I SPENT THE PAST NINE YEARS running from unpleasant weather. It was one of the reasons I chose the nomadic life. Why suffer through extreme heat, high humidity, frequent rain, or freezing cold (heck, even a slight chill) when I could move elsewhere?
But sometimes there’s nowhere to escape — at least within a few days’ driving distance. One winter I was already in the warmest spot in the country when it got annoyingly cold. And one summer the only places not roasting under triple-digit heat were an overcrowded mile-wide strip along the Pacific Coast, and inaccessible peaks in the Rockies. In those circumstances I just toughed it out and, after a while, I acclimated. A bit. And a bit more. As a result my range of ideal weather has broadened.
It’s not just about the weather
Switching from conventional living to a nomadic existence requires adjusting ourselves in a variety of ways. Our needs, our desires, our budgets, our daily routines, our family relationship, our friends, our ways of thinking, our perception of the world…
“Be comfortable being uncomfortable. It may get tough, but it’s a small price to pay for living a dream.” – Peter McWilliams
The military says we should “embrace the suck,” that we should “consciously accept or appreciate something that is extremely unpleasant but unavoidable.”
I don’t think we need to embrace the suck or abandon our standards, but the more things we can acclimate to, then the broader our range of tolerance and the fewer things that cause us stress, anxiety or panic. We just deal with that stuff instead of freaking out. No daily hot shower? Pooping in a bucket? Not ideal but not that big of a deal anymore.
Fortunately, we humans are very adaptable creatures. It’s one reason we’ve spread all over the planet. We can deal a broad variety of suckage. If we allow ourselves.
Wise, wise words. In a world where many feel “entitled”, this is good advice.
i luv my campervan with it’s tiffany blue pooper & toilet paper holder. so many ppl telling me i shoulda gotten a van with a real bathroom & shower. I just tell them, “I bought it for me, not you.”
Amen!
Julie B, Agree 100% !!! ?
We’ll put! That’s what I tell people that pop off with that one.
Well written. Interesting perspective. And I agree with you.
Four years ago when I took to the nomad lifestyle, I had already adapted, over my lifetime, to the rigors of part time outdoor life. I discovered that what makes an adventure is one’s willingness to grow stronger by overcoming and perservering. What’s more is that I appreciate the comfortable stuff all the better because I deal with the uncomfortable. In this way, I have broadened my range of comfort.
“I bought it for me, not you.”
Best answer ever!
Hi, Bob, I love this post! It’s so true. We can be happy as much as we choose, or as unhappy. I don’t remember a winter that was too cold for The Palms, I was lucky to have solar panels and a heater, and maybe I was never IN weather that was TOO cold. I DO remember the first summer I just couldn’t out-drive the high heat. That was pretty miserable, but when I realized cooler temps were just too far away, I adapted. I have such good memories, with few exceptions, from my RVing days.
Millions, even billions, live in sweltering climates without A/C. Heat adaptation is great, with a warming planet and all. But how many live in freezing temps without heat? Very few, and the risks are high. Adaptation has its limits. High fat consumption helps keep one warm in chilly climes, but illness or unexpected moisture can lead to a life-threatening situation. The demand on the body to produce heat, even with hefty blankets, wears it down. Especially when cold lasts 16+ hours a day! We are hairless apes, not adapted to cold by nature. Thisis why I have resorted to spending winters indoors in Mexico.
I agree. But “adapting” can also mean adjusting one’s plans and expectations. “I didn’t want to relocate that far away in order to avoid extreme cold, but…”
I bought a rebuilt Toyota Prius and loved traveling around the country. I pooped usually at gas stations, rest stops etc. but when necessary I had a pail and plastic bags, a jug to pee in. I went north in the summer and south in the winter. I had everything I needed and I must say I met fine Folks at the RTR, the slabs and many other places. The point is I did it my way. My vehicle, my areas I visited , I urge all to take the plunge and enjoy.