I'd like to find or start an rv tribe! It would be really cool to find people with similar values and lifestyles and move around when necessary.....as a group. I was thinking about spending summers in the mountains, pacific northwest or maybe even BC and spending winters in Arizona or maybe Baja Mexico. The only rules would be that each member has to be totally self sufficient and self contained, that we leave no trace when we move camp, and that anyone causing negativity, drama, or stress would agree to leave promptly and peacefully. Having the ability to be self sufficient lets people keep their individuality and freedom but being part of a group would give us some stability and give us the opportunities to help each other out when we could. A little about me: I like to invent, write, play music(guitar), do mechanic work, install solar, weld all types of metals, do machine work, customize cars, bikes, and 4x4's. I love farming, especially growing "special" vegetables, and am basically a jack of all trades. I've also done property care taking/maintenance, construction, and landscaping. I'm pretty beat up from years of working too hard though so I can't do a 9-5, 40 hour per week job. Among other ailments, I have a very serious neck injury that has already caused a mild stroke, very high blood pressure and chronic, debilitating headaches. I will probably be stuck with this until it kills me. I always work hard and don't take handouts but there are some days where I'm just in way too much pain to work productively. Because of this, I haven't been able to have a full time job for a long time. I make ends meet by doing side work and odd jobs. My best methods for finding work have been socializing, putting up flyers at grocery stores, and using the internet. I have a little RV and have reduced my monthly expenses to the bare minimum so I can survive on the amount and temporary type of work that I'm able to find and do. I also like to fish and gather food whenever I get a chance to be out in nature. Another big reason that I've chosen to learn all of these trades and figure out how to comfortably survive at the most basic levels is that I just don't agree with the way westernized commercial society operates. I can't stand greed or competition and think that we should be able to get along fine without it. I've been able to see what's both right and wrong for as long as I can remember and all I want is to be "free". I live in my RV, full time, and wouldn't have it any other way. I have two older dogs that I'll never abandon because they're the only creatures I've met that wouldn't abandon me. I don't like to live or operate in big cities and would spend all of my time in the woods or the desert if I could. My RV has a large solar array, is totally stocked with tools, and is totally off grid capable. I'll be building a solar sewage incinerator before I roll out and also have a 10kw backup generator. I'll need to either collect rainwater or be close to a water source but other than that, everything is self contained and sustainable. I've lived this way for a few years now on and off so this lifestyle is not an experiment. As long as I can find a place to park and a tiny bit of work, I can get along fine without charity or welfare. I also have a huge respect for the environment and leave nothing but foot prints, paw prints and tire tracks behind. I'm looking for a place to go where I can camp in the woods most of the time without getting harassed, only going into town to do a few jobs per month so I can pay for food, fuel, insurance, dog food, and supplies. I'd like to play music with and/or in front of other people here and there too. It would be really cool to have a group of friends to travel, camp, and work with! Any of you guys have an RV and want out of the system?
Wow! Sounds like paradise,I would like to do this but I do not own an RV. The way your post is written,it sounds just like me.
I have a really cool vintage camper van that I've been trying to sell so I can hit the road but although tons of people want it, no one around here has the money. http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?t=449911&f=176 I've been thinking about finding someone that could drive it and follow me to Cali so I can get it sold. I'm pretty sure it would sell quickly out there. The only problem is that I need to sell the van to get enough gas money to go so it's kind of a catch 22. I've got some work coming in over the next couple of weeks though so if there's anyone out there that would want to help me drive it to the coast, I could offer them a free ride from Camp Verde,AZ to Cali and give them a few hundred bucks when the van sells. Just a thought! To anyone considering this lifestyle, I got my current RV for $1000, paid insurance for the whole year for $60 and registered for two years for $60. I've put a few hundred more bucks into it to get it the way I wanted it but it doesn't have to be very expensive to get a rolling home! If there are any cool folks out there that would like to group travel and camp, I'd be happy to do whatever I can to help get you mobile.
I don't have one tho and can't afford and RV. I check craigs list once in awhile for them and vans. If I could find a cheap one I wouldn't be able to afford gas, then there'd be maintenance. I'm mechanically challenged. lol Sometimes I just look at the moving parts/gears/cables etc. on my bicycle all kind of confused like and pray to the Bicycle Gods to keep it in working order. An RV Tribe sounds great. In my opinion any sort of "tribe" where people care for and look after one another sounds pretty sweet. ~peace
If you think you'd like to travel around but don't wan to have to work on anything, look at 80's Toyota based campers. They are reliable as can be and get pretty good mileage. If you can find one, get the timing chain and filters changed, and get the oil changed every 3000 miles, you will never have a maintenance issue. It's also a good idea to have a mechanic look over things before you buy anything. If one of the members or your tribe is a good mechanic, you should have no problem keeping your wheels rolling down the road. If you have art or crafts that you can sell or a skill that people need, coming up with gas money isn't too big of a deal. I try to get to places where I can find work and stay for a few months so I'm really not driving very often. There are all kinds of places to camp/park for free too so you really only have to worry about money for food and fun. I'm hoping to find some cool farms or communities that need my help so I can build a network of places to go. Someday, I'll probably want to settle down, I want to find a community that I really fit into first so I think I have some exploring to do!
I really like traveling and especially meeting people, talking and learning about places. I usually walk to places (talking 200+ miles at a time) and recently bought a bike and trailer. When I had a car I could handle the basics of upkeep like oil changes, filters, etc. The simple things, luckily my older brother can fix just about anything that has a motor. he was my go to guy for anything beyond the basics. I'm just looking for something new and exciting. Traveling alone sucks and for that reason it gets harder to get out on the road for long stretches. I'm pretty good at the arts and crafts thing. I make all kinds of stuff. Hemp braiding bracelets, necklaces jewelery, dream catchers, beading, leather work, sewing, embroidery, etc. Painting (went to art school for what that has gotten me, I've sold paintings but definitely not enough to make a living by, a few gallery spots and art shows in the past.) I've got gardening and such skills to, grew up on a small farm, raised chickens in the recent past. Survival and living in the wilds skills to, fishing, camping type of things. I'm usually a quick learner and so many things yet to learn. ~~peace
It sounds like you've got a lot of skills that could keep you fed while on the road. I know all about walking. In '98, I walked 300+ miles in 5 days to get out to San Diego. I spent 6 months living at OB and it was awesome. I build electric bikes so I was thinking about doing a bike/trailer thing too but I have my two dogs that are like my babies so they need a house. If I'm somewhere hot and have to work all day, I can leave them in the RV with the AC on. I've also amassed a lot of tools over the years and it's nice to be able to keep them and put them to work when necessary. If it weren't for my dogs, music gear, and tools, I'd probably be wandering around with my backpack and skateboard like the good old days! Having and maintaining a vehicle definitely adds some stress and expense to the nomad life but having a roof over my head, a bathroom, a place to take a shower, and a place to keep some of my stuff is worth it for now.
I live in an old 1970'sish Shasta and i love it, but i don't have a vehicle to pullit and I'm flat broke
your rv tribe is very interesting, i am 17 and as soon as i graduate in a am taking what i got and either joining a commune or buying an rv and running away from the system, if you go to barter fair learning to blow glass and other arts and crafts that would be a nice way to make money
I think that I'm going to be stuck in arizona for the rest of the summer. I was really wanting to head north soon but I haven't been able to sell anything and have only been able to find enough work to eat, not enough to save up for gas. I didn't get much response to any of my inquiries about cool places to check out up there or from people that wanted to join me so I made some commitments here. If you come through arizona on your adventures, I'd love to meet you guys though. Always cool to meet kindred spirits!
Hey DannyD, and others! I want to find a small tribe to hang with in the southwest/PNW. I would want to move, depending on the weather. I kind of keep to myself, but don't want to be alone out there. I am a vanner rather than an RV'er, but that might change. I have all my needs with me, and sure I could contribute to the group in some manner. I'm a no drama laid back kind of person (54), but am always prepared to take action if need be. My ideal tribe would be the same. Anyone want to adopt me?
Hi, Danny! I got your message in TwoDogs thread and wanted to reply here (as you suggested) to say many thanks for your offer! The Camp Verde area is definitely one I want to check out along the way so as I get closer, I'll get in touch with you for sure. (Maybe by that time I'll have posted enough here to get/send pm's lol
Hey ya'll, Camping Tribe sounds great to me. I could be interested in that when I do get the chance to go. I am still driving a truck and I am making it a point to be in Quartzsite for the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous this year, so if anyone is making that, it would be great to meet up. Right now, I am over by Hobbs, NM. I am planning on taking a 4 month extended vacation during Jan, Feb, Mar and April, if I can stretch every dollar I can save. I am hoping I can do it, but not sure. Hey, I know you all have been there and stretched that! Anyway, that is a great idea, as I like being in the desert in the winter, and at least the mountains of Flagstaff/Williams in the summer. The PNW would be great as well, but a bit harder on my little budget. Take care, and GOD Bless
hey, Danny. Haven't seen a reply from you in any threads, and I still haven't posted enough to get a pm, but I'm interested in hearing back from you at your earliest convenience so if you could reply to me in this thread, I'd appreciate it. Meanwhile, I'll try to find more stuff to post so that I can start getting pm's after all lol.
Hi Zen Rogue, I'm around. I just don't post much. If you're in the area, I'd love to meet up and shoot the shit. I'm flat broke and out of gas right now though so I'm concentrating more on selling stuff and finding work than socializing. Danny
MM, Have you checked out the various Vandweller Yahoo groups? Lot's of good people out there doing the vanning thing.
After more research, some recent experiences, and just thinking about everything in general, I've kind of given up on the community thing though. I'd prefer to do my own thing and just socialize when opportunities arise. I only want to be around other humans when they're happy and feeling like being around other people. Being part of a family or tribe just means that everyone has to experience everyone else's negative experiences.
