No Apologies for My Solo Nomad Lifestyle

August 13, 2023

I have been here in Hawaii (aka The Big Island) for a week—by myself. You are probably wondering what is wrong with me. Does she smell awful? Why doesn’t she have any friends? Seriously, who would go to Hawaii alone??

Well, it just didn’t work out this time. I had been holding a place for my older son, and he had to bow out due to other commitments. Then I tried a couple of friends. One had too many things scheduled in August, and another may be able to join me for a few days at the end of the trip. A single guy friend figured it wouldn’t go over too well with his new girlfriend. Fair enough.

So here I am, by myself.

The trip got off to a rocky start. My flight was delayed, and I was lucky enough to get a loud, kicking preschooler in the seat behind me.

By the time I checked in and got settled for bed, it was 3:00 AM back home.

My first full day in Hawaii consisted of sleeping in, exchanging my malfunctioning rental car, grocery shopping, and a late afternoon swim before dinner. Ah, paradise!

While driving around that first day, I heard the high wind warnings on the car radio. Hurricane Dora was passing south of the Hawaiian Islands.

In case you’ve been living in a cave, I’ll tell you what happened next. Dry conditions and high winds caused devastating wildfires on Maui and some smaller fires here on the Big Island.

I took a nice long beach walk Tuesday morning before the winds kicked up. I then spent the afternoon and evening safely in my condo, watching the trees sway, palm fronds and branches dropping to the ground.

The news the next day was heartbreaking. Beautiful, historic Lahaina had been devastated by the fires. As of today, we know that more than 100 people lost their lives.

Hearing that news about the neighboring island put a damper on the joy of my visit. I stayed close to my accommodations on Wednesday since a section of the highway was closed due to the fires.

I went out to attempt a hike on Thursday morning, hoping that the winds had calmed. Nope. Still super windy. Instead, I opted to shop at the health food store and Foodland in Waimea. At this point, I clearly was not going to starve. In my defense, I rarely eat out.

Finally, on Friday morning, I headed way up to Pololu on the north end of the island to hike the short but steep trail down to the black sand beach. Now I could start fully enjoying my time on the islands. This was the Hawaii I knew and loved.

Yesterday, I went to three farmers’ markets up in Waimea, all unique and lively. Hawaiian farmers markets make me so happy. I love seeing the exotic fruits and vegetables and meeting the people who grow them.

I enjoyed a leisurely shoreline walk in the afternoon and went for my pre-dinner swim, which has become part of my daily routine.

This is my first time alone in Hawaii, but I have visited a few times in the past. I’m doing what I want and settling into the pace of my days. I have the luxury of being here for more than two weeks, so the typical must-see tourist urgency is lacking. I sit out on the patio after lunch most days and read in the shade. This morning, I lingered on the beach and watched turtles for an hour.

From this day forward, I will never apologize for my solo travels. (Although, I’m happy when friends can join me, and I won’t complain if Mr. Wonderful shows up to accompany me.)

In a couple of days, I’m heading to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. I’ve arranged a two-night stay in the area to fully explore the park. Not a screaming deal this time but worth it for the location.

I got online today to make a dinner reservation at The Rim restaurant in the park. Even though I prepare most of my own food, I occasionally go out to eat. This restaurant has been on my “to do” list for a while along with some hikes in the park. I’ll burn the calories and enjoy the splurge.

For the first time, I had the option of making a reservation for ONE. (Usually, the dropdown options start at two.)

I feel like it’s a good sign.

My Biggest Burden as a Nomad

August 4, 2023
I have been living a nomadic life for just over a year now. There have been many adjustments along the way, and my lifestyle continues to evolve.
Over the past few months, I have added house-sitting and pet-sitting. In fact, I’ve only paid for one night in a hotel this summer. I’ve hiked and paddle-boarded to my heart’s content and caught up with friends and family in my home state. Indeed, I can’t complain.

But being in my home area, there is also something I can’t avoid—my storage unit.
When I sold my house and most of its contents last year, I gave up a lot, but not everything. I still have my car; the rest is in the ten-by-ten storage unit.
I dread going to that storage unit. Why?
It’s too full and too hard to find anything.
I thought I had a great idea last spring when my son helped me set up two shelving units. But honestly, it is still too cluttered. Also, when my sister passed away last January, I re-inherited some things that I had given her.
Becoming a minimalist is a journey, and I’m still working on it. My travel wardrobe is pared down, but I still have a few bins full of clothes in that storage unit. I will defend my winter wardrobe and sports-related attire, but I’m not sure if I have a decent excuse to keep the rest.

And then there are those bins of mementos, my personal history that I haven’t been able to part with yet. Perhaps I could reduce the number of containers.
The bottom line is that I don’t think I will be a nomad forever. That’s why giving up some of those big items like my vacuum cleaner and favorite wool rug is hard.
I plan to pare down a bit more when I return from my next adventure. I’m impressed with fellow nomads who have “a few boxes in someone else’s garage.” I’m not sure if I will ever get there, but that’s okay. We are each navigating our own journey.

Update: August 11, 2024

I did, indeed, manage to downsize my storage unit last spring before embarking on another extended European journey. In the process, I also saved myself some money by switching to a 7 x 10 unit, which was one-third the price!

Now I can roll out my bike and get to the items I’m seeking. I realized that I could dispose of some of those mementos and Christmas decorations without missing them. And paring down my wardrobe is a constant battle.

The dreaded storage unit no longer feels like a burden!

Obsessed with Minimalism

July 3, 2023

My recent obsession with minimalism has become excessive.

Last year, I took an epic, life-changing trip to Europe, my first as a nomad. In fact, it was during that trip that I decided to live a nomadic life.

But my suitcase was too heavy. It was also too cheap, and I replaced it halfway through the journey. (The boots were an unnecessary purchase, but they’re pretty cute!) Lots of lessons learned.

I’m currently in my home state, Washington, enjoying the best house-sitting gig ever. My duties include watering plans and…well, that’s it. No pets. My friend is off on his own European adventure for a while, and I get to enjoy his beautiful home as a zero-cost Airbnb.

It’s good to have some time to unpack and assess my travel wardrobe. I am determined to take at least seven pounds out of my suitcase.

In eight weeks, I’ll embark on my longest nomad adventure yet. I’ll start in England and then head to Croatia, Greece, and the Canary Islands. The journey will end in mainland Spain in December, my favorite place to be at Christmastime. In total, I will be living out of my suitcase and daypack for 105 days. I expect to experience primarily warm weather and plan to use layers and my treasured down coat to cover the cooler days.

Thanks to the open closet design of my friend’s modern, eco-friendly house, I have been staring at this space a little too much.

The good news is that I have a couple of shorter trips, one this month and another next, where I can try out the wardrobe before committing to the long journey.

As far as toiletries and accessories go, I’m losing some weight there, too. I’m testing out laundry sheets and have decided that shampoo and conditioner bars will work for backup when staying at places where they are not provided.

Leave a comment if you have a great packing tip to share! I’ll let you know how it goes.

UPDATE: I’ve been back for a few weeks, so I guess I’d better confess that I am still no packing expert.

I intentionally decided to bring a few pieces of clothing that were getting a bit worn with the intention of discarding them as I traveled to lighten my load. That part did work out. I even discarded a pair of boots to make room for Christmas gifts.

I’ve decided on some favorite items and will replace them as needed before my next overseas journey.

And, as you would guess, my load got lighter as I used up certain items like disposable contact lenses and lotions.

The laundry sheets were adequate. I’m not a big fan of the shampoo and conditioner bars, though.

Nomad Life: How Did I Get Here?

June 20, 2023

Do you ever stop and wonder about the twists and turns of your life?

Mine has taken many in the past five years.

If you had told me in June 2018 that in five years, I would be homeless by choice and changing doggie diapers, I don’t know if I would have laughed, freaked out, or broken down in tears.

But here I am.

You see, I was one of those Type A people who liked to be in control and lead a tidy, secure life. I was a lifelong educator, and although I always found it challenging, I figured I would segway into a new career at some point.

In fact, I did make a change in 2018. I sold my condo in the Seattle area and moved to Montana’s Flathead Valley.

This is it! I thought. But it wasn’t.

Don’t get me wrong—there were a lot of wonderful outcomes from that move. I enjoyed a year of outdoor recreation and made tons of new friends. What I didn’t do was plan for a source of income. I was overly optimistic about finding a suitable job that would give me some income but still allow for ample time in the great outdoors. It just didn’t work out.

I have an old friend who firmly believes life is all about timing. I guess I didn’t time that one right.

After a year, I returned to my home state, Washington, and returned to my safe but stressful career teaching high school. I took a position in Eastern Washington, thinking that changing to a smaller rural school would be better and keep me closer to new friends in Montana.

Then, you know what happened: Pandemic. There’s nothing like being in a new job in a new location and then being locked up alone in your isolated home in the country.

A couple of months into the pandemic, a friend and colleague stopped by for an on-the-porch visit. She encouraged me to head back to the west side of the state to be closer to friends and family. It was May, and we still didn’t know what the following months and years would bring.

I got online, found an appropriate open position, arranged for a nontraditional interview, and got the job.

It was time to move again.

I bought a “fixer-upper” to have something to do. Ha! I would not recommend remodeling a house during a pandemic. Supply shortages, inflated prices…it was not a fun experience.

That’s the short version of what led me to my current lifestyle.

If you or someone close to you works in public education, you know how tough the past few years have been. We teachers have been dropping like flies.

A year ago, I decided to sell that newly remodeled house, got rid of most of my possessions, and quit my job. Another teacher down.

My initial plan was to retire in Spain, at least for a year or two. I had traveled there about a dozen times over the years, and two involved longer stays in educational programs. I had always loved Spain. Why not live the Spanish ex-pat life for a while?

After traveling around the Western US in the summer of 2022, I set out for a three-month trip to Europe in September. I had an apartment reserved in Valencia, Spain, for the month of October. It would be an excellent trial period to see if I wanted to live there for a year or two.

In the end, I realized that traveling was what gave me the most joy. Exploring new places fed my soul like nothing else in life.

I had been following the blog of a nomadic couple from Seattle for several months. Initially, I thought there was no way I would ever do it. Nine months later, I realized it was exactly what I wanted to do.

So here I am. My nomadic lifestyle continues to evolve.

Last December, I returned from Europe to find my sister in a poor state physically and emotionally. I instantly put the brakes on my life to take care of her. I rented a house for three months (negotiated an Airbnb) to allow us time to assess her health and make a plan. I was ready to go back to work, at least part-time.

Sadly, my sister passed away from pancreatic cancer in January.

I decided to keep the short-term rental through March, as planned, to grieve and help sort out my sister’s affairs. Looking back, it was the right move. I spent more time with my adult children than I had in years, and there were numerous visits with family and friends. I also bonded further with my niece and her husband and kids.

That experience made me realize that I needed a hybrid plan. I wanted to spend a chunk of the year in Western Washington near family and friends. In other words, this is still home. I don’t want to lose that.

After traveling throughout the western states again this spring, I arrived “home” on June first. I was able to arrange pet-sitting and house-sitting gigs in the area through mid-July.

One of the most important things I have learned over the past few years is to be flexible because changes will always arise.

And there are no rules to the nomadic lifestyle. You can make it what you want.

Who knows? I may go back to work one of these days. For now, I appreciate the freedom and joy that come with simplifying.

Going to the Dogs: Is Pet Sitting for You?

June 16, 2023

As part of my nomadic life, I have recently added pet and house sitting to my portfolio. Years ago, my now ex-husband and I had considered it for our retirement plan. The idea reappeared on my nomad Facebook group (GoWithLess), and I have done a couple of sits for friends. It’s an excellent way to cut my overall costs, too.

You see, I am a nomad, but I don’t live in a van or RV. I drive a Honda CRV. It gets great mileage, has plenty of room to haul my gear, and has the all-important all-wheel drive. I’ve resisted the van life because I spend time visiting friends in the US, and I like the freedom of a smaller vehicle. And when I’m out of the country, I leave it parked at a relative’s house. All good.

The other day, a friend asked how the pet-sitting was going. I wasn’t really sure. That might make a good blog post!

There are a lot of pros:

A no-cost place to stay. People also give permission to raid the fridge and freezer. Great for the overall budget!
Good company. It’s nice to have canine and feline companions after being on the road or out of the country for weeks.
Comfortable, spacious accommodations. For example, the place where I recently stayed has a gourmet kitchen and a gorgeous deck with a lush parklike backyard.
I’m doing something to help others. After teaching, raising kids, and doing my share of volunteering over the years, I have a need to help others.
Pet owners are oh-so-grateful for my services. Some dogs don’t do well in kennels, and it gives homeowners peace of mind to have the house occupied.

The downsides of house sitting and pet sitting:

You can’t predict the pet’s temperament. Dogs, especially, can be nervous or sad that their owners are absent.
You won’t know how noisy the neighborhood is until you get there.
You have to get through the “adjustment phase” of each sit. So far, almost every first night has been challenging and has left me short on sleep.
Depending on the pet(s), you may feel tied down. I have gotten used to the freedom to do whatever I want while I travel. Dog owners have asked me to limit my time away from home to as little as three hours. (Most allow longer periods away, though!)

If you’re considering house sitting/pet sitting as a means of budget travel, think about your preferences and comfort level.

Do you enjoy animals? If you don’t, please don’t even think about doing this!
Will you respect the pet owner’s wishes and adhere to routines?
Are you confident, and do you feel comfortable taking care of the pets and homes of others? It’s a big responsibility!
Will you be able to handle a pet emergency?

As of today, I plan to continue to pet sit for two or three months of the year while I am in the US. As a retired fifty-something teacher, people see me as a trustworthy candidate to care for their homes and pets. The reality is that more people are looking for pet sitters than there are pet sitters available. I regularly receive requests, and I’m learning to be picky.

I approach my budget as a yearly number, not monthly. By spending two or three months a year pet-sitting, I have more money to spend on international travel. For example, I’m planning to splurge on a trip to the Galapagos next year.

If you are interested, the site I use is TrustedHousesitters.com. (No, I’m not getting a kickback.) There is an annual fee for sitters and homeowners to use the site. All parties receive a background check and must provide identification. The premium plan gives sitters insurance, where you will get reimbursed for up to ten nights of hotel stays if a sit is canceled (up to $150 per night). There is also on-call veterinary support.

Some people think I’m crazy to sit for free, but I prefer it. If I were to establish my own business, that would involve setting up an LLC and getting bonded and insured. Then I would be paying taxes on the minimal income that I would make. To me, it wouldn’t be worth the fuss. My nomadic life is all about keeping it simple.

Travel Timing

May 29, 2023

When planning a travel itinerary, sometimes it takes effort to guess how much time to spend in each place. At times I make adjustments, but I rarely wish I had spent less time in an area. That’s how I feel about Northern California.
It’s hard to know how many days to allot if you’ve never been to a place. I’ve visited California several times, but all but one visit was to the coast. I had always heard about the beauty of Lake Tahoe, and I knew I’d easily be able to fill a week there. That part of the itinerary was spot-on.

Snow hiking above Lake Tahoe to Eagle Lake on Mother’s Day 2023

Paddle Boarding on Lake Tahoe in May: Gorgeous!

It was the travel from Tahoe to Oregon where I short-changed myself. I had a mere afternoon to see Lassen Volcanic National Park. I could only get a little way into the southern entrance since the main road through the park was still snow-covered. I didn’t even make it to the northern entrance.

I was also in a rush at Lake Shasta and Mount Shasta. Although I did well with my limited time (one day), I would love to return and see more of the area. In fact, that day at Mount Shasta, I yearned to get a camper van. I could picture myself chilling out for a few days at one of the campgrounds there.

The main reason for my pressed itinerary was a dog-sitting gig in Bend, Oregon. I knew setting myself up with no-cost accommodations for Memorial Day weekend would be wise. And, indeed, it was a good idea. My canine companion was a sweetheart. I visited local sights like the Newberry National Monument, the Deschutes River, and the High Desert Museum.

Lava Butte at Newberry National Monument near Bend, Oregon

Benham Falls, Newberry National Monument

Obsidian Flow, Newberry National Monument

Tomorrow, I will start making my way back to Washington, my home state. More dog sitting on the agenda, and a Celebration of Life to honor my sister next Sunday.
It will be good to be “home.”

El Malpais and El Morro

April 29, 2023

Based on the title, you might think that I’m back in Spain. Nope! New Mexico. I’m on my way to visit friends in Santa Fe, which allowed me to explore some of the state.

El Malpais National Park is near Grants, New Mexico, south of Interstate 40 and just over an hour west of Albuquerque. The way to visit the park is to start at the visitor center, which is literally across the freeway from Grants.
Unlike most National Parks, the visitor center is not the grand entrance. The park is split into two sections, and the visitor center is in a sort of no man’s land in between.

To reach the eastern section, drive up to exit 89. Then you can enjoy a scenic drive with a few stops along the way. There is not much hiking in this section, so I saved it for the late afternoon.

La Ventana Arch in the east side of El Malpais

Lava Falls is a hiking area on the south end of the eastern part of the park. I found the trail markers confusing and didn’t venture far.

Sandstone Bluffs in the eastern section of El Malpais

To reach the west section of the park, drive west to exit 81. Then continue to go south, where you will have a few hiking opportunities in the park.

Based on the recommendation from the visitor center, I hiked El Calderon to a volcanic crater. It was a perfect day for hiking, sunny and in the 60s. The trail was not crowded, and the trailhead had an inviting picnic area. The hike took me by some interesting lava tubes and up around the crater.

The caves on the El Calderon trail are currently closed. Sorry. No spelunking!

The hike continues along the crater rim.

Most of El Calderon Trail looks like this.

If you hike the longer loop, you will have to go through the more challenging lava field section.

After my hike, I decided to check out El Morro National Monument. So glad I did! I still had energy, so I took the two-mile Headland Trail up on the 240-foot rock bluff. Even though it was a sunny Saturday afternoon, the trail wasn’t crowded, and I ended up on top alone. If you are an avid hiker, you can appreciate the serenity and beauty that one experiences alone in nature. And after visiting busy places like the Grand Canyon and Sedona, alone time was a treasure. There was truly an otherworldly feeling up there. And there was a bonus—an ancestral Puebloan Dwelling.

The beautiful rock bluffs of El Morro National Monument

This box canyon is only visible from the top of the bluff.

Having descended, new views of the bluff appeared. The lines were created from water flow.

After descending the bluff, the trail connects to the half-mile Inscription Trail. There are hundreds of Spanish and American inscriptions on the rocks, along with some petroglyphs.

I highly recommend both El Malpais and El Morro.

A Positive Week in Sedona

April 20-27, 2023

Living as a nomad, it is always nice to slow down a bit and relax for a while.

I had only passed through Sedona once, over twenty years ago. Returning has been on my to-do list for several years.

Sedona is a town built in what should be a National Park. Red rock is everywhere, and the hiking trails are abundant. Stunning is the best way to describe it. In the six full days I was there, I managed to hike five. And I can’t wait to return and hike some more.

There’s not much natural water in Sedona. This is Cottonwood Creek along the Baldwin Trail

In Sedona, places called vortexes are supposed to be energy centers. I hiked four of them, and I did experience some pleasant feelings at one. Perhaps I was walking too fast to get the whole experience.

In reality, the entire week was one big positive energy trip. From the moment I checked in until the day I left, I experienced positivity everywhere. During my first stop for groceries, the checker was excited about my trip and thought it was so cool that I had driven all the way from Washington State. People on the hiking trails often stopped and engaged in conversation or at least said hello and exchanged a few words. Bikers with whom I was sharing the trail were extremely polite. They often said, “Thank you,” in response to stepping aside, and they usually let me know how many were in their group. It was the most pleasant trail etiquette that I have experienced in a long time.

The week passed by quickly. I got into a routine of morning hikes and afternoon reading and relaxation, my favorite kind of travel.

The Grand Canyon: America’s Premier National Park

April 17-20, 2023
Sometimes a splurge is worth it. When it comes to the National Parks, I assess the lodging options and, at times, take the plunge and go over budget for in-park accommodations.

Last summer, I stayed in a little cabin near Yellowstone Lake Lodge. Absolutely worth it! The cabin itself was cute and clean, and I was able to maximize my time in the park.

I again splurged at the Grand Canyon. The location, Yavapai Lodge, was perfect. The room itself, though, was kind of crappy. There’s really no other way to put it. The sheets appeared clean, but I was unsure about the rest. The coffee station hadn’t been cleaned or refilled, the shower curtain had mildew, and the nonslip mat in the tub had permadirt.

I decided to remain optimistic and focus on the fabulous location. I could walk to the main grocery store and the canyon rim, and the park shuttle stops were nearby.

If you’ve never been, The Grand Canyon should be on your bucket list. One really can’t comprehend its expansiveness without seeing it in person. As Theodore Roosevelts said, it is “the one great sight…every American should see.”

Even better, a friend came up to join me for some hiking. We put in about nine miles along the Rim Trail starting from Hermit’s Rest. It was pretty much an all-day event starting with two shuttle rides. I probably wouldn’t have walked that far without company, and I’m grateful to have had the experience. We also took in Canyon Village life with dinner and live music at the Yavapai Tavern. It was one of the best days of this trip.

Enjoy the photos but know that the real thing is ten times better!

You can see the Colorado River in the center.

At some points, the Rim Trail is literally on the rim!

Female elk on the morning of my departure

Zion to Grand Canyon

April 17, 2023

I’m a National Park Nerd. I’ll admit it. I love the concept, and I love Teddy Roosevelt for making an impact on the National Parks system. They are here for us to enjoy, and I certainly do! I’ve been privileged to visit many of the parks in the western US.

I also like to find those less-famous National Monuments. A friend suggested that I stop at Pipe Spring National Monument on my way from Zion to the Grand Canyon.

Pipe Spring is worth a visit, especially if you like history. It is a Mormon pioneer site with the main building, Winsor Castle, and two cabins intact. There’s even a corral with longhorn cattle, and the spring still feeds the ponds on the site.

Interior of Winsor Castle (not really a castle)

You can also walk a half-mile trail above the buildings for spectacular views. It’s a perfect stretch-your-legs stop.

My next stop was the Glen Canyon Dam. Sorry, I didn’t take the dam tour. I had other things on my agenda. I did walk out on the bridge, though.

I wanted to tour the Lower Antelope Canyon but found the numerous ticket websites daunting. Instead of booking online, I opted to stop at the local tourist office to see if I could get in that afternoon. I was in luck, but I also had time to kill before my 2:45 tour. (I had gained an hour since Arizona does not recognize Daylight Savings Time.)

Riding the golf cart down to the marina at Antelope Point

I decided to drive to Antelope Point on Lake Powell. From the map, I could see that there was a marina and restaurant.
It was an interesting lunch stop, to say the least. We customers were shuttled down to the marina in golf carts. It wasn’t as scenic as I had anticipated, but the food was decent, and it was an experience.

I have mixed feelings about the Lower Antelope Tour. First, the rock formations are incredible. It truly is a sight to see, and if you enjoy taking photos, the results can be genuinely awesome.

What I didn’t enjoy was that it was crowded. Thirty of us left in three groups of ten to “tour” the slot canyon. It was more like a “stand and wait” than a tour. What took 75 minutes could have been a 15-minute tour. I’m not sure if there would be a better solution. They are limiting the number of people on the tours. I guess I prefer to avoid big crowds.

It was 4:15 by the time I got back to my car, and I still had an hour and a half of driving to get to the Grand Canyon. I was exhausted by the time I checked in at Yavapai Lodge. But I was at The Grand Canyon!

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