Travel Map & Facts

Thank you! We update it every couple of weeks.

It was not intentional that we missed Iowa and Missouri. Our plans include a visit to that area this late fall.

Frank, you are so right, we do need to spend more time in North Carolina! It has been two years since we saw each other at the Airstream Rally in Salem Oregon. Way too long! Say hi to Debbie for us. Stay safe! Jim

Tamera, we realize we messed up not planning for more time in the great northwest. We had just come down from Canada in late October and the weather was starting to get too cold for us, so we headed to a warmer area. The beauty of traveling full-time with no end date is we can always go back, and we do plan to go back to that area one of these days.

Hello Sandy! We miss Canada so much! We had intended to pop over the border this summer, but it was not to be. Thank you for reaching out. Your question about safety and security was foremost on our minds too, when we were in the preparation and planning stage. At that time we were operating on the assumption that if so many people our age were out there doing this, it must be safe. We did some online research and asked a few people we knew who were full-timing about their method of self-protection. Most people have a story or two about situations when they felt uneasy, but nothing serious happened.

Now that we’re in our fifth, year we can honestly say that we had more scary encounters when we lived in our house than in our trailer. There is no similarity between “house security” and “trailer security.” They are both very unique situations. Because a mobile unit can move you have a primary source of built-in security. Also suburban living kind of blinds one to real dangers that are lurking everywhere. When you are living mobile your senses are heightened, and sharpened. Your awareness of everything peaks when you’re on the road because you are always moving into a new neighborhood. Just like when we move into a new house in a new neighborhood, we do not presume that everyone who camps near us is the salt of the earth. We don’t have to be suspicious of everyone and everything, we just practice awareness – listen and look. We are both constantly sharing observations about where it is safe to walk, to shop and whether or not the bath houses feel safe. Does this place require a light? or is it better if we keep a low profile near the road? When we come to a new place, we stroll around together before splitting up for dog walks and personal exercise. Observe everything … is this tree safe? Will it fall in a storm? Is that dog leashed? Is our vehicle safely locked? We keep all keys close at all times. You’ll see. Your senses will develop quickly and new intelligences about living mobile and the mobile community at large will set in. Four eyes are better than two, and shared observations enhance your ability to stay safe.

As for security, nothing compares to a good watch dog with a keen sense of hearing. It’s just so comforting to get a warning BEFORE a stranger approaches the camp. Some campers in the US carry guns. But having a gun increases your chance of getting shot. Jim and I would not be living this lifestyle if we thought that gun-ownership was vital. In the event of a confrontation, a gun makes you a target by another gun-owner who might come to see what all the fracas is about – or even by the police officer if they mistake you for the intruder. And, while having a gun might make some people feel safer, advertising gun ownership is never advised since it attracts gun thieves.

A mobile-living unit has the advantage of enabling a quick exit when one perceives danger is nearby, but there is also the disadvantage of having no back door when danger is imminent. For some, a stun gun, a very loud alarm, or a container of bear spray near the door provides a sufficient sense of security against a threatening person and a quick opportunity to make a get-away. I say “sense of security” because nothing (not even a gun) is guaranteed. That’s why Jim and I have an agreement that if one of us feels unsafe in an area – day or night – upon the moment of arrival or at any time – whether in a resort or boondocking in the countryside … we instantly skedaddle if one feels unsafe.

Now, a story…

You mentioned the Butler’s tragic demise. I thought about writing a post about this, but I do not want to disturb the Butler family with anything that might come up on an internet search because my thoughts, observations and response could be taken negatively – as if I am finding fault in the poor couple’s approach. From what I understand no one really knows exactly what happened and I certainly do not claim to understand the details.

Jim and I had planned to camp on the same beach during that same summer, a bit east of the Butler’s location, and just a few weeks before the horrible event took place.

Before setting up our first-ever on-the-sand beach camp (something that thousands of campers do every year in the Padre Island area) we went to investigate as we often do – just have a look around. Whether it was because I had just read “Inside The Labyrinth” by our good friend and author Bobby DeLaughter, I do not know – but I did not like it – Beautiful as the location was – soft caramel sand, grassy dunes, flocks of exotic sea fowl, the intoxicating ocean breeze – I had a positively sickening feeling about it. Just, NO. This was not going to happen. Jim was so disappointed. He did not share my feelings at all. But, from Day 1 we kept an agreement: If one of us says, No, the answer is No. That rule applies to locations, people, events, restaurants … at any time whether it is four in the morning or midnight. We’ve kept to it and we know of two times now when it could have saved our lives.

When you are living outside, instincts sharpen. Feelings are so much more important. Sometimes it is my instincts that prevail, sometime’s it is Jim’s. We have learned to acknowledge and respect these feelings and to welcome them as gifts. And, that is our best method of security.

Thank you for asking this important and honest question. Hopefully, this answer does not scare you away. Travel would not be so amazing if it didn’t involve some risk. To us, the real tragedy would be to take no risks at all.

Now, when the Canada border opens, last one in’s a rotten egg!

Safe and Happy Travels!

LIB

Amy, glad you are enjoying our blog. This lifestyle is amazing and we love to write about it. We assume you just left Port St. Joe…. sorry we missed you. Congratulations on your purchase of a camper this year. Maybe our paths will cross again someday on the road!. Hope you do decide to enter your email address and click the follow button to receive a notification every time we publish a new blog post. Stay safe out there!

Dan, glad you found value in our travel maps and facts page. I find it fun to document and categorize our travels and expenses and am always happy to hear our experience might help other folks understand and budget their travels. Stay safe out there and happy travels! Jim

JB, so sorry to hear about your recent loss. Sounds like you had some amazing plans in place that as of yet have not materialized. At the loss of my mom and Carmen’s mom, we decided the same as you, life is too short, let’s just do it. So we did and we are!!!!! Thank you for your kind words and we are happy to hear you found these resources useful. I love numbers and statistics, so this is a fun ongoing project of mine. Your itinerary sounds fantastic! You are going to hit some great locations. We do love iPostal1 for our mail service. They have be great for us these past 5 years. Stay safe out there and we hope our paths cross some day on the road. Jim

Bob, glad you enjoyed the financial detail. You mentioned the maintenance on the truck and trailer. Much of the costs on the Airstream was optional and a choice by us, such as solar, inverters, new flooring, new axels, lift kit, new recliners, and other cosmetic improvements. As far as the truck, putting 126,000 miles on it does require maintenance and costs, that’s for sure. We are spending far less traveling full-time than we did living in our bricks and mortar house. Plus we love the adventure of this lifestyle. Right now we have no plans to ever stop doing this, unless heath gets in the way. Thanks for following Living in Beauty. Jim