I decided to go nomad a couple years ago. My initial idea was to do mostly one-bag international travel, but I found it too expensive and uncomfortable - especially all the hassles to do with planes and buses.

So, I turned my attention back to the road. I became a compulsive road-tripper before I even finished college, often logging 30k+ miles per year. I love the wide open spaces, the driving, and the audiobooks, but not the motels.

About 2 years ago, I picked up a 1988 Bigfoot 17' fiberglass "egg" trailer, and a 3-legged "Rez dog" from the Navajo Nation. I got delayed by real estate problems, so it took me about 1.5 years to do the 6 months of renovation/redesign my trailer needed. I started full timing in July.

I rarely use camprgounds. In my first 3 months of travel, I think is stayed in campgrounds about 6 nights total, and paid to stay maybe 3 or 4 nights. I don't see the point of owning a portable home AND paying rent.

Free camping is available in almost all National Forests, Grasslands, and BLM lands. Don't be fooled by commercial Road Atlases which only show a small portion; get recreational maps that detail the public lands. Huge portions of western states have legal free camping. Free Camping Western States book is also good for ideas, though out of date.

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