Note: This is a guest post by Julie B. Rose.
It was July 24, 2020, my 35th birthday. My realtor called me at 9 a.m. with an offer from a couple that wanted to buy my 1,600 square foot house in Phoenix. It was the first showing of the day. Did I want to accept it?
In that moment, I had to decide: was I really leaving home ownership and stability behind? Was I really going to purge all my life’s possessions… in exchange for a life on the road, living nomadically and traveling North America with my dog – the opposite of what a single, never-been-married woman was “supposed” to be doing?
I accepted, and thus began the process of liquidating 35 years of belongings and items accumulated during 15 years of living on my own.
- I kept only the things that I could fit in my SUV that I would need for the foreseeable future on my perpetual road trip.
- I deposited a few things I didn’t have time to deal with or couldn’t sell in a closet-sized storage unit.
- And everything else — 98% of my former life — was sold, consigned, bestowed, or donated in the weeks before I started my new life.
I’ve been traveling ever since, in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, never staying in one place longer than a month. Here are some things I’ve learned in that time.
1. I had to be mindful of all my belongings; space was a luxury.
When you’re living out of an SUV, you learn real fast what you like and need, and I used even less than I thought I would.
There was clothing I never wore, or wore so infrequently, it wasn’t worth bringing with me. I wore the same three pairs of shoes all the time, despite having a dozen pairs with me for different occasions or climates. I couldn’t collect new items on a whim because I didn’t have room for boundless additions. Everything I owned was being stored, organized, and carried as I traveled from place to place, so it all had to serve a true purpose.
2. Living nomadically and traveling actually cost me less than when I lived a traditional life.
Finances is probably the #1 excuse for a lot of people who say they could never live nomadically. But in checking my records, and comparing 12 months of spending while I owned my house and 12 months of spending while I was traveling all across the U.S. staying in hotels and Airbnbs — I actually spent less traveling. And when I think about it, this makes sense — when I stayed in hotels and Airbnbs, utilities were bundled in and household items like dish soap and paper towels were included. When I was a homeowner, I was responsible for not only my mortgage, but electricity, internet, real estate taxes, household items, and maintenance and upkeep. Those costs are steep. And naturally, I bought less because I didn’t have a house to fill up.
3. I never missed the things I gave up.
Once in a while I look back at photos of my former home or where I’m wearing certain clothing and I think, “I wonder where that actually ended up!” but it’s a fleeting curiosity, not a wistfulness — and it feels like a lifetime ago. Out of sight out of mind is real, and I am much happier having given it all up than I would be paying to store it or dragging it around with me. Anyway, no decision is truly irreversible — sure, I gave up my citrus juicer, but it’s not like I can’t buy another one if I really need it (and as much as I like lemon in my hot water, the verdict is still out on whether it’s an essential purchase).
4. I truly embodied the experiences > possessions mindset.
My spending shifted in a big way. I had some incredible meals. I went hiking and sailing and wine-tasting and horseback riding. I didn’t want to collect things, I wanted to collect memories. And that meant I had to have some hard conversations with my family in advance of Christmases and birthdays where I told them: “Please don’t buy me anything. I don’t have the space nor do I want to be weighed down by anything else I did not consciously choose.” This took the wind out of the sails for some of my loved ones who really relished the act of gift-giving. My family had to get used to the new me.
5. I don’t relate to everybody, or rather, not everybody can relate to me.
On that note, some people did not understand. My pursuit of happiness looks much, much different than theirs, and it’s counter to the programming we’ve all received during our lifetimes living in a capitalist, commercialist Western nation. Some even took my journey to downsize, minimize, and to live simply and travel as a personal affront to their consumerist habits!
I’m single, and a lot of single men I meet can’t relate to me either. They are locked into the traditional life, the endless make-money-spend-money-and-collect-stuff cycle. They admire me, but they don’t want to be with me. I’m a wild card.
Still, even if I’m an anomaly, I like being a shining example to people out there — that material things, appearances, and status — do not automatically equal success and happiness. There is another path besides the one we’ve all been told to follow, and it starts with being true to yourself.
6. The material things may be gone, but I held on tight to my memories.
There were sentimental items that I tossed. There were items with meaning and history that I gave away or donated. There were things that I loved but simply had no use for or place for. But what cannot be taken from me is my memories. And the fact that the physical, tangible item is gone doesn’t mean the meaning and the memory went with it.
Summary
I cleaned out my storage unit in November 2021, and sold and gave away a lot more of what I had stored. I took a photo of the contents of that storage unit, now stacked inside my SUV, and posted it with the caption: “This is my life… my life reduced.” A follower commented, “Don’t you mean… your life maximized?”
That commenter was right. Having less has made my life bigger. Having less has allowed me to travel full-time, visit my 50th U.S. state, spend six months exploring Mexico, and late summer, I’ll travel to Eastern Europe. I may wear the same three pairs of shoes, but I have seen and lived more in two years than many people live in their lifetimes.
I am pretty detached from the material world, but closer than ever to knowing myself and living in the moment. I relish my days, which are filled with doing things that I love. I feel like I am a child again, connected to the earth, to playtime. I’m curious and I love to learn, and I am lighter, looser, freer than ever. My life is big, and I’m grateful.
***
Julie B. Rose is a full-time nomad and minimalist who travels the world with her dog Penny. She shares her experiences at juliedevivre.com, where she aims to inspire and empower positive lifestyle change. You can also find her on Youtube and Instagram.
Susan says
I love the idea of nomadism. I’m retired and living on social security.
Christa says
Unless you are independently wealthy, how do you afford/maintain that kind of lifestyle? (legit question, not sarcastic) Even without a mortgage, etc., you still have vehicle costs (gas being probably the most significant), so you still need an income of some kind. what does that look like?
Patricia says
Yes. I would also love to know how this works financially. This sounds like something I would love to experience, even for a shorter period of time. Nomad on!
Nicola Jordan says
You can see all that information on Julie’s blog. She shares it all there for her followers to see. Inspirational!
Mary says
I loved Julie Rose’s article. She sounds joyful. I consider myself a member of the minimalist nation and have much more freedom for it. I follow Josh Becker too. He’s been a big inspiration. I have two stories to share. The first is about storage units. I have a friend who once stored some furniture and memorabilia so long that she accrued $6500 in storage rent. The other thing is about container gardening on my tiny porch. The area got so crowded with plants that I was tending to them constantly. I would gaze out there and couldn’t even enjoy them for stressing over the mess and maintenance. I made several gardeners happy with those gifts. My final thought is one of my mantras: If stuff is stored in an attic, we’ve got too much stuff.
Nicola Jordan says
I share your mantra!! Its madness and I think selfish too. To have things that others could make use of! Not to mention the environmental impact of production of all rhe unused stuff!!
Kirk Peters says
As a solo explorer having left behind a couple years ago the typical “sticks and bricks” learned-life, I was immediately lured into reading this Becoming Minimalist article — and absolutely impressed with Julie’s amazing gift of “share” with regard to her life-changing journey! I look forward to learning more about her experiences, through what appears to be a plethora of channels with which she presents them. Very impressed with her and the inspirational way she has taken life by the horns and lives it on HER terms — which is what I said when I set out on a similar course. All the best to you, Julie, and to all who seek to live their fullest lives.
Janet says
Fantastic post, Julie. And I’m pretty envious of your lifestyle! ;)
My husband and I recently made a similar decision to stay in our small home so we can spend time, energy, and money on pursuits that are more important to us, including traveling. My oldest is 15 and we are trying to cram as much exploration as we can into these years before he sets off on his own.
I very much related to your comment about reflecting on your previous life with curiosity but not regret. I think this is an important distinction and can serve as a type of barometer when making decisions about what you truly value.
I even signed up for your newsletter (I guard my inbox!) because I’d love to adopt this type of lifestyle in some way or form at one stage of my life.
Lovely writing and thanks for the inspiration!
April Sumner says
Thank you for this post. I have been on the road in a 25′ fifth wheel trailer for a year and relate to just about all of what you wrote. I just haven’t really run into all of that with men, but I find that I don’t relate to most of them. Intimacy, transparency and courage have become critical to the success of any of my close relationships. What I hear when talking to men living the consumerist way is that they admire my freedom, and say they wish they could do it. When I press in further on the topic I realize that some really don’t wish for it like they say. They want to stick with their false securities, status quo and associated comforts, and are not willing to give much thought at all to anything that challenges that. They throw out limiting beliefs that block them from living the adventure rather than opening their mind and recognizing the fears that reside within them…that control them. Fears such as not having enough, uncertainty/the unknown, losing their identity, etc…
Lena says
This is awesome! I love how you addressed what is “lost” versus what is gained.
My question with van life, or SUV in this case, is always a practical one — where do you go to the bathroom? If you have some water you can wash up well enough, but how do you deal with the rest?
Bash on, Nomad, enjoy your big life!
April Sumner says
Many vans have toilets. Often times, us nomads will have a national gym membership to take showers, and there are other places to shower like campgrounds and truck stops. My best friend just used a camping shower bag secured to a tree and warmed by the sun and showered outside in her bathing suit. 🙂🙃
Jean says
What kind of health insurance do you have and what is the cost?
Do you use your parents address for taxes, passport, social security and such things?
Celia says
This was such a good article!! It’s always been a dream of mine to sell my house and live out of a renovated van, writing and traveling all over the US. Julie, God bless you for being brave enough to pave the way for other wanderers 💛✨🏕
Sibylle says
What interests me way more than what nomads own, is „what do they do all day?“
I spend so much time working in my garden or doing crafts, playing music, visiting friends… what does someone do who neither has friends around nor space for hobby stuff, books or instruments? I really cannot imagine.
Julie Rose says
Visit my Instagram or Facebook and you can see what I do all day, Sibylle! There is a great big world out there with a lot to do and see and learn. And there are billions of people in the world to befriend and speak with… nomads don’t live in a bubble with zero interaction! My main hobby is writing (although there are dozens), I listen to books on audio, and my voice is my instrument, since you asked. Open up your mind… and maybe you can imagine another lifestyle being fulfilling. :)
Sibylle says
Hey, thanks for your quick reply – I can totally imagine you having a fulfilling life, I just couldn‘t imagine what it looks like… I‘m not on any social media, so I‘ll just check your blog.
Enjoy your travels!
Laurie says
They get to meet new people and visit friends and family they might not ordinarily because they are scattered all over the states. Listening to music 🎶 on long road trips, plenty of time goes into planning a route to make sure your enjoying 70 degree weather vs 100 degree and stuck inside with AC. If your an outdoorsy person the hiking, biking or kayaking options are endless. With technology now you can do anything you want… Complete Freedom. Books, exchange or get a kindle. Digital Scrapbook vs Traditional. There are some amazing gardens to visit all over the country. Pretty cool visiting a berry farm and picking your own. Plenty of people sitting around a campground with a guitar or musical events to go to. As a nomad I can tell you first hand there is more to do traveling vs staying in one place. The hard part isn’t finding things to do, it’s working in down-time. Hope that helps. Certainly not for everyone.
Sibylle says
Hey Laurie, thanks for your long and detailed answer. I‘d sure love that lifestyle, but what‘s keeping me is really mostly my friends/family – if we’d all leave together, in a treck, I’d happily sell everything. I found that being around them, like physically meeting/touching, is my priority in life over complete independence, which sure has its own merits.
Here it shows again that Minimalism is different for everyone.
April Sumner says
As a fellow nomad, I will share that I have plenty of room for crafting materials and have 3 musical instruments with me. I do outdoor GoPro hiking videos for a living. (You can see some of my videography and photography on Instagram @april_sumner1414.) Researching routes and hikes takes up quite a bit of time too. Plus, I have a physical library on board and listen to audio books, etc…and of course create content for social media. 😉 I meet a lot of people and sometimes we travel together in caravans. There is always way more to do than I can ever fit into my day!