Happy anniversary to me

This balloon woke me up at sunrise this morning flying over the Arctic Fox. It's amazing how noisy these things are at the crack of dawn when you're trying to sleep.

Since I couldn't make up my mind what I wanted to write about on my second anniversary of becoming a full-time RVer, I decided I would just write about some random thoughts on living the boondocking lifestyle.

First of all I thought it would be interesting to throw some numbers out here.  I normally don't talk about what it cost to live the life I do because it's different for everybody.  Very few of the costs that I have would be applicable to the way you live, and vice versa.  But there is one cost that I keep up with that would apply to a lot of people that want to boondock, and that would be the cost of spending the night in your RV someplace.  Sometimes it's going to be free, sometimes is going to be really cheap, and sometimes its going to cost you more than you would like to spend, and I try to keep those nights to a minimum.

The first year I started as a full timer, and that would be October 2015  I spent $2,800 total for the year on camping fees.  And I believe that averages out to about $230 a month.  That number is pretty high, but I was apparently in a learning phase because for the year 2017 [from October 2016 to October 2017] I spent $1,480 for the year, which averages out to about $124 a month. So If You 're going to be a boondocker It apparently takes a little time to learn the system and find out what works best for you.

FIVE OR SIX THINGS I WOULD NOT WANT TO BOONDOCK WITHOUT.

1- Solar panels and big batteries.  To me this is the heart of staying happy and comfortable while boondocking.

2- A catalytic heater.  Even though I try to stay in warm places.  It still gets pretty chilly in the evenings and the mornings.  The catalytic heater keeps the Arctic Fox warm without the noise and the wasted propane from the furnace.

3- A computer and a phone.  Yes I know that's two things but they go together because I use the phone data for my Internet a lot of the time, without which I wouldn't be doing this blog, or have any communication with the real world.

4- My Fantastic fans.  Even though I try to stay in cool places, sometimes it gets hot.  And since I can't run my air conditioner while boondocking my Fantastic vent fans and my Fantastic floor fan keeps me comfortable.

5- My camera.  I can't imagine staying in all the beautiful places I do without being able to take a picture.  It would break my heart.

6- A gun.  While boondocking your frequently on your own.  There may be no one around to help you and you have to be responsible for your own safety.  Having said that, of all the boondocking I've done, not just while full timing but for the 30 or 40 years of camping I did before that, I've never had to pull out my gun.  I've never even felt the need to pull out my gun.  But it's always been a comfort knowing it's there.

A FEW QUESTIONS I'VE BEEN ASKED ABOUT BOONDOCKING.

Have you been a boondocker all of your life? ----  Not yet.

Whats your favorite boondocking location?   --- The next place I'm going to.

Do you ever get bored while boondocking? ---- No, it's not possible.

What do you do while boondocking?----- I mostly relax and try to remember what the rat race was like.

Do you ever get afraid while boondocking out in the middle of nowhere with all the weirdos running around?----No, not at all.  Most of those weirdos are just other boondocker's.

What is the most important thing every boondocker should have? ...… Curiosity, a love of nature, and a lazy streak a mile wide.

What is the best kind of RV to use for boondocking? ...…  The kind that you can afford.

 Well that's about it, the only thing left to do is have my fulltimer second anniversary dinner and spend some time looking back in utter amazement at how fast time goes by when the stress, problems, and struggles of a normal life are finally behind you, and every new day brings peace, contentment, and the joy of a life being lived.

            theboondork

This is the road that runs by my boondocking location. I had planned on walking down the road to the bottom of the Canyon and taking some pictures of the Verdy River, but after looking down the steep winding road that seemed to go on forever, I decided I would do it tomorrow..... Or never