Late last night I got home—smelly, sunburnt, and sleep-deprived—after spending an amazing week at the summer Rubber Tramp Rendezvous (RTR) near Flagstaff, Arizona. It was my first camping experience since I was a kid. The organizer of the informal, semi-annual gathering is Bob Wells, a longtime vandweller who has made it his mission to show as many people as possible how wonderful mobile living can be.
My little home & patio.
Bob’s recent blog post about fear reminded me that I’d had some big fears for many years about following any of my dreams. Money is usually the deal-breaker, but this time I said, “F*ck it,” and borrowed enough to rent a car so I could go. It would set my van fund back a month or more, but I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to know if this was what I really wanted or just a fantasy. RTR was the perfect place to check my fears out in a supportive environment.
I discovered that my main fear is a very simple one: discomfort.
I like to be comfortable, expending the least possible effort in a clean, temperature-controlled, bug-free environment. Not surprisingly, this fear has led to increasing DIScomfort as I’ve aged and my body has begun to atrophy. I finally recognized that in order to have a truly comfortable third act, I would have to regain my health and fitness… which, of course, meant going through some initial discomfort and even a bit of pain now and then.
Boredom, on the other hand, was not acceptable. I needed to find activities that not only helped me get stronger but were so much fun that I would actually want to do them. Kayaking on the ocean was my first adventure, and it kicked my ‘but.’ Camping was next, and I was ready to accept being uncomfortable as part of the learning process. Here’s what I learned:
- Setting up a tent late at night after an eight-hour drive (and then having to re-do it because I did it wrong the first time–and then again the next day) was not a happy experience. But I knew that no one gets it right the first time. Or the second, apparently.
- Discovering that my cot would not fit in my tiny tent reminded me of my limits: I would not sleep on the ground. That was my line in the sand, as it were, because I knew I would not be able to walk in the morning. So I let the ‘foot’ end of the cot (as well as my feet) stick out the door of the tent, and went to sleep at last.
- Learning how to sit on a cold, smelly Luggable Loo in the middle of the night (and a hot one in the afternoon) and then disposing of the contents—yeah, not my favorite thing. But tips from my new tribe taught me what I needed to know to make it work better next time.
- Personal hygiene (with only a washcloth, soap and water) became a growing discomfort after a few days. But I soon learned solutions that that I can adapt for myself in the future.
- A stubbed, bloody toe is a small price to pay for the wisdom that flip-flops are not hiking boots.
- Self-consciousness is counterproductive in the wild. Nobody gives a shit what you look like because they look as bad as you do.
- Gramma was right—“A place for everything and everything in its place.” Constantly forgetting to bring this or that item along to whatever task I had in mind forced me to stop and plan before making any move, because the slightest effort at that high elevation (7500 feet) left me winded.
- Things go wrong. Like when the new charger I bought blew out my Kodak zi8 camera and I lost all the photos I’d taken and couldn’t record an interview with Bob. (Sorry! But we’ve agreed to do a phone interview soon, and I will post the audio here on the blog.)
Photo Credit: Coconino National Forest via Compfight cc
But the comforts far outweighed the discomforts:
- The quiet.
- The sounds: Finches. Crows. Distant trains. Wind-whispers through tall pines.
- The sights: Sky. Gnarled branches of trees, scorched by a long-ago blaze, rebirthed and green again. Clouds. Adorable, fat little birds chasing each other from branch to branch. Sky.
- The intoxicating smell of sun-heat warming the deep, pine-needle forest floor.
- The freedom. Doing nothing, if that’s what I want, for as long as I want. (As long as the Luggable Loo is open for business.)
- The kindness. (One camper saw the foot of my cot sticking out the tent door and promptly loaned me a bigger tent that he had brought along but wasn’t using. Then, seeing that I was exhausted, he set it up for me. That is true generosity.)
- The new friends. Those who teach me. those who learn with me, and those who commiserate with me, laughing together at our mutual frustrations. I have a feeling I will know and love some of them forever, and see them again very soon.
- The cure. I was, at least for one week, not a procrastinator. The consequences of putting off what needed to be done were too dire. Will I slip back into old habits now the I have my laptop, the TV, a washing machine, running water, a fridge and a flush toilet? Only time will tell.
I don’t know yet what my next adventure will be—probably just hiking some of the many trails around here. San Diego has lots of more glamorous activities, like hang-gliding and surfing, but they cost money. For now, I need to find free activities so I can save for the ultimate adventure: vandwelling.
While I’m catching up on my sleep, tell me: what’s your next adventure?
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[…] about–you know? Oh, you mean pee and poo? I learned a lot about how to deal with that on my last camping trip, so I don’t expect it to be a big problem. I will bring my Luggable Loo (toilet seat clipped […]
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Way to go LaVonne! I am so glad you had a good time and found some kindred spirits. I’m also really glad that you got help when you needed it and had time to just take in the experience. Can’t wait to find out what you’re up to next!
ps luggable loo might be my line in the sand! 🙂
Haha! Yes, Luggable Loo is a tough one to get around, but I’m determined not to let it stop me. The real difficulty is using it without being able to stand up (in a tent or van). There is a pretty cool little tent just for bathroom/shower duties that I’m thinking of getting before I go on the road. But, when actually on the road and not out camping somewhere, there are plenty of public bathrooms, thank God!
Well done, LaVonne, well done. Envy kicking up here.
Hope to see you for the winter RTR.
In my journey, I fear becoming addicted to finding “new” adventures, the need to up the ante so to speak. I have always been adverse to do the same thing over. I have this idea that I am supposed to be content with the way things are and not ask for more. Food for thought.
My next adventure, which I have already paid for, is a lesson on flying or piloting, if that is the correct word, a helicopter. (Igot a discount coupon). grin
Helicopter lessons–how exciting! I know what you mean about upping the ante. I get myself in hot water frequently that way. I am hoping to mature any day now. :-p
Actually the process of becoming a child again, looking at the very small part of world you can touch, see, and sometimes unfortunately, smell, is a wonderful thing. It gets easier than you think every time you go out. Looks like you are letting go of your person cocoon and getting ready to FLY!
Way to go, LaVonne!
It’s interesting you should mention that about becoming a child again. So many memories have come flooding back as I get in touch with nature and really *look* at things again. It’s so sad that we seem to forget about looking closely at the world around us when we are so wrapped up in the rat race as adults. Thank you, SharonAnn!
hi, LaVonne. Saw your link on Bob’s blog. Nice post! I’m glad you made it to Flagstaff. I was with everyone at the RTR in Quartzsite in Jan. & traveled & camped some with Bob & some of the others throughout the winter.
I have a Ford E150 van that was my work van (landscaping) as well as camper. After the winter I decided to go ‘full time’ & came home & vacated my apt. I’m feeling my way through the shift! :))) It’s different being ‘untethered’ in the place I’ve lived & worked for almost 50 years, but I’m figuring it out…and my friends are getting used to the idea. 🙂
I’m up in Idaho near my daughter & grandson for the summer, which is why I didn’t make it to Flagstaff, but will be heading back South when it gets cold in the fall. I hope you get to come over to AZ for the winter group. A lot of great women, as well as the guys – I learned so much from the ‘veterans’! , and we really had some fun times.
Oh – you do get used to the ‘loo’ – even in a van you can’t stand up in! I kind of just slide myself off it onto my knees! I’m really a clean person & have it all set up so it works great. This life does require some concessions, but the freedom (and lack of expenses!) make it worth it.
m.a.wuebker
Hi, m.a. — so glad to ‘meet’ you! And yes, I plan to be at the Quartzsite RTR in January. I should be on the road by then and will most likely be camping with Bob for a while until I feel confident enough to go out on my own. As for the ‘loo,’ it’s going to take more practice, for sure. :p
See you next winter!
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=shower+tent :))
Haha, I’ve got one on my wish list!
Darling, you ROCK. But then we knew that.
Susan, you always know the PERFECT thing to say. 🙂
LaVonne, I am glad you enjoyed RTR in spite of the discomforts. Learning to live in a van has been one of the biggest “learning experiences” of my life. When you start looking for a van you might think about a high top. I love mine. His name is HULK and I absolutely knew he was the one for me as soon as I saw him. You can read more about him in Bob’s blog from 2-2-2013. Cheri’s high top van conversion. I would hate to go back to using a loo. :). I love my portapotty and I love having the space for it. The gas mileage in HULK is dismal but everything is a trade off and he certainly is cheaper than living in a sticks and bricks. I love this lifestyle so much I can’t even imagine living in one place all of the time again. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for the RTR. I would have loved to meet you. I have been to each of the gatherings including the one we have been calling the preRTR in Pahrump, NV in 2010. Hopefully we will meet up at the winter RTR in Quartzsite if not before. HUGS Cheri
Hi Cheri! Yes, I am hoping to find a high top van for sure. It will make life a lot more comfortable. I love your van conversion — especially how you adapted actual furniture like a roll-top desk. So creative! I tried to organize my tent as if it was my future van (it had about the same floor space) and that helped a lot. I’m going to go as minimal as I can and see how that works. Can’t wait to meet you at the winter RTR!
Lavonne, I miss you!
Brad left his spot and someone else moved in yesterday. People coming and going. I left this morning and am currently cooling off @ Bookmans. I’m spending the day in town and going to try one of those campsites we spied on our way to Sedona. I hope I get a spot on a Sat! I’m thinking of re-joining Bob & Co on Sunday or Monday. Or heading home for a while. I’m missing that grandbaby!
It was so great to meet you and i so enjoyed our little adventure to Sedona. Hope we meet on the road again someday.
warm regards,
Yolanda
I miss you too, Yolanda! Definitely go for a campsite on the way to Sedona — they were to die for. 🙂 I hope the heat isn’t too much, though.
We can definitely meet on the road whenever we like (once I’m actually on the road) — that’s the great thing about this: it’s totally up to us. 🙂
See you soon!
Hi, Lavonne!
I’m really glad that you came out to meet us. It’s great to hear that the trip and camping experience was of great value to you. I wish you well as you prepare to rejoin us in the future. I hope the universe gives you the funds you need very soon or gives you the van you need.
Warm wishes, Gloria
Hi Gloria! I’m so glad I got a chance to meet you, even though it wasn’t for very long. Hope to see you again soon!
Yay LaVonnne – great to read about your adventures. I did a ton of camping in NZ as a child and some in Arizona since – these days it has to be comfortable! I’m seriously thinking of taking to the road too – working on selling my houseboat right now. I’m looking forward to learning more from you as you get closer to your grand adventure!
Thanks, Vicky — wow, I didn’t know you were on a houseboat, how cool!
LaVonne! Glad you enjoyed the experience ,just remember that you started in the deep end ,Tent camping! Once you have a van it will be so much more civilised .Cant wait to see your van.regards Stephen.
Hi, Stephen – yes, I figure van camping will be much easier. I was drooling over a few of the setups I saw at the RTR. Thanks for dropping by!
Hi LaVonne,
I found your blog after reading your post Big Bertha on the CheapRVLivingForum.
Have been enjoying reading your posts…Funny Stuff…well you talk about the not so humorous stuff in a very appealing way. I’m looking forward to reading about more of your adventures. I did have a thought…Seems like you need a bigger tent if you plan to do more tent camping (so nice of that fellow camper to loan you his and set it up)…anyway, the thought I had…do some dry run camping in your yard, set it up and tear it down a few times until you are comfortable with it. You could even compete with yourself by timing each attempt. do the whole deal, luggable loo, cooking etc…
and if you don’t have a yard…the living room is a good second choice. Of course you are getting this tip from a 50+ woman that has a permanent fort in her living room (yes, it’s mine and I make NO Apologies)
I’m the ‘k’ of k&p Catalano
k&p Catalano
We’d Love it if you Followed along on our Quest!!!
http://pibbsdreamquest.com
‘♩♬♪♪♫♩Wouldn’t you like to be a PIBBER too?♩♬♪♪♫♩’
Hi ‘k’! Thanks for visiting and commenting. I don’t plan on tent camping, though. That was just a way to get out and get the experience without having a van yet. I have set up a ‘camping space’ in my bedroom, though… trying to get everything I will use in that space and ‘live’ in it as much as possible (though I won’t be using the bucket!) That is so cool that you have a fort in your living room, haha!
Got to admit I love my fort! We call it ‘Grussie’s Grotto’. The Grandyboys (2&4) make a beeline for it anytime the safety gate opens. So many ‘No No’s’ to touch they just can’t help themselves. They also sit perched on the other side of my ‘see through’ wall and watch me work with a non-stop commentary that would make Howard Cosell proud. We like to turn the dining room table into a fort for them. They spend their time looking for clues around the fort and hiding from ghosts…they work really cheap too…scooby snacks are their favorite method of payment. I get such a tickle out of the fact that they love the same cartoon that was my favorite as a child.
Must be why I love vans so much…I first fell for the Mystery Machine and never looked back…
-k-