Unconventional Living That Gives Nature Lovers More Freedom
Nomad, Vagabonder, and Wanderers.
You may be a Nomad, Vagabonder, or Wanderer if you prefer sleeping on the Appalachian trail compared to a Tempurpedic mattress. Your money goes towards the next adventure instead of a flatscreen. And when you hear people say, “van life” and “minimalism,” you don’t think about having less but instead, having a lighter backpack as you travel the world.
Van Life
The opportunity to open your front door to a resort isn’t just possible but affordable as well. The freedom to do what you like for the day and allowing yourself to move through resorts and national parks makes this lifestyle appealing to the outdoor community.
Van life has become increasingly known and famous in the last few years. Although the VW bus is used, it has been dwarfed in popularity compared to the cargo van that made up 43% of the vans used in a 2018 survey.
In the same survey, we can also see that 42% survived on a weekly budget of $50–$100. 56% spent $101–$300 in gas, and 38% spent $0 on campsites in a month. Probably because 50% mainly slept in BLM/National forests.
Thru-hiking
Thru-hiking, if you’re wondering, is slightly different than backpacking because of the length of the trail. You will often hear the term more commonly associated with these hikes.
Appalachian Trail (AT)
One of the most popular and well-known thru-hikes, the AT is 2,190 miles and travels through fourteen states, starting in Georgia and ending in Maine.
Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)
Completed by only 8,457 by 12/26/2021, the trail is an impressive 2,650 miles and connects Canada and Mexico.
Continental Divide Trail (CDT)
3,100 miles makes this thru-hike the longest.
Even though the Appalachian trail is the shortest on this list, it still takes the average person five to seven months to hike. Essentially, your life becomes the trail.
Some hikers will go for a Triple Crown. A Triple Crown is when you hike all three of these trails, and as of 2021, only 525 people can claim a Triple Crown title.
Minimalism
Although minimalism can be described in many different ways, it generally is seen as living with what's needed more than living with what's desired.
Minimalism has many benefits; convenience is my favorite. Traveling and relocating becomes more manageable and cheaper, along with the bonus of being less stressful.
Affordability is another benefit, with some minimalists living on as little as 1,000 dollars a month. The affordable lifestyle allows people to work part-time or seasonal jobs to support their nature-loving life.
Final Thoughts
Living this way isn't for everyone. In recent years these lifestyles have been romanticized, but they require a lot of sacrifices. If you choose to try one of these, I suggest dipping your toe before diving headfirst to see if it's worth it for you.
