Author Topic: I think wanderlust has me  (Read 5239 times)

Mr. Green

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4494
  • Age: 40
  • Location: Wilmington, NC
I think wanderlust has me
« on: July 04, 2019, 05:55:16 PM »
As I reflect on my third anniversary of my first attempt at FIRE, and my second anniversary of FIRE (one year apart to the day) my appreciation for life after money has only continued to deepen. The magic moments we've experienced during the last few years, living life absent the hustle/bustle of the American work environment, have continued to dazzle us.

My wife and I had planned to spend most of this year on the road touring this ridiculously enormous country of ours (I say that now having driven coast to coast twice in the last three months). Our trip was cut short due an old injury of mine that just couldn't tolerate seven months of road tripping.

I think some of our family and friends probably thought we were crazy. We bought my sister's (and grandfather's before her) 2002 Ford Focus station wagon with the intention of sleeping in the car. Maybe it was a crazy idea but I fell in love with the whimsy of it, the against the grain nature of road tripping the way the masses do, and the adventure of not knowing if the car was the right vehicle for us, or if it would even survive the trip.

Despite only being on the road three months, I think wanderlust may have been awoken inside of me. The sights we’ve seen over these last three months are seared into my memory. When I close my eyes I can still see the flat expanse of the Earth spread out before me with canyons cut into it like a cookie cutter through dough. The reds and golds and greens and blues, oranges, yellows. So many colors that I never thought dirt and rock could be. How can you observe a landscape and proclaim that it is the most unique place you’ve ever seen in your life, and then say the exact same thing at the next place, then the next, and the next? The landscapes of the Western US are truly a wonder to behold. If you’re a fan of the golden hour at all (my favorite time of the day) then you are in heaven there, sitting on a ledge, watching the shadows cast over the red rocks of Sedona as the evening light paints a masterpiece in front of you.

There are so many places we didn’t even get to see. Yosemite, Glacier, the Sierra Nevadas through King’s Canyon and Sequoia, the Grand Canyon, Death Valley. And what we did see was only one moment in time during Spring, many of the places we observed still had snow on the ground or experienced snowfall. What might these places look like during the other three seasons? I want to know! And this is just the United States. There's still the rest of the world!

We’ve only just returned home and already I want to be back on the road. The pull of adventure has me in its grip. The uncertainty of what the day will bring, what we’ll see, who we’ll meet, and where we’ll sleep has made me feel more alive than anything I’ve ever known! I felt like Bilbo Baggins, venturing into unknown lands.

For years I neglected my knee because it was inconvenient to give it the time it required. I started addressing my injury with rehabilitation over the year leading up to this trip but it’s clear to me now that my commitment needs to become fanatical. I find myself excited to begin this work. I suspect family and friends will probably view this commitment as crazy too, but I can’t stop closing my eyes to flashes of mountains and valleys and snow and wonder. My leg has to get stronger before we can set out again, and set out I feel I must.

EndlessJourney

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 161
  • Location: No Fixed Address (formerly Toronto)
  • Nomad? Yes, Mad!
    • 7 Years Round the World by Motorcycle
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #1 on: July 05, 2019, 03:54:25 AM »
Awesome! Have fun out there!

LifeHappens

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 12158
  • Location: Tampa-ish
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #2 on: July 05, 2019, 09:27:50 AM »
Mr. Green, I've followed your adventures on and off, from your first failed attempt at FIRE and now your successful post-FIRE life. I appreciate your openness about the challenges you've face and ultimately the rewarding life you're creating.

In the spirit of problem solving, is there anything you can change about your travels to make it easier on your knee?

flyingaway

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 464
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #3 on: July 06, 2019, 09:35:36 AM »
I travel a lot solo these days. The most important thing for me to do in retirement will be travel, since I cannot do that with a job.
But sometimes I am wondering what is the true meaning of travel. Do I want to travel just because there is nothing more fun to do?
I don't know any answers.

Roland of Gilead

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2454
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #4 on: July 06, 2019, 10:53:40 AM »
I too have wanderlust.  We just got a Ford Transit van and tossed a bed in it and I am ready to do another 2 to 3 month road trip across the country.    The USA is huge and quite interesting.   You could spend a lifetime traveling and not see half of it.   I have never even been to Maine or Utah or the Florida Keys.

Maybe will see you on the road Mr. Green!

Mr. Green

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4494
  • Age: 40
  • Location: Wilmington, NC
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #5 on: July 06, 2019, 12:15:53 PM »
I travel a lot solo these days. The most important thing for me to do in retirement will be travel, since I cannot do that with a job.
But sometimes I am wondering what is the true meaning of travel. Do I want to travel just because there is nothing more fun to do?
I don't know any answers.
I have always been drawn to the natural beauty of our planet and the serenity it has to offer. For some reason there is something about it that just makes my soul feel at peace. I suppose it's probably an animalistic instinct, our relationship to our environment. This draw has gotten stronger as I've gotten older, and at the same time my dislike of large cities has grown. They are unnatural, and just being in a place with nothing but skyscrapers and concrete puts me on full alert, fight or flight mode.

My sister loves cities. I can't really say what it is that makes me feel that way but it is an instinctual feeling, deep in my subconscious that I can't do much about.

The desire to travel, for me, is really about the unknown. The excitement of not knowing what you'll see tomorrow, who you'll meet, or where you might go makes life feel electric. This is coming from someone who was not adventurous at all in his professional life so the pull of the unknown is strong. Oddly enough the fear associated with adventure is also desired. Perhaps I'm getting a small taste of what adrenaline junkies live for.

It's a difficult desire to wrangle because I also love experiencing the moments where you're building and nurturing deep relationships with family and friends, which more often than not also involves community and roots. It's a weird combination that we're currently trying to navigate.

Perhaps the best part of FIRE is actually having the time to do it all. We just spent three months crossing the country twice and at the tail end spent almost two weeks seeing cousins, some I hadn't seen in six years. I got to nurture and deepen relationships with family, and then return home and nurture more relationships with family and friends we've been apart from for the last three months. I really should wake up every morning and pinch myself while having the utmost gratitude that this is our life now.

Mr. Green

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4494
  • Age: 40
  • Location: Wilmington, NC
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #6 on: July 06, 2019, 12:17:48 PM »
I too have wanderlust.  We just got a Ford Transit van and tossed a bed in it and I am ready to do another 2 to 3 month road trip across the country.    The USA is huge and quite interesting.   You could spend a lifetime traveling and not see half of it.   I have never even been to Maine or Utah or the Florida Keys.

Maybe will see you on the road Mr. Green!
If you ever get to Maine, make it a point to hike part of the 100 Mile Wilderness near Baxter State Park. The uniqueness of the scenery there is on par with some of the most beautiful places we saw out west.

Mr. Green

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4494
  • Age: 40
  • Location: Wilmington, NC
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #7 on: July 06, 2019, 12:31:29 PM »
Mr. Green, I've followed your adventures on and off, from your first failed attempt at FIRE and now your successful post-FIRE life. I appreciate your openness about the challenges you've face and ultimately the rewarding life you're creating.

In the spirit of problem solving, is there anything you can change about your travels to make it easier on your knee?
Unfortunately it's a strength thing. I let my injury go for years and my leg muscles atrophied away to nothing without me realizing it. This only became apparent last spring and I spent most of last year dedicated to restrengthening my quadriceps. Unfortunately I'm learning that reversing muscle atrophy as severe as I have takes a major, athlete level effort. I plan to redouble my efforts over the next six months to get the lag stronger. If I can get it past a certain threshold travel will become easier but right now my leg can barely support my full body weight standing from the sitting position.

Cannot Wait!

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1036
  • Age: 57
  • Location: Nomad
  • FIREd 2016 @ 49
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #8 on: July 06, 2019, 03:53:59 PM »
I spent 5 months (mostly) in Arizona this past winter and loved every minute of it.  Sedona was especially wonderful with the amazing hikes and ease of BLM camping (Forest Road 525).
I actually had a hard time transitioning to home life.  As you said, each day had so much potential and adventure.  Also simple living and being in nature just can't be beat.
I wish you a speedy recovery!

Linea_Norway

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8569
  • Location: Norway
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #9 on: July 07, 2019, 03:47:01 AM »
It is great hearing about your adventours. And seeing some pics in the FIRE porn thread, likevthe white sands.

We have been road teipping our own country for 20 years, and sleeping in a tent. We are playing with the thought of buying a bigger car as our next car, that we can rebuild as a simple camper van. Currently we are young enough to be sleeping in a tent. Sleeping in a car would lengthen the seasons I think.

Your country is an immense continent and has so much more diversity in landscape compared to little Norway. Maybe we should visit the US some day...

It sucks that you are finally live the good life, but have a knee that sucks. But now you should have both the time and the motivation to put in the required efford to minimize the negative effects. Good luck with it.
« Last Edit: July 10, 2019, 01:36:53 AM by Linea_Norway »

flyingaway

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 464
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #10 on: July 07, 2019, 11:49:02 AM »
It is great hearing about your adventours. And seeing some pics in the FIRE porn thread, likevthe white sands.

We have been road teipping our own country for 20 years, and sleeping in a tent. We are playing with the thought of buying a bigger car as our next car, that we can rebuild as a simple camper van. Currently we are young enough to be sleeping in a tent. Sleeping in a car would lengthen the seasons I think.

Your country is an immense continent and has so much more diversity in landscape compared to little Norway. Maybe we should visit the US some day...

It sucks that you are finally live the good life, but have a knee that sucks. But now you should have both the time and the motivation to put in the required efford to minimize the plague. Good luck with it.

We will be visiting northern Europe next month, including Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. We will rent a car from Amsterdam and drive to Norway and back. We would like to visit some of the wonderful places in Norway, such as those fjords.
Do you think an small economy class car is good enough (enough power to climb the mountains) to drive in Norway, including places like Oslo, Bergen, Geiranger?

Linea_Norway

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8569
  • Location: Norway
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #11 on: July 07, 2019, 12:04:00 PM »
It is great hearing about your adventours. And seeing some pics in the FIRE porn thread, likevthe white sands.

We have been road teipping our own country for 20 years, and sleeping in a tent. We are playing with the thought of buying a bigger car as our next car, that we can rebuild as a simple camper van. Currently we are young enough to be sleeping in a tent. Sleeping in a car would lengthen the seasons I think.

Your country is an immense continent and has so much more diversity in landscape compared to little Norway. Maybe we should visit the US some day...

It sucks that you are finally live the good life, but have a knee that sucks. But now you should have both the time and the motivation to put in the required efford to minimize the plague. Good luck with it.

We will be visiting northern Europe next month, including Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. We will rent a car from Amsterdam and drive to Norway and back. We would like to visit some of the wonderful places in Norway, such as those fjords.
Do you think an small economy class car is good enough (enough power to climb the mountains) to drive in Norway, including places like Oslo, Bergen, Geiranger?

Between the main cities the roads are pretty good amd you don't really climb the mountains. No small mountain gravel tracks between Oslo and Bergen, but 2 lane asphalt roads, maybe even 4 lanes in places. Speed limit between 80 km/h to 110 km/hour.

DH and I usually hire the cheapest small car when we visit Crete or some other place in the south.. It gets you everywhere, but you need to drive in very low gear up hill. On the steepest roads it feels like you have to push it. But such steep roads are not what you will meet between these cities. The road to Geiranger might be quite steep, but then it will be bending and twisting and therefore a low speed road, which you could drive in a Cretian rental.

If you are traveling with more than two people, I wouldn't rent the smallest car, but one with a little more power, a medium car. With only two people, I think any small economy car would be enough. And don't expect it to be able to pass other cars on the motor way. The smallest and cheapest cars don't have much power.

I don't know whether you can drive a car with a stick gear. This is standard in Dutch and other European cars. Make sure you know what you are renting.

Enjoy your trip.

MasterStache

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2912
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #12 on: July 09, 2019, 04:54:41 PM »
 Badass. Although I haven’t travelled nearly as much as you, I can relate with the wanderlust. My daughter and I just spent a few days in the monongahela forest and it was spectacular. Our family is headed to Zion next year and I already can’t wait!!

TartanTallulah

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 592
  • Location: The Middle of Scenic Nowhere
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #13 on: July 10, 2019, 12:05:56 AM »
Exciting! I look forward to reading more about your adventures.

I had my first trip to North America recently (I'd rarely even been off the British mainland before my forties and had ploughed a very narrow furrow with overseas travel since then) and decided I want to see more of the cities and the wildernesses and visit other countries and continents.

flyingaway

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 464
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #14 on: July 10, 2019, 06:20:59 AM »
It is great hearing about your adventours. And seeing some pics in the FIRE porn thread, likevthe white sands.

We have been road teipping our own country for 20 years, and sleeping in a tent. We are playing with the thought of buying a bigger car as our next car, that we can rebuild as a simple camper van. Currently we are young enough to be sleeping in a tent. Sleeping in a car would lengthen the seasons I think.

Your country is an immense continent and has so much more diversity in landscape compared to little Norway. Maybe we should visit the US some day...

It sucks that you are finally live the good life, but have a knee that sucks. But now you should have both the time and the motivation to put in the required efford to minimize the plague. Good luck with it.

We will be visiting northern Europe next month, including Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. We will rent a car from Amsterdam and drive to Norway and back. We would like to visit some of the wonderful places in Norway, such as those fjords.
Do you think an small economy class car is good enough (enough power to climb the mountains) to drive in Norway, including places like Oslo, Bergen, Geiranger?

Between the main cities the roads are pretty good amd you don't really climb the mountains. No small mountain gravel tracks between Oslo and Bergen, but 2 lane asphalt roads, maybe even 4 lanes in places. Speed limit between 80 km/h to 110 km/hour.

DH and I usually hire the cheapest small car when we visit Crete or some other place in the south.. It gets you everywhere, but you need to drive in very low gear up hill. On the steepest roads it feels like you have to push it. But such steep roads are not what you will meet between these cities. The road to Geiranger might be quite steep, but then it will be bending and twisting and therefore a low speed road, which you could drive in a Cretian rental.

If you are traveling with more than two people, I wouldn't rent the smallest car, but one with a little more power, a medium car. With only two people, I think any small economy car would be enough. And don't expect it to be able to pass other cars on the motor way. The smallest and cheapest cars don't have much power.

I don't know whether you can drive a car with a stick gear. This is standard in Dutch and other European cars. Make sure you know what you are renting.

Enjoy your trip.

Thank you. I could drive a manual transmission car, but we want to rent an automatic transmission car. I really prefer not to drive, but it looks necessary to see the fjords in Norway.

soccerluvof4

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 7161
  • Location: Artic Midwest
  • Retired at 50
    • My Journal
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #15 on: July 10, 2019, 06:25:12 AM »
Congratulations on finding such enjoyment in your second attempt of being fire'd. I spend alot of time looking at different vehicles for travel as that is what I want to do as well. The problem is though Fire'd I still have kids at home so mine would have to be shorter to start but also might be a good way to get the DW's response about doing so a little more exciting. Take care of you knee. I am in my 6th year of putting off double knee replacements and driving is one of the things that bothers them the most as I am taller and there are not alot of vehicles I can keep the leg straighter.

Mr. Green

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4494
  • Age: 40
  • Location: Wilmington, NC
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #16 on: July 10, 2019, 04:00:44 PM »
Congratulations on finding such enjoyment in your second attempt of being fire'd. I spend alot of time looking at different vehicles for travel as that is what I want to do as well. The problem is though Fire'd I still have kids at home so mine would have to be shorter to start but also might be a good way to get the DW's response about doing so a little more exciting. Take care of you knee. I am in my 6th year of putting off double knee replacements and driving is one of the things that bothers them the most as I am taller and there are not alot of vehicles I can keep the leg straighter.
As I've been tuned into the car/truck/van camping movement for a while, I've also paid attention to how people do it with kids. Seems like with one kid you can still get away with a minivan. The third row seat stays in as part of the bed and also allows for the child safety seat while driving. There's just enough room that everyone can sleep together. For two kids though I don't know how we'd get around an RV or pull behind trailer. I suppose we could bring a tent and either the kids or adults would have to split up, two in the car, two in the tent. If everyone was down with that it could work. It really wouldn't add much stuff for a couple kids, especially in something with ample storage space like a minivan or campervan.

Adam Zapple

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 473
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #17 on: July 10, 2019, 04:03:17 PM »
Here is a stupid question, but where do you park your car at night?

Linea_Norway

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8569
  • Location: Norway
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #18 on: July 11, 2019, 12:14:42 AM »
Congratulations on finding such enjoyment in your second attempt of being fire'd. I spend alot of time looking at different vehicles for travel as that is what I want to do as well. The problem is though Fire'd I still have kids at home so mine would have to be shorter to start but also might be a good way to get the DW's response about doing so a little more exciting. Take care of you knee. I am in my 6th year of putting off double knee replacements and driving is one of the things that bothers them the most as I am taller and there are not alot of vehicles I can keep the leg straighter.

DH is tall and his sits comfortably on our Subaru outback 2009 model. It is good quality chairs as well.

This leg issue would probably also be a deal breaker when we start looking for camper vans. We are considering to build one ourselves on day, from a Toyota Proace or similar type of car. But we need to insure that DH fits into it.

MasterStache

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2912
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #19 on: July 11, 2019, 06:40:39 AM »
Congratulations on finding such enjoyment in your second attempt of being fire'd. I spend alot of time looking at different vehicles for travel as that is what I want to do as well. The problem is though Fire'd I still have kids at home so mine would have to be shorter to start but also might be a good way to get the DW's response about doing so a little more exciting. Take care of you knee. I am in my 6th year of putting off double knee replacements and driving is one of the things that bothers them the most as I am taller and there are not alot of vehicles I can keep the leg straighter.
As I've been tuned into the car/truck/van camping movement for a while, I've also paid attention to how people do it with kids. Seems like with one kid you can still get away with a minivan. The third row seat stays in as part of the bed and also allows for the child safety seat while driving. There's just enough room that everyone can sleep together. For two kids though I don't know how we'd get around an RV or pull behind trailer. I suppose we could bring a tent and either the kids or adults would have to split up, two in the car, two in the tent. If everyone was down with that it could work. It really wouldn't add much stuff for a couple kids, especially in something with ample storage space like a minivan or campervan.

We are in a similar situation.  With one in High School and the other still in grade school, a camper van really isn't big enough for all of us. I'm not sure we would get good use out of it either. A possible plan for us is to wait for the older one to finish High School. He is not a big fan of hiking/camping anyways. The younger one absolutely loves it (she is my hiking partner). Then look at possibly investing in a small RV/Camper/Camper Van and hit the road as much as we can. My DW still works as well and we have too many animals, so I think getting anything at the moment would be a bad idea. I am antsy and really dislike waiting ( :

Mr. Green

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4494
  • Age: 40
  • Location: Wilmington, NC
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #20 on: July 11, 2019, 09:47:34 AM »
Here is a stupid question, but where do you park your car at night?
There's tons of places if you don't mind roughing it a bit, especially in the Western US where parks and national forests are more prevalent. A tent site at any campground will do, we just don't set up a tent. Or if we do set it up the tent is a decoy. Free campsites.net has a ton of locations people have found where you can camp for free. Many of them are on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or US Forest Service land, since dispersed camping is allowed on those federal lands unless it's expressly prohibited. Of course these places aren't going to have toilets, though in the three months we were on the road neither one of us had to go #2 in the woods. Though I have done that before and was prepared to do so again.

Some federal lands have developed campgrounds that are inexpensive, particularly if there's no running water or electricity. Those places have pit toilets, which really aren't bad.

We also slept in a number of Walmart parking lots where it was allowed, which is not as bad as you might think if you can find a quiet spot. There were always RVs around so you had safety in numbers, and many of the Walmarts were 24 hours so you had easy bathroom access and food/services right there. I never fully appreciated a 24 hour Walmart until after spending several days in the desert.
« Last Edit: July 11, 2019, 10:12:20 AM by Mr. Green »

Adam Zapple

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 473
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #21 on: July 11, 2019, 06:58:47 PM »
Here is a stupid question, but where do you park your car at night?
There's tons of places if you don't mind roughing it a bit, especially in the Western US where parks and national forests are more prevalent. A tent site at any campground will do, we just don't set up a tent. Or if we do set it up the tent is a decoy. Free campsites.net has a ton of locations people have found where you can camp for free. Many of them are on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or US Forest Service land, since dispersed camping is allowed on those federal lands unless it's expressly prohibited. Of course these places aren't going to have toilets, though in the three months we were on the road neither one of us had to go #2 in the woods. Though I have done that before and was prepared to do so again.

Some federal lands have developed campgrounds that are inexpensive, particularly if there's no running water or electricity. Those places have pit toilets, which really aren't bad.

We also slept in a number of Walmart parking lots where it was allowed, which is not as bad as you might think if you can find a quiet spot. There were always RVs around so you had safety in numbers, and many of the Walmarts were 24 hours so you had easy bathroom access and food/services right there. I never fully appreciated a 24 hour Walmart until after spending several days in the desert.

Cool.  Thanks for the info.  I think the whole thing sounds like an amazing time.

FIREby35

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 670
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #22 on: July 13, 2019, 03:41:38 PM »
Hey Mr. Green, I love hearing your updates. I've been reading your posts over the years as well.

For one, I really think you would love the book Journey to Ixtlan, by Carlos Casteneda. It's about an Mexican Indian Shaman who takes a UCLA Anthropology PHD student on hiking adventures in the desert. There is one scene where Don Juan (the Indian Shaman) has Carlos (the UCLA student) sit on the ledge of a mountain at the "golden hour," encourages him to "stop the world" and see reality through a new eyes. The new vision is about embracing the mystery of each day and choosing a path in life with heart.

Also, on the health thing. I wrecked my shoulder playing college basketball. Major surgery with hardware, twice in 12 months. Years of rehab. Anyway, after all that, I never played organized basketball again and my shoulder was not fully recovered. Then, one day, I got invited to a Yoga class. Ultimately, lonely dedication to yoga exercises in my living room is what healed my shoulder. I read books from "The Yoga Publications Trust/Bihar School of Yoga" to learn the practices/positions and philosophy. They are traditional Indian Yoga, in a textbook, in English. I'm just saying what helped me :)

You make me want to shut down my law practice and join you!
« Last Edit: July 13, 2019, 03:45:31 PM by FIREby35 »

Mr. Green

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4494
  • Age: 40
  • Location: Wilmington, NC
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #23 on: July 14, 2019, 08:08:13 AM »
Hey Mr. Green, I love hearing your updates. I've been reading your posts over the years as well.

For one, I really think you would love the book Journey to Ixtlan, by Carlos Casteneda. It's about an Mexican Indian Shaman who takes a UCLA Anthropology PHD student on hiking adventures in the desert. There is one scene where Don Juan (the Indian Shaman) has Carlos (the UCLA student) sit on the ledge of a mountain at the "golden hour," encourages him to "stop the world" and see reality through a new eyes. The new vision is about embracing the mystery of each day and choosing a path in life with heart.

Also, on the health thing. I wrecked my shoulder playing college basketball. Major surgery with hardware, twice in 12 months. Years of rehab. Anyway, after all that, I never played organized basketball again and my shoulder was not fully recovered. Then, one day, I got invited to a Yoga class. Ultimately, lonely dedication to yoga exercises in my living room is what healed my shoulder. I read books from "The Yoga Publications Trust/Bihar School of Yoga" to learn the practices/positions and philosophy. They are traditional Indian Yoga, in a textbook, in English. I'm just saying what helped me :)

You make me want to shut down my law practice and join you!
You know, the only thing I missed in the whole trip was a sense of community. For a lot of us, that connection with other people and friendship and cameraderie play a big role in being happy. Despite being with my wife the entire time, there were still times when I felt lonely.

Two years ago we rented a room from our best friends and we were living with them right up until we left for this trip. So we were used to cohabitating with two other adults and three children. Perhaps that change was part of the loneliness but I think there is a difference between two people and four or six. I think because my wife and I have been a couple for so long it some times still feels like one unit, during a trip that makes the world feel bigger than you've ever thought. I would love to end up in a position where we end up travelling with a few more people as a loose band of wanderlusts. Being able to add that community feel back into an already extraordinary adventure would probably push me over the edge and I'd never be able to go back to stationary living.

I've seen various travel bloggers and vloggers meet others and pal around for a bit. I need to figure out how to do that myself. I think part of it would be travelling long enough that you run into people who are also travelling long term and over the course of conversation you might find some personalities you really enjoy and be willing to pal around a bit. That would be an 11 on the happiness scale for me.

I've thought about yoga before and my gym has a private room where you can do yoga sessions by yourself. At this stage I'm all about trying anything that creates an improvement in my knee.

That book sounds very cool! I've put it on my list. Been doing a lot of reading this year as well.
« Last Edit: July 14, 2019, 08:11:52 AM by Mr. Green »

FIREby35

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 670
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #24 on: July 14, 2019, 07:29:15 PM »
For the community, one thing we have been doing is inviting friends and family to visit us when we are on our "mini-sabbaticals" (We have spent 6-8 weeks in Mexico in Jan./Feb./March each of the last three years). Anyway, this last year we got an air-bnb with five bedrooms for like $100 per night in San Miguel De Allende (we are a family of five, so we look for houses). It happened to be a house with extra rooms in our budget. We invited friends and family. They paid us a little cash and bought us dinners. All in all, it was a good deal AND we had family and friends in a wonderful, unique place.

Anyway, friends and family can't usually do the full on adventure but they might join in for a particular part if they know they can.

LifeHappens

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 12158
  • Location: Tampa-ish
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #25 on: July 15, 2019, 08:01:52 AM »
There are RVer clubs and gatherings all over. The Rubber Tramp Rendevous is a big one that happens in Quartzite, AZ every winter. The Xscapers club is targeted at younger people traveling in RVs. If you're looking for a nomadic tribe, those are good places to start.

iluvzbeach

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1578
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #26 on: July 15, 2019, 08:47:58 AM »
PTF, I love reading about these adventures. Hubby is FIRE, I’ll be later this year and we can’t wait to get out and explore more of this beautiful country we call home.

YK-Phil

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1173
  • Location: Nayarit (Mexico)
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #27 on: July 25, 2019, 11:26:51 AM »
You have a great lifestyle that brings you happiness.

I am also a full-time traveler, living in my truck camper between northern Canada (where I have a sweet gig that pays very well and that I hesitate to leave, even at 61 years old) in the summer, and traveling with my wife down to Mexico through the US Southwest in winter. Mostly camping on BLM and other public lands. I did not feel the need to retire, let alone retire early because I am simply happy with my current lifestyle with a job that allows me to fly out to the middle of nowhere in the Arctic and camp out for weeks on end, go on canoe trips, fish, observe wildlife, etc. Next year might be another story because my dream road trip is to drive the Americas all the way to Patagonia, which cannot be done easily in 6-month installments, so this might be the time to say goodbye to my northern lifestyle for good, if not for a while, because I know the North is where I belong -at least in the summer.

Daisy

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2263
Re: I think wanderlust has me
« Reply #28 on: July 29, 2019, 12:30:16 AM »
I too have wanderlust.  We just got a Ford Transit van and tossed a bed in it and I am ready to do another 2 to 3 month road trip across the country.    The USA is huge and quite interesting.   You could spend a lifetime traveling and not see half of it.   I have never even been to Maine or Utah or the Florida Keys.

Maybe will see you on the road Mr. Green!
If you ever get to Maine, make it a point to hike part of the 100 Mile Wilderness near Baxter State Park. The uniqueness of the scenery there is on par with some of the most beautiful places we saw out west.

Thanks for the tip on the hike!

I will be in the northeast US and southeast Canada this fall and will add this to my list of things to see. Any other tips?

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!