It felt like home, starting out on the road full-time. There was zero doubt, zero hesitation. There was no consideration of first renting a van to work out the kinks, or trying to camp one time before selling everything I owned and moving right in. Plainly put, the road called and I answered.
Prior to acquiring my van, I had been online a good 28 hours a day, seeking out options for a remote lifestyle. Months of searching led me to “VANessa”, the perfect vehicle from Adventure Awaits Camper Vans based in El Paso, Texas. I got a good feeling from the first phone call. After several FaceTime walk-through tours and an endless litany of questions, I knew VANessa was for me. By the end of June I was the proud owner of a new Ram Promaster 2500, and I can say with complete certainty that it has been the correct decision for me.
(Sidenote: I changed his name to Dorian, after bodybuilding great Dorian Yates. They’re basically twins.)
I had a vision: the open road. New friends. Coffee at sunrise. Wine at sunset. Zany landmarks. Autumn campfires. Wanton flings. Mountain views. New horizons. I’ve had my share of delightful moments and made connections, both meaningful and meaningless.
However, I could not have predicted a 3-week delay when I crashed my van, for example, or the costs incurred by the repairs. Nor could I have foreseen an arrest and an unscheduled month in Evansville, Indiana to wade through the legal aftermath.
I always saw this adventure as a quest. A quest, by definition, must be long and arduous. I needed to remind myself of that along the way. The journey was never meant to be solely a collection of highs and convenience.
Doses of distress and despair have been my tuition, paid in full, in exchange for personal evolvement. I’ve encountered hurdles and setbacks. I’ve had to slay some dragons on my way to save the princess, but the princess has learned to use dragon’s fire to roast her marshmallows.
The irrefutable benefit of this lifestyle has been freedom. Freedom to live, to move, to discover, to connect, to travel, to know, to experience, to explore.
People ask if I get lonely on the road. Loneliness, to me, was sitting in the same space day after day, lizard-watching from my Florida patio, stuck with unsound thoughts, my spirit a soupy sludge. Loneliness was being still, living my days on repeat in mundane routines.
Since being on the road, I’ve met a great deal of like-minded people. My world and horizons continue to expand. I’ve made new friends and celebrated with old ones. I’ve had some wild adventures while taking the time to cherish my own company and cultivate my interests.
I’m also asked, “Do you get scared being alone?” The answer: Not yet. I’m hyper-aware that as a solo female, I’m vulnerable to certain risks.
Comfort lies in being street-smart and using common sense: park in well-lit areas with an easy escape route. Lock your doors. If you carry a weapon, know how to use it. Master the arts of androgyny and discretion. Blend in. Be prickly. Get your own back. Embrace introversion. Listen to your gut. And don’t be afraid to just turn the key and leave.
I am living. And I’m at my best when I’m unsure of my next destination: white lines before me, lessons behind me, Cookie beside me, wanderer inside me.
Hi Sarah. I had no idea you had an accident in the van. I hope you and Cookie were not hurt.
We are just fine, thankfully! Just a minor fender bender.
Wow!!!!😱👍👍hola Sarita soy rocio y Te admiro cada vez más x ser ese ser humano con ese espíritu de viajero 🚐y valiente princesa 👸🏼ala vez….con su fiel escudero😻 cookie!!! De cada experiencia extrae lo mejor Sarita y no cabe duda que tú eres cada ve más fuerte inkluso como dices usas ese fuego🐲 del dragón para asar tus malvaviscos!!!! 👍👍Se que disfrutas tu nuevo estilo de vida yo admiro mucho eso en ti sigue así ….eres y serás x siempre una gran mujer guerrera y una gran leyenda ….Sarah stock la mujer de hoy y siempre…💪😘
Mil gracias por leerlo! A pesar de los altibajos, no cambiaria nada!
Me encanta leer todos tus artículos, muy interesantes. I really enjoy all of your articles, very interesting .
I appreciate that so much! Thank you, Pepe!
Cambiar de rutina para sobrevir, siempre nos hace crecer y recorrer el camino siempre va a ser difícil al principio esquivar, piedras es parte de nuestro destino caer y saber levantar se es valido. Hay q ser felices y caminar con orgullo…
Eso si, Lois! Gracias por compartir tus pensamientos.
Un Buen relato de paz y tranquilidad, de caída y resurgimiento, y del rescate de nuestros seres amados.
vaya sarita eres toda una guerrera, tus palabras muestran la realidad de ciertas cosa de la vida.
pero los golpes nos hacen mas fuerte que nunca,
Tu Amigo
Luis
Muy cierto, Daniel! Mil gracias por leerlo y comentar con sabias palabras.
Hola Sara sigo tu trayectoria desde hace varios años primero com pancraciasta donde demostraste tus habilidades y a hora como mujer sagaz audaz y valiente…n estas sola en esta aventura yo mentamente te acompañare enviadote vibras positivas en todo momento,un abrazo y un beso mi Angel.
Mil gracias por acompañarme y por tu apoyo!
Espero te encuentres a ti misma y disfrutes todos los amaneceres, atardeceres y paisajes que te encontraras en tu camino, Bendición Sara
Pero no me he perdido! Jaja, Eso intento hacer, disfrutar casa momento.
Espero hayas encontrado lo que buscabas Sara y solo puedo decir que, que envidia tengo de cookie jajajaja
Por estar a tu lado y ver una puesta de sol, un amanecer, las estrellas y la luna por la noche, etc..
Cada paisaje que tus ojitos miran, debe ser sensacional!!!
Los humanos nos olvidamos de ver las cosas simples, pero hermosas de la vida.
P.D. todavia te extraño en el ring.
No estoy en busqueda de nada, me siento realizada poder viajar y ser creativa. Muchas gracias por Tomas el tiempo de leer, y si, es in honor poder observar la naturaleza y el Universo en todo su esplendor!