Things you’ll face when figuring out how to eat, work, and live the Nomadic Lifestyle.
Can We Do This?!?: I have dreamed of living on The Road, in one way or another, for my entire life. There is something both exciting and soothing about driving down the highway at night, cruising some old back road to an abandoned town, or just the feeling of “moving forward”, both literally and symbolically. I’ve always wanted to escape the rat race and have an adventure, to see the world, to live without all the trappings and restrictions of being tied to one place, one job, one life… To be free… Free to roam, free to find, free to explore and experience all of the sights, sounds, history, and culture that exists. - Imagine being able to go when you want to go, and stay when you want to stay, to experience breath-taking excitement one day, and tranquil solitude the next, to start over, and over, anytime you see fit, and to return whenever you so desire.
“The Road”, my friends, can take you anywhere you could ever imagine. From snow covered mountains to the valley of the sun, from waving fields of grain to sand swept beaches, from Times Square to the middle of nowhere, and beyond, The Road goes there… The Road is your path to and from everything you will ever see and everyone you have ever known.
To me, The Road is magical. Almost every mile contains a striking example of History. The roadways evolved with our nation. Old trails that indigenous peoples used for trade grew to become dirt roads between farms, and eventually highways leading to and from major destinations. Each generation and each era left their stamp along the way, from desolate intersections to abandoned attractions, and overgrown ghost towns, where you can almost still hear the voices in the wind.
The Road has a story to tell, somehow holding the memories, aspirations, and dreams of everyone who has ever traveled it. Yet, the Road is Right Now, and nothing more. It is this stretch of pavement, this milepost, this gentle hill, this view, this moment in time. The future is undecided. You can turn left. You can turn right. You can see what’s around the next curve. You can seek out your next adventure, or pull over and soak in the sunset. The Road is Freedom, exemplified.
To live on The Road, to be a Nomad, means taking that freedom. It means owning that freedom and living it every day. Can you do this? Yes, you can.
Sure, But How Do We Do This?: Before you lock the house and pull out of the driveway for the last time, there are several things you are going to have to figure out: How do you make a living on The Road? What’s your budget? What type of vehicle should you get? How do you get it? Do you do a “Build” or just go with an existing RV? How do you set up a Solar Power System? Plumbing? Propane? What are you going to eat? How are you going to cook? Can you shower every day? Where will you get and store the water? How do you dispose of… um… “disposables”? Grey Water? Black Water? Potable Water? How do you heat the water? Where are you going to park or sleep? (Is that legal?) What if the bus breaks down? What if you break down? How do you get health insurance or medical care on the road? What are you going to do with all your “stuff”? How much stuff do you actually need? Which stuff? What about entertainment? Communication? Cell service? Internet? Are you going to be safe? Are you going to have pets? Will they be okay? … Will you be okay?
Yes, you really will. Sure, you’ll make mistakes. You will misjudge. You’ll underestimate. You’ll have breakdowns at the worst possible time, in the worst possible place. - Things will not always go as expected. There will be days that you are overwhelmed and wonder what you were thinking, and there will be days that you can’t imagine doing anything else. - In the end, this lifestyle is attainable, and it’s absolutely Amazing. You can make it happen, and even if it isn’t always perfect, it will be the greatest adventure of your life!
The Purpose of This Website: From the time you first start daydreaming about living in a Skoolie or Vanlife, to when you’ve finally started on your Build, and even when you’re already on The Road, there will be research. You will spend a great deal of time reading blogs, watching videos, making plans, and Learning. – You will be doing a lot of Learning. – You’ll be ingesting a lot of information, some common sense and some completely out of the realm of your experience. Much of it will be confusing at first, and quite a bit may even seem contradictory (because it will be). Simply put, The Nomad world is full of great people, with the best intentions. There is no shortage of those who genuinely want to help you along this journey. Ask a question and you will get answers, some claiming to be the best, or “only” way to do something. The reality, however, is that there are always variables. There are always options. By definition, what is best, is what is best for you and your personal situation. – Your Build is Your Business.
Our goal is to help you figure out what works for you. The more decisions you can make and the more you understand about what you’re doing, the fewer problems you will face along the way. When you do encounter obstacles, they will be easier to resolve if you can see the big picture and how everything ties together. The following Tutorials are designed to help you sort through the questions you’ll need to answer in order to make this lifestyle a reality.
Don’t be afraid to think outside the box, take chances, and get creative. Use our knowledge and experience to help you make your own choices. While some things may work better than others, and certain legal issues apply, there are very few steadfast answers or absolute rules you must follow. – You can do this, and you can do this on your own terms, however you see fit. Regardless of your budget, your past, or your skill-level, ultimately, from this point forward, you are on your way to The Road.
- Freedom is closer than you think.
Quick Links:
Start The Engine - Establishing a Budget - Making a Living on The Road - Choosing a Rig - Do I Need A CDL? - Designing a Skoolie Build - Step By Step Build Order - Skoolie Toolbox - Doing a Build On The Cheap - 10 Tips to Save Power and Money - Skoolie Build Ideas - Solar 101 - “Inverter/Charger/Switch” or 3 Separate Devices - Simple Solar - Solar Cheat Sheet - Step by Step Solar - Water Setup - Propane Setup - Skoolie, Van, & RV Air Conditioning DE_Mystified! - Skoolie Heating - Insulation - Digital Nomad Connectivity - Choosing a Domicile State - Converting a Commercial Title - Van, Skoolie, and RV Insurance - Camping Clubs, Subscriptions, and Passes - Road-Skool / Home-School - The Simple Skoolie Kitchen
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