Exhaustion and Bliss and Broken Bits
Nomad Living; Two Months, Many Miles
New! Audio version for your listening pleasure : )
Yesterday I lived at the crossroads of Yogi Lane and Rainbow Street, someplace in Indiana, in the midst of a labyrinth city of 700 plus RVs and mobile homes.
Last night I laid my head down in Wisconsin, and this morning I'm writing at my little desk. Chirping birds delight, dew sparkle on the grass outside, towering deciduous and evergreen trees embrace all around.
We are currently on event 11 out of 25 on the two-month book tour, and I'm feeling all the feels: joy, exhaustion, satisfaction, bliss, stretched thin. I love my little home and living on the road, and I miss my home and the land in New Mexico. I'm so immensely grateful for the cocoon of the same place to lie my head each night, even while said place is in a different state each day. And I'm feeling the strain of touring while I also juggle my other commitments: being on podcasts, teaching online classes and apprenticeships, paying bills, working on our new website and offerings revamp.
It. is. a. lot. And I wouldn't change it for anything.
Today I want to share a little behind the scenes of living as a modern nomad. I don't have the brain capacity to write everything I would want to share with you, but at least I can give a little taste.
The good: having my closet, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom with me everywhere I go.
Comfy bed, familiar desk, fridge stocked with food. Getting to see how different people live, the diversity and landscapes of this country, the changing landscapes as I travel. Visiting friends, meeting new friends. Feeling free and untethered.
The bad: rattling down the road breaks shit constantly.
The careful and very detailed process to hook up and unhook each time you travel so that shit doesn't break. Constantly scouting for internet, gas, and good places to park to teach online or work.
Here is a time lapse of me packing up the truck and Airstream last week at a farm in Maryland:
Here is the process of arriving and departing:
Find level ground or use wedges under the tires, backing up and adjusting over and over again (or nailing it the first time, which is a dream. At this particular stop above I arrived at about 11 pm after hours of driving and it took me at least 20 minutes to situate Aenea and get her level so I could start the process of unhooking and setting up.)
Chock the tires (putting wedges on the front and back so the trailer doesn’t move when you unhook)
Unhook the wiring harness and safety chains
Unlock the trailer hitch to and push up to release the tongue lock that keeps ball from the truck snuggly nestled inside the hitch of the trailer. (A slightly important detail so the trailer doesn’t just jump off the truck and go free at the first bump.)
Put a board under the front jack
Double check that the emergency brake is set on the truck
Do a little dance and take some deep breaths
Press the extend button and listen to the jack lower
Watch as the jack pushes the trailer and hitch up, up, up off the ball
Wince slightly at the sound and feel of the jerk and screech of the metal ball disconnecting from the hitch and the truck bouncing free
Celebrate that the trailer did not roll away because you chocked the tires properly
Drive truck a bit away so you can adjust the trailer to level
Unlock the trailer door, unhook and fold down the metal stairs
Use your keen eye or grab your level and adjust the hitch up or down until your home is flat
Get your drill out of the car and use the special attachment your friend Franklin bought for you to lower the four stabilizing feet
If you have access to power and water unlatch the back cubby and pull out the electrical cord, 30 amp, and your white water hose and attach these two umbilical cords to the nutrients of electricity and water
Open windows and sunroof
Clean up anything that has fallen or shifted during the drive
Open up and stow the covers on stove and sink
Unpack office, altars, and bathroom stuff
Start from the end of the list and move backwards when it is time to go.
After about eight years of owning Aenea I’ve messed up pretty much all of these things at one time or another.
My first trip out with Aenea I backed into a tree; her first of many boo boos
Then there were the times I:
Left the door open and bent the screen door so it didn’t latch properly
Forgot to put fold up the metal steps so they scrapped unhappily against the road and I then had to use a screwdriver to force them open and closed every time I used them
Took too sharp of a turn while going through the toll booth at the Pennsylvania airport and jammed the trailer into a concrete pier at midnight. Took three hours for the tow truck to come, and then he just said, “well, you are going to have to just back it out there is nothing I can do.” That was an awful sound, and I still have a nice-sized gouge along the right front of the trailer.
While going 70 miles an hour I ran over a tire fragment in the road which shot out from under my tire and ricocheted into the trailer and along the side, leaving a huge dent in the stone guard and a scrape along the left side of the trailer.
Another trip I looked out my window to see one of the wrap around windows at the front of the trailer swinging free back and forth; the latch had broken and the window was flapping happily in the wind.
Oh, and then there was the time I got stuck on Manhattan Island and couldn’t find a way off, was yelled at several police officers, and finally was pointed in the right direction. And the time I drove to Long Island and discovered that parkways are a big big no no for trailers as the bridges are too low; just missed a BIG disaster on that one thanks to someone yelling at me to get off the road NOW.
When I sheeplishly brought Aenea into Airstream of Albuquerque to get her many bumps and bruises fixed, feeling bad that I have had so many mishaps, they only smiled widely at me and said: “This is how you know you are having adventures! Each mark is a memory.”
So true!
On this trip the bathroom cupboard door fell off, my unorganized fridge keeps spilling things all over the floor every time I open it, the stuff I’ve piled in the shower keeps getting bounced onto the bathroom floor. At one stop I somehow missed closing the back sunroof. Sigh.
By the time I arrived in North Carolina and discovered my the sunroof error the top had shattered and all that was left was a tiny shard.
Sarina, her hubby Mel and I spent a day talking by phone and text back and forth as Mel helped us figure out what to do to fix it. (Thanks Mel you are a champion!) Mel has much experience with refurbishing RVs, and has also booked all of our camping spots on the tour. “Well,” Mel said over the phone, “This is either a $10 fix or a $100 fix.” He then sent me a detailed message and pic of what I needed to do next.
So I got my drill out and started removing screws. I have to say using a drill makes me feel like a badass. : )
I took a picture of the broken sky roof piece and Mel started researching replacement options.
This is another bit of fun being on the road:
Getting mail.
I’ve learned to use my friend’s addresses or General Delivery to the post office, but the timing is not always successful. For example, we had the replacement for the sunroof mailed to my friend Carmen’s house in Boston. It arrived three hours after I left. More consultation with Mel and Sarina ensued. We decided to have Carmen return the sunroof box and I reordered it to General Delivery, Woodstock postoffice. I picked it up the day I left New York, and prayed it was the right size.
Yesterday Franklin, who flew from New Mexico to help drive for the long leg of the tour from Wisconsin to Arizona (hello Route 66 adventures!), installed the new skylight and fan assembly. Huzzah! He is also figuring out how to fix the broken bathroom cabinet door. Thank god for the help of skilled friends. I want to cry just thinking about it. I love traveling by myself, and am also so immensely grateful for all the help and love of my team and friends in making this crazy tour a reality. It takes a village. There is a level of vigilance and detail needed when driving with your home that is both blissful and exhausting. So it is a relief when others step into to support, fix, and share the burdens and the blessings of nomad life.
I’m going to re-organize the fridge so it stops exploding each time I open it, and yesterday we stopped so I could buy bins to organize my shower closet space. Tonight I’ll share Wild, Willing, and Wise with another group, and then have a few days of adventure with Franklin as we head towards New Mexico.
There are many miles to go, and more obstacles and opportunities ahead in the open road.
Huge thanks to my tour buddies: Laura Stack who is sharing her healing music at each stop (preorder her new album or get a t-shirt at laurastackmusic.com) and Elaine Michelle who decided to hop on the tour caravan and has been such a huge blessing at each event. YAY girl gang!
August Tour Dates
Reserve your space or get tickets at wildwillingwise.com
Saturday, August 31st: Madison WI at Helios and Luna Healing Center
September Tour Dates
September 6 - 8th: Sedona AZ Shamanism and the Divine Feminine workshop
Tuesday, September 10th: Sedona AZ at Global Center for Christ Consciousness
Thursday, September 12th: Phoenix, AZ Changing Hands Bookshop
Saturday, September 14th: Ojai CA at Magic Hour Tea House
Tuesday, September 17th: Davis CA at International House
Thursday, September 19th: Portland OR at New Renaissance
Friday, September 20th: TriCities WA at Adventures Underground
Sunday, September 22: Boise ID at Rediscovered Books
Tuesday, September 24th: Salt Lake City UT at Golden Braid Books
Thursday, September 26th: Denver CO at Tattered Cover
Friday, September 27th: Boulder CO at Boulder Bookstore
Friday, October 4th: Santa Fe NM at Unity of Santa Fe with Arc Bookstore
So much love and many blessings, HeatherAsh. So good to see you. I see your echinacea traveling with you in spirit and giving you strength!
Oh I love your adventures all of it!!! Without the bumps how would we know the bliss!!!! I thought about doing what you are doing when I resigned from the practice I was ini 2020 then Covid hit. So a I am living vicariously thru your adventures! Love you hope to see you on the Dove Mountain soon!