Try It Out FIRST

 One of my friends says I am like a shark, always making small adjustments to face the constantly changing challenges of life on the road.

Before I began nomad life I thought I could figure out all the variables with a good design plan. 

I was wrong.

My original nomad rig*, a 23’ school bus, worked great for my wheelchair but not great for me. I made the classic mistake of investing heavily in what I thought I would need.



When I got my second rig, a Ford 350 Econoline van, I built as little as possible. When I got to Arizona, my first independent trip, a few L Camp women offered to build some basics for me.



Together we designed and built a bed, an electrical system with solar power, and a fridge/counter. 

A year later in Indiana I added lots of storage space and created a really usable toilet set up.

This set up served me well for the past 2 years.

But along the way I discovered a few big problems. 

There was no place to sit comfortably. The driver’s seat, an expensive 6 way seat (up/down, forward/back, left/right) not only went out of alignment easily but it also drained my van battery every time I parked for a few days. 

The wheelchair lift also drained the van battery.

I couldn’t use the bed as a chair because when I sit on it my feet are 3” off the ground. Plus there is no back support.

But the seating problem turned into sciatica and the battery problem often stranded me inside the van for long periods of time.

Trying to learn from past mistakes, I began to explore my options without committing too much money. 

I decided to camp in Quartzsite, Arizona, the home of the nomads, for the 2023-24 winter. Depending on when it gets below 90°, I can camp here for one low fee from Sept 15-April 15th.

Here are my main considerations for this winter.



 Tent or no Tent?

I never camped in a tent before. I don't know if I am a 'tent person'. If I love the tent, then I would focus on making the needed improvements in the van with the idea that I would have a winter and summer base with the tent. The van would just be used when transitioning from one place to the other.

If I discover I am not a tent person, I will need to have a tent home while I transition to a new rig. That always involved lots of modifications and time.

A third goal with the tent is the ability to move things around so I discover a layout that feels the best ergonomically. That will help determine exactly what kind of interior space and features I need in a new-to-me rig.


What's Working Well

Storage - Everything I own (except for a few art quilts) are in the van with me. I pared down and have places to store all of it.

Travel - I feel confident and safe on the road. I have a big network of folks who share information about weather, road conditions, and great places to camp. I know how much I can drive and hire a driver for long-distance trips.

Toileting - got a system that works for me but the urine needs frequent emptying 

Food storage - got a chest fridge that holds what I need and takes little 12 volt power

Solar - got enough power for all my needs and 3 ways to charge the batteries

Bed - found a trucker's mattress that I love

Mobility - have grab rails on both sides of the van and places to sit down everywhere. So I can move about easily and safely.


What's Not Working

Seating - I need a comfortable seat for writing and art work.

Urine tank - Right now I have to empty it frequently. I want an underbody tank so I can go a week or more before it needs to be emptied.

Driver seat - Need a seat that does not drain my battery - and - allows me to get up from it easily - and - doesn’t give me sciatica.

Lift - The original wheelchair lift I had took very little power. I am hoping to do that lift again because I believe it can run off my solar batteries.

Wider bed option as needed - I have a small single. Want to have the option of a double or queen as needed. Exploring using a massage table as an extra ‘bed’ plus I could get massages!

Shower - want to add an outdoor shower system.

Mobility - got a new folding wheelchair so it takes up less space and selling the rigid frame wheelchair. Need to get the brakes on Rosie the Red Scooter fixed.


Sooooo LOTS to do. But I love a challenge. I am so glad I found Ed who is shepherding the DIY guys as I need stuff done. Plus his partner Marie who bakes the most scrumptious Bismarcks (aka filled square donuts).



Terms:
rig: a generic term that covers any kind of vehicle (or tent) that people that people live in. So a car and a $200k fancy RV are both rigs if used as residences.

nomad: an identification noun for people who typically camp in free or very low cost places, often government land, who move with the seasons, and who focus on creating informal community support networks.







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