From the Driver's Seat: Nothing's Perfect
Laundry, loud neighbors, and inclimate weather can greatly alter this chosen lifestyle's appeal at times.
I have mentioned in previous posts that this "From the Driver's Seat" section will include the good, the bad, and the ugly that is associated with living on the road full time. We voluntarily chose this way of life and, by and large, really enjoy the overall experience. With that being said, there are a few unexpected drawbacks that can test your resolve for long-term sustainability.
Finding a laundromat has never been an issue. Most larger towns and cities have plenty. Where the problem lies is the cleanliness of some establishments. On a personal note, I am far from a clean freak. Yes, we practice personal hygiene on a daily basis and clean clothes are a must. But when we go to wash our clothes and the washer or dryer has residual pet hair covering the inside, it is inexcusable. It is a mystery to me why some establishments have dirty floors and equipment in a place to clean your clothes. No thanks....we move on to the next laundromat. I get it - a lot of people use laundromats for items that they do not want to put in their own washing machines. But the establishment's job is to keep the machines clean, and some fail to do so.
Next on my list is excessively loud campers. I understand that a large majority of campers are having fun, letting their hair down, and enjoying adult beverages (especially on the weekends). I fully understand and totally accept this fact. The problem arises when this is taken too far. Hootin' and hollerin' is fine, but not at 3 a.m. To add insult to injury, campgrounds are notoriously at their loudest around 8 a.m. due to people leaving for the day or packing up to move on. Interestingly, this can include opening and closing doors numerous times and using impact drills to raise their trailer jacks. That can leave you with less than 5 hours sleep, which can get old quickly. Whether we are at an established campground or we are dispersed camping in the woods, the same situation happens on a surprisingly regular basis. We try our best to find sites that have a better chance of tranquility, but loud neighbors can happen, and will happen, more often than you think.
Weather can also greatly influence this lifestyle. We have experienced every type of weather there is. From snow and ice at -15 degrees to 106 degree temperatures, not to mention windstorms and two tornadoes that were way too close for comfort. These extremes can be very stressful and not for the faint of heart. Fortunately, we are able to monitor extreme weather and have the ability to change locations to avoid major events. The problem is, even being as vigilent as possible, an afternoon thunderstorm can turn into large-sized hail without any notice. Luckily, our Supertramp truck camper and GMC truck have escaped unharmed up to this point. Knock on wood! With our setup and desire to disperse camp as much as possible, we are very reliant on the sun for our solar panels to produce power. We try to use as little power as possible during long stretches of cloudy, rainy, and/or snowy days. The refrigerator and charging our electronics typically use about 15-20 percent of our battery output. I must say that the solar panels work great, but without any sun for consecutive days, power can be a concern. Taking a drive to have the truck charge the batteries is always an option. But with the price of fuel, it can turn expensive in a hurry. With the use of the Victron app, we carefully monitor the status of our batteries, and we have never ran out of power. Once the sun comes out, power is no longer a concern due to our solar panels.
Top Left: Ice
Top Right: Rainy / Cloudy
Bottom Left: Major Weather Event...
Bottom Right: ...Turns into a Tornado
This post was not meant to be a rant on negative aspects of our journey. My purpose is to share our experiences, especially for anyone who may be considering a similar lifestyle. There are always negatives associated with any particular endeavor, but the positives of seeing every corner of this beautiful country far outweigh the negatives.
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