Salon - living on road

[offroad]

http://www.salon.com/2014/04/20/generation_of_nomads/

Looks interesting. Comments ?

 

[Patrick46]

sounds like a like-minded individual to most of us.

if she's not on here, then she should be!

 

[Bela's Mom]

I enjoyed reading that article. Thanks for sharing it!

 

[Vic.]

The right story at the right time.

 

[GrinningPanther]

Offroad, thanks for posting the link. Interesting piece.

One thing I envy about women on the road is that they rarely evoke in others suspicion or fear. Instead, they are more likely to evoke curiosity or protectiveness, even charm. A man, especially if he's alone, and most especially if he happens to look a little different than the cultural norm, makes some people suspicious and afraid.

And when people get suspicious and afraid they not only pull back from friendly interaction, they often call law enforcement's attention to the "suspicious character up to no good."

For a man with easy charm, someone with "the gift of gab" or a winning smile, or with an obvious way of "breaking the ice" and showing he's not a threat, such as playing music on the street or painting landscapes on the beach, etc., it may be easier. But for a quiet man, even though he's going about his own business and intending nobody any harm, he needs to be prepared for a less than enthusiastic reception.

Of course, women have other challenges and disadvantages on the road...and in some ways have more to fear. They're often seen as easier targets to attack. So when it comes to nomadic living, neither sex has all the advantages.

Anybody agree? Disagree?

 

[decodancer]

I have to pretty much agree with you Panther. Might be the grey hair but I'm much more likely to get an amazed "You're traveling all by yourself" than anything negative. I got stuck in a snow bank once and had half a dozen people (both men and women) stop to make sure I was OK. Someone who saw me fishtail called the police and he waited with me until the tow truck arrived. This was in an old van in a very wealthy NY suburb. I will admit a man in a van would scare me if I was alone. I might pull up, roll down a window and ask about your rig but my doors would be locked and I wouldn't get out. Not fair but there are very few men who couldn't over power me and I wouldn't take the chance.

 

[GrinningPanther]

decodancer, thanks for your response. I'm reminded of the old wisdom of paradoxes. Sometimes weakness is safe, and sometimes strength is dangerous.

The only time I had a gun pulled on me was when I was walking my large dog at night (on a strong leash) and an unstable young man was terrified of my dog, and pulled his gun and started muttering "I've been attacked before..."

Luckily, it ended well. (I told him to put down his gun...and he did.) But had I not had the "strength" of that large dog, that dangerous situation would not have begun.

 

[GypsySilver]

I have spent my life moving - my Dad was Navy. And only when I was raising my kids did I settle in one place. Very good article - ty for sharing

 

[PastTense]

"Tacked to the wall of the Super 8 lobby...It’s 6.32 a.m., and I’m waiting for the coffee to perk and for Interstate 80 to reopen. It was closed last night due to high winds, which overturned 10 semis and kept me from reaching my friends’ apartment in Boise. The overnight stay has reduced my bank account to $12 and change"

So she has $70 or so left in her bank account, so naturally spends all but $12 on a motel room and waffles.

If I were in such tight financial difficulties I would have slept in the car.

 

[Roger450]

Thanks for posting the link, I really enjoyed the story. She was doin her thing, the way she wanted too, what ever worked for her, she was happy and free to do it was what I took from it.

 

[Simran]

I enjoyed the story too. Sounds like a wanderer @ heart. Great Story!!