Adventuregurl said:
Hi Everyone,
I've . . . have had the draw to RV for a long time. I just don't truly know if it's for me though, even though I can't stop reading about it
I am not yet out there doing it, but for me, traveling and living a nomadic life does not necessarily require camping. I won't mind camping for short periods, but it won't be how I spend the majority of my life on the road. There are lots of ways to live a nomadic life, such as house-sitting, periodically staying in hostels or AirBnB, or getting temp/seasonal work that includes accommodations where you can shower, do laundry, etc. Some people fly all over the globe as nomads. Not every vandweller/nomad/RVer wants to hike wilderness trails or camp out in the desert. You can create your nomadic life any way you want, to do the things
you want to do. If camping doesn't appeal to you, that's okay. It doesn't appeal much to me.
I am the same age as you. I grew up in a small suburb outside a major city, and then moved to that major city where I've lived for over 30 years. I have camped maybe three times in my entire life -- I am not a Burning Man/boondocks type of person. Yeah, sure, I'd like to see Mt. Rushmore or the Grand Canyon, but as far as the great outdoors - I'm terrified of snakes and bears, squeamish about bugs and rodents, and too clumsy to be a skier or hiker (or any kind of athlete). Should I force myself to do something I'm not that interested in, just for the sake of "being a nomad?" I don't think so. Perhaps the real die-hard vandwellers who have been camping for years and years, and who know how to handle extreme wilderness conditions, would laugh at me for that - but, really, who cares?
There are many cities and towns I would love to see because I love history and exploring places, have not seen as much of this country as I would like, and I'm a bit of a foodie who worked in the restaurant business for over 12 years, so I adore dining out. I love art, creativity, and culture - can't live without it. I get juiced in bustling communities, and places where people get together and create amazing things. I may want to get out of this city, but I like town life.
Yes, getting back in touch with the beauty and majesty of the natural world will definitely be a part of my nomadship, I am sure. However, I want to get on the road not only to be in nature, but also to visit various towns and cities for museums, concerts, theater performances, historic sites, etc. I imagine myself staying and working in a small city a few weeks here, a resort town a few months there, and then moving on. So, who says I can't be a nomad just as much as someone who camps where very few vehicles can go? I will even have to take refresher driving lessons and learn a bit of auto mechanics because all my years of city living means I didn't need to drive and I've never even owned a car. But it's my life, and if I am determined to live as a nomad, I will create it as I see fit. It just takes some soul-searching, learning, budgeting, and planning. You can do the same.
