Living Pattern

peacetara · Jul 6, 2014

I've noticed, everyone has their own "pattern" to how they live this mobile lifestyle of ours. What do I mean by this? I mean, some people carry a bike, motorcycle, small car along with their "house" vehicle and they park their house and then drive/bike into town for supplies and will stay as long as they can get away with out camping somewhere. Others hop around and move great distances in days. I think it would be good, especially for new people to the lifestyle to see what these different patterns are, how they work out, etc. So people can see the varied patterns we all have. So , what's your living pattern?

My pattern: I work over the Internet most weekdays, so I want to stay in one spot during the week. I don't like to drive more than an hour at a time, so I prefer to stay a week somewhere (and not drive/move Ferdy at all) and then move on the weekend, filling up on gas, water, food, supplies and finding a new spot, while going in the direction of friends/family I want to visit this year. So for me, I typically stay at the edges of NF and BLM land along highways and freeways, generally going in a consistent direction of travel, then will spend a week with a friend/family and then head in some other direction to the next friend/family. Taking months to get to the next friend/family member. It works out pretty good for the most part, but there are definitely big chunks where I can't find good BLM/NF land along my route to some friends/family and end up having to stealth thru towns, or drive a lot one weekend.

If you are experienced in this, what's your living pattern? If you are new, what sort of living pattern do you think will work for you?

rvwandering · Jul 6, 2014

Hi Tara! Nice to see you posting again. Did you know that the link to your blog doesn't work?

I've noticed that everyone has a living pattern too and they can be vastly different but for the most part everyone is having a great time.

Our pattern: Tony and I are retired so we just wander around doing whatever catches our eye. We're usually heading in a direction for some reason -nice weather, interesting places or to visit family and friends. Mornings and evening are spent relaxing, reading, playing on the computer, watching TV etc. During the mid part of the day we're usually out seeing everything that's in our area. We might stay at the same spot for just one night or up to a week or two. We only drive 50 - 100 miles at a time and most of the time stay for free on public land, casinos and big box stores.

Spirituallifetime · Jul 6, 2014

I've been living in a 40' 5th wheel trailer in 1 place for 9 years. Way to long to be in 1 spot, have to work so I didn't know how I could work and be mobile. So I'm rethinking the work plan so I can be mobile.

Suanne · Jul 6, 2014

Tara,

Such a good topic! And, although I'm not full-time on the road, I hope you don't mind that I respond.

I think I have a couple of distinct mobile-living patterns, one for exploration and the other for socialization. But, if I weren't retired and still needing to earn a living, I'm sure I'd have another pattern similar to yours.

My exploration pattern is how I started spending large chunks of time living out of my vehicle. For 6 month in 2010 I explored many of the National Parks on the lower 48, solo. I'd spend days to weeks at a time at a NPS site. If the site offered camping, I'd usually stay in their campground(s). Otherwise I'd find a Walmart, truck stop, NFS dispersed camping site, or other campground for sleeping overnight while I explored during the day. For this type of mobile living, I only needed/wanted occasional Internet access for checking in, banking, and updating my blog.

But, Internet access while in my socialization pattern becomes more important as a source of entertainment and non-mobile exploration/learning. I'll spend weeks to months in the same location around friends and family, usually camping in nature. My time spent in SW Arizona in January & February is a good example of this pattern -- before, during and after the RTR in Quartzsite. Please note, being an introvert, I use the term "socialization" rather loosely here.

It just does my heart good to be around other folks who understand and love the vandwelling lifestyle as much as I do.

This coming winter I'm going to try the longest stretch ever staying in one place while living out of my vehicle. Maybe some of that time will be while I'm by myself, and that will be yet a new pattern for me -- solo snowbirding.

Suanne

VanLifeCrisis · Jul 6, 2014

I park in a park n ride in morning, sleep while its cool, get up and visit a lake or park nearby, grab a nap in evening at truck stop, then work all night. Days off i visit relatives an hour away and camp in their property.

Since i work travel is limited

cyndi · Jul 6, 2014

I travel south and west (ish) in the fall and northeast (ish) in the spring.

While I was in the motor home and gas was an issue my goal was to stay in one spot from 2 weeks to a month and move when I needed to get supplies or dump/fill the tanks. Basically, moving (how far and when) centered around my $350.00 gas budget.

Now that I am in the car. there's no room to stock up on supplies and no worries about gas.