The following is an excerpt from a longer Cheap RV Living post from October of 2012. Bob had returned to the Lower 48 after visiting Alaska, where he had lived most of his life. But now the desert was his home.
TO ME, THERE IS SOMETHING MAGICAL ABOUT THE DESERT. At first glance you may think it is just barren and ugly, but if you slow down and spend some time in it, something strange happens: it changes you. If you will let it, you will become a different (and better) person.
The desert is patient and timeless
Our modern world is so rushed and stressed-out, we are all running around acting like chickens with our heads cut off. We are the instant, “I want it right now!” culture. Most Americans are deeply in debt because they can’t wait till they have saved some money to pay cash for something. Instead we buy it right now on credit because we can’t wait. We eat huge amounts of fast food because we can’t take the time to cook a healthy meal. We rush around the freeway at 90 mph to save 5 minutes on our trip.
The desert is very different from that. Time in the desert is not measured in hours and minutes or even weeks, it is measured in years, decades and centuries. My favorite example is the incredible wildflower bloom in some parts of the desert. The seeds for those blooms fall to the ground and wait for a year for all the conditions to be just right to sprout and ultimately bloom. But if the conditions don’t happen, if the Spring rains don’t come, the seeds just wait another year for the conditions to be just right. Then, if the Spring rains don’t come again, the seeds just wait for another, better year. Finally, one year all the conditions are just right and the desert explodes with gorgeous, brilliant colors. For a few brief weeks or months the desert is one of the most beautiful places anywhere on the planet.
If you will let it, if you will spend time in the desert and slow down and absorb it, that timelessness can get deep into your soul. I wish I were a poet and could put it into words that would express it, but I am not. I can only tell you that when Homer and I go for our walks in the morning and evening, every so often I experience moments of Timeless joy, of Stillness at the core of my being. At those moments I have a deep sense of “Everything Is Right with the World.”
When you live in the desert without a job or a schedule of any kind, you become tuned to the sun following its arc across the sky. You are not tuned into your watch; you are tuned into the sun’s location. When that happens, you are well onto your way to returning to your true nature as a human.
The Desert will give you a perspective of your size in the world
The desert is a big place. Most often there are mountains in the distance so there is a limit to how far you can see, but it is still very big. At night, when the stars come out, it is stunning to go sit outside and stare at the stars. That will give you some sense of your smallness in a huge Universe. Every morning Homer and I pick a spot in the distance and start walking toward it. After we walk for about half an hour, we turn around and head back. My trailer sits in a bit of a valley, so when I turn around, I am heading back toward my trailer and I have it in sight the whole time. What always stands out to me is that it is such a tiny, white dot in the immense desert. That also gives me a sense of perspective. That trailer has everything I own in the world in it, it is my whole world, and yet it is so tiny and insignificant. That puts my true importance into a scale I can begin to understand. All I have and do are not going to mean much in the long run. The only thing that is important is my impact on others.
I have made it my goal, that when I leave this planet, the most people possible will hear about it and say to themselves, “I’m sorry to hear he is gone, he was one of the good guys.” If that happens, then and only then, will my life have been a success.
The desert teaches me that humans are terribly fragile creatures
The desert is a place of terrible extremes. It goes from deadly, fatal extreme heat to numbing cold. It ranges from dead calm to hurricane force winds. There are many wild animals, reptiles and insects that are ready to kill humans at the blink of an eye. The desert is a humbling place. If you will learn its lessons, and take your proper place in the grand scheme of things, everything in life will start to make sense. I firmly believe you will find peace of mind.
The desert can’t be stereotyped
Modern humans fall into the trap of classifying things and then losing sight of the individuals. We think of the desert as hot, barren, empty and lifeless, and there are deserts that are like that. But there are also deserts that are just the opposite. Many deserts are full of varied vegetation, animal life and very cold in the winter. The desert around Pahrump, NV (my home base) is full of Joshua Trees, Yuccas cactus, sagebrush and wildflowers. In the spring there is even wild green grass! Almost every day that I have been there I have seen wildlife: coyotes, jackrabbits, lizards, rattlesnakes, desert tortoise, ground squirrels, and wild horses and burros. It’s a living, varied and wonderful environment. It can also be very cold. Every winter that I have been there it has snowed at least once.
So I want to encourage you all to break free from your stereotypes and come join me in the desert and see if it doesn’t change you and make you a better person. I really think you will be glad you did!
Beautifully said Bob! And excellent photos that need no words. Thank you ?
I was preparing to be a nomad once I got my social security following a 24 year teaching career. Problem is I love teaching but hated what public education has become. I found a dream position at Native American Christian Academy in N. AZ. The school provides a modest salary which I can save most of along with my social security because this amazing school provides housing, utilities, meals, laundry so my only bills are car insurance, personal gas, cell phone and my pet costs for my old dog and horse ( my mare is retired at a great barn in Idaho). All summer I am free to travel and then return to work I love during the school year. I just got back from an Idaho trip and have more planned this summer before the new school year starts. We have many open positions. Yes there is a statement of faith and this is a Christian school but if you identify as Bible believing Christian and have excellent personal and work references we have opportunities in teaching, maintenance, office work, pastors and dorm parents for boys and girls. Dorm parents can be married with children as the parent housing is a comfortable private apartment attached to the dorm. Please post this Bob. I know not everybody is a Christian- most of my family and friends are not . This school has given me so much joy and freedom I know the right person or few people they need to hear this and consider serving together with us to educate and disciple students for Christ. If you are scared and can’t take one more rent hike, the van you finally saved for needs work or the van you have been living in finally dies and strands you; for a few people this can be their miracle like it was for me. PS we have the high desert beauty here and this is now my home.
This is beautiful!
You have done so well for yourself. You have worked hard and are now reaping you just reward. Have fun Love Bangkok John.
Thanks for posting, you are in a great position to work and save your retirement from previous teaching, plus social security. For most people, full time nomad life is highly unlikely. I lived in Flagstaff and Grand Canyon most of my life, since 1965, except for mandatory military service. What you are experiencing now existed not long ago, where teachers (even in public education) had access to either free housing, or paid minimally. And some companies, such as Hershey chocolate in PA had an entire community. Many that teach in elementary and high school went into teaching first for the love of teaching; and secondly, had summers to either work, travel, or enrolled in professional development. Take care, and keep working for as long as you are able to. The young deserve the best! PS Consider taking courses from my alma mater, Northern Arizona; it has a great tradition in education.
Wow!
If my daughter, and grandchildren didn’t depend on me so much for support, I would go!
I’ll share it though.
Thanks for the suggestion about NAU. I would have written sooner but I was out on the road for a bit. I have my truck back now and getting ready to roll again. With the high gas, just headed to Walnut Canyon or Heber area for some time in the trees before next school year starts.
Ditto
Bob, you are a poet. Your writing is so beautiful it sings lovely pictures.
The following letter by a blessed teacher is also wonderful. Any lover of children (in a spiritual way) would want to be there for the opportunity to work and play for a ell balanced life.
I remember a spectacular year in the Anza Borrego desert a few years back. Nothing compares to walking in, smelling and experiencing the dazzling display of a field of desert wildflowers. Thanks for the reminder.
Beautifully said Bob. Your words remind me of why I also live in the desert, and love it.
Why do my eyes moisten when I read works such as this?
Thank You
As water is to the desert, so is time to the working man/woman. The biggest luxury in modern society, because of its rarity, is time.
Soul touching. Do not have any doubt that countless people will will testify to the goodness of your heart and the profound positive changes you have made in their lives. You have accomplished your goal so many times over already.
Because of you, Bob, I was able to experience the beautiful dessert you describe. It brought healing to a broken heart and memories for my son and I to last a lifetime. I’m only 51 so if the Lord tarries, I believe I will be back someday!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart❤️