I recently got a question from a reader that I thought should be answered to the whole group. Here is his question:
I like the new site very much. I found the disclaimer very interesting too. What dangers are you referring to? You don’t actually mention any of them?
To get the best of life, you have to go higher…..
Disclaimer:
Everything I am suggesting in this book (and Blog) is inherently riskier than living the “normal” American life. If you follow my advice, the possibility of your being hurt or running into trouble will dramatically increase.
If you follow my advice, you are choosing a life of adventure over a life of safety, security and comfort. You are taking your life into your own hands and living life on your own terms.
I applaud you for your courage, but you must understand that you alone are responsible for the results of your choices and actions and I bear no responsibility for them at all.
Since human first stood upright, they have been climbing to the top of the mountain– where life was always better…
...but the way to the best of life is almost always dangerous and difficult–like through this glacial ruble field.
So I have traded the incredibly poisonous and toxic make-believe dangers of the concrete jungle, for the real but very unlikely dangers of nature.
It was minus -30 below zero when I took this picture in The Yukon Territory. The best things in life only come with risk and hardship.
Homer and I went for a long walk in the Canadian Rockies when we got hit by an afternoon thunderstorm. First we got clobbered by thumb-sized hail and then heavy lightening. Poor Homer was terrified!
My good friends James and Kyndal riding their bikes into Williams, AZ. While riding a bike is a wonderful way to go, it is inherently more dangerous.
- The single most dangerous thing you can do is get in your car and go for a drive; and the heart of all my advice is to travel and drive more. That alone greatly increases your risk of injury. My longest trip so far was 6000 miles from Anchorage, Alaska to Asheville, North Carolina in December where the temperatures were -30 below zero with near constant darkness, ice fog and moose, deer and buffalo on the road.
- I commonly urge you to get a motorcycle, scooter or bicycle and ride it. All I have to do is look down at the many ugly scars on my arm to know that the risk of injury on a motorcycle is very, very high. If you do what I say and what I have done, you may get some ugly scars of your own, or even worse!
- In the 6 years I was in the city I often parked overnight in areas where I would have made a tempting target to drunks, druggies, vandals and bad-guys. Even when you are in so-called “safe” areas you’re still tempting to somebody drunk or stoned out of their mind—and there is no shortage of those and they aren’t just in the “bad parts of town”!
- Everything in my van and trailer is homemade and follows no National Codes. So I have a home-made electrical and propane system based entirely on my limited knowledge of those things. That is inherently risky.
- I have had at least 4 propane fires in my campers in the last 11 years. None caused much damage or injury. But some of that was just luck. One time my dog kicked a pillow off my bed onto my heater, had I not come home right after it started, my dog would have been killed and everything I owned in the world would have burned up.
- I had one electrical fire in my Ford F150. Again, it happened while I was driving or I wouldn’t have caught it in time and I could have lost everything I own to fire; or Homer and I could have been killed.
- I have driven my 4×4 pickup with camper into some really stupid places! I’ve gone into remote back-country where the up-hills and side-hills were so steep I was terrified the whole drive of rolling all the way down to the bottom. Believe me, there was lots of praying and bargaining going on the entire time!
- I have had at least 6 direct, face-to-face encounters with black bears. Some where I thought there was a minimum 50-50 chance I would be killed. One time Homer chased a black bear out of the woods straight at me. The bear screeched to a stop not more than 15 feet from me; we looked each other right in the eye for what seemed forever (but I’m sure was just a split-second) then turned and ran into the woods. My life hung in the balance of that bears whim at that moment. Another time Homer found a black bear cub and was chasing it all over the hillside and finally up a dead tree—which promptly broke and the cub nearly landed right on top of Homer. If mama bear had shown up, Homer would have ran and brought her straight back to me. Fortunately, that didn’t happen.
- At least 5 times I have been quite close to rattlesnakes and at least once I was within easy striking distance of one.
- Dozens of times I have been within 100 feet of coyotes and numerous times within 20 feet. Homer has chased them all over and been chased back to me with coyotes hot on his heel–and then they circled us both for the rest of the trip. That was pretty unnerving!
- Once I believe we were stalked by a mountain lion. We were camped in the Sierra NF just outside the entrance to Yosemite NP and we were off for a long walk on an abandoned logging road. In the Sierras, all the walks are on the side of a hill, so I heard a twig snap on the hill above me and I stopped and looked up, and at that very moment Homer turned and ran as fast as he could all the way back to the camper. I stood there and looked up the hill and never did see anything, so I slowly backed down the road and went back to the camper where I found Homer cowering under the truck. We have encountered every predator in the forest, and none of them frighten Homer, that’s why I am convinced it was a mountain lion.
My truck on the winter drive from Anchorage to Asheville. In the north was extreme cold and in Alberta was mud, muck and rain. I had three flats on the tire to my trailer. But I look back on it as one of the best experiences of my life. I wouldn’t trade it for anything!!
Optional Reading: Check out this section I cut out of the Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/22/chronic-stress-health-risks_n_1897580.html
Short periods of tension can actually be beneficial to people, sharpening thinking and heightening physical response in situations where performance counts, such as business meetings or athletic competitions. But experts are clear that when individuals are routinely under assault—over money, health woes, a daily freeway commute, whatever—a biological system that was designed to occasionally fight or flee a predator gets markedly out of balance. “The body’s delicate feedback system starts to malfunction,” says David Spiegel, director of the Center on Stress and Health at Stanford University.
Stress has been found to play a role in so many diseases of modern life—from asthma, depression, and migraine flares to heart attacks, cancer, and diabetes—that it likely accounts for more than half of the country’s healthcare-related expenses, says George Chrousos, a distinguished visiting scientist at the National Institutes of Health. In March, Chrousos spearheaded a conference on “The Profound Impact of Stress” in Washington, D.C., to educate policymakers and the public.
This was the most dangerous trip I ever took. This was the first level place I came to so I parked the truck and walked another 3 miles in to my destination.
100 miles/month is pretty good. Breaks down to 5 miles/day, 5 days/week. Add a 50 lbs pack and that person’s in good shape.
Last night, I heard about 20 guns shots in a row. That’s Oakland, CA. I’ve never heard 20 gun shots in a row out in the Sierra NF.
Fantastic post Bob.
“The lizard brain keeps screaming at them that they have to do something to be safe. They need a job; they need money; they need something to worry about; they just have to DO SOMETHING!!”
So true! After the frenzy of decluttering and becoming a full time camper, I suddenly had so much spare time it felt wrong. Like being a guilty schoolkid. It still feels wrong when I see my friends working 9-5…
Great safety advice. Seems like you take some risks in the wilderness – I don’t travel very often so my life is extremely safe, not to mention that I live in the UK which has no really dangerous animals except I think 1 species of snake 🙂
Eric
Eric, I am a total believer in the importance of living life in cooperation with our evolutionary history. The closer we live to nature, the better our life. And if we can’t actually live in nature, there are still things we can do to tame the lizard brain.
A great book is Buddhas Brain by a neuro-scientist (Rick Hanson) who explains the mechanics of the brain and then suggests exercises to tame the lizard brain and move you from continual stress to peace and quiet. Highly recommended!
Bob
CAE, you’r right, that person would be in much better shape than I am. Although for a while I did carry about a 15 pound pack to add weight and develop strength, but my knees just won’t let me backpack anymore. In fact I gave it away as a final reminder that I have to baby my knees to make them last me the rest of my life.
I do hear a lot of gunfire in the National Forests and BLM land, but it is all legal target practice. I even do some of it myself. Or I did before I broke my arm. Haven’t shot since, I’m not at all sure I can any more.
Bob
It’s good to give people considering vandwelling, especially full time, a realistic and balanced view of what it is like so they are not caught up with it being just a romantic and carefree lifestyle. We then get to make an informed choice.
I liked seeing the HuffingtonPost.com link because I read that all the time.
Steve, you’re right, I’ve worked out all the bugs so for me it is heaven on earth. But is was NOT that way in the beginning so I want to give a balanced view.
I was actually embarrassed to put in that link because that was a fine example of true quality professional writing!! I’ve gotten fairly good at it, but that was a cut way above me! But in those two paragraph was so much information I just had to include it. Besides, everybody likes being proved right!
Bob
Excellent presentation of reality! I got so worn out from dealing with the stresses of “synthetic danger” that I had all kinds of ailments. I was initially worried about how I’d be able to keep pace with the doctor visits and prescriptions I needed when out on the road as a full-timer. Turned out that all of ’em but the damaged heart valve itself self-corrected with the relative lack of stress and new food choices I started making. It’s much easier to learn to deal with the real but short-term dangers of being in remote areas, than it is to deal with the stress caused by an ill-fitting lifestyle.
Different topic: I suspect you’re failing to appreciate just how much confidence Homer has in you – with the one exception of the mountain lion, here he is rustling up breakfast for you so many times, even driving in a bear for you to subdue and hit the grill with. He must think the world of you.
However, I take back my statement in your last post about how handy a dog would be to act as an early warning system when out for walks. I’m gravitating more toward a .45 now – most especially if I also had a dog! “No, no, boy! Drive it away! AWAY!” ; )
Very good as usual Doug. I’m going to reward you by stealing that phrase “Synthetic Danger” that is a perfect description of civilization.
I’m pretty sure (if Homer doesn’t drive to many more bears back at me) that I will live a longer healthier life because I am virtually stress free. Sounds like you will too!
Bob
Owning a house has limited the ways I can deal with various life pressures. In fact, it became another source of stress. It finally got to the point where the pros of buying a house were outweighed by the cons.
Back before I bought, people told me I was just throwing money away by renting. But I knew that if I needed to, if I wanted to, I could easily pack up and go. Maybe that rent was buying me a simpler, freer, less stressful life.
No, vandwelling isn’t going to be carefree. But at least my decisions will no longer start with, “But I’d need enough money to pay the mortgage.” Or, “But I’d need to sell the house first.”
Al, freedom is NEVER free, it always comes with a cost and it sounds like paying rent is your cost. But I wonder how many of your friends are “Underwater” now with the house value? Or lost a huge chunk of its value at least? I wonder how many of them have lost their house or were right on the edge of loosing it?
And like you said, I’m sure that at a minimum they have all been under stress because of their house. For me (and just for me) living in a van is in every possible way better than owning or living in a house.
Bob
Purchasing a home (among other things) these days is a trap to make you a debt slave. Always better to have ability to be mobile, renting or vandwelling. Remember Grapes of Wrath?
HoboHounds, Agreed 110%
Bob
I’m sure those wildlife encounters were completely terrifying but …. what great stories they make! I’ve learned to ask national park folks about their up-close and personal experiences. You usually get a story that leaves your mouth hanging open.
Regarding risk from a female perspective. I hate to say it but the biggest danger is our age-old predator, the human male. (Sorry guys, no offense, I don’t like it either).
I don’t believe we are any more vulnerable living the mobile lifestyle than we are staying in one location. However, my tip would be, if a stranger knocks on your door and you don’t see blue lights, don’t open the door.
It sounds obvious but this happened to me in the middle of the night and I was so disoriented, I opened the door. Thanks goodness is was somebody with a badge.
I’m afraid you are right Kim, 2-legged predators are your greatest risk. However I think it is pretty minimal for boondockers. I used to say that I had never heard of anything like that happenning among my female vandweller friends, but very good friend of mine thought she was in very great danger once in a remote part of a casino parking lot. She was fortunate that someone just happened to come along when she needed them mot.
But like you said the danger for a vandweler is no worse than a house-dweller and probably less. I’m convinced a boondocking female is safer than any other way you can live.
Bob
I’m glad you’re talking about this. None of the vandweller/RV blogs I’ve been reading mention any dangers at all (other than human predators) and I was starting to wonder if we’ve killed off all the bears, mountain lions, and rattlesnakes. (Btw, years ago a rattler bit me on the toe — in a shopping mall parking lot in La Jolla, CA!)
The question is, where do we learn how to be, if not safe, then at least not stupid in the wilderness?
lavonne, much to our credit, modern game management has restored most game animals (predetor and prey) to good healthy populations. In fact in some places there are too many of them!
You are one of the few people I know who has actually been bit by a rattlesnake! The odds of being killed by a rattlesnake are much less than being killed by lightening. Nearly all wilderness threats are extremely low unless you spend a lot of time in it.
I grew up with wilderness travel so I just take it for granted. Basic rules are 1) never go alone 2) Always tell someone your plans and when to expect you back. 3) Carry the “10 essentials” (google it) and basic survival stuff 4) Have a working knowledge of navigation. 5) Above everything else stay calm and collected and use that big brain god gave us. 6) Generally your best bet is to sit tight and wait for rescue unless know for sure no is coming.
I recommend Backpacker Magazine as a resource I get it on my Kindle Fire and love it. They also have a huge library of books all of them are great. And there website is a huge wealth of information.
Bob
I’m sure I’d change my mind about snakes if one ever bit me, but the few times I’ve been around snakes (that I was aware of …), they were more afraid of me than I was of them (I actually like them). That has included rattlesnakes and copperheads, as well as non-poisonous snakes. I know cottonmouths have a very aggressive attitude, but most just want to be left alone.
~Naomi
Naomi, I don’t know, my few experiences with rattlesnakes were pretty scary. I find them very frightening! You are braver than I am!
Bob
Maybe the mountain lion was actually big foot!
mcbe, I never thought of that, maybe it was!!LOL
Bob
I was something EVIL. The TAX-MAN!!
frank, I am pretty tolerant here on the blog but that kind of language and fear tactics just can’t be accepted!!!!! The T-Word must never be spoken!!
Bob
mcbe. it might very well have been!
Bob
I had a fire with my new butane stove top burner….. I felt so safe with it and lit in up inside my kid’s Rv to heat some water for cleaning. The butane can developed a leak and the whole thing suddenly caught on fire. Thank God my quick thinking daughter was close by and somehow instantly threw it outside. A couple more seconds and the Rv, me and my granddaughter would have perished.
. I’m never trusting it again…have 11 cans of butane fuel left…need to get rid of
Joy, I am very sorry to hear that! I’ve heard nothing but good things about butane stoves so that really surprises me. Of course everything is mass-produced in China so I guess it should come as no surprise that some bad ones get through.
I’m glad your daughter was so quick-witted!
bob
I agree that you need a disclaimer because this is the United States. While yours is well written in a legal sense, my experience disagrees with the idea that danger “is bound to dramatically increase.” There are plenty of dangers in living in cities and in coping with dysfunctional families (which are the most common kind). People just become accustomed to them. (All the same, the statement should probably stand as written for legal reasons.) You are right about brain biochemistry, though. We are evolved to deal effectively with weather and wildlife, not with annual reviews and homeowners’ associations. The biochemical response we experience to these constant perceived dangers gives us harm even if we get through the situations well.
As far as increased real dangers, that would make an interesting study. Many factors affect each danger. For example, I believe the statistics that bicycling in traffic is more dangerous than driving motor vehicles. All the same, I have been riding bicycles on streets and rural roads for over forty years and never collided with an automobile. I spent my early childhood largely in the woods alone and never paid a higher price than poison ivy itchiness, although I did encounter a copperhead in a hen’s nest once.
So what I believe is that (a) this disclaimer is appropriate to the legal situation and (b) realistically, van dwellers trade one set of dangers for another, possibly less severe set of dangers.
Finally, I have a favorite quote on danger. Helen Keller said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure.”
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure.
http://foothillbilly.wordpress.com/2013/06/10/settling-in-sort-of/
I think civilization thrives on fear so we are constantly fed it to keep us in line and docile. And I think it is a very successful strategy. most of us live with fear and we do what we are told.
But some of us are sick of the fear and doing what we are told.
Bob
I am a lawyer and a damn good one. The only Disclaimer you need is “I have nothing worthy of a lawsuit. Those things I have that are most precious have no monetary value. If you must, sue away. I have other, better things to do than respond. Nevertheless, if you have been injured, please accept my deepest apology as any injury to you was unintended.”
Gary, now I feel much safer!! My lizard brain is calming down even as I type!
Bob
NIce article Bob, Thanks. I kind of had to laugh at this statement though:
“we looked each other right in the eye for what seemed forever (but I’m sure was just a split-second) then turned and ran into the woods.”
My question is, was it YOU or the BEAR that ran ?????
Ken in Anaheim
I guess that wasn’t very clear, was it Ken!? yes, it was the bear that ran, had it been me, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be writing this right now.
Bob
Love it bob. A perfectly safe life would be a perfectly boring one. I’ve never felt more alive than when my safety was in question.
I am going to put my crazy hat on and 2nd the bigfoot explanation. I didn’t believe in them until I had an experience on my honeymoon in 1991 at a roadside rest in the middle of the night. Oddly enough my wife and I were in our mini van.I actually was thinking of asking you to be aware when out and about.
Stan, I am neither a believer nor a dis-believer of Big Foot. But my friends Steve is a total believer and even leads a Sasquatch resaerch team in WA state. He says that he has seen them. Who I am I to disagree!
Bob
If you would have stuck around instead of following Homer back you may have become a knower or cat nip. You probably made the right choice.
Agreed!
“But today there are no real threats in the concrete jungle we all live in! Sorry, can’t let this one go. Gangs. Rapists. Terrorists. Child Abusers. Kids who kill their school mates. Tornados. Hurricanes. Sink Holes. Floods. (natural disasters are more dangerous in populated areas) Domestic Violence. Motor accidents. Plane crashes. Home invasions. Thefts of property/persons. Kidnapping. Car Jacking. Stepping off a curb. House fires. I could go on but think I have made my point.
I’m still working on buying my tear-gas and ray-gun.
Maybe Bob can start a ZOMBI WORLD ESCAPE CLUB.
P.S. Bring your own rocket bomb, no joke your really going to need it.
Frank, Frank, Frank, no more making fun of the Zombi Apocalypse, IT IS REAL!
Bob
True, those are all real threats. But I think Bob was comparing our modern threats in city life to those experienced by nearly every other animal on earth: the very strong possibility that you may be eaten by another creature eminently. Not many ppl in cities get eaten alive.
trisha you are right, I overstate my point. However I still fundamentally disagree with you. How do you know all about those horrible things How many have you seen with your own eyes? Most of us have never experienced them directly and if we have it is through someone else.
No most of our experiences are through the media when we see it over and over again. We have all been spoon fed so much fear that we see it everywhere around us constantly when the truth is no peoples in the history of the planet are as safe as we are.
Trisha you are unbelievably safe, but you live in constant terror. I think there is something terribly wrong with that.
Bob
PS I know some of you have had horrible experiences and I am very sorry it happened to you. I don’t want you to think I am belittling them in any way. But from the cradle to the grave, the average American lives an incredibly coddled and safe life.
Great post Bob!!
Agree with Kim about males in our society,(sorry fellas) I always park so I have a quick getaway, face front end outward. Being in the outdoors my whole life I learned early to be cautious, I’ve had run-ins with snakes, agressive raccoons, turkeys and black bears – I always carry a hiking staff when walking/hiking. Might have to poke Big Foot in the eye!
My alarm system isn’t working so well, furry friend Biscotti at age 14 is losing his hearing – LOL, my hearing aids are currently in the repair shop:)
Bob, you’ve inspired me to start shopping for a bicycle and your photos are always breathtaking!!! thx. Blessings, Gretchen
I sometimes wonder if its the news media that makes people fear other people. I’ve been around 64 years and have never personally witnessed murder, robbery, rape, car jacking, etc. I think most people will die of natural causes or accidents not violence.
Yes, and no. Consider yourself fortunate.
Tom, I agree totally, we are as safe as humans can be. Are we totally, 100% safe? Of course not! Are we 10,000 times safer than we feel like we are. YES!
Bob
I’m sure it has a lot to do with where someone comes from or where they have lived if they have witnessed/experienced any of those things Tom mentioned.
HoboHounds, I’m sure that plays a large role in those few of us who have experienced actual horrible things. But that is a tiny percentage of the whole. No, a huge number of Americans tremble in their homes, terrified of every little thing because they read newspapers and watch TVs. We are the safest people in the history of planet, but we are convinced we are in the most danger. I consider that the greatest of all possible tragedies!
Bob
Who knows, maybe their fears will come true in their lifetime. This way of life can’t go on forever. It’s a matter of time before it all comes crashing down.
What were the other three propane fires caused by? I’m very curious seeing as I’m going to be installing my own propane setup sometime in the next few months.
Christine, I know how weird this sounds but I can’t remember them all, there may even have been more than four. 1) I came home from the gym and put my wet towel to hang above the OLympian heater, it fell off, landed on the heater and eventually burst into flames. 2) My dog Abby knocked a pillow off my bed onto the heater and it eventually burst into flames. 3) The crimp on a very old adapter hose going into my Coleman propane stove failed and it turned into a blow torch. 4) I can’t remember but I know there was another one having to do with the Coleman stove. My guess is it was the pipe that screws into the side of the stove leaked and turned into a blowtorch, but I can’t remember. I distinctly remember it setting something on fire behind the stove and putting it out with the fire extinguisher.
I’ve cooked at least 1700 meals in my van in the last 5 years and I use it for heat as well. When its really cold I turn it on low and just leave it on to keep it warm. I’ve done that for up to an hour at a time and more than once in an evening.
My rules for propane are:
Bob
I’ve been really enjoying camping with Bob and crew. For all the tranquility I’ve felt in both camps I’ve been to thus far, I’ve only encountered really one potentially dangerous situation. Last night, while we went on our usual hike through the forest, there was an irritated coyote who spotted us through the woods and continually barked and howled at us. Judy picked up a rock, I grabbed my dog Rochelle and put her on a leash. Bob told Homer to stay with us. Homer obeyed. I didn’t want to take any chances with Rochelle as I felt sure she would have tried to run toward the coyote. I felt only minimal fear. Walking together in a group with two other people and two dogs really made me feel much safer.
I’ve hiked alone at our latest camp site and both times I felt like I was being watched by animals. Back at our previous campsite, I felt much more at peace walking alone. I won’t leave my dog outside overnight, here, that’s for sure!
Gloria, that was a fairly unique experience, only the second time I had a coyote bark at me like that and follow us home. We were in no danger but has the dogs gone out after him, they would have been.
Bob
Like others have stated I would be more worried if I felt like I was being watched by people when walking alone in the woods. At least an animal predator only wants to eat you.
I agree totally! Other than those very few times I listed in the post, I am NEVER afraid in the back-country. But when we were at Victorville in the Mojave desert I could see cars and trucks a long ways off and of they started to come toward camp I almost always felt that gnaw of anxiety in the pit of my stomach. Nothing ever came of it, but I almost always made sure my .357 was close by.
Bob
Smart man. Good to be prepared.
HH, the boy scouts would be proud.
Bob
Due to some experiences I’ve had with irrational people I tend to be more cautious and think of individuals and especially groups of people as anything but peaceful and kind. But I hope to have better experiences once we hit the road full time and encounter more like minded people.
You misunderstood. I do not fear much of any thing.(That is called being stupid!LOL) I have lived a very event filled life and have faced many dangers. But I agree that out here we are probably safer than in cities. I feel a lot safer in my vehicle than I ever did in a sticks and bricks. My point was that there are dangers wherever you are, where ever you live. The important thing is don’t be stupid and invite trouble, whether it is man or animal. If you listen to your instincts you will probably be just fine. So anyway, I really do agree with you Bob, I just didn’t think that one sentence was accurate. Something negative may be a one in a million chance of happening, but when you or a loved one is that one in a million, suddenly it is no longer one in a million. But living is a risk and a risk worth taking, me thinks!
Right Trisha, my point was that the amount of fear most Americans live with is ridiculously disproportionate to the danger they really face. If we were to rate it on a scale of one to 10, 1 being least and 10 being most, for most people their actual danger is a 1 and their fear is a 10. they are ruining their health and their lives over nothing.
I’m not saying there is no danger, that would be obviously wrong. But to continually play it up and remind yourself and others of it is totally self-destructive.
Bob
Rob, I agree, most people face very little danger living in an RV. But we’ve got to keep the lawyers happy.
Bob
Just google “accidental deaths in the shower” and then “bear deaths” and you’ll get the idea that civilization is bad for your health, LOL.
Very, very true Gary! But the thing I am concerned about is the unbelievably horrible toll civilization has on our mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.
Bob