where~the~wind~blows]

Kadi, I really think nomadism is in peoples blood, I was a traveler at heart ever since I can remember, I just allowed so much to hold me back, I have regrets for not following my heart to it's full desires, but I am at peace with it. I know my day will come when I can spread my wings and fly where ever the wind blows......

 

[Kadi63]

Ho ho, I KNOW it's in my blood! LOL. From what I hear my grandfather on my mother's side was a bit of an 'adventurer', never staying in one place long. And my parents were into roading. We had a Cortez motorhome we took cross country the year of the Montreal World's Fair. In their later years they had a travel trailer and for many years were gone at least 6 months. So I'm always telling my sister and cousins it's my Mom's fault that I'm this crazy. LOL

 

[Lifemagician]

Thank you all for replying. My family is really nervous about my plans but to be able to let them know I'm not the only "crazy" out there is going to be a big help.

<br>Kadi, my family gave up on me a long time ago.&nbsp; They are convinced I have lost my marbles.&nbsp; Don't try to convince them you are not crazy, just go.&nbsp;&nbsp; They will be convinced by your success and fulfillment.<br><br>

Lifey - I, too, will be following your blog! I would like to find out how to do one when I take off.

<br>Having unsuccessfully started three blogs (over many years), I resorted to recording my trips in the 'Field Reports' of this site.&nbsp; I too would like to know about blogs.&nbsp; Tried Blogger, Wordpress, and Travelblog, but somehow never figured out how to get one post follow the last one, where you can just read down the page.&nbsp; And including photos is a complete puzzle.<br><br>If anyone has instructions for doing blogs, instructions in baby steps, in single syllable words, keystroke after keystroke, then I would be most interested.&nbsp; <br><br>

My daughter said she is going to buy me some mace or pepper spray or some such thing (don't know a whole lot about it but heard it works). My son-in-law said he could rig an alarm thingy so if someone tried to open a door it would go off and scare them away.

<br>Nah!! you're not going to need them.&nbsp; Your inner gut feeling about places is much more important, and a smile along with a friendly word.<br><br>

I am sooooooo glad I found cheaprvliving and this forum!!

<br>Me too!<br><br>Lifey

 

[peacetara]

Hi Kadi,<br><br>I'm solo, traveling alone, no pets or anything.&nbsp; Sometimes I have a friend along for a ride, but usually it's just me.&nbsp; I'm a fair bit younger than you, maybe around your kid's ages.... But I get along just fine in my 1999 Ford E-350 van.<br><br>I am fairly new at this full-timing thing, I've been out full-time since August of this year (2012).<br><br>I really enjoy it, and it lets me visit my friends and family all over the country.. well that's the plan, so far it's slowly coming along, I tend to not manage very long distances quickly.<br><br>It was sort of a rough start, and it wasn't totally because I wanted to, but I've come to enjoy it.&nbsp; I work a full-time job still (over the Internet) so I don't get to enjoy nature quite as much as I'd like, I still find nice places to boondock and enjoy nature as I can.<br><br>I currently have no plans other than get to the RTR.&nbsp; I wish you lots of success whatever you decide!<br><br>With Love,<br>Tara

 

[Kadi63]

Hi Tara - help me out here as I'm new. What is RTR?

 

[cyndi]

<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="/post/RTR-(Rubber-Tramp-Rendezvous)-Who-What-Where-When-Why-6109198" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;">RTR</span></a></span></strong></span></span>

 

[peacetara]

Thanks Cyndi! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

That is the RTR, it's a gathering of us Vandwellers in Quartzite, and it's starting up soon, next week or something, I always get confused with dates this time of year.

Anyways, If you can make it, you should definitely come out! It will be my first one, tho I was lucky enough to meet Bob and many others when they were up in the Sierra NF this summer.

With Love,
Tara

 

[Kimbopolo]

Hi Kadi,<br><br>I feel safer sleeping in my van alone than I do staying in a hotel alone.&nbsp; I can't think of a single time when I've been afraid on the road.&nbsp; Well, except maybe when people are tailgating at top speeds on the interstate.&nbsp; Now that's real danger!&nbsp; (Which is why I avoid the interstate but that's another post).&nbsp; <br><br>My precautions are based on common sense.&nbsp; I always make sure that someone knows where I am at all times&nbsp;and I also sleep with&nbsp;the cell phone within reach.&nbsp; I also have the&nbsp;remote for the van nearby&nbsp;so I can&nbsp;use the alarm if needed.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>Happy Travels!<br><br><br><br><br><br>

 

[peacetara]

As for safety, my twin sister always knows where I am, I send her my location every night before bed. She knows this. Also, I have an iPhone and it has a 'find friends' feature, so I have my kids and my other sister and even my boss as friends in the app, so they all can tell where I am whenever they want (I think it's wonderful technology, and it lets me know where my kids are all the time too! Bonus! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

Otherwise I just make sure I have all the doors locked, the house part has the cargo wall between the driving and house part, and the windows all have the metal grating, so I feel very safe inside the van.

People I care about always know where I am, I have a little fortress on wheels, and haven't had any problems.

I keep thinking I want to get a dog, probably a hearing service dog, but I don't have the funds right now, and I do ok without, plus many of my family have cats, and I don't want them inconvenienced when I visit. And sometimes I see a misbehaving dog and think, ya see this is why I don't have a dog <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> but then I am with someone with a well behaved or super cute dog and I'm like weeee I want one!! Lol.

Maybe someday <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

With love,
Tara

 

[Lifemagician]

I feel safer sleeping in my van alone than I do staying in a hotel alone.

<br>Funny you should say that.... so do I.<br><br><br>

As for safety, my twin sister always knows where I am ...

<br>Hi Tara, are you identical twins?&nbsp; And if so, do people still confuse you?&nbsp; I too am a twin, we are identical, and yes, people who know one of us and then run into the other, assume it is the one they know.&nbsp;&nbsp; Sometimes quite funny.<br><br>Mind you, that does not happen often now, as she has lived in China for more than two decades.&nbsp; No point letting her know where I am.&nbsp; But one of my children always knows.&nbsp; I email them my plans.&nbsp; I am one of the large minority who still uses a <em>dumb</em> phone.<br><br><br>

<span id="post_message_1276231734">I keep thinking I want to get a dog, probably a hearing service dog, but I don't have the funds right now ...</span>

<br><br>Tara, if you are deaf, do you not get one?&nbsp; I am horrified to hear that you have to pay for one.&nbsp; They are quite expensive, I know, but surely they are given to those who need them, if not for free, then certainly heavily subsidised.&nbsp; (At least, they are here!)<br><br>Lifey<br><br><strong>Edit: why does the spacing vary so greatly when you include quotes, and respond to them.&nbsp; I take great care to make them all the same, but they never seem to 'submit' the way I type them.</strong>

 

[peacetara]

LifeMagician:&nbsp; We are not identical twins, she is WAY cuter than me, and I hate her for it! (in the best possible way, LOL)&nbsp; We are very close and talk all the time, she is hearing, able bodied, married and lives on the east coast.&nbsp; I haven't seen her in person in almost a year <img src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">&nbsp; *pouts*&nbsp; Externally she is sooo much different than I am, she is short where I am tall, she has a million tattoos where I have none, etc, but on the inside we are nearly identical, with the same insecurities, often the same thoughts, etc.&nbsp; It's funny how that all works!<br><br>Around Service Dogs, I can't speak in general, but I know 1 place here on the west coast that does give hearing dogs to deafies, and would be the one I use if/when I go forward.&nbsp; I apologize tho, I didn't mean in acquiring a dog, for that is a 1 time expense, my problem is the upkeep and maintenance of the dog, I have problems sometimes affording my own general care and well-being, so paying for Vet Bills, food, etc for a dog would be outside of my current abilities fiscally.&nbsp; And that is something they don't help you with, as far as I know.&nbsp; I'm still emotionally torn about getting a dog tho, I have a sister with cats that I love dearly, and try to visit often, and I don't want her cats inconvenienced when I visit.<br><br>With Love,<br>Tara

 

[Suanne]

I'd also like to hear about your adventures.

<br><br>Hi Kadi,&nbsp; Glad you are here!&nbsp; In '08, I took an early retirement and began solo travel in '09.&nbsp; I'm currently 58.&nbsp; I'm a part-timer with a homebase in western WA State with my husband.<br><br>My travels have been out of an '04 Prius hatchback.&nbsp; In my signature below are several links to an article and a blog about my set up and travels.&nbsp; Lately, Hubby is finding it more difficult to be alone while I travel; so, we got a small Class C as a compromise.&nbsp; We will be doing some joint travels this coming year.&nbsp; My solo travel will remain in the Prius.<br><br>I love exploring the National Parks and have visited most of the Parks&nbsp;within the lower 48 since '09.&nbsp; After exploring the Gulf Coast Jan-March this year, I've mostly stayed close to home due to family illness.&nbsp; I did do some summer volunteer work on an Amtrak route a couple of times each month.&nbsp; It was as a National Park&nbsp;Guide between Seattle and Havre, MT ... skirting Glacier National Park.&nbsp; It scratched my itchy feet enough to make staying put more tolerable.<br><br>As long as our family members' health remain stable, my 2013 travel plans include the RTR in January (solo), an Alaska Ferry&nbsp;Bellingham/Skagway voyage in March (solo), and the Alcan May-July (w/hubby)&nbsp;... and hopefully more after that.<br><br>As others have recommended, I'll also suggest attending the RTR.&nbsp; It's a great place to connect with like-minded folks.&nbsp; And, more specifically, like-minded women.&nbsp; Great ideas, company, and memories to be found there.<br><br>Suanne ... more than ready to be on the road

 

[Kimbopolo]

Suanne,&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Glad to see you will be at the RTR.&nbsp; I look forward to seeing you there!