Subes for life!

I happened to come across someone new to van-lifing in this Facebook post:

I am here and parked in my space. Now what? How does one enjoy things? It’s been so long since I’ve had fun, I’ve forgotten how. This all feels so anti-climactic.

Now, I know nothing about this person … just some rando on a Homes On Wheels page. But, this was their experience on Day 1. Some of the responses were actually helpful and the usual things one might suggest (reading, hiking, etc.), but then this one knucklehead posted, “If you have to ask, maybe it isn’t for you?” Hahaha, no that was not my response, but it is exactly my first thought.

As in, how disconnected from your life does one have to be in order to get that far away from our true selves and have no concept about down time?

I remember “camping” in the back yard of my parents’ house. I remember dropping the back seat in my first car (’71 VW Bug) so I could drive back and forth to Yosemite and camp there. I remember many many many epic outings in the ultimate ride, a ’73 VW bus*. Being a veteran** Subes4Lifer now, it almost seems like a natural extension of how I’ve always lived***.

For someone with no experience to one day throw a pillow in their car and drive into the woods makes no sense.

But the real shame is that someone hasn’t lived well or in balance enough to even know what to do outside. That is something which takes years of introspection and trying new things and not being afraid of failure. When something clicks, keep doing that. Drop the other stuff.

Maybe you need more than one day to make a final decision about camping in National Forests — it’s not for everyone. Maybe living in the outdoors is not a good match and you’d do better in the city. Maybe you just need a hobby.

Or, maybe being a VLer is not for you.

If you bump into me out there in the wilds, give me a Howdy-ho and feel free to ask for advice. I’m in the highly recommended camp, so my perspective is skewed.

See you on the road!

*Too many to list here. If you pour me a glass or two of whisky — pretend I’m Malcolm Crowe for a good example of proper serving size — I may regale you with stories.

**One year! Did I mention that it’s been One Year!?!?!?! One Year!! But, yes, a VW Bus is still the ultimate ride.

***In fact, one fellow VLer commented that very thing about my minimalist setup, saying, “Then camping on the road is no big deal for you. Cool!”