So, I quit.
After sleeping on it, I woke up early, packed up LaVanne, and left Minaret Falls campground for the last time. I left the sound of water falling and the smell of sun-warmed pine needles on the ground and the feeling of dread that came with each sunrise.
I drove up the long and winding road, past incredible mountain views that I will have to pay to see again, to Mammoth Lakes, where I called my boss and told him sorry but I was quitting. He was very nice about it.
“It’s not for everyone,” he said. “Happens all the time.”
Within an hour, I had returned my uniforms and all the other stuff I’d been given to do the job of camp hosting, and received my one and only paycheck: $150.21. I was glad to find out a few hours later that a friend and fellow camp host who needed more hours had been asked to fill in for me. That took care of my guilt complex.
Suddenly, it hit me: I had no agenda, no one to tell me what to do or where to go.
Uh, now what?
I wanted to stay in the area — it’s a lovely place to explore now that I had time and energy for that — but where? It’s expensive here; campers pay $22 per night for a simple campsite with no electricity. Not an option.
Luckily, I had learned from my vandwelling guru, Bob Wells about dispersed camping — how to camp for free on public land for as long as 28 days per year in each ranger district. That means I can stay in this area all summer, just by moving to another district a couple of times.
There are no amenities: no water, no vault toilets, and no bear boxes to store your food in (which makes me nervous after all the warnings back at Minaret Falls). But I’ve boondocked before. I have my Luggable Loo
So I went to the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center, asked for a map of dispersed camping areas, and set about to finding my spot.
What I found is a much different terrain, in a stand of aspen at the edge of a huge, sagebrush meadow. The view of mountains across the way is mesmerizing as the setting sun changes their colors, minute by minute. Chipmunks scurry and birds sing and the wind whispers in the trees.
It’s not quite Walden Pond — people drive by three or four times a day and I wave politely — but for finally getting down to the dream that I’ve been resisting for so long, writing books, it’s perfect.
My new camp in the aspens
p.s. I am very grateful for the many supportive comments to my last post. Not everyone supports my decision, though, and I understand that. I’ve just realized that this very basic disagreemeent in our culture — the Protestant (or Puritan) work ethic vs. what my friend Laura Hall calls the “joy ethic” — is really what The Complete Flake is about. It deserves more than a p.s., and I am working on a blog post to discuss it. Stay tuned!
p.p.s. For some reason, I could only upload one of the photos I wanted to include in this post. Rather than waste any more time trying to solve the problem, I decided to publish without them. I hope to fix it soon and share them with you. Trust me, they’re gorgeous!
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Way to go! I love that you listened to your gut and made the move. I send all sorts of bears-away-from-your-food vibes…and oh my gosh do I love how you described the scene. It sounds beautiful!
I can’t wait to hear more about the joy ethic. I really feel that term!
Thanks Jen! Re bears: apparently, they live in the pine forest not here in the sage brush, so phew! But thanks for the vibes anyway. 🙂
I’m twenty years younger and that work certainly didn’t sound like something I’d be up for!!!!
Maybe there is some soul-driven wisdom in your choice? Maybe you are doing it right? Reminded of these new beer ads that might give you a smile:
http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/ads-hawaiis-kona-beer-remind-us-mainlanders-were-doing-it-wrong-157735
Thanks again for writing. Your honesty speaks to dark places and it’s refreshing, for me at least, to know, that I’m not alone in the battle with my own inner “flaky bits”.
I LOVE those commercials, thanks Dawn! And you are SO not alone!
Good for you. Recently I heard an interview with John Mackay, founder of Whole Foods. He stated at 19 while in college he realized he hated reading most of his required readings & his
parent’s goal for him of being an attorney or doctor. At 19 he dropped out of college & decided
he would never again do anything he did not want to do. If he couldn’t be passionate about
what he was doing he just wouldn’t do it. “From the mouths of babe’s”.
Great story, thanks Adriana!
One of the hardest things I ever have to do is QUIT anything. It’s always gut-wrenching for me. But on the other hand, one of the things I do best (as with other Vandwellers I am sure) is to “move on.” I’m heading to the Fresno area today to explore places that are better for me than where I’ve been all summer. Congrads in MOVING ON LaVonne.
Thanks Charlene, will always be my inspiration!
I think it’s great that you listened to your heart and didn’t just endure the drudgery, like most of society. I no longer consent to doing anything (that’s avoidable) that I don’t want to do. I did that for 40 years.
This is a lifestyle that can afford us more freedom to follow our dreams. I too dream of having more time for book writing. Right now, most of my time goes to class prep for my live online classes, but, I’m working on packaging that prep work to sell to educators. Next, the cake will be to revamp and edit some children’s stories I’ve had shelved for years.
All the best following your dreams, LaVonne!
Smart idea, Gloria. I’ve become something of a book evangelist. I tell everyone I meet, practically, that they should write and self-publish books. Looking forward to seeing what you do. 🙂
Well I just paid $30.00 to stay in a forest preserve only to realize that instead of rushing water I get to listen to traffic. It looked good, trees, weeds, bugs but the noise was hidden behind the trees. I could not see the cars and trucks but I could hear them. I hate Illinois. State campgrounds are booked all summer. Holidays you have to book 3 nights including private camp grounds and that cost an average of 50 bucks.Disperse camping well lucky you. You are blessed. Did I mention I hate Illinois?
That’s horrible! How long do you have to stay in Illinois?
Note to self: Beware Illinois 🙂
We struggled trying to full-time in the Denver area. We were tied to being in close proximity because the Good Man had a job there. Many of the same issues. The few private campgrounds were unbelievably expensive in the “high” season, were often miserable gravel lots or in bad areas, state parks all required prepaid reservations for the two weeks we were allowed for, wifi didn’t work or there was no reception for the cell phone. And for the prices we were paying might as well get an apartment! I really appreciate when people review online where they stay or just share information.
Dawn, there are a few blogs that review sites. http://freecampsites.net/ is the most organized I know of. http://rvsueandcrew.net is more informal, as is http://strollingamok.wordpress.com/. I’m sure there are more. But everything I’ve heard tells me the Southwest is your best bet for free camping.
Thanks! Two of those links I hadn’t stumbled across yet. I AM looking forward to seeing more of the southwest.
I’ve been trying to figure out where to go next. I had just said to a house-dwelling friend, “Well, I know someone who’s a campground host near Mammoth Lakes.” Oops, no I don’t.
I think the older we get the more we’re entitled to do only what we really want to. We’ve earned it. Let’s not spend the decreasing time we have left fulfilling someone else’s agenda.
I’m still here, Al! And I found some really nice dispersed camping spots too. Linda May is here, if you remember her from RTR and Ehrenberg, and so is Wayne. They’re both camp hosting here.
I should have known I wouldn’t be up for the work, but the prospect of earning and saving a few thousand dollars for the summer was too tempting. Lesson learned!
I love that you’re sticking to being YOU and following the twists and turns and switchbacks that stretch along your unique path.
So nice to see you are out and about doing well…..
I’m winding up all my projects here at the house, this has been the busiest summer of my life.
Soon I will be back on the road where hopefully I’ll get a chance to catch up with everyone’s blogs and enter a post myself.
DelMont
God Bless
Hi Del! Been wondering what you’re up to lately. Glad to see you’ll be back on the road soon. Are you coming to RTR? I hope you are well. 🙂