- I've lived in my Subaru Forester for over 2 years, and I've learned solid tips about the
lifestyle . - Between the cold and short days, winter can be difficult, so I follow the good weather.
I started living on the road solo in October 2019, and I've since learned many tricks of the trade. Still, there are also many valuable pieces of
Here are some important things I've learned along the way:
Organization is key when living in a small space
Whether you live on the road in a large van, an SUV, a truck, a minivan, or a sedan, your space is likely much smaller than a house or an apartment.
Although I was already living a fairly minimalist lifestyle, it's a little different now that my home is on wheels.
Everything item I own has a designated place. I've learned I must put everything back where it belongs, otherwise, things easily get lost.
Even in such a small space, it can take days for me to find things.
It's been possible to maintain a normal life and routine
Eating well, getting exercise, going to work, and hanging out with friends are things I value in my life, and it's actually been possible for me to keep up those habits on the road, along with doing my job.
There are plenty of days that I go to a library or café to work through my to-do list or sit at the laundromat to clean my sheets and clothing. I also make time to cook larger meals and save leftovers for the week.
All of this is similar to a routine I had when I lived in a house.
Every day doesn't have to be an adventure
At first, I was often torn between resting and doing something cool every day as I explored new places.
I found I could still burn myself out while living on the road, even if I was doing things I loved.
I take a rest day every once in a while, whether I sleep in, go to a café, or sit by a river and read — whatever refuels me.
As a very active person, I've learned if I don't give myself rest days, eventually, my body will I'll end up sick. So it's best to chill out every once in a while and take some time for self-care.
Living on the road can get lonely
I have so much fun living in my
I love meeting up with friends from different periods of my life, but there's still a lot of alone time. As an extrovert, I struggle with loneliness, and I've heard even introverts do, too.
Living on the road, it may take time to form a group of friends you get along with and trust. That's easiest for me when I'm hanging out in the same area for a while, but if I'm regularly moving around, it's harder to keep that same community.
Unfortunately, it's not uncommon to build great relationships with people for a week and then never see them again. It takes a while to get used to that, and those feelings are not abnormal.
Between the cold temperatures and short days, winters are the hardest
Depending on where I am, freezing cold nights, short days with less sunlight, and generally, fewer people living on the road make winter the most difficult season for this lifestyle.
Although hopping around different ski-resort mountains is awesome, I've found myself in bed around 5 p.m. because it's the only way to stay warm and the sun isn't out.
It adds to the loneliness, and it's also harder to motivate myself to do things when I wake up and it's 10 degrees outside.
That said, it's helpful to follow the good weather
When I'm not chasing snow, I head down South in the wintertime. Generally, temperatures are warmer there, and I can find more things to do.
Plus a lot of people living on the road follow the good weather, so there's a greater chance of meeting a community to hang out with.
Better weather also means fewer road closures and greater access to parks, campsites, and services.
I try to stay flexible with my plans
Weather, road closures, breakdowns, and random events always pop up while on the road, so I try to stay flexible.
I try to allow myself extra days to get to where I'm going in case a fun event comes up or the weather takes a turn for the worst.
This flexibility means I stress less and have more time to stop at spots along the way that I would've missed if I was rushing.
I keep my vehicle in good condition, plus it's been helpful to know some basic car maintenance
I try to regularly go to scheduled maintenance appointments for my car to minimize the chance of a random breakdown or serious problem.
As a
I always carry extra supplies — such as oil, jumper cables, coolant, and windshield-washer fluid — and keep my spare tire full to the proper pressure.
Charging electronics takes time
Although I regularly charge my phone while driving, that isn't helpful when my car is turned off. So I started out traveling with a small battery pack, but then that wasn't enough to charge my laptop.
That said, I've found a variety of portable batteries that have worked for my lifestyle.
Whether it's to charge electronics or power lights, a good rechargeable battery has been worth the purchase. Solar panels are also a great option for powering more devices.
I make sure to research and plan where I'll sleep ahead of time
I love visiting new places, but sometimes that comes with the added stress of finding a safe place to park for the night.
For safety reasons, I avoid truck stops and grocery-store parking lots.
I feel safer in areas where the population is low and other people are also living on the road. But I also don't like to pay for places to sleep, so I try my best to park on free public land, like in national forests or spots owned by the Bureau of Land Management.
Eventually, I downloaded some camping apps — like iOverlander — that have significantly helped me find great spots to car camp. Plus reading online blogs and talking to park rangers and visitor-center employees is a great way to learn about places to stay.
Always have an exit plan
Wherever I camp, I always orient my car in a direction that I can jump in the front seat and leave immediately if required. I also sleep with my keys, glasses, headlamp, and knife right next to me in case I need to quickly respond to something.
Although this occurrence seems unlikely, I still feel much safer as a solo woman living on the road when I'm prepared. Knowing how to react and efficiently make it out during a risky situation is valuable.
I also feel more comfortable when I research the area and talk to locals to find out if a place is safe without giving away that I'm living in my car alone.
I got insurance for the items in my car
I've insured the valuables and items I keep in my vehicle in case it's broken into, stolen, or caught on fire. This is different than car insurance.
Unfortunately, these are all very real situations that have happened to people I know, and I've found that the best option to financially recover from them is to have renters insurance for the items in your vehicle.
When setting up my policy, I made sure I was clear that I live in my car and that those are the valuables I want the insurance to cover.
Sometimes it's complicated to explain and requires talking to multiple insurance agents, but it's worth it for me. After all, my car is my home, so I want to protect it and everything inside.