New chick - no idea what I'm doing

[waverider1987]

Hey ya'll.  Name's Lauren, I'm 28 and live in Virginia.  I wanted to find a community to help support me during this transition.  I've tried before to do this but always chicken out at the last minute because I literally know nobody who does this.  However, I find people on youtube and on forums such as these who are living the life, so I wanted to say hi and hopefully get some support.

I've pretty much reached a breaking point.  I have a hard time living conventionally, although I've tried.  I've had jobs, lived on my own, done some college, but I find myself back living with my parents, unable to stick with anything that's supposed to get me "ahead" in life.  People always say you should do what you're passionate about, but I haven't found it.  I think it's just being free.  I've thought about this lifestyle for years, and even turned my car into a camper, just to get about 100 miles down the road and turn around cuz I had no sense of where I was going. 

So the plan is this, to get the car (a toyota 4runner), and myself, ready by christmas.  I have a friend in nasheville who i'll drive out to see around new years, then want to drive to the rubber tramp rendezvous.  I'm hoping it'll be a good starting point and i'll meet some people who can help guide me in the next step.  I've already been experimenting with ways to make money on the road.  I'm a licensed massage therapist and have a massage chair I can make money with.  I know all about work camping, wwoof'ing, seasonal/temp jobs, working online, etc.  Because I'm young and don't have a SS check coming in, and do have about $5k in debt, I have to keep making money, which was always the #1 reason I haven't done this yet.  My bills are about $200 a month (not including rent, seems irrelevant), which I think I can make pretty easy doing massage. I'm going to set up at a flea market this weekend to see how well it does, I've honestly never tried it.  I work out of my house doing massage, so taking it mobile will be new for me.

I just wish to break free of the monotonous hamster wheel of daily life, and to live a linear life of creativity and adventure.  I've been depressed and lonely for a long time, and nothing seems to help.  I'm hoping this will. Oh, and my cat will be coming with me as well

To see a bit more about me, put a face to a name, you can check out my youtube, where I will start posting vids once this process gets rolling more:
https://www.youtube.com/user/LBCsVids


Cheers

 

[TMG51]

You've made it to the right place. You'll find a lot of guidance here and even some people who surprise you. Speaking of... I'll send you a PM.

 

[my_vantasy]

Hello and welcome from Ohio! I am still in a sticks and bricks, so I'm not going to be the best person to advise you, but your plans sound well thought out and very doable. From what I've heard, the RTR is the best.

Best wishes and I look forward to following you.

 

[Queen]

Hi Lauren, welcome! Seems like you've got a great plan and all the skill you'll need to earn a living while traveling, wish I'd done it at 28!

Like you, I just went from thing to thing trying very hard not to get stuck. For me I met my much more conventional spouse at 28 and started down a life path of trying to play by the rules. *sigh* Love her to death but wish she wanted to roam as much as I do. 55 now and still trying to get more mobile.

Loads of amazing people and information here, learn what you need, grab life and GO while you're still young and unencumbered.

 

[dhawktx]

Welcome and a big Cyber-Hug Lauren! I'm working towards the same thing, except it's taken me a few more decades to get to it!

 

[rvpopeye]

When I was thinking about becoming a fulltimer I would often ask people that were fulltimers if there was anything that made them regret the decision....

Almost all of them said that the only regret they had was not starting sooner !

Welcome to the tribe and get ready to ride !

 

[Iggy]

If you aren't a conventional person, then why follow conventional traditions is what I say. I think you are making the right decision. Just do your homework and calculations before starting out, as much as you can. Then learn on the road. I started out a couple years ago just wanting to travel and live on the cheap. My budget was $1000 a month. Now I live on $400-500 and don't have to work as much.
On Venice Beach and Ocean Beach (San Diego) I saw massage therapists set up their bed near the beaches and make pretty good money. They were men, I think a woman would do better. I believe they just advertised body rubs, because they weren't licensed in California.
I hope to see you make it to the RTR. I really enjoyed it last year. It was a little intimidating being a newbie but there were so many friendly people that welcomed me. And you can be out going or a recluse there. I was both, depending on my mood. Lol Welcome to the the good life!

 

[MikeRuth]

Welcome and best of luck to you! I wish I had some idea about this life style when I was your age.
sounds like your about to cross over and your itinerary coming up sounds like a good plan. Don't know if I'll make RTR but I assure you if you do your going to meet some great folks that will fill you with nothing but great information plus you will get to see so many different ways of making this lifestyle work.

Mike

 

[cyndi]

Lauren, welcome to the CRVL forums! You've got a ways to go, but if you're into a minimal lifestyle this is the way to go and this is the place to learn.

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

 

[SoulRaven]

If you are looking for a seasonal job (winter) you will find much more available work in South Florida vs. the in the middle of nowhere in the Arizona desert.

For instance, the Nav-a-gator is always looking for seasonal help and they have cottages on site where they might have some of the seasonal help share a cottage as a bonus benefit.

I suggest you give them a call and check it out.

http://nav-a-gator.com/

 

[Theadyn]

Hi and Welcome!! See you at the RTR

 

[highdesertranger]

hi and welcome. sounds to me like you have an idea of where you want to go. so go, just do it. you are still young so if you find out it's not for you, no harm done. RTR would be great for you, like van dwelling school with a bunch of great people. highdesertranger

 

[ramblingvanman]

Welcome. I just watched your hooping video. Looks like you had fun. Which beach was that taken at? Looks like on the Atlantic, but didn't seem built up enough for Virginia Beach.

 

[waverider1987]

Welcome. I just watched your hooping video. Looks like you had fun. Which beach was that taken at? Looks like on the Atlantic, but didn't seem built up enough for Virginia Beach.

You're right, but the north end, away from the hotels

 

[ramblingvanman]

You're right, but the north end, away from the hotels

By Shore Drive? Or all the way up by Fort Story?

 

[akrvbob]

Hi Lauren, welcome!! You've come to the right place and I think you'll find the community you've been searching for! Most of us felt just like you do about being a wage-slave and wanted more out of life--we've found it and so can you.

The massage is a very good idea, but I'm sure you are aware of state licensing so you'll need a way around that. Does your table fold down so it will fit easily in a 4Runner? I'm a really big fan of the 4Runner and a couple of ideas:

1) I suggest you start a build thread on the 4Runner and take a lot of pictures of the interior and post them along with all the dimensions so we can offer advice on your build. Take a picture with all the seats up and down and deminsions for both and the footwells and everything you can think of.
2) I'd give thought to a receiver hitch and a Hitch Haul for extra storage.
3) I'd also think about a roof rack and cargo carrier up there.

Anything we can do to help, we want to!

The best times of your life are ahead of you!!!
Bob

 

[wagoneer]

I NOTICE MORE AND MORE YOUNG PEOPLE GOING THIS LIFESTYLE. Welcome and let us help smooth out the scary bumps

 

[Patrick46]

Hiya Lauren, and welcome to the asylum!

Sounds like you've already got a good head of steam toward fulfilling your dreams, so Good for You!!


Hello from the Oregon Coastline!

 

[highdesertranger]

Patrick wrote, " welcome to the asylum!". I resemble that remark. highdesertranger

 

[sephson]

...take a lot of pictures of the interior and post them along with all the dimensions so we can offer advice on your build.

Also so we can steal ideas from you.  
Welcome to the forum!