Making it up as we go along

I get lots of questions about my life on the road, and I thought today, since I’m at Burning Man on the ultimate vacation – which for me means I’m cut off entirely from the rest of the world; No internet; No email; Just pure heaven even if it’s likely hotter’n’hell right now – that I’d share with you a little bit about what it’s like to live on the road full-time in an RV and still manage a business and have a life. (I get lots of questions from curious folks.)

It can be tough sometimes, I must admit.

When I chose to live on the road full-time four years ago, I did it with the express intent that I would still operate my business just as I always had. It has been great fun but frankly I was not prepared for all the challenges.

I remember when we first got on the road we encountered a few problems with our RV itself — very frustrating things — and I was telling a group I belonged to about it, and someone said, “Well, it just goes to show that even when you’re living your dream that problems and challenges will still come up.”

I’ve had to remind myself of that many, many times in the last few years because I still encounter problems and challenges from time to time.

And I’m the kind of guy who likes things to run smoothly. I’m perfectly happy if I never have problems. So sometimes challenges are especially – well — challenging for me.

Probably the biggest hassle we have on the road while trying to manage my business is lousy – or complete lack of – cell service. I don’t care what those phone company advertisements lead you to believe, they do not provide coverage everywhere.

Surprisingly, the worst coverage of all for us has been in the northeast. Go figure. One of the most populous parts of the country and we keep running into crummy cell service. And if the cell isn’t working, then likely neither is our WiFi service since that is also cell-based.

For me, my business is totally online. I can’t have a store someplace since I’m constantly on the move. So I’m quite dependent on having the internet available to me when I need it.

I’m much better, however, at handling that kind of stress these days than I was four years ago. Back in the early days I’d get myself tied into a righteous knot when things didn’t go as planned. Now, I just go with the flow, and hope that everyone else involved with me will understand until I get back into an acceptable range.

The most common question I get asked is this: “What do you do about your mail?”

Thank goodness for the internet because it allows us to do everything important – like banking and bill paying – online. So actually getting our physical mail is not such a necessary thing.

In our case, though, we have it easy. Our mail goes to our son’s address in Seattle. When he gets a whole bunch of it, he bundles it all up and ships it off to us when we are in a place long enough to receive it.

Depending on where we are and what we’re doing, we get mail usually about every two weeks or so but have gone as long as six weeks without it.

For other folks living this way, they usually get their mail from a forwarding service or mailbox place, and then it gets forwarded to them when they get someplace long enough, too.

Another big challenge is figuring out time zones. I like my life best when in the Pacific time zone. So even though I was born and raised in Florida – and every single one of my family – from the youngest to the oldest – live only about a mile apart from each other in Florida – I really prefer west coast living.

I do spend a lot of time in Florida, however. I like to be with my mom and dad as much as possible especially as they age. (And I have some nieces and great nieces and great nephews that I’m pretty crazy about as well.)

I suppose my time zone challenge is probably no different than yours, really. If you have an online business, we all face that challenge. Personally, I just like getting things done early in the morning and when I’m in the west, everyone else in the country is usually already up and at it and I can deal with them early. I like that.

Most people seem to think too, that it must be expensive living on the road this way, but it really is not. We don’t spend any more on living expenses now than we did when we lived in a house. Our expenses now are just different, but not any more costly.

And I love that we “lightened our load.” Getting rid of our “stuff” was such a great thing to do. Now we are not tempted to buy souvenirs and stuff that takes up space. Except for books. Books are still a big challenge for us. The Kindle and iPad help, but we still love to read real, hold-in-your-hands books.

People will say to us that they would love to be living the life we are living and whenever I hear someone say that, I know there is a “but” coming in there somewhere.

And surprisingly (or not), the “but” is usually this: But… I can’t get rid of all my stuff. Not, I can’t afford it. Not, I have a job that prevents me from doing it. Nope. “I can’t get rid of my stuff.”

For us, that’s just about the best part!

We love not having a house to maintain somewhere – or that we have to depend on someone else to take of – and we don’t have stuff to manage, so it makes life easy-peasy, and we really love that.

We’ve had a fabulously fun summer – this summer of 2010 – and it will be one to remember for sure. It has been a bit stressful – okay, I admit it, a LOT stressful at times – trying to be a tourist, see all the sights, AND most importantly, be present at every moment – and still try to run a business.

I finally just had to put a number of projects on hold until the fall when I’ll get back to them with renewed purpose and vigor.

Or not.

I don’t know what will happen. I do know that after this week at Burning Man I’m just looking forward to slowing way down, getting back to Seattle, and regrouping. I have much in the works and I’m looking forward to sharing all of it with you.

We’re not sure what this next year will look like on the road. I do know that it is our intention to spend more time in the places we visit rather than be on the go all the time like we have been the last four years, but you know what?

It’s fun just making life up as we go along.

I’ve shared a bit of my life with you, now maybe you’ll share a bit of yours with me. I love hearing about what you’re doing. I’d be delighted with comments below or a private email to me. (Just remember, you won’t hear back from me until after I get back from Burning Man.)