Before nomad life, I considered myself a fairly responsible steward of the environment. I recycled, used natural products, ate mostly plant-based foods, and tried my best to conserve energy in the household.
Living out in the wild sure has deepened my relationship with nature in a big way! Mostly, what I have learned about the environment revolves around the time spent at the campsite (with my boyfriend and travel partner, Eben.) I could expand on this topic, but for this Post, I will just touch on the main lessons learned.
1. Water
I’ll never take water for granted again! It is such a precious resource. On the road, we carry a 5-gallon container, plus a few reusable water bottles to hold our water. We use the water for drinking, cooking, dishwashing and showering. That’s a lot of uses for 5 gallons!
Many times we have access to water and showers at campgrounds or even hotel stays so that helps. Finding free drinking water and keeping our container filled is always a priority, which I will discuss more in the next Post.
2. Power
Having a reliable power source is vital on the road! We charge and run all of our electronics including phones, computers, coolers, fans, lights, and heated blankets using a house battery. I have learned the importance of power conservation and keeping the battery fully charged from a variety of sources. Keeping our solar panels clean and in the sun is a full-time job!
3. Trash
Picking up after yourself while camping is a no-brainer! But, sadly, a lot of campers (and locals) leave their trash behind for others to pick up. This shocks me to no end!! I just don’t understand this behavior at all. Garbage dumpsters and trash cans are usually quite accessible in campgrounds and in towns nearby. We always pick up litter and keep a clean campsite with food stored properly (which is mandatory in bear country!)
4. Conscious Buying and Disposing
Living minimally in a compact space makes our shopping experiences quite a conscious effort! In the grocery store, we try to purchase food and products that are eco-friendly and provide little waste.
We have one set of dishes for each of us – No disposable paper or plastic products. If we do find ourselves with excess packaging including larger boxes, we either burn them if permissible or find a recycling bin or dumpster.
I have also learned that you can’t just throw your dirty dishwater on the ground! There are designated places to dispose of dirty water, the most common being pump-out stations, usually found at organized campgrounds.
5. Exposure to Elements
Being exposed to heat, cold, wind, smoke, rain, and storms is one of the consequences of living full-time in nature… and I wouldn’t change a thing! Enduring the exposure and feeling the rawness of the elements has allowed me to move through fear and become more adaptable to the environment.
Thunderstorms were a fear of mine my whole life. After going through a few strong ones this past year while hunkering down in the car, I began to trust Mother Nature like never before. I didn’t get caught up in the “what ifs” like I used to. I have learned that diverse weather conditions are all a part of the oneness of nature and knowing that helps me feel more at ease in all situations.
We are quite comfortable camping most of the time! Eben has the car decked out with gadgets (fans, heated blanket, etc..) that keep us feeling great! Most importantly, it’s all about having the freedom to travel throughout the country where weather conditions are optimal. That’s one of the best things about nomadic life!