Saying vs. doing are two completely different things. For a year now, I have had this fascination with living in my SUV. I've stalked many influencers who live this life daily, I've done a night or two in my SUV, I've even gone as far now as having someone build me a platform to make this dream a possibility. After taking steps to "prep" for in my head would be the next full time gig I pursue I reasoned with myself on starting smaller. 2 weeks, then a month, then GO. GO- a word that has been spoken to me in my dreams for months now. A vision of cutting my losses, starting "over", putting my faith in God, building trust within myself, and letting go of all the hesitations I've allowed to clutter my thoughts for years now. So I went...
I took all of April getting things more in gear. With the platform in my car I could decide what to store and where to store it. What all should I take? I made countless trips to REI to get items and kept being faced with the question, "Where are you going?" Here I was doing all the things to move forward with a two week adventure, but I hadn't clearly mapped out WHERE I was going. This 14 day trial period was just that to me, a trial. It didn't hit me that I didn't fully know where I wanted to go, I simply just wanted to go. However, I did know two things: Utah was a must, and I wanted to have this carry over into my 31st birthday. With everything loaded up, I set off to Utah.
In 14 days my trip totaled 4800 ish miles and stretched between Utah, California, and Lake Tahoe. To go more in detail I ventured to Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Yosemite, Big Sur, and a few hidden gems in the Tahoe area. My mom got me a mug that has tons of National Parks across the states on them and I wanted to color at least 3 more off during this trip... mom I am coloring 5! Because just like that I was on the road for an experiment of a lifetime. I'd never been on the road this long before, I'd never had this set up in my car before, and while I had done most of this drive before...it was nothing like last time. As I weaved through mountains and the open road I kept wondering would I make it the full 14 days? Would I love it? Would I quit mid way and book hotels? Would I be able to do it?
A few days in I knew THIS was for me. Making breakfast by the beach at sunrise, hearing the waves crash by me all throughout the night, wildlife chatting it up with one another each night, everything around me was alive. I was ALIVE, I was LIVING. As I laid awake after watching sunset from the back of my RAV4 on day 7, I couldn't help but feel sad that I was already half way through this trip. There I was literally in the middle of nowhere, hundreds of stars above me, ants below me as I quickly learned how to go to the bathroom outside, and as I questioned how well did that baby wipe "shower" do nothing else mattered. The feeling of bliss, joy, pure happiness, and connection to natural elements filled my heart. 14 days came and went quicker than imagined, in fact I am writing this the day I made it back to Tennessee while already planning that month trip. See what I learned is that not only CAN I do this, I WANT to do this. Earlier when I called my mom to let her know I made it "home" I actually chuckled telling her it was odd having my bathroom and bed again. It was if I craved the smallness in the back of my SUV.
There were no expectations on this trip, more so because I didn't know what to expect or would happen. There were however MANY learning curves and a few things I learned or want to share as it isn't just this glamorous rainbow lifestyle. Out of 14 days there are probably 4 days I didn't take a "real" shower. I peed on myself the first time I tried going to the bathroom outside (LOL yes that got real). I had to map out oil change/tire rotation in a totally different state with basically my life story in every nook/cranny of my car. Speaking of nook/cranny if it fit it sit. I had things stored in every possible crevice. While Utah is beautiful the amount of red dirt clay that got inside my car while cooking or attempting to clean was comical. & with cleaning DON'T do it when the wind is blowing...but you will also be cleaning something each day most likely. Getting dressed in the dark isn't too hard, but getting leggings on within the space of a passenger seat is a whole workout on its own. Those are just a few of the behind the scene comedic moments.
But those moments were worth it for the views and moments I captured. Seeing each day come to life, and how it ended was breathtaking regardless of where I was. As I hiked darkness into the sunrise at Capitol Reef, another thing that came over me was just how brave and carefree I am. It will be shocking to many, but I felt safer out alone like this than I would in a major city back "home". I slept better than normal, and for someone who functions off plans...it was contradicting at first to me that I essentially winged this whole experiment. What I also learned is that with these takeaways and learning curves the next trip will be easier, and the reality of this being full time is still 100% on my heart. There was also one moment in Nevada I heard myself say, "WOW you are doing this". I was cleaning out my setup while putting things away when a guy made the comment that my "home" was legit. He had done this for 2 years, and just having that compliment put into perspective that I was no longer saying I'd do this...I WAS doing this.
I'll share more about the parks/hikes on another blog but I couldn't have asked for a better ending to 30 and start to 31. I know this way of living isn't ideal for most, and that's fine. I purposefully chose to live in my car for those 14 days. I chose to be not only minimalist, but quite raw. & while I have had many ask about safety, I never once felt concerned. With the items in my car, the apps used to find dispersed campsites, being aware, and everything in between that never was a thought. & while some days were harder than others (Days without a real shower, one night being 80 degrees at night, not realizing where a grocery store was) these were all learning curves I anticipated. Regardless of you wanting to do what I did or not, the key takeaway I hope to leave you with is do and go where you feel alive. Quit shoving off your dreams/desires for fear. Fear of judgement, fear of unknown, fear of not liking it. The worst thing that could have happened during this trial is me say NOPE don't like it. In which case I would have gotten hotels, driven back, and had this blog go a totally different way. Instead, I get to say I now am geared up for a longer trek, camera ready to share and document it all, and feeling more like myself then ever before.
Cheers to the next wander.
-Taryn
Email: Taryn.shaffer@yahoo.com
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