tennesseewander

Camping With a Cat! 5 Helpful Tools for Beginners

April 20, 2022June 7, 2025 by tennesseewander

So you want to travel with a cat, do ya? You’ve joined the other crazies on the feline frenzy that want to take their little cuddly companions along for the ride. Here’s five helpful tools to get you started and safely through your adventures with as much peace of mind as possible for you and your furry friend. All links are listed at the end of the article.

Disclaimer, I am not an expert. I have had a cat for the majority of my life and I am basing this information off of my own personal experience and what I have found to be the most helpful… So before we get into the catios and all of the cool products available, let’s talk about the basics….

The single most important thing you can do is harness train your cat. Start as soon as possible. The more time you can have to get your cat acclimated to the harness before a grand adventure, the better. Most cats protest at first. It can be quite a commitment and time consuming to get them on board. In reality, you are training a tiny lion. I watched a variety of YouTube videos to get a better understanding of the process. Rupert is an exceptional cat, but he was not a major fan of harnesses at first… See for yourself:

The next thing I would strongly recommend is taking your own personal safety into account when traveling with a cat. It is not safe to have your cat loose in your vehicle while driving. Something could scare them and they could zoom underneath the brake pedal causing an accident. Plus, it’s a huge distraction to have your cat jumping around in the car while in motion. I know social media can be illusive when you see adorable photos with a cat hanging out as a co-pilot or sticking their head out of the window getting their Beyoncé on, but the reality is, that it’s just not safe. Get a cat carrier to make sure you all reach your destination safely.

The 3rd tool on the list is things you already should have. Stuff like their normal food products, treats, toys, portable scratching posts, litterbox, and all the normal comforts that you think will keep your cat occupied and happy while you travel. Remember, you will most likely be in a smaller space than what you are used to, so you may have to get creative with things like the litterbox situation. Since we are on the stinky subject of the litterbox, I’ll share what works for me in such a small space. I have never seen Rupert use the bathroom outside of his litter, meaning I always have to have litter available for him. He’s such a good boy and pretty adaptive when it comes to changing it up. We’ve tried the Breeze litter system and that has been the only litter Rupert has downright refused to use. It’s a great system that is not very stinky if you can get your cat on board with using pellets instead of traditional litter. Until we can get Rupert on board, there is another litter I found more recently that had zero oder when we tested it out on the road last week. We’ve been using it for a few months and I cannot tell there’s a cat living in the house by the smell. Dr. Elsey’s is quite the crowd favorite at mi casa. The link is listed at the bottom.

Now on to the fun part! Rupert’s Catio! This thing is a life saver if you don’t mind the hassle of breaking it down and setting it back up. It’s pretty easy once you get the hang of it. Not only do you get a lot of giggles from people passing by, but it’s extremely practical as well. He loves being in his little screened-in accessory. It is a little pricey, but the dopamine provided by seeing Rupert birdwatch all around him was well worth it for me. He got spooked by a garbage truck at a campground once and could not get out of his catio, but I fear he would have slipped out of his harness and fled the scene if he wasn’t in such a sturdy enclosure. On a side note, I found an old metal roaster pan while thrifting to throw some litter in his catio so he never has to hold it. He was so excited he started rolling and laying in the litter the first time I put it in his enclosure. He’s what Phoebe from Friends wrote that smelly cat song about. We definitely LOVE it, but it is not necessary to have one to start traveling with your cat.

The last tool and equally as fun as the catio, but more of an accessory than a tool to recommend would be the cat backpack. These things are so fun! If you like hiking and you can convince your cat to be cool and get into it, then this is for you! Charlee and I absolutely love taking Rupert with us on a hike. Plus, the 11lb little bugger gives me some extra weight to tote around and keeps me in better shape. We let him out to walk here and there, but it can be quite intense managing 2 different species on a leash solo, so as we are learning and growing together, the backpack helps when things get too chaotic to handle. Rupert doesn’t mind a free ride. Haha!

There is one more product that I will be exploring for myself, but haven’t yet, and that is the Tile trackers. Rupert had one escape attempt on one of our camping trips. My heart sunk as I was chasing him down thinking, “what if he runs too fast and I lose sight of him?” So having a Tile that’s compatible with my device will be one more thing on my list before we take our next big adventure.

I hope this helps you all on your journey to getting your cat out there to explore with you! It’s been so much fun taking Rupert along and learning how to camp and travel with him. Stay safe out there! Don’t forget to check out the links below and let me know what question you have in the comments below.

My Amazon Associate links for recommended products:

1.) Cat harness: There are 2 different harness styles that I would recommend. Either is fine just so long as it’s adjusted properly for your cat: https://amzn.to/3MgZtW3 https://amzn.to/3Mn1Bvd

2.) Cat carrier: I have always preferred hard-shell carriers vs. the soft cat carriers. When you are packing everything into a tight space, it’s good to know your little guy or gal won’t have the possibility of losing real estate in their tiny carrier. It really comes down to preference here: https://amzn.to/3OpKY40

3.) Cat litter: You probably have all of the fun toys and scratching posts already, but here is the litter we had really good luck with in such a small space: https://amzn.to/3vqrH9O

4.) Cat tent (catio): This is the one I have for Rupert… It’s amazing, just a bit pricey. In search for this tent, I found another one that I could connect to his current setup to give him more space and it’s now on my wish list. I’ve included both links: https://amzn.to/3rF91SX https://amzn.to/3OCOCrB

5.) Cat backpack: We just love this silly little thing that looks like a space capsule: https://amzn.to/3L4P8MB

See y’all down the road!

A Very Personal Journey

June 17, 2021June 17, 2021 by tennesseewander

When I started my travels across the country in 2019 with my senior pup and tiny camper, I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into. All I knew is that I HAD to do this. I was being pulled towards this life with an undeniable force. I worked 3 jobs, odds and ends before landing in a great spot to build my savings to make this dream a reality. I spent a lot of time and money getting my Nashville house ready to Airbnb. It was hard getting in the mindset of sharing my home and private space with other people, but it was the only thing that made sense to help finance my travels and pay my bills while I was on the road. Just as hard as it was to share my home, it was even harder to openly share my thoughts about the transition I was going through mentally and spiritually. I did a whole internal and mental remodel. I took myself down to the studs and started the rebuilding process.

All of that time alone. Out there. Just out there, learning how to be me. Learning how to just be. How to live for the moment. How to find joy in the simplest of things. I didn’t share much, I couldn’t. It was such a private and unique journey and if I shared it at the time, it would have felt like I was exploiting the most personal parts of me and would have devalued the process. I think solo travel is something that everyone should experience whether it’s just a weekend getaway, a cross country trip, or even another country. How else do we figure out what we, as individuals, truly enjoy and who we are without the influence and pressure of others to do things that we think we might like? How do you know what YOU like and who YOU are without that influence? You don’t truly. That’s why a solo journey becomes so personal. It’s all about you in that moment. I didn’t write a lot. I just focused on me, my dog, and learning how to live this life I worked so hard for.

I practiced a lot of “Niksen” (the Dutch art of doing nothing). I learned how to stop feeling guilty for indulging in moments that lacked productivity or eating the food I wanted to without worrying about putting on a few pounds. It’s amazing though, I never gained weight while I traveled. I ate what I wanted when I wanted. I was teaching myself how to be happy and looking back, I wasn’t stress eating anymore. I also think stress holds weight on your body. On my first trip, I allowed myself 3 months to do exactly what I wanted when I wanted on my terms. If I wanted to take a picture, I did. If I wanted to write, I did. If I wanted to spend a cold day cuddled up in the camper with my sweet pup binging on Netflix on my tiny phone screen with crappy service, I did. If I wanted to go out exploring or look for a new campsite, I did. It sounds like a dream, but it was hard work. I cried a lot at the beginning, like the really ugly cries, but as my journey continued my strength and self acceptance of who I was becoming continued to grow right along with my confidence.

All of that time alone can be boring, but I never found myself wishing my time away like I did when I was stuck in a cubicle trying to force myself to live a “normal” life. Why couldn’t I just be “normal” and be happy in the great jobs that I had? It wasn’t that the jobs I had were bad, I was trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. They weren’t the right fit for me. I was miserable and didn’t even know it until I was laid off from work for the first time.

On an extremely personal note, I am a victim of sexual assault. This journey helped me realize that my attackers no longer had control over my feelings and thoughts towards myself. It wasn’t my fault. I hesitate to share this story every time because I do not want people to see me as a “victim” or pity me in any way. This is an extremely dark and vulnerable part of my journey, but it led me to here. It led me to who I am, who I’ve become, and also who I am becoming. It took a lot of work, therapy, and honesty with myself to get here. I definitely was not going to let fear from trauma stand in my way. Your attackers win whatever sick game they are playing if you allow them to control your thoughts and actions. It’s all about power and control, so taking back that power was a huge accomplishment for me. This journey helped propel me to move forward from those horrible experiences.

At the very beginning of my trip, I quickly realized that I had just jumped headfirst into the unknown. I thought I had prepared, but honestly, there really is no way to prepare, you just have to do it, live it, and experience it to fully understand it. It’s incredibly difficult to put what I was going through and the changes that were happening internally into words. But something was changing. I was becoming me, my authentic self. I will tell you, it is scary as hell to spend all of that time with just yourself (and an amazing dog). What if I didn’t like me? Being trapped alone in your thoughts with an occasional social interaction is terrifying. There were weeks that passed where the only social interaction I had was stopping at the grocery store, gas station, or taking a shower at a gym. You really find out what you’re made of and who you are.

At the end of my first 3 months of travels, there was an awakening that happened. I now know more of what I want out of this life than I ever have before. I know what I deserve, I know what I’m worth. I even kind of started to believe that I was a badass for doing this all on my own. I had help from my parents with picking up the camper before I had a hitch on my car and my dad spent an entire hot summer in the camper getting it rewired and solar installed so I could boondock. He also taught me how to drive while towing, but other than that, the rest was up to me. I now know what I’m capable of, so why stop there? I can do this over and over again until I can’t work anymore if I truly wanted to. I am sharing all of this in hopes to encourage other people to get out there!!! If it’s in your heart and you have the drive to do it, don’t wait for tomorrow, start figuring it out today! It took me just over a year to get on the road, but persistence paid off. I didn’t have to sell my home and all of my assets to live this way. If I work longer, I can save more and travel longer. There’s a balance for me and I always have a place to come home to when it’s time to give up my mobile, tiny home for a bit. There’s so many different ways to do this, you just have to find what works for you if you are interested.

I do not have any type of sponsorships for my travels. This was something I did all on my own. I figured out this formula that I can rinse and repeat and continue traveling a few months out of every year. The original goal was to travel for one year. Plans change, and not having a sponsorship and being self funded was challenging to say the least, but it led me to this formula of Airbnb-ing my home and working my ass off while I’m not traveling so that I can have a 2-3 month sabbatical almost every year. I think when people see what I’m doing, they assume that I have a lot of money or a sponsorship, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I am just an average human with average knowledge, but I have the drive and the passion to turn my dreams into reality, and you can, too.

And hell yeah, there were times I was scared. What solo traveling female wouldn’t be? There are times where you feel so isolated and so alone. What if my car broke down? Or what if I had a scary encounter with another human? What if I got attacked by a mountain lion? What if I got stranded without water? All of these crazy questions become paralyzing. You can what if yourself to death and if you give in to the fear, that leaves you with no stories to tell. Pushing through that fear is one of my greatest accomplishments. I’ve had some bad things happen, but I always figured it out. Now I ask the question, what if I didn’t? What would my life look like? I’d be stuck in life, always dreaming and wondering what this life I’ve dreamt about for so long would look like, and now I know. I can’t wait to get back out there!

How I Set Up My Travels

July 24, 2020July 24, 2020 by tennesseewander

Traveling is a privilege and a luxury. Some of us have more travel opportunities than others and some of us have to create our own opportunities. You either love to travel or you don’t. I was raised in a very well traveled family, so traveling was always in my blood. As you get older, you have to figure out ways to feed your traveling appetite if you have one. When I got laid off from work in May of 2018, I started to turn my traveling dreams into reality. I made a lot of mistakes, sacrifices, and burned a lot of money along the way to get there, but the results were well worth the effort.

The first step I took was creating a couple rough draft plans with different scenarios with budgets and preparing for an emergency, just in case. Patience was the number one ingredient to making this whole travel recipe work. Everyone is different and requires different things/luxuries they may want to travel with or without. I inventoried everything that I had and used my assets to create my rough draft. I have a house and a car as a starting point. Good, I can Airbnb the house and find a low cost, lightweight camper that my 4 cylinder car can tow. Now I have a portable shelter and a small income to help pay bills while I travel with the Airbnb. This was the basics for me and those two basic things take patience to create and secure. I actually bought two campers instead of one. I lost a little bit of money doing that when I resold my first camper. My vision for my trip changed a lot throughout this process. Once I did more research, I realized that I wanted an eggshell, fiberglass camper that I could stand up in to make my dog and myself more comfortable. I could also be considered as “self-contained” with a kitchen and a porta potty which opened up a few more options on places to camp.

Now that I had the basics, which took a solid year to get ready and/or acquire, I was able to to start finalizing my savings and plans. I worked two jobs and odds and ends so that I could to save. I even walked dogs for a dog walking service. I wanted to have a minimum of 3 months of bills in the bank with 5 months of separate travel money. It was big commitment and impacted my social life by staying in vs. going out when I could. My dad spent an enormous amount of time to make sure that my camper would be safe and also equipped with solar so that I could go more rogue if I needed to. He spent a solid month rewiring and installing a 50 watt trickle charge solar panel and battery system with 6 USB ports and even a 12 volt plug that I could use a digital inverter to charge my laptop. He also installed a carbon monoxide detector. I can run my Maxx Air Fan, carbon monoxide detector, inside camper lights, USB and 12 volt plug off of my solar. I bought my camper for $6K and put about another $1K into it to give a rough estimate on costs if you’re looking to do something similar. That does not include what my dad should have been paid for the tremendous amount of labor he put into it. In honor of all of his hard work, I named the camper after him and his Dutch heritage, Hansje the Haulander. His name is Hans, and I really get the vibe that my camper is feminine, so we went with the female version of his name.

The next step is sourcing all of the things you need if you don’t already have some of it. Lighters, a first aid kit, cooking equipment, a cooler for food storage, and just any other thing you may need. I had to get a hitch put on my CR-V to tow the camper. I had foam cut specifically for my bed because it is not a normal size or shape, so it really depends on how you want to do it and what commodities and amenities are important to you. There is no right answer and if you want to save money, you can car camp. I wanted my trip to be a certain way for me, so I worked harder and longer to have those things. This is all about finding what is right for you and your situation.

I had a mini meltdown a week into the trip in Colorado when I realized how much camping at state parks and other established campsites would cost. I mean, the ugly cry meltdown. I had already blown my budget in one week, my camper door lock was not locking properly, and I was on edge. In the middle of my mini meltdown, I called my handy dandy van life friends from IG, @summitoffreedom, and asked how they were so successful at camping in the middle of nowhere for free. I’ll share all of the details in my next post. This saved a lot more than you could imagine. Out west its around at least $30 a night to camp at an established campground. So camping for free saved me nearly, if not more than, $1,000 per month. I would literally decide the day of when it was time to move and find a new campsite. There was no exact schedule or travel plan. I had a route that I semi followed so that I could get in my bucket list items. I missed a few things due to snowy weather, but it was so freeing just being where I wanted to be that day.

Free Camping Outside of Zion National Park, Utah

Where there is a will there is a way. My path to making my dreams come true was exhausting and way different than I had ever imagined. When you finally take your adventure, no matter how prepared or lack there of, you learn what is valuable and not valuable to add to the weight that you are towing. Every pound is precious, especially if you tow with a 4 cylinder vehicle, but so worth it. When I actually got out there, it felt like I dropped off of the face of the planet. I really enjoyed the solitude and I didn’t share much because I was detoxing. I will tell you in advance, traveling like I did and will do again was hard. Very hard. I had no ambition to read or write. I completely stopped and would guilt trip myself for not documenting every waking moment. This trip changed my perspective and the way I live my life… living your dreams is really hard, but the reward is endless.

I hope this helps inspire people to create their own travel plan. Lay out your resources, be smart and save. Be patient. And before you know it, you’ll be out there living life the exact way you want it. If I can do it, I have no doubt anyone can. I’m pretty sure if accomplishing your dreams was easy, everyone would do it. I honestly spent half my time on the road feeling like a badass and the other half feeling like a complete failure. Its hard to explain, because even though it wasn’t a fairy tale, I can’t wait to get back out there very soon! Hope to see y’all out there!

Finding Happiness in Vulnerability

June 22, 2018June 22, 2018 by tennesseewander

I have always felt like I had control of my future, until I didn’t. The funny thing about that is no one has complete control of their future. You can steer in the direction that you want to go, but there are going to be obstacles that sometimes take you off road into something unknown. This unknown for me is turning into one of the most beautiful journeys I have ever experienced. I am a proud person and extremely independent. I have owned two homes for the last 3 years, made calculated decisions, and always reluctant to ask for help. As most people my age, I’ve been hardened by some of the circumstances life has presented. I’ve built walls to keep myself from getting hurt. And now here I am, jobless and wondering how I am going to make it. Of course, I had to ask for help. The first couple of steps were the hardest, I was broken. Everything that I identified myself with washed away in that moment of becoming unemployed. How could you be strong and independent if you don’t have a means to pay your bills? Anxiety took control of my body and just the thought of asking for help broke me out in cold sweats. I felt like a failure.

The first call I made was to my mom, of course. To my surprise, as I can barely get the words out to tell her what happened, she said, “Everything is going to be alright and I am actually excited. We knew this wasn’t the right fit for you, now you have an opportunity to figure out what that is.” It took a minute to sink in, but her excitement eventually became mine. I called her back after I got home, and my dad picked up the phone, I immediately started to cry again hearing his voice. I thought he would be disappointed, but he was quite the opposite. My brother has taken the time out of his busy life to help guide me with his marketing knowledge and given me some tools to strengthen the talents I already have. The love and support that my parents and brother have given me through this time of self-growth has been in every word, unconditional. I could not be more thankful.

It was so hard for me to let my friends know what happened. I was embarrassed and took on an alter ego of @tennesseewanderinghobo on my IG account to help lighten the mood and poke fun at myself. Every single one of my friends have shown nothing, but support. They have been my ultimate sounding board, inspiring me, and pointing out talents that I was completely unaware that I possessed. I am a connector, I am self-taught and excellent at handling social media, and I am passionate about people and helping those in need.

People that I don’t even really know have reached out with incredible advice. One of my IG friends, @summitoffreedom, wrote me after my last blog with the travel budget. He pointed out that sometimes you cannot calculate everything, and you just have to do it. Opportunities will present themselves and you will always find a way to make it work without calculating every detail. He is going on a daring adventure of his own with his family in tow and breaking the cycle of the mundane lifestyle and the 9-5 job.

I feel exposed down to the roots with sharing my feelings, my fears, and my dreams. In the strangest way possible, I am the happiest I have ever been. I have been humbled by this whole experience. People have been so kind. Here I am scared and feeling sorry for myself, and the people that know me best are throwing a party around me and they are excited to watch me find my passion. Who knew that losing a job could bring such joy and breathe so much life into your sole? It is odd, but I have never felt more loved, alive, and celebrated as a human than I do at this moment. Allowing your parents to be parents and your friends to be friends can create so much happiness because you allow them to do their jobs by helping you through a tough time. It adds so much value to relationships. What’s the point in having these relationships if you don’t allow them to see you at your worst and help you on your journey to get to your best? For me, happiness is living in the moment and opening up to allow the people closest to you to share this experience and help guide you. I couldn’t be more thankful for the obstacle that has lead me into the unknown.

Let’s Do This! 4 Steps to Creating a Travel Budget

June 15, 2018June 15, 2018 by tennesseewander

1. Figure out where you want to go

The most obvious step in the process is figuring out where you want to go. Today, it seems that every millennial’s dream is to wander aimlessly around the country in a camper van with their dog. I don’t blame them. As a millennial myself, I am in the mix of individuals that are trying to achieve this life goal. I have a gypsy soul, so taking the time to map it out seems like a waste of time, until I did. I would love to hop in my car camper today and take off across the country without an established plan, but seriously, we need to figure out where we are heading and you will see why as I break it down for you. So, figure out where you want to go. If you are driving, what are your top 3 must see destinations? If you are flying, where to? And how do you plan on making your way around once you fly into your destination? All legit questions.

2. How do you want to get there?

The second part to this crazy adventure is how do you plan on getting there? Now that we’ve established where we want to go, how do we intend on getting there? Are we going to drive, bike, walk, fly, ride a Greyhound bus, or teletransport to our destination? They all come with their benefits and different price points. You just have to figure out what makes sense for your travel experience and budget.

3. Start your budget planning

I thought my trip was going to cost waaaay less. I mean, being a hobo and car camping your way across America couldn’t be all that expensive… right? Wrong! I downloaded a very simple spreadsheet from Vertex42 that had a template ready with a generic travel plan. I started adjusting the numbers to fit my budget and travel plan. I went high on some numbers like gas mileage and the cost of gas. I get 26.6 miles to the gallon on average and gas is currently $2.53 by me in east Tennessee. I calculated my budget slightly higher stating that I get 24 miles a gallon and that gas would cost $3.00 a gallon. I want to make sure that what I am planning can calculate for some unforeseen expenses. Then I let someone with travel experience look over my budget, my mom, and the first question she asked was, “what about laundry at the laundromat? It’s expensive. And what about Keeta May’s dog food?” Keeta May is my senior pup just in case you’re wondering, but my mom has a point… What about the things that I am missing? How much do you budget for unforeseen expenses? According to my budget plan below, I’ve already blown my budget by $68 and that is not accounting for the unexpected. I shortened my original 365 days of travel to 60 days to create more realistic perspective. It will cost me slightly over $3,500 to car camp for 2 months across the U.S. if all goes well. That does not include my house payment, car payment, utilities on my house that I will Airbnb, insurance, or anything that I did not plan for (i.e. a flat tire, veterinary bills, or maybe the ramen noodles and PB&J won’t cut it for 2 months). I have to figure out a way to cover the cost of my other bills before this is going to happen in real life. A lot to think about. Even on the cheap, this trip is pretty expensive if you think about what I am actually doing, just converting my little CRV into a shelter and trekking across America. You can see a snapshot of how I set up my travel budget below:

4. Stick to the plan

I know you are a free spirit, and so am I, but don’t take all this time to create a plan and not stick to it at the very least. Know your budget, know what you’re capable of, and be prepared for someone like your mom to look at your budget and say, “Well, have you thought about this yet?” As much as I like to think I have it all figured out, I clearly do not, so a plan helps me to stay on target. No matter what happens on your journey, good, bad, or otherwise, at the very least, you will have some amazing stories to tell. Just know what you are walking into and how to prepare for a beautiful plan that does not always go accordingly. Any time you travel you’re going to have to make adjustments, but do your best to stick to your budget so you don’t find yourself treading water and barely keeping your head up by the time it’s all said and done.

Expect the best and prepare for the worst and you will be just fine. I hope you find this to be useful in planning your next adventure. I know I did.

Endless Possibilities

June 12, 2018June 12, 2018 by tennesseewander

I have spent the last couple of days searching for clarity around what my next steps in life are going to look like. I must say, I am completely overwhelmed by the amount of responses, advice, and support I have received. Thank you to everyone! I have received some incredibly helpful and amazing guidance that is adding fuel to my fire! This is a position no one hopes to find themselves in, but now that I am here, I have endless possibilities and I am starting to recognize the opportunities that are available. I have to make the best of it.

I have decided to get my house ready to Airbnb. I might as well take advantage of the kick ass location of my house. It is literally a 1 mile straight shot to Nissan Stadium with a view of the Cumberland River in a trendy part of downtown East Nashville. The house needs some work, but if you are that close to 5 Points, Downtown, Nissan Stadium, Shelby Park, and Ascend Amphitheater, how much time are the guests going to spend analyzing the details of my home if they have clean beds and can walk to a concert downtown? I would be insane not to see if I can capitalize on that while I am spending time in Knoxville. If that goes well, I may even be able to fund my travels while I am away.

Another thought that came to mind after picking someone’s brain in the nonprofit world, was that I could remotely manage some social media accounts for smaller, local nonprofits or emerging music artists. Think about it… renting my house to Airbnb, hire a cleaning crew and just consistently rent it out for the year, manage some social media accounts, and travel with my dog. This is getting better and better. I am not above car camping, ramen noodles, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and the occasional taco, so I know I could do it on the cheap.

While this is all super scary, it is so exciting to think about living out the adventurous dream that I never thought I would have the opportunity to do. I went from having a safe, secure lifestyle right into the unknown and uncharted territory. I have been given a gift and if the plan that I am putting together fails, then at the very least I can sell my house. I am not in a bad place, I am in the best possible position that a new hobo could be in. My parents seem a little apprehensive about this plan. And while momma knows best, I think the world has changed and there are some really creative ways to make a living and travel full time, I just have to figure out how to do it. Once again, I want to thank everyone for all of the ideas and suggestions that you have thrown into the mix. Keep them coming! This has been very therapeutic for me and it is helping me to generate some new ideas.

Fear

June 8, 2018June 8, 2018 by tennesseewander

Fear: the driving force that causes us to hold back, retreat, or completely withdraw from achieving our goals. I have been dreaming about starting a blog and, at one point, even did a half ass job of attempting to start one a few months back. I became paralyzed by fear from all the what ifs? What if I am a bad writer? What if no one reads what I have to say? What if no one cares? But then the true question becomes, what if I write and people really like it? Then what?

In full transparency, I was laid off from work a week ago. It was the first time that I have ever been laid off from a job in my entire life. I just remember sitting there thinking, “huh, so this is what it feels like?” It was almost like staying in a relationship just because of the fear of starting all over again. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my job and my coworkers to death! But when I dissected it down to what it really was, I didn’t love the actual work. I spent so much time trying to convince myself that I was going to fit and that I was going to be a lifer and that I was going to be happy. I fit just as well as trying fit a square peg in a round hole. So, once I assessed the issue and did a little triage to stop the bleeding, I could finally start to see things more clearly.

I am scared as hell, but at the same time I am almost like a giddy little school girl again thinking about my future and what that can look like. It can be anything I want it to be! I have so much clarity around the paths that my life could travel. There are 2 paths that I am currently considering. The first is to sell my house in Nashville, take the profits that have accumulated over the last 3 years of homeownership in a booming market, and buy a vansion (van + mansion) to travel the country for a year with my senior pup. The other path is to keep my house in Nashville and find another job like a normal person would. I have always had a passion for nonprofits and helping people in need so this might be the universe telling me to move in this direction.

Let’s start with selling my house in Nashville. The most obvious pro would be financial freedom for a year or so. Basically, I can hear Cartman’s voice from South Park saying, “Whateva, I do what I want.” Another pro would be living out one of the biggest dreams I have ever had to travel for 365 days across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico with my dog. Did I mention, I would get to spend every day with my dog? The dog moms and dads get it. Another large pro that comes to mind is all the new relationships and friends I could build in this process. All the lives touched and the ones that would change mine with a single encounter. The world is full of wonderful people and I want to meet all of them. Moving on to some of the major cons, would be leaving my friends and some beautiful relationships that I have developed in the last 4.5 years. Another con is that if I sell my house, I would have to kiss that area of Nashville goodbye as far as homeownership. The rates and demand in East Nashville have skyrocketed and there is no telling when it would level back out. More cons would include getting stranded somewhere or hurt because I would be traveling solo. The last major con that comes to mind is what am I going to do when the money runs out and I need a place to land?

Moving on to finding another job in Nashville like a normal person should do. Pro, I have always wanted to get into nonprofit work. Since fear of making a change is no longer a factor, it opens this door. Another pro is that I would be helping people for a living. Does it get better than that? I mean really? I am the type of person that gets excited about volunteer work and even if it was hard work, I feel refreshed and so alive afterwards. A major pro would be staying in Nashville and keeping my lovely little home, amazing friends, and established weekly routines of get togethers. One last pro is that I will still be able to make a trip, it will just be much shorter and I will plan it to celebrate for 2 weeks prior to starting a new job. The only con that I can think of would be always wondering if I missed my chance to live out a dream and the shoulda, coulda, wouldas of who I was going to meet, the adventures that might have been, and the lost life experience that would follow.

Gosh, writing it all down makes it so clear! The more responsible choice would be to find another job that I love. On the flipside, life is all about the journey. The good news is that I have some time to think about it so I know that I am making the correct choice for me. I cannot just aimlessly wander this planet without some sort of plan. I want to have an impact. I want to teach. I want to experience. I want to give. I want to dream. I want live. I want to wander. I don’t want fear to be a factor that determines my next steps. I have a feeling that my life is changing for the best and that when one door closes, it forces you to walk in a direction of fear to open those next doors. This is not the end, it’s the beginning.

Stay tuned: I may have to change my name to @tennesseewanderinghobo 😊