Life on the road: Battle of the Dream

Nelly somewhere at the foothills of the Chugach Mtns (home base), Anchorage, Alaska

I’m sure van-life / camper-life people blog for all kinds of reasons.  Personally, I like to share my experiences because it may spark inspiration in those around me to get up and do what is meaningful to them in their life, and it makes me happy to see people living true to themselves.

The reality of living in a 105 sq ft space... storage.

Living in your car or living in your house… what difference does it make?  Happiness.  That’s what it all comes down to.  What makes you happy?

Freedom? Security? Mystery? Comfort?

Chances are, if you feel like I do, you want it all… in fact, I’m pretty sure you do want it all… after all, the one guarantee in life is not death and taxes, it is “need.”

The night you & a buddy were incidentally wearing the same thing...

Now, you can attempt your best at following the ways of Buddha, making your highest purpose the lack of “need.”  Or… you can just live your own truth, do what makes you feel good in your life and immerse yourself in the passions that drive you and feed your soul.  IF you grow old, you won’t regret your path if you have listened to your heart and filled your life with meaningful experiences that matter to you and those around you.  A man once said “the greatest currency we have is the effect we have on others.”

What makes me happy is sharing meaningful experiences, adventures and passions with others. I have found living full-time on the road has lead to more opportunities to fulfill my happiness, and in turn, that happiness has passed on to those around me.  To those that are considering life on the road, whether living full-time in a van, car or camper, I encourage you to ask yourself… will this help you live your dream?  If so, then go for it!

High in the Talkeetna Mtns, sled-skiing a new zone.

You all have seen the "tiny home/living in a van/life on the road" blogs all over the internet, especially the last few years, that are saturated with posts glorifying life on the road… it’s not all glory, it’s not always clean or easy, there’s no guarantees and it's not for everyone.  You might even feel a bit discouraged when the police knock on your door and ask you to move on (which has only happened to me 4 times the last 5 years of full-timing)… but it’s not all that bad and the benefits far outweigh any moments of uncertainty.  And yes, you do wind up in amazing locations with awesome people.

Once a week all summer... a spin jam on the downtown Anchorage park strip, great place meet and practice.

As much as I want property and want to build a small cabin, I want the open road and the freedom of debt.  The cabin would represent security and comfort, but also comes with a hefty price… a debt that could prevent you from following your dreams.  On the other hand, life on the road allows you the freedom from debt to follow your dreams, but won’t provide the same level of security and comfort as owning your own property.  The question is… How can you live on the road and also have security and comfort?  My answer to that question… No one knows, it’s all about the mystery of happiness!