Erica
@laketaketwo
1. Who are you ? How old are you ? Do you travel completely alone... if not who do you travel with?
I'm 35 years old and travel with my dog, Willow, who I adopted just before I hit the road.
2. How long have you been living full time in a Mobile-Home (camper-van, RV, etc)
I hit the road on March 10th, starting my journey in Charlotte, NC, where I've lived for the past 6.5 years.
3. What the best thing about being female and on the road?
I meet so many great people along the way, and I've especially loved some of the conversations I've had with other women. Some are traveling with their husbands, some are also traveling alone, but the general theme is always one of encouragement and pride. I say pride, because I think women encourage and celebrate each other's success in a really unique and special way. It's not about back slapping or winning, it's about taking on a challenge and overcoming obstacles that only another woman can understand.
4. Conversely what is the worst thing about being female and on the road?
There have definitely been a few people along the way that are less than respectful when they meet someone not conforming to a traditional gender role. I need to learn to brush it off, because I still get riled up about it and have had to swallow my tongue more than once.
5. How do you decide on where to stay?
Instagram has actually been an amazing resource. I follow dozens of other people - singles, couples, families, retirees - that live the full-time van/RV life, and visited some places that I'd never have gone were it not for the photos that others are generous enough to share with the world.
6. What is the most surreal places that you visited?
White Sands National Monument was one of the places that would never have made my list before Instagram, but it blew me away. It is so different than any of the surrounding landscape and pops up so suddenly on the horizon that it's hard not to find yourself driving along, eyes and mouth wide open. I also loved that unlike many national parks/monuments, it's very dog friendly.
7. What are some common items savvy travelers bring with them (that less-savvy travelers don't)/ what could you not live in a mobile-home without ?
A paper road atlas (you never know when your GPS might die in the middle of nowhere) and a Kindle. I boondocked a lot and found myself without a cell signal. Having some great - or even not so great - books to fill the quiet time are so important when you're traveling solo, especially after the sun goes down. You can only go to bed at 8pm so many times!
8. How do you get work everywhere?/ How do you have an income?
That's a great question, and one I don't have an answer to. I've been living on a combination of savings and the occasional gig on Upwork, but I will be workamping for the summer, allowing me to live basically for free for several months. Once that job ends, I'll need to find a means to make real money. I just haven't decided whether that means going back to a "real" job, finding temp work as I travel, or looking for ways to make more money online. My professional expertise is in an area that tends not to be very receptive to remote work.
9. How did your friends & family feel/ react when you told them you were going to travel full time?
Some combination of "I'm sorry, you're doing what?" and "Wow, that sounds amazing! Take me with you!" Everyone has always known me as the very risk averse, responsible, career focused woman, so taking this leap was a shock to most people.
10. What inspired you to hit the road?
I was having a bit of a professional identity crisis and felt like I needed to make a change, but didn't know what the change should be. I did know that I hadn't taken a vacation without my laptop for 6 years, and had often used work as a convenient excuse not to do things. I made good money, but I wasn't using it to live life. I was using it to buy a bunch of crap I didn't need. I figured that if I drove a nice car, had a nice place to live and a bunch of nice things, I'd be happy.
I was wrong. I kept making more money and getting more stuff and found myself fighting depression much more severe than any I'd experienced in the past. I've been pretty open about sharing my struggles with mental health. It's been a very real presence for much of my adult life. A large part of the decision to hit the road was borne of a desire to - for once - focus on what I needed to find contentment and happiness, and not live according to what the world defines as "normal" means to achieve happiness.
Is solo travel dangerous as a female?
I think it's as safe or unsafe as you make it. I'm very conscious of the fact that for better or worse, I attract a certain amount of attention as a solo female traveler. I do a lot of research before I go to a place, am always very aware of my surroundings, and always have an exit plan. When I'm in a more remote area, I typically stay hitched up for the first night so that I can make a quick exit if the vibe changes after dark. I'm also 100% willing to hop in the car and leave the trailer behind if I ever feel like I'm in a situation that I need to get out of immediately. My safety is far more important than any of the stuff that's in this little rolling box.
All that said, I have never once felt unsafe. Quite the opposite. I've met a really great community of other travelers and found that in general, they look out for each other and are always willing to help.
11. How do you get around tour companies or accommodation that try to charge you extra if you're a solo traveler?
I'm on a budget and don't tend to take tours, I have never come across a campground that charges more for a solo traveler. Frankly, if I did come across either one, it would immediately hit the trash pile. I'm a huge proponent of solo travel and think companies that penalize someone for it are making a terrible business decision and don't deserve my money.
12. How do you deal with loneliness? if you experience any at all.
Loneliness has been a bigger factor than I anticipated. I'm an only child, very independent, and have always enjoyed (and thrived from) time alone. I underestimated how often I'd be in more family/vacation oriented campgrounds or boondocking in remote areas, neither of which are particularly conducive to meeting people. As I move west, it becomes harder to talk to friends and family on the east coast, so I've had to get better about planning phone calls. I make it a point to always have a good book and some good music on hand, and am perfecting the art of cooking a really great meal in about 6 square feet. Good food and wine solves all the world's problems. :-)
Do you feel awkward doing certain activities alone? How did you adjust to this? do you have tips for women who want to branch out and travel alone.
I used to hate it and feel like everyone was watching me with pity. but then I started traveling alone a lot on business and realized that I had to get over it or be relegated to crappy takeout and the ever delightful hotel room wall art. I also realized that no one cared that I was alone except me, so I may as well get out there.
My advice is to start small. You don't have to jump right into a 10 day jaunt through Europe. Go to dinner or a museum alone in your home town. When you're in a restaurant, start off sitting at the bar instead of a table. Work up to a long weekend in a place within driving distance. Not that you're going to bail (because it'll be awesome) but you may find comfort in knowing that going home is an option. If you're afraid you'll be lonely, do a lot of research beforehand and have a list of attractions you want to see, restaurants you're dying to try, bars with great music...whatever you like to do normally. You don't have to do all of it, but having options before you go may help reduce any stress you may feel about being in a new place. Once you realize that you can make some awesome memories solo, you'll be dying to book your next trip, not dreading it.
