Intro and q about a video

[phyllisindallas]

Hello everyone.

My name is Phyllis, and I currently live in Dallas, Texas. I have been looking at in a few years the options of moving to Mexico to live cheaply, or recently living in an rv, which is something I had been thinking of since I was young (I am 54 now). I have always loved the outdoors and I am not a "stuff" person.

I would first like to thank Bob for his WONDERFUL videos. I think now the nomad life is the life for me, and I have learned that I don't have to have everything figured out before I start. I was intimidated before by the expense and unknown of buying an rv, and now ideally I would love to convert a high top van, but I plan now on starting in my 4runner if I have not been able to get a van in the few years before I am planning to start. I sincerely thank Bob and all the wonderful people he has interviewed in his videos, because they have taught me so much by sharing their lives with us.

I do have one question. I ran across this video:  and I would like to hear some experienced (especially female) opinions on it. I have some initial opinions (mainly, without directly questioning the mental health of someone I don't know, negative), but I would love to hear what you all think.

(I forgot to mention that I don't feel a huge risk in being a nomad any more than I do living in the sorta high crime area I live in now since I have a german shepherd, who I plan on bringing with me on my adventure.)

Thanks for reading, and thanks for this community!

Mod Note: Edited out the link, see Post # 3

 

[Almost There]

Welcome to the forum!

That woman is the absolute last person you should be listening to IMO.

Hang out with us here on the forum and you'll see a completely different perspective.

 

[Almost There]

Welcome to the CRVL forums Phyllis! To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips, Tricks and Rules" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you.

I edited out the link per our rules but here's the link to a discussion we had about that video when it was first published.

https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=32447

 

[phyllisindallas]

Thank you! She sounds pretty off the wall to be honest. I was surprised to not see anyone challenging what she was saying in the comments.

I'm not saying I don't think bad things can happen, but the way she spoke made me think she might not be mentally healthy, but since I have not lived as a nomad, I wanted to get others' opinions.

 

[phyllisindallas]

Oh I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do something wrong. I will read the rules now (which yes I should have done before).

 

[phyllisindallas]

Hi. Thanks for letting me know I had violated the rules, and since you said you deleted my link, I thought maybe I wasn't supposed to post links. I read the rules, and I can't see my mistake. Could you please tell me so I won't do it again? I want to be a good member here.

 

[Moxadox]

Hey there, Phyllis from Dallas! Don't worry about anything. You'll pick up all the knowledge you need to stay safe and happy right here. There will always be people who manage to find whatever there is to worry about, whether in a Sticks n Bricks house or on the road. I've been full time so far 3 and 3/4 years in a van most of the time, lately in a 5th wheel, alone with my dog, in every kind of environment from urban to desert to forest and coast to coast 3 times. While I've run into some darned inconsiderate people once in a while, I have never felt in danger. Maybe that's because I've also lived in an actual war zone for 4 years and that has somewhat changed my idea of what "danger" is LOL! Anyway, don't worry about anything. People are mostly very helpful and sometimes genuinely kind. The great thing about being on wheels is if you don't like your environment, you can always simply pick up and leave! I have only had to do that once in nearly 4 years, and that was simply because the guy camped next to me decided that since he had won his bass tournament, that gave him the right to run his infernal little generator all night long to charge up his boat battery before he went home. Now, if that's all the badder it gets, I'm not too concerned ;-)

The Dire Wolfess

 

[Gertie]

Moxadox, Thanks! The more I'm reading online the more I want to do this.....it will just take some time. I'm still working on probates unfortunately, so sometimes I feel like I'm going around in circles. But, like I said, just takes time. I've also got dogs, that's another consideration I'll have to work out.

 

[phyllisindallas]

Hey there, Phyllis from Dallas!  Don't worry about anything.  You'll pick up all the knowledge you need to stay safe and happy right here.  There will always be people who manage to find whatever there is to worry about, whether in a Sticks n Bricks house or on the road.  I've been full time so far 3 and 3/4 years in a van most of the time, lately in a 5th wheel, alone with my dog, in every kind of environment from urban to desert to forest and coast to coast 3 times.  While I've run into some darned inconsiderate people once in a while, I have never felt in danger.  Maybe that's because I've also lived in an actual war zone for 4 years and that has somewhat changed my idea of what "danger" is LOL!  Anyway, don't worry about anything.  People are mostly very helpful and sometimes genuinely kind.  The great thing about being on wheels is if you don't like your environment, you can always simply pick up and leave!  I have only had to do that once in nearly 4 years, and that was simply because the guy camped next to me decided that since he had won his bass tournament, that gave him the right to run his infernal little generator all night long to charge up his boat battery before he went home.  Now, if that's all the badder it gets, I'm not too concerned ;-)

The Dire Wolfess

Thank you! My initial instinct was that I always feel safe with my big scary looking dog, but it's good to hear!

 

[phyllisindallas]

Moxadox, Thanks!  The more I'm reading online the more I want to do this.....it will just take some time.  I'm still working on probates unfortunately, so sometimes I feel like I'm going around in circles.  But, like I said, just takes time.  I've also got dogs, that's another consideration I'll have to work out.

Hi Gertie. I probated my mother's will, and took care of everything of hers (including cleaning up her hoarder's apt), so I feel ya. You;'ll get there.

 

[max+sophia]

Thank you! My initial instinct was that I always feel safe with my big scary looking dog, but it's good to hear!

Hi Phyllis, I'm an ancient person living in the middle of nowhere.  I'm probably in more danger here, than I will be when I get a rig and go on the road.  With a rig, you have the option to choose safe places to camp.  Your "woman's sense" will guide you.  Glad I read your thread. GOOD LUCK.  Max

 

[Gertie]

I'm very sorry, Moxadox, I thought I was responding to a message to me.....in fact, I got totally confused with the names, etc., and unfortunately I'm not tech oriented, I'm more like tech baffled......so maybe I'll just go back to bed and start over later. Gertie

 

[phyllisindallas]

Hi Phyllis, I'm an ancient person living in the middle of nowhere.  I'm probably in more danger here, than I will be when I get a rig and go on the road.  With a rig, you have the option to choose safe places to camp.  Your "woman's sense" will guide you.  Glad I read your thread. GOOD LUCK.  Max

I feel the same way!

 

[max+sophia]

I feel the same way!

I do have a few "protection" items with me, which I highly recommend.

My dog is just 5 pounds, but she can hear an eyelash fall.  Unlike the REAL protection your very large dog can provide.  If this applies to you, walking the dog at night or when ever, get a hefty tactical flashlight with a zapper.  If the light doesn't blind a person, and send him away, the zapper will put him down.

 

[phyllisindallas]

zapper?

 

[highdesertranger]

welcome Phyllis, to answer your question about posting links if you read the rules that NomadAdventurer gave you a link to reread the 6th bullet point. here it is,

- Until you have participated with at least 10 substantive posts, do not include any links that take readers away from the CheapRVLiving website in order to view a blog, video, something for sale, etc. Once you've you've made enough substantive posts, include a complete description of the content of the link for those members who don't have enough bandwidth or data to view it. This includes any links within a signature

hope this helps.

a great way to get your feet wet and get a feel for the lifestyle is to attend the RTR.

highdesertranger

 

[phyllisindallas]

Ok Thanks!

 

[phyllisindallas]

a great way to get your feet wet and get a feel for the lifestyle is to attend the RTR.

highdesertranger

As far as the RTR, I would love to. My kiddo will be with the dad for xmas, so I was thinking of trying to go to the winter one, but then I would be leaving my home unsecured if I take the dog, and like I said I live in a high crime area, so I am pretty much stuck here until I sell my house (believe me not happy about that). My home was unlived in for one day a few years ago when it was my rent house, and thank goodness for insurance, cause it was broken into and they ripped out most of the wiring, and much of the plumbing, and caused $12k of damage, so I am hesitant to leave.

 

[highdesertranger]

ouch, dang that sucks. do you know anybody who could house sit? highdesertranger

 

[John61CT]

Thank you! She sounds pretty off the wall to be honest. I was surprised to not see anyone challenging what she was saying in the comments.

I'm not saying I don't think bad things can happen, but the way she spoke made me think she might not be mentally healthy, but since I have not lived as a nomad, I wanted to get others' opinions.

Most discussion about that here concurred with your intuition.

Likely just fear mongering to get traffic, but if not I feel sorry for her.

Sure stuff happens, but in reality traffic accidents are the biggest danger out there, and we all manage to keep driving. . .