Women Only: I’ve failed on my attempt to be a nomad

[Wondering]

:huh: :huh   So I left home Sunday drove thru ice and fog for hours and completely frazzled I got a motel room in st. George Utah.    So I didn’t want to deal with things.

So, Monday I stopped in echo campground at lake mead Nevada.   I decided this since in my rush to leave I forgot my porta potty and table, so an established campground seemed like a good to ease in.     I lost my hammer and mallet so I couldn’t stake the tent but oh well.   That night I froze.   It was in the low 40s.    Guess I missed the mark again,   Tuesday morning I found the hammer and mallet.  Hurrah.  

Tuesday night I heard a burro yelping it woke me up.   Then the pack of coyotes started howling and you can guess what followed.  Poor burro.  I got scared and fell out of the tent jumped in my car and froze all night.   This morning I drove to Parker and the gps coordinates sent me to no caravan
So I went to Walmart and they said no overnight parking.   Now I am in the casino parking lot
So goes the saga.    Think I’ll head home tomorrow and get motel rooms on the way.l

 

[Moxadox]

Wait, what did you fail at? Sounds all pretty normal to me. Forget stuff, check. Have uncomfortable/scary experiences, yet still survive: check. Self-doubts: check. All part of life, and especially life on the road. Are you really going to throw in the towel, now that you've found your hammer?

The Dire Wolfess

 

[WanderingRose]

I have learned never to make big decisions, nor give up on anything, late in the day.

Things always seem to look and feel worse when there’s been a days worth beating down on you,

I tell myself “I will decide in the morning”, and that’s what I do, when things often look a little better than the night before.

It’s a test, to see how much you can handle, and you have survived all that the last 24 hours has dished out.

Get some rest, and re-assess in the morning.

Good luck.

 

[RoamerRV428]

Sorry for your troubles!! Not every time we are on the road it is going to be peaches and cream even tho we all wish it was. You will be ok. Good easier times will come your way when out and about.

GPS coordinates and no caravan? I take it you were trying to add into this caravan but no go?

Agree with the others, get some rest, re-evaluate it all and think about what you can do to make trips a bit easier and more comfortable. Weather we can't control, but other things we sure can best of luck!!

 

[maki2]

Many people go through a case of "buyer's remorse" when they change homes. Hang tough, this stage is 100% absolutely normal to experience. The sayings "this too shall pass" and "tomorrow is another day" were never more true than when one makes a major lifestyle change. Anxiety is normal at this stage of transistion.

Don't get overly concerned that you are having some of those feelings. You still have your health, the things that go bump in the night are out to get each other, they are not after you. Of course you forgot to brings some things along with you, that pretty much happens to most people even if they are just going out for a picnic in the afternoon.

Learn to talk yourself down out of this state of fear of failure. Chromium supplements provide significant help to keep your mood upbeat and cheerful during times of stress. You can find it at any drugstore in the supplements aisle. It regulates your blood sugar and is a precursor for endorphin production. Buy yourself a pair of ear plugs. Take some Tylenol just before bedtime. It will keep the ear plugs from bugging you too much and you will sleep more soundly in a strange bed too as it will reduce physical sensation differences. It also makes you not notice the cold quite so much. A traveler's best friend, easy remedy for a good night's sleep, so simple but very few people think about doing a little minor pain relief to blunt down the overactive sensations that muscle tension creates. A good night's sleep is critical for mental health and adapting when experiencing any kind of stress.

 

[Wondering]

I finally got back home.   Sorry had trouble posting online while in transit.  

I did some minor camping this summer but not the whole shebang.   I have decided that VanDweller life is not going to work for me.

My mind thinks “no problem” but my body just won’t cooperate.   I did not realize how bad my balance had gotten, how much strength I’ve lost, and my health along with just a tent will not work.   I am in a position with a subcompact car and no way to change vehicles for a year or two.

I think if I were caravaning with lots of help I would be safe but it isn’t everyone else’s job to take care of me.

Another thing was even though I did 3 days, I just plain got bored.  At home I putter about but after camp was set up, I just sat around in my chair and enjoyed the weather and view.  I didn’t know what to do with myself.


So I have come to accept that I need to be in a bricks and sticks for now.

Thanks to those who supported me with comments on the thread.

 

[WanderingRose]

Well, now you know.

Good luck to you.

 

[rosiemartinez1211]

Another thing was even though I did 3 days, I just plain got bored.  

I hear you on the boredom part. I just went weekend camping and found myself bored.  Now I've got a few books to read to help entertain my mind. I'm sorry it didn't work out for you.

 

[RoamerRV428]

sticks and bricks is fine
travel when you feel the need. You can arrange your life any darn way ya want to make it work best for you!!
Some do get bored, but I find my need to 'see it all' always keeps me from being bored LOL but it is what works for you is the best medicine you can take!!

 

[fantym1]

Hi Wondering, sorry it hasn't worked for you this time out. Maybe with a larger vehicle, it will... but that's not an option for you @ this time I understand.
I have 2 furbys onboard which helps with not getting bored...as well as a few books & a hobby (actually, several of those, but only 1 onboard @ any time d/t space - right now it's chainmaille)
Perhaps, if you get back out, you can acquire something along those lines to putter with?
I don't see it as "failed" but as part of learning what you need

 

[maki2]

Life on the road is much improved if you have creative pursuits you can do while you travel. If you are a creative type that will evolve naturally in response to what is available or what you can adapt. Just remember creativity can be developed, new hobbies can be acquired. You can still have a life on the road that is fullfilling if you want it. Start now and find an activity that works for a life on the road in a small RV.

I am lucky that I already have one, I design and make miniature sized items. I have more storage space than a tiny compact car but I can adapt what I do and still make an income by designing on my laptop and then selling the designs to people who want to make them in their homes. Just saying where there is a will to be creative and to travel people can and do adapt.

In the 1930s when there were many homeless men roaming the country on foot or hopping trains they had nothing more than a pocket knife and discarded bits of lightweight wood to work with. They created a genre of an art form called "tramp art". http://collection.folkartmuseum.org/search/tramp art

The sailors on ships have only tiny amounts of personal space and they created art from bits of shells called "sailor's valentines".
https://capecodmagazine.com/sailors-valentines/

Or the sailors who could get whale bone turned to making decorative household objects or jewelry with scrimshaw designs using only a few small hand tools. I like the description of the linked article below...Scrimshaw, the lost art of boredom. Yes art can be born out of boredom...making art is an excellent solution to the problem of boredom.
https://hyperallergic.com/70202/scrimshaw-a-lost-art-of-boredom/

So these things are possible but in the long run the activity is fueled by a desire to be creative. Some people don't have that drive but instead have the need to be entertained and stimulated by outside influences such as TV. They will have a much more difficult time adapting to filling an empty void of little housework and not influx of outside stimulus.

Many wanderers kept journals in past times. They still do that today but more visibly in the form of blogs and vlogs. Those too fill up the "empty hours".

 

[Wondering]

Thanks for the support.    I did take my watercolor supplies but it was windy and cold.  Not conducive for painting.   I took my needle point too but forgot the magnifying glass so that was out. 

I do believe I could have been successful if I started in the spring and not in the desert.   I also think I could have been successful in a van.  It also would have made a difference if I found one of the caravans.   But alas things just happened.

I don’t want to discourage other women from taking on the challenge.  Especially going to the rtr and wrtr.   I see the lifestyle totally attainable for others.  It just didn’t work for me.   

I hope my thread was not taken wrong, I was not trying to discourage others.   I had my hopes up so high only to be defeated in three days.   I hope this women’s section can be filled with threads of success stories.   It won’t be long til the wrtr!

Go ladies!

 

[WanderingRose]

Maybe identify some areas of the country you would like to visit, and plan some trips.

I have found destinations better for me than the roaming around my husband and I did together.

I always travel with plenty of reading material and my crochet things, too, to fill empty spaces, and the dog gets me out and walking.

You don’t necessarily have to give up, just regroup and reporganize and try a different path, perhaps.

 

[Moxadox]

Everybody's different. I consider it a success if I try something out and discover it's not my idea of a good time. At least I can cross that one off my bucket list and go on to the next adventure!

The Dire Wolfess

 

[maki2]

Some trips just go that way and never really get off to a great start. Having a van or some other type of space that is more comfortable than a tiny car does make quite a big difference in feeling like you are "at home" and properly sheltered in a nourishing environment. If the space did not work then it did not work. It is good you have an alternative to it. Happy puttering

 

[sparkinprogress]

[font=Roboto, arial, sans-serif]What does FAIL stand for?[/font]
[font=Roboto, arial, sans-serif]FAIL
First Attempt in Learning
FAIL
Flawlessly Ascending in Life
FAIL
Forever Acquiring Important Lessons
Fail
First Action In Learning[/font]
[font=Roboto, arial, sans-serif]That tells me your successful!! Bottom line make yourself happy first and the rest will come[/font]

 

[RoadtripsAndCampfires]

I forgot my porta potty and table, .....

I started camping regularly at age 17 (50 years ago).  I had a check list that I made a master copy and then had copies made.  I used that list every time I went camping to check what I was bringing or not.  All items were grouped by subject (bedding / food / clothing / tent / tools ... etc. so that I could easily find them.  Being then into graphic arts I had little graphics next to the subjects which made it even easier to find.

I could pre-pack into the box I kept always in the closet because I had the check off list so if it was checked off it was in the box.  I used a new list for each trip.

I still use check lists today but I need to update it for RVing as it's still a camping list.

 

[fantym1]

I 've seen check lists in several places, specifically for camping in tents, or RVs, etc., very detailed, too (as in perhaps a touch OCD detailed, IMO) Including mechanical things to have "serviced" before , check during & looked @after trips. Maybe some here - I don't really remember where I saw them. Lists are a great idea!

I have balance problems, too & some disabilities & have had to learn to do some things differently from when I was more able-bodied - unfortunately, this is true for most of the aging process as well. Sometimes it's very frustrating.

I agree that maybe finding the caravan would've helped tremendously if only for the encouragement of knowing a few others were nearby.

Full time isn't for everyone, but as a previous poster pointed out, shorter trips are possible & can be quite nice, without the pressure of time to be somewhere by. Personally, I'd wait for warmer weather, too.  Growing older ain't for sissies & winter camping has its own unique problems/difficulties.

Hope to see you out there sometime, somewhere.

 

[Rubydragon@i90]

She's right how did you fail I'm new st this also and right now I'm trying to make it and.Thinking going why did you give those cup of soup away before I left for RTR because someone let their dog Rome and he ate my bread and tortlas which was all I had left until I get paid on wed and its Tuesday I am
Way out from everyone camping and I have Ptsd got triggered and haven't left my campsite to go anywhere so I'm hungry I don't know anyone  to ask for help it sucks but I can't go back I have to deal with it live and learn you'll remember you'll never forget your mallet and stakes again because you won't forget that you froze for forgetting them the first time live and learn x o keep climbing the mountain you'll get wiser on the way

 

[RoadtripsAndCampfires]

Are you near any campers that look friendly and safe? Campers are the best people and it wouldn't hurt to ask for a bite if they could spare it.