In preparing for my trial run in the rental RV last week, I spent days packing up everything I thought I needed, or wanted, or believed I would use. I packed clothing, pots, pans, Insta-Pot, Vita-Mix. I packed canned food, dry beans, brown rice, pasta. I bought fresh fruits and veggies. I brought bedding, pillows, dog food, and treats. I was ready for anything. My goal was to live on the road the way I expect to live once I purchase my van and get going for real. I vowed that it was “cheating” if I had to stop home to pick something up that I forgot, because once on the road, there will be no “stopping at home” because I’ll already BE home!
I learned many things. First, even though I over packed, I still had plenty of room left in the van, so I’m pretty sure I can fit in everything I need and want. I packed up about 2% of everything I own. And of that I used way less than half of what I brought. So the first lessons were that I didn’t need what I packed, and I certainly didn’t need what I left at home. I have way too much stuff.
Second, I learned that life on the road is going to be simple, compact, cozy and most of all easy. I won’t need wine glasses, martini glasses, or iced tea glasses. A pack of red Solo cups will have me covered for a year or more. I don’t need plates and bowls and knives, forks and spoons for a lot of guests. It’s likely that I will seldom have more than two guests and most likely that I’ll only have one at a time. If I’m visiting friends and parked nearby or in their driveway, they can come to dinner and I’ll just tell them it’s BYOP-Bring Your Own PLATE. Likewise, no need for a bunch of pots and pans rattling around in cupboards and drawers. I can get away with very little because I’m not going to be cooking elaborate meals in my tiny kitchen space. It’s likely I won’t be baking (no oven) and no fancy dinner parties. Salad and a one-pot-meal will be the most likely scenario. I think I WILL take more dry foods, like beans, brown rice, lentils, etc and some spices. I’ll have a pantry that is more than spacious enough to accommodate that sort of thing.
I won’t need too many clothes. If I’m on the road, camping in a National Park, I don’t need a fresh shirt every day. I can easily wear the same pair of pants a couple days. I brought two pairs of shoes with me, but never wore them as I kept my flip flops on the whole time. I’ll bring a hoodie and a light rain jacket in case of inclement weather, but my plan is to visit places that are in the 50 to 80 degree temperature range. If it gets too cold, I’ll just put the key in the ignition and head south.
The last day out on my trial run, I sent an e-mail to a friend saying “If I thought no one would come after me, I’d just walk away from my car and home and keep driving.” It was a joke, but there was some truth in it. I had everything I needed (and extra) with me. Everything I left at home was of no use to me anymore. It was not only unnecessary, it was a burden. I came home thinking that all the things I own are obstacles in the way of my living the life I want to live. I immediately started emptying out my kitchen cupboards and packing up stuff to go to friends or to Goodwill. I need to get serious about “weeding out” everything that can’t go with me.
And now, when I open a cupboard or drawer and see only a couple items in there, I feel light. I feel free. I feel like I’m one step closer to being on the road full time.