The solutions offered by full-time RV'ing

If you don't watch The Jimmy Dore Show, you may not have seen Christopher Ryan's interview about his new book "Civilized to Death."  But it is absolutely worth watching.  I am going to read the book.

One of the most fascinating statements he made was in response to a question about what choices he makes in response to his critique of our current way of life.  He stated he has chosen to live with "one foot in and one foot out" of the current system -  he lives in a van for half of the year!  As I just mentioned in my last post we have been full-time for almost 2.5 years. Watching Dr. Ryan helped me really clarify the solutions I have realized through full-time RV living. 

The premise of the book is anthropological.  For the vast majority of our ancestors time on Earth we lived as hunter/gatherers in groups of less than 150, each working between 10-20 hours a week doing "work" that is generally considered to describe activities we do today while on vacation (fishing, hunting, harvesting food from plants, handcrafts, woodworking, cooking, being around families).  In the modern era we have become slaves to our systems, objects, and stuff - our time is spent working to earn money to pay for and maintain our homes and other belongings.  As we gain "success" we often feel trapped by our lives and rates of depression are high.  Our cities are nothing more than zoos for humans forced to remain in one place.  Some zoos are better in that they mimic our natural habitat better than others. 

Selling our house and rentals was liberating in such a fundamental way - not only being able to live free of debt and having savings, but also living without the constant pressure and concerns about the "what if" worries (What if one of us lost a job? How long could we make payments on the house with an interruption in salary? What if we had a major unplanned expense related to one of our rentals?) These concerns weigh on the mind and use up valuable mental bandwidth that could be spent on solving problems and appreciating what one has today.  Indeed, I spend much more of my time being thankful for what I have, that all of our needs are met, that we are all healthy and that we have each other.  Certainly my mental health has improved since moving to the margins of society.

Redwood National Park, CA

Being able to explore the National Parks has connected us to the extraordinary majesty and beauty of what this Earth has to offer us as well as showing us how the traditional ancient peoples thrived in harmony with the natural resources.  Dr. Ryan points out that generations after generations lived in hunter/gatherer communities and the problems faced by one generation were not all that different from the next generation's problems.  Today my children navigate a digital world that is foreign to me and I am only 43!  We face uncertainty each day because so much is new - but when you are in the woods, walking the path, sitting by a fire, putting your feet in the stream, looking at the stars, examining the trees, watching the wildlife, and practicing being present in the moment - this is where we are most alive and when we are connected to those that came before.  We experience our connection to nature and to each other when we have the freedom to spend enough time outdoors in wild spaces. 

The question we need to all ask ourselves is "how much is enough?" What do you need to live a fulfilling life? How much does your ideal life cost?  When I really examined that question I realized I am pragmatic and not attached to any particular material standard.  I am attached to the idea of owning my own dwelling (not renting) and spending as little as possible on shelter.  I also realized that I want to experience the here and now with Husband and the kids as much as possible.  With insatiable wants comes shortage in funds.  I like to remember what Nietzche says,  "He who possesseth little is so much the less possessed. Blessed be moderate poverty." I don't find myself in a perpetual state of want.  I am content with what I have - in fact, I still think I have too much!  Full-time RV'ing forces you to constantly evaluate your material accumulation and to manage it. 

Jewel Cave National Monument, SD

Given the constant uncertainty of the future, especially in relation to climate change, I like being mobile in case there is a need to follow decent weather.  Perhaps it seems strange to say that, but I personally know one family who was displaced due to a hurricane.  Through the news I am aware of many climate migrants fleeing flooding, drought, hurricanes, and other extreme weather events across the globe.  Arizona summers are hotter each year and while there are cooler areas in the mountains, those stuck in the valley are reliant on air conditioners in order to survive the blistering heat.  With changes in weather comes changes in the range of various animals, insects and pathogens.  Let's face it, just like our hunter/gatherer ancestors we all know there are better places to be depending on the time of year.  Living in an RV allows a family to migrate, like our ancient ancestors, in search of climates that are more favorable throughout the year. 

Speaking of climate - I am ever more hopeful that one day we will be able to pull a rig with a fully electric vehicle.  This week Tesla released the Cybertruck and Ford has plans for a fully electric F150 in 2021.  Solar systems are making off-grid living increasingly comfortable.  All we need is a zero emission vehicle that can tow the rig around!  Until then we have sized our rig so as to get as many miles per gallon as possible pulling a very lightweight trailer.  With four of us living in a small space, using public transit in the city, and trying to remain (as much as possible) in climates that do not require heating/cooling we try to minimize our fossil fuel use throughout the year. 

Finally, and most importantly - we have the opportunity to raise our kids differently and thereby teach new lessons to the next generation.  While we are making it up as we go along - not having patterns from our ancestors to follow - we build our decisions on the firm ground of critique.  We have many examples of what does not work and we can trust ourselves in leading the kids towards those things that connect us to the world and each other.  Together we have explored great depths and great heights and we've grown together in our journey. 

Crystal Cave, Sequoia National Park, CA