Mark, Maya, and I made it safe and sound to Cartagena, Colombia, on Tuesday, November 8th. Unfortunately, with all the chaos and issues leading up to our departure, we forgot to bring our “good masks.” We did wear surgical ones from the moment we arrived at the airport.
Arrival in Cartagena with American Airlines – the last time we visited was about eleven years ago, by sailboat
Visit to the agriculture department – Maya’s international health certificate was exchanged for a temporary import permit
Taking a taxi from the airport to Manga
The taxi driver made us pay extra for “the dog.”
We had booked a relatively expensive, strategically-located Airbnb for a week in the Manga neighborhood, with the idea of walking to the old, walled city a few times and visiting with a friend who lives close by. The first two days, we got settled, bought food, sheltered from the torrential rain, acclimatized to the noisy traffic and cold showers, and researched and arranged our accommodations for the rest of the month. Then, I got sick and bed bound (and still am) with the flu. Now, we fear Mark is getting sick as well. We finally got here, but are stuck inside. We move locations again on Tuesday.
Our first Airbnb apartment is located on the ground floor.
An adequate space for a week – great location, but not in the best shape and very loud
Each time it rains, the streets flood.
We hope to get reunited with our truck camper, Thirsty Bella, the end of this month. She is supposed to be loaded on a ship this coming week.
Plunge – One Woman’s Pursuit of a Life Less Ordinary
It is my pleasure to feature my friend, fellow blogger, dedicated tech teacher, and accomplished author Jacqui Murray on Roaming About today. Jacqui is a huge supporter of indie authors, an Amazon Vine Voice Reviewer, and a Jill of many trades. Ever since I started following her blog WordDreams many years ago, I have been in awe of her writing, her research skills, her dedication and passion for the writing and teaching craft, her genre choice of prehistoric fiction, and her publishing achievements. She is a busy bee and I have often wondered if – somehow – her days are longer than 24 hours.
To support and celebrate Jacqui’s release of Natural Selection, the third and last book in her Dawn of Humanity trilogy (which is part of a grander series called Man Vs. Nature, a collection of trilogies, each dealing with a seminal point in man’s evolution when we could have–probably should have–become extinct), I invited her over to talk about the origins of “wanderlust,” a topic close to my heart. On more than one occasion, Jacqui has pointed out similarities between “her people” in the books and our unsettled lifestyle.
Did Wanderlust Drive Man to All Corners of the Earth? Science Thinks So.
GUEST ARTICLE BY JACQUI MURRAY
Few animals leave their original habitat for a new one without being forced. Sometimes, as in the case of crocodiles who have survived over 200 million years, their habitat moves so they go with it. Man is the exception. In the trilogy, Dawn of Humanity, Lucy’s tribe of early humans journeyed from the North end of Africa to the South in a hunt for better living conditions. In the Crossroads trilogy (the sequel to Dawn of Humanity), our kind migrated from the eastern shore of Asia to a frozen England (via the land bridge that once connected it to the continent).
Why?
It’s unclear. These unusual migrations transcend all theories, most revolving around the availability of food, the threat of deadly predators, the danger from domination by other human species, dramatic changes in the climate, and migration of herds. That the available facts don’t fit nicely into a clean puzzle has caused scientists to rethink what they thought they understood. One alternative theory claimed that this unforced travel was motivated by simple curiosity and boredom, what is often called wanderlust. Some scientists credit it to a variation in the human DNA (DRD4-7R) now dubbed the “wanderlust gene”. Present in about 20% of the population, it impacts dopamine levels, increasing the person’s tolerance for risk taking.
If you’d rather climb a mountain than lie on the beach or are inclined to follow whims rather than rules, you may have this gene variation.
Over time, man–from Homo habilis to Homo erectus to modern Homo sapiens–has evolved a highly adaptable culture that allowed our genus to wander over a wide range of climates and habitats. Our ancestors hunted meat in ever-expanding territories, greater than the usual twelve kilometers of Lucy’s tribe and much more than other primates. The most mobile of our genus, Homo erectus, left Africa multiple times, spread throughout the known world (predominantly Eurasia), again and then again for no particular reason. Once we conquered fire, clothing, and shelter, we found we could go anywhere.
Whatever the reason, for about 99% of human evolution, we have moved around. As a result, until about 50,000 years ago, there were many species of our genus, Homo, wandering the planet. Even today, a percentage of us is ready to move on, explore the world beyond the hill, search out greener pastures, something we are better at than any other life form.
Summary of Natural Selection
In this conclusion to Lucy’s journey, she and her tribe leave their good home to rescue former tribemembers captured by the enemy. Lucy’s tribe includes a mix of species–a Canis, a Homotherium, and different iterations of early man. In this book, more join and some die, but that is the nature of prehistoric life, where survival depends on a combination of our developing intellect and our inexhaustible will to live. Each species brings unique skills to this task. Based on true events.
Set 1.8 million years ago in Africa, Lucy and her tribe struggle against the harsh reality of a world ruled by nature, where predators stalk them and a violent new species of man threatens to destroy their world. Only by changing can they prevail. If you ever wondered how earliest man survived, but couldn’t get through the academic discussions, this book is for you. Prepare to see this violent and beautiful world in a way you never imagined.
A perfect book for fans of Jean Auel and the Gears!
Book Information:
Title and author: Natural Selection by Jacqui Murray
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular prehistoric fiction saga, Man vs. Nature, which explores seminal events in man’s evolution one trilogy at a time. She is also author of the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers and Building a Midshipman , the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. Her non-fiction includes over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, reviews as an Amazon Vine Voice, a columnist for NEA Today, and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics.
I can’t believe it’s approaching the end of October already. Soon enough, another year will have passed in the blink of an eye; a year of dedicated focus on our upcoming adventure in South America. I keep wanting to write about all the camper projects we finished the last few months, but I fail to find the time and energy. We don’t seem to get a break from fixing, researching, moving, planning, preparing, shopping, running from weather, and logistical nightmares. And before I realize it, more months have passed and nobody really knows anymore what we’ve been up to or where we are.
Melting away in 97-degree heat without any shade to park in (Llano, Texas)
Maya tries to cool off in the lukewarm Llano River
Finding trees to park under is important when it is hot out!
A nice camp spot on the beach…
…until the wind picks up, we get sandblasted, sand is stuck everywhere, and we have to move.
Hiding from some of the uncomfortable weather at a condo of friends in Galveston. Note the small difference between the day and nighttime temperatures and the high humidity.
Lots of mosquitoes to kill on stagnant, hot nights
I’ve emailed some friends and family members about our progress, I’ve alluded on social media what’s been up, but I have yet to share the details. Why? Because everything remains unclear. The details, the dates, the reservations, the plans (for this journey, we need some of those) keep changing. The lack of a schedule and the uncertainty keep us on edge, stressed, and sometimes frustrated. Here’s the scoop as we know it today.
Cargo ships move through the channel in Galveston – and are anchored out by the hundreds – constantly.
Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂
This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits.Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups and extensive care, we return to the East Coast.
A lot has been going on the last few weeks (again), which means I barely have time to breathe, let alone keep up with my diaries, answer emails, practice Spanish, read a book or blog posts, write, research products and destinations, or work on my own blogs. This one has been ten days in the making, half an hour each time I make an attempt, not my usual approach.
Quick stop to look at the Capitol of Utah in Salt Lake City
Natural arch in Utah
Summer colors in Utah
Chimney Rock in Colorado, near the ranch of our friends
The new fridge we picked up in SLC, Utah, traveled on the back seat, so Maya needed to ride up front…
Drive through Silverton on the way to a weekend of camping with friends in the mountains
It’s been busy on the road – driving huge distances, dealing with logistics to get us all to South America, returning wrong Amazon packages, fixing items that shouldn’t break, maintenance on the car, dealing with failing equipment, disappointments, and limited customer support, and keeping up with our current life – finding free camping spots, locating stores to buy specific items, picking up packages (which require an address), finding the resources we need, and hopping from store to store and campsite to campsite and fuel station to fuel station.
Climbing the dirt roads of San Juan National Forest to camp for a few days
Scenic rock in the national forest
View near our free campsite in San Juan National Forest, Colorado
I’m due for an update here on Roaming About, but first we have to find a decent (and free) location to sit for a while. This proves to be hard in the Houston area. Maybe next week. Back to our expenses of last month…
In September, Mark and I drove a lot – from the middle of Oregon through Idaho, Utah, a tiny piece of Colorado, and New Mexico to the Houston area in Texas. And then a bunch more in this state as well. With our crappy fuel economy (10.5 miles to the gallon), it is no surprise we spent $900 on gasoline to drive 2,000 miles. The idea was to sit still somewhere, once we arrived in our last US state, but the weather has not been cooperative. High heat and humidity, nasty bugs, and heavy wind have kept us moving about.
Unfortunately, we didn’t come to sightsee – it was super hot and we needed to keep moving
We wish we could have stayed longer in Colorado – which was the plan.
Our time in New Mexico was short lived
We did another oil change and bought spare parts for our engine. Our grocery expenditure was relatively low. One of the reasons for that was needing to empty our fridge, because we had to “swap it out” and staying for a few days at a decent beach without shopping for food beforehand. I really enjoy getting rid of things – whether it is by eating food or donating material belongings.
We spent ten days on one of the properties of our friends Danny and Christine in Colorado, where we parked in and used their workshop
Much easier to do camper projects under the cover of a shop and with any tool one could ask for
On the opposite end of the spectrum, we keep on buying and buying for this upcoming South America trip – mostly on Amazon. Mark and I purchased new KEEN hiking shoes (you can find Mark’s here and mine here), ZEEPORTE snorkel gear (Mark picked grey ones here and I chose blue ones here), and a new CUISINART grill (which you find here). We are still considering replacing our 5-year-old COLEMAN camping chairs before leaving.
New snorkel sets – our last pairs were left on our sailboat Irie in Tahiti, seven years ago
New shoes for us as well – Mark swapped his out, I’m keeping these as spares for now.
The advantage of this particular CUISINART grill is that the regulator is easily removed and it allows you to use the low-pressure propane from your RV tank. As always, we researched these products, checked their reviews, and bought them at a great price (at half their original price or heavily discounted), because they are Amazon warehouse deals – the perfect way to save lots of money. To see if there is a warehouse deal on the product you are interested in, click on the “New & Used” box at the right side of the purchase page. The same Amazon rules and conditions apply.
Finally we own a grill again – this has been since 2015 on Irie as well
Side note: My parents usually give us Amazon gift cards as New Year and birthday presents and I asked these in advance this year, because we won’t be able to order stuff down south. The money is to be used for “fun stuff”, not camper parts or necessary items to sustain ourselves. Yet, based on the timeline and returns and refunds for wrong parts, the categories of these might change over time. Our end-of-the-year expense report is therefore more accurate in terms of categories and amounts. The personal goods in this report are supposed to come off the gift cards, which are currently used for spare parts, car maintenance items, and household necessities as well.
Visit to Mark’s nephew Randall and his wife, Rebeccah, plus dog Duke in SLC
Adoring four little kittens at the ranch
A pack of dogs kept us company at the ranch
The alcohol and gifts (dessert goodies) last month came with us when visiting friends and family, and we paid the annual fees for one of four website domains. The total for our hosting fees is around $200 a year. I hereby want to thank everyone who has donated to this cause, so far.
This truck passed us at a 75mph and – no doubt – scratched the driver side of our camper. It was hard to catch up with him to take this photo. Luckily, the damage was negligible but we did chew through extra gas as it took twenty minutes, before we caught up!
Accommodation last month was free again, thanks to friends inviting us to camp on their property or offering a guest room and us boondocking everywhere else.
We had to climb into the mountains to camp from Utah on, as the daytime temperatures were around 100 degrees Fahrenheit
Sometimes, the dirt roads were pretty bouncy…
View through our window in the mountains of Central Utah
Bella camped with like-minded souls
One of the residents during our walk with Maya
Attractive campsite in a park when passing through New Mexico. We needed shade on our drive south, which was hard to find.
We also never paid for sightseeing – once because our friend Christine has a National Park pass; other times because the destinations and activities didn’t cost anything.
Visiting Chimney Rock with Christine and her daughter Sophie
Reading up about this kiva and other ruins at Chimney Rock National Monument in Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Quick stop in Pagosa Springs on the way south
September wasn’t a cheap month, but it brought us to Texas (prematurely, but more about that another time) and we are now biding time in the Galveston area, which is where we will ship Thirsty Bella from. Plus, we stayed under $2,000. Maybe that should become our goal, instead of the usual average of $1,300. It is certainly more realistic. For now.
My first ATV ride ever!
Louie and Maya ride in the back of a golf cart
Weekend in the Colorado mountains, near Silverton
Horse riding on the ranch of our friends, Danny and Christine
(PS: We did have $1,711 of Lance camper expenses in September as well – mostly to buy a new fridge – as preparation for our upcoming multiple-year South America trip, but since we budgeted for that, it becomes part of our purchase price. I plan to write a separate post about those projects and costs in the future.)
This post contains affiliate links to Amazon.As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchaseswithout extra cost to you.
Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.
Donate to Roaming About to help maintain this website.
Even though Mark and I have been nomads for almost twenty years and traveled in a handful of mobile tiny homes, I have never shown anyone around virtually (except when trying to sell our campers or when Skyping with my family). Yet, witnessing where and how we live provides a better understanding of our lifestyle, our passion, and our challenges.
I planned to post a video of Zesty, our amazing 19ft Sprinter Westfalia campervan, once Bob Wells (yes, of the movie Nomadland fame) – who spent two days filming us, our special van, and our lifestyle in Quartzsite, Arizona, one winter- published his features about us, but he “lost” the footage and none of this exposure (or a movie) happened. We didn’t own our previous truck camper, Temp, a Cirrus 820, long enough to focus on a tour or video.
So here it is, my first tour and full-length, non-edited video, of our current home on wheels. Bear with me these 17 minutes as I don’t find some of my words and forget to mention a bunch of features. 🙂
To that extent, I’d like to point out that our vehicle is a 2016 Ford F-350 pickup truck that is 4WD (4X4), SRW (single rear wheel, not a dually), and has a short bed and gasoline engine. Our truck camper is a Lance 830 model from 2008, which was the first year these were built.
Us and Bella in Austin, Texas
The main reasons we opted for this kind of rig are its affordability, durability, unique and roomier floorplan, and small footprint (compared to most RVs) – because of our shorter wheelbase, making U-turns and parking are easier and we tried to keep an as low as possible profile by not having an air conditioner or rack on the roof (we even cut off the top part of the ladder) and adding thin, flexible solar panels. We don’t own a generator either. Not possessing an AC unit also provides tall Mark with enough headspace inside.
As always, I happily address – and appreciate and encourage – any questions you might have in the comment section. Welcome aboard Thirsty Bella!
Curious about a previous ten-year chapter in our nomadic lives, which includes eight years aboard a 35-foot sailboat in the tropics, check out my compelling, inspiring, and refreshingly honest travel memoir:
Plunge – One Woman’s Pursuit of a Life Less Ordinary
This whole cow theme is Mark’s idea. I had nothing to do with it. But I am on board now. Our friend Ellen hit the nail on the head: “Mark is getting whimsical in his old age.” It’s not only Amazon “Delivering Smiles” around the world anymore. Yep, that’s why we Mark opted for a dotted camper, to spread joy along our travels. It worked with me – and we have seen the surprised looks on stranger’s faces turn into broad smiles. It works!
(As always, hover over or click on photos in galleries to read their captions.)
Picking up our Lance 830 truck camper in Auburn, California, in May 2022
The camper stripped of its original Lance decals – it took Mark two days to remove them all.
I will write a post about how to produce cow spots (or other adhesive vinyl creations) and attach them to a vehicle later, but here is a bit more of the inside scoop. It is meaningful to both of us that this work-in-progress (you can’t call this one an important or urgent camper improvement, of which we had many) came to completion while we were surrounded by friends, three sets of them, in three different locations.
Adding cow spots on all sides was a work in progress!
Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂
This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits.Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups and extensive care, we return to the East Coast.
In August, I finished up my visit to Belgium and stopped over in Newburyport, Massachusetts, for a week of medical check ups and time spent with my in-law family and friends. I returned to St. Helens, Oregon, on August 9th to join Mark and Maya in our Lance 830 truck camper.
(As always, hover over or click on photos in galleries to read their captions.)
Waterfront in Newburyport
Baby sitting Mark’s twin nieces
My friends Denise and Holly came to Newburyport for a visit
Approaching Portland, Oregon from Boston, Massachusetts – a bird’s eye view of Mt. Hood
Reunited with Maya
This past month, things were slowly turning normal regarding our expenses and doing a few fun things. There were still extra costs, we worked hard on our camper, and we hit the road once more. We also shared many meals with friends.
Mark removed all the Lance decals on our camper
Totally white surfaces – a new slate to work on 🙂
Trying to remove the bottom panel, which is glued on in the front. We managed to take measurements underneath to potentially add another fresh water tank
Visiting our South African friend Margie at her house boat on Hayden Island, near Portland
Clam chowder prepared by Katherine
Brandon and Katherine cooking up an amazing breakfast – this is one of the first photos I took with my new phone (which arrived at their address)
Breakfast of crab cakes, eggs, bacon, roasted tomatoes, and bread
Pizza night with Patti
After 11 weeks parked and camped on the driveway of friends (Ellen & Scott), we drove to the Oregon coast on august 18th to spend a long weekend with other friends (Katherine & Brandon, whom we met in Baja, Mexico this past winter), before settling into the house of yet another friend (Patti) for a good week in Bend, Oregon. This comfortable stay concluded a hot month of driving, working on camper projects, socializing, and sightseeing.
Our campsite at our friends’ property in Newport, OR
Mark, Brandon, and Maya – so nice to see our friends again
Lush surroundings in the backyard of our friends in Newport
Moss on the trees in the backyard
Katherine crabbing off the dock of friends
Maya was intrigued by the crabs – and loved to chase them
Berry picking nearby
Helping our friends out trimming a big tree
Grocery expenses were pretty high (blame inflation) and this is probably the first time that Maya hits the #2 position on the list. We are stocking up on medication for her. Her itch relief medicine Apoquel is super expensive at $2.25 a pill and that’s only when you buy 100 tablets at a time. We also bought a couple of Seresto collars (flea & tick medicine), because they were on sale. Each one of these lasts eight months.
Maya’s Seresto collars
We didn’t drive crazy amounts in our pickup truck Thirsty, so the $284 we spent on gasoline can be called “reasonable” in this climate of – still – high fuel prices in the Pacific Northwest. The computer category is high, because, guess what? I bought my very first SmartPhone. Yes, me, the person who didn’t want – and still doesn’t want – a phone. But, don’t get too excited about me joining the ranks of practically every other person in the western world. I don’t have a SIM card, so can only get online via a WiFi signal and I can’t make calls. This phone will replace my camera, which has been falling apart for years. That’s the idea anyway.
My new phone!
Isn’t she a beauty?
Why did I cave? My brother gave me an old iPhone8 of his and Mark discovered a deal online; we could swap this phone and receive a brand-new Google Pixel 6a phone by paying an additional $160. These phones usually cost around $450. So, I blame my husband (and my brother) for making me buy – and use – an extra gadget. Let’s hope I don’t lose/forget it or have it slip out of my hands. I’ve come close to all these scenarios already!
Because we have been staying with generous friends most of the month, “thank you” gifts were in order. And, we bought a few improvements for our household: a new set of Corelle plates and bowls ($33), an electric chainsaw to cut those pesky branches that prevent us from reaching cool campsites ($25), sturdy bags for our new Separett “composting” toilet ($27), and a non-ticking clock ($10). This last item took a lot of trial and error – and returns!
Camped for a couple of nights between St. Helens and Newport, Oregon
We left St. Helens, but that didn’t mean we relaxed. Painting separators to put between kitchenware, so it doesn’t bounce around as much.
Cleaning the cabinets and gluing non-stick on, so stuff stays put better when we drive
All that had to go back into the cabinet…
Making templates for the fun project!
I had fun with the scrap pieces of vinyl
The other categories were reasonable. The $34 we spent on propane was a waste, since the valve of our tank broke right after filling it. Therefore, it became useless and we swapped it for another, less fancy, tank, paying for propane again! I had a haircut at SuperCuts in Massachusetts. Gone are the days to get one for $20 including tip. I will stop going to hairdressers, unless it costs me $10 or less, like in Mexico.
Leaving Newport
Approaching Bend
Tumalo Falls near Bend, OR
The $27 transportation amount is also unusual. That’s what I spent for trains and buses to get to my mother-in-law’s place from Boston’s Logan airport. There used to be a direct bus to Newburyport, but this service was cancelled two years ago. Instead of one hour, it now takes about three – and much more hassle – to get to or from the airport.
A work in progress
Mark built his first wooden cabinet to fill a hole in the camper
Our accommodation – camped on the driveways of friends or moved into their guestrooms – was free and we managed to attend a few events with no cost as well, like the Toledo Wooden Boat Show.
The Wooden Boat Show in Toledo had cardboard boat races.
The little cardboard boat in front was my favorite (and it won its category!)
Beautiful wooden boat on display
Wooden sailboat with a special rig called a cat boat
Isn’t this one cute?
And the race is on!
A very determined participant…
We paid $10 to get my new glasses shipped to Colorado, after they were prescribed to me during my visit back East. And, we reserved a particular hike near Bend, but cancelled. The fee for the permit was non-refundable. Mark, Maya, Patti, her dogs Koozie and Pekoe, and I did manage to go on another stunning and special hike in the mountains, for which Patti snatched the permit. Here is a glimpse of that one…
Hike to No Name Lake and Broken Top
Maya climbing ice bergs on No Name Lake
Flowers in front of the lake
Appreciating the view
Mark, Patti, Maya, Koozie, Pekoe, and I at a spectacular viewpoint
(PS: We did have $617 of Lance camper expenses in August as well, as preparation for our upcoming multiple-year South America trip, but since we budgeted for that (so far), it becomes part of our purchase price. I plan to write a separate post about those projects and costs in the future.)
August 2022 Overview:
Groceries:
Dog (food: $42; meds: $295):
Car (fuel: $284; parts: $6):
Computer (new phone: $170; MS Office license: $7):
Health & fitness (supplements: $33; haircut: $27):
Alcohol:
Transportation (Liesbet Boston):
Drinking out:
Medical:
Entertainment (hiking permit):
Clothing:
Miscellaneous (copies):
Accommodation:
TOTAL:
$375
$337
$290
$177
$121
$117
$74
$69
$60
$31
$27
$23
$10
$3
$1
$1
$0
———
$ 1,716
Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.
Donate to Roaming About to help maintain this website.
WARNING: This is an incredibly long post, the size of a book chapter. It’s a slice of our relatively challenging lifestyle; the part where we hunted for a different camper for months and pretty much every lead failed. Only proceed if you are curious about how our current, time-consuming and not-so-straightforward camper purchase occurred.
In a previous blog, I mentioned that Mark and I bought a Cirrus 820 truck camper in Vermont last summer (2021) and that this was not our top choice. When in Baja California, Mexico, a month before we sold our Sprinter Westfalia campervanZesty, we decided to switch gears – from a van to a truck camper – and created a list of our top brands. The number one was a Northstar Arrow U. The Cirrus was our second choice.
Northstar Arrow U, seen in New Hampshire
Northstar Arrow U for sale
We had seen neither in person. On our long drive to check out the Cirrus 820, we stopped at a dealership in New Hampshire to peek into an Arrow U, which was not for sale. After this quick encounter, we were even more convinced about our preference. We liked the layout, bigger tanks, and affordability of a used one.
Then, we visited the Cirrus 820 with a private party in Vermont and – for reasons mentioned in my previous post – we decided to go ahead with that purchase. We called the camper Temp, because we would keep looking for a used Northstar Arrow U. After finally finding a heavy-duty pickup truck (in Rhode Island) and retrieving the Cirrus, we equipped both for full-time living and traveling. In mid-September 2021, we – once again – left New England for our migration west, and south, to the Baja peninsula.
Inflation hit, fuel became much more expensive, our living costs rose, and we found ourselves postponing our winter trip to Mexico with six weeks, to make extra money in Arizona. You can read about that fiasco here.
Settled at Leaf Verde RV Park, Buckeye (Phoenix area), in December 2021, we were still on the lookout for a Northstar Arrow U, which we felt would be the perfect camper to take to South America. But the prices of that model – and others – had gone up so much that older years were selling for more money than what we paid for our 2017 Cirrus 820 in the summer. This would defeat the purpose of changing over! We realized then and there that going for a much older – and therefore cheaper – camper offered more advantages.
Mark did a random search on Craigslist for truck campers, when he noticed a Lance 830, without a pop-out tent in the back. Its side entry stood out. We researched this model, which was made for five years, from 2008 until 2012. Some models came with a fold-out tent in the rear. Mark contacted the owner, who was asking $18K for this unit. High, because of the inflated “Covid prices.” The camper was sold already, within a week of posting. We had seen it too late and didn’t know enough about this model yet.
Strangely, another Lance 830 came on the market within days and it was located in Phoenix, 20 minutes down the road. This one had a hole in the side and delamination at the front. Not good. The unit was listed at $7,000. “Who would buy something in this bad of shape?” we wondered. We contacted the owner to have a look at his 830, just to get an idea of its layout and if this model would work for us. He replied the unit was sold; he hadn’t taken the listing down.
We left the US in the middle of January 2022 and spent 3.5 months in Baja, Mexico, keeping a loose eye on ads for certain truck camper models whenever we had reliable internet.
When camped in Cabo Pulmo, Mark noticed a parked Lance nearby, which had a side entrance. He took the binoculars out and deducted this was a Lance 830. We immediately walked over, but the owner wasn’t home. The next morning, we had an early start lined up to go on a day hike with our friends, Duwan and Greg. I hoped the owner was awake by eight, as he might be gone when we returned from our hike.
Lance 830 with tent, spotted in Baja.
Monte’s Lance 830 in Cabo Pulmo, Baja California Sur, Mexico
I noticed movement inside and knocked on the door. We were greeted by Monte, a friendly, welcoming man from Oregon. He invited us in for a look. We debated as we didn’t want to inconvenience him. He insisted, so we had a quick tour of his Lance 830. From then on, we were convinced this was our future camper. But, where and – more importantly – when would we find one?
Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂
This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits.Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups and extensive care, we return to the East Coast.
July was another unusual month. The first part, we both worked fulltime on camper projects in our friends Scott and Ellen’s yard, cooked most of our meals, listened to free live concerts on Thursdays, and “endured” Independence Day.
(As always, hover over or click on photos in galleries to read their captions.)
Scraping stubborn caulk/glue from an old hatch for hours, before installing it elsewhere on the roof
Serious roof projects
New shower curtain. We have decided to go with a cow theme.
On July 4th, weeklong fireworks in the neighborhood reached their peak with the town’s display. Maya was in hell. All the other weeks (ten of them!), she really loved being at our friends’ place.
Maya loved it in St. Helens and was spoiled with walks, treats, and attention
Maya cute and comfy on the porch
Town’s events on July 4th, before the fireworks started
Unhappy Maya – a dog in distress, panting and hiding behind our pillows
I joined Ellen and Scott to watch fireworks, while Mark stayed with our shivering Maya.
The second half of July, Mark and I lived apart in a reversed way than in June (he and Maya stayed in Oregon this time and I visited Belgium) and there were two super high expenses. I have to give up on my desire to stick to our $1,300 monthly average of previous years, what with living costs and fuel having risen hugely and preparations – for this camper and ourselves – regarding our upcoming multiple-year adventure in South America. And, we haven’t even gotten into the logistics of getting there yet! Luckily, our accommodation the last months has been free.
Our truck in front of Washington’s state capitol
The annual car insurance for our 2016 Ford F-350 pick-up truck was due and this took a fat chunk out of our bank account at almost $1,000. Once we leave the country towards the end of the year, we will get some of this reimbursed, just like when we drove to the Baja peninsula (Mexico) for a few months in January. In the state of Massachusetts, there are minimum insurance levels you need to have, even when not in the US, which basically comes down to liability insurance. We are researching ways to get around this useless fee.
Salad with avocado and shrimp as a quick dinner
Vegetable stir fry dinner
Free campsite in the national monument
Mark had to escape a terrible weeklong heatwave in the Portland area, since our camper does not have AC and our parking spot there was in the blazing sun. So, he drove to the property of other friends who are renovating a house along the coast of Oregon. The difference in temperature? Thirty degrees Fahrenheit (17 degrees Celsius)! While it was in the upper nineties in St. Helens, on the coast, a 2.5-hour drive west, the high was upper sixties.
Checking out this (much more expensive) Lance 830 in Tacoma, WA, hoping it would be in better shape than ours.
This Lance 830 truck camper we checked out had the fold-down tent/bed
Capitol of Washington state in Olympia
Tumwater Falls in Washington
Maya cools off by one of the smaller falls.
That trip, going to look at another Lance 830 camper in Tacoma, Washington (which we passed on), our five-day “test drive” in Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, and a couple of rides to PDX (Portland airport) back and forth is where the high fuel cost comes from. Mark also bought an OBD reader for the truck to diagnose faults and car issues. We had this for Zesty as well, which came in handy.
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument in Washington
Snowy hike with the Mount St. Helens volcano in the background
Hiking near Ape Cave in the national monument
Maya on the June Lake hike
The other high expense was for Mark’s new computer/tablet hybrid, a Surface Pro 7+. He had been on the lookout for this particular device (and returned a similar one already) for many months, patiently waiting for a deal. The $480 price includes a keyboard. A card with extra memory to improve the tablet’s performance was purchased the previous month.
Mark’s new device in tablet mode
Mark’s new device in computer mode
I renewed my Belgian passport in my parents’ town – a story in itself – which, luckily, arrived before I left again, despite our national holiday (July 21st) being smack in the middle of my two-week stay. We bought another bag of dogfood for Maya and heartworm medicine for a year. Stocking up on drugs and essentials for her will add hundreds of dollars to our expenses the coming months.
Extensive multiple-hour lunch out with my mom (front right) and her two sisters
Sandwich in Belgium – Brie cheese, smoked salmon, and lettuce
The other categories for July were quite normal. Groceries were relatively low (because my parents took good care of me in Belgium), as well as alcohol (we barely drank booze). The $7 entertainment amount went to our cave visit in the National Monument. Mark bought a $2 lottery ticket since he coincidentally found himself at a local bar with our coastal friends the day the Mega Millions pot was at an all-time high. Not that it mattered. He mistakenly bought a ticket for a different lottery. His numbers wouldn’t have made a difference either way…
Mount St. Helens before the heatwaves hit…
(PS: We did have $1,040 of Lance camper expenses in July as well, but since we budgeted for that (so far), it becomes part of our purchase price. I plan to write a separate post about those projects and costs in the future.)
July 2022 Overview:
Car (ins.: $952; fuel: $295; parts: $28):
Computer (new Surface Pro 7+ Mark):
Groceries:
Customs & Immigration (new Belgian passport Liesbet):
Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.
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“In this camper,” I would say, pointing at our most recent house on wheels.
“Where’s home?” someone else would ask.
“Wherever our camper is parked,” I would say. (Or “Wherever our boat is anchored,” in the previous decade.)
“Where are you from?” yet another would ask, undoubtedly noticing an accent.
“From here, at the moment,” I would answer. Easy does it and simple is what I like.
Our current truck camper and home
Of course, the reality is a bit more complicated. I was born and raised and worked and lived in Belgium until the summer of 2003 arrived and a plane to the US was boarded and I “never looked back.” The harsh truth of this decision on a social, emotional, relational, and roots level only dawns on others when I mention that all my longtime friends and all my family members still live in Belgium. This nomadic lifestyle is not for anyone with homesickness or tight-knit family needs.
(As always, click on or hover over photos in galleries to see their captions.)
Having lunch with my parents – the dish is a favorite of children here: mashed potatoes with meat balls and hot cherries
Sharing a drink and lots of stories with my cousin Griet
Belgian girlfriends
Lenn and Lena pose in front of the butterfly garden.
Ever since I met Mark, the end of 2004, my (second) residency address is in Newburyport, Massachusetts. While we never actually lived there other than short visits back from further afield and those two Covid springs and summers, I am extremely familiar with this town, our room above the garage, friends, acquaintances, and Mark’s family.
The waterfront in Newburyport
And then there’s our actual home. No matter in what form it comes, floating, driving, or being carried by a truck, it’s where I live fulltime and where my companions wait for me – whether this is in the United States or another country. It’s where my heart sings, what my soul craves, where my body relaxes, and where life makes sense. It’s my chosen lifestyle; it’s where I belong.
We have been perpetual nomads since 2003 – sailing, camping, RVing, house and pet sitting – and are currently roaming about South America in a truck camper with our rescue dog, Maya. As lifetime adventurers, we are self-employed and maintain a tight budget. This blog is about all that – and more – to inspire a life less ordinary. Don’t dream but do! 🙂
