Freak On A Leash
Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2017
- Messages
- 13
- Reaction score
- 0
[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]After 30 years of living in a place I hated (New Jersey) and working a job that stressed me out, I sold everything last year, packed it in my Jeep and hit the road for 5 months from August-December. [/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] I've always been into traveling. I've taken road trips all up and down the east coast from the Canadian Maritimes to Florida. I've always wanted and planned to move west so [/font][font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]I decided to drive across the country to California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and hiked and camped out in a tent, mostly boondocking in BLM lands and occasionally I paid for a site. In between camping I would sleep in the front seat of my 2005 Jeep Wrangler, who is named "Dreamcatcher". It's a good thing I'm small and fit rather comfortably lying across the front seats. I only got a hotel room 3 times in 5 months. The rest of the time I camped, often "cowboy style" under the stars or slept in the Jeep. I've perfected the "art" of stealth camping and have slept just about everywhere, from church parking lots to the parking lot of a posh golf club on the California coast. [/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]I moved with the weather and went back to New Jersey for the winter to tie up some loose ends and spend time with my 2 kids as well as look for jobs out west to begin my new life. Then I got rid of MORE stuff and came out to Colorado Rockies with my 23 year old daughter, who eventually settled down in her own place in Boulder after spending the summer working in Breckenridge with me.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]Now I work seasonally, in the summer and winter and travel during the spring and fall. I just got back from a 6 week trip driving, camping and hiking all around my new home, Colorado. I was concerned that after living in a cushy apartment for the summer, that I wouldn't enjoy the nomad lifestyle but it was easier than the first time! I fell back into it naturally. [/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] [/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]I love the freedom of being on the road. If I could afford not to work, I would just travel but unfortunately, retirement isn't an option and at least I'm enjoying the stress free environment of my jobs and I'm working outside and in the winter I'm skiing! I've always wanted to live in the mountains and now I am being paid to do it![/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]But settling down in one place isn't my plan. I've always been a wanderer, a traveler. I've decided that in the summers I want to change things up an work in different places and this summer I hope to be in the Pacific Northwest. I'm big into being outdoors and want to work with the parks all over the west. In the winter I'm loving the snow and have scored a great job as a ski instructor here in Colorado and hope to make that my "new career". But housing is expensive here in the Rockies and I'm not into "dormitory style" living with roommates so I've decided to take the next step...[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]I'm going to buy a TT, probably a T@G Max XL, because I'm limited by what my Jeep can pull (2000lbs tow limit). I want to keep it simple and after living in freezing temperatures in my tent and Jeep, I think the teardrop will be a luxury. It will also open opportunities up as I'm looking at jobs at campgrounds and I can camp for next to nothing, as compared to paying rent for dormitory living in employee housing. I like my own space and love the idea of taking my home with me and it will be far cheaper to buy a teardrop than to rent seasonally. So here I am! [/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]I'm loving this forum and website and want to thank you all for having me. I had an idea that there were many like me but didn't know HOW many until I hit the road and found websites like this. [/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] I've always been into traveling. I've taken road trips all up and down the east coast from the Canadian Maritimes to Florida. I've always wanted and planned to move west so [/font][font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]I decided to drive across the country to California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and hiked and camped out in a tent, mostly boondocking in BLM lands and occasionally I paid for a site. In between camping I would sleep in the front seat of my 2005 Jeep Wrangler, who is named "Dreamcatcher". It's a good thing I'm small and fit rather comfortably lying across the front seats. I only got a hotel room 3 times in 5 months. The rest of the time I camped, often "cowboy style" under the stars or slept in the Jeep. I've perfected the "art" of stealth camping and have slept just about everywhere, from church parking lots to the parking lot of a posh golf club on the California coast. [/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]I moved with the weather and went back to New Jersey for the winter to tie up some loose ends and spend time with my 2 kids as well as look for jobs out west to begin my new life. Then I got rid of MORE stuff and came out to Colorado Rockies with my 23 year old daughter, who eventually settled down in her own place in Boulder after spending the summer working in Breckenridge with me.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]Now I work seasonally, in the summer and winter and travel during the spring and fall. I just got back from a 6 week trip driving, camping and hiking all around my new home, Colorado. I was concerned that after living in a cushy apartment for the summer, that I wouldn't enjoy the nomad lifestyle but it was easier than the first time! I fell back into it naturally. [/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] [/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]I love the freedom of being on the road. If I could afford not to work, I would just travel but unfortunately, retirement isn't an option and at least I'm enjoying the stress free environment of my jobs and I'm working outside and in the winter I'm skiing! I've always wanted to live in the mountains and now I am being paid to do it![/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]But settling down in one place isn't my plan. I've always been a wanderer, a traveler. I've decided that in the summers I want to change things up an work in different places and this summer I hope to be in the Pacific Northwest. I'm big into being outdoors and want to work with the parks all over the west. In the winter I'm loving the snow and have scored a great job as a ski instructor here in Colorado and hope to make that my "new career". But housing is expensive here in the Rockies and I'm not into "dormitory style" living with roommates so I've decided to take the next step...[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]I'm going to buy a TT, probably a T@G Max XL, because I'm limited by what my Jeep can pull (2000lbs tow limit). I want to keep it simple and after living in freezing temperatures in my tent and Jeep, I think the teardrop will be a luxury. It will also open opportunities up as I'm looking at jobs at campgrounds and I can camp for next to nothing, as compared to paying rent for dormitory living in employee housing. I like my own space and love the idea of taking my home with me and it will be far cheaper to buy a teardrop than to rent seasonally. So here I am! [/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]I'm loving this forum and website and want to thank you all for having me. I had an idea that there were many like me but didn't know HOW many until I hit the road and found websites like this. [/font]
