tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752023087237391422024-02-20T10:20:10.475-08:00Home Meets WheelsHi, my name is Nick Marx and I have chose to live in my vehicle for the past 8 months. I will use this blog to share my journey as I experience the exciting and liberating lifestyle of living full-time as a vehicular nomad. I also hope to inspire others to live outside of their comfort zone and serve as a resource to the community. All posts will be labeled with the following categories: Advice/Inspiration, Philosophy, Financial and Featured Weekly Spot.Fit for Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013319379444378582noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-375202308723739142.post-5658484673912011242018-02-22T05:34:00.000-08:002018-02-27T05:15:52.211-08:00A Jarring Stop ( Featured Weekly )<div class="MsoNormal">
I was making good/steady progress, with almost 10 hours
spent behind the wheel, it was 9:30pm and I was crossing the border from
Maryland – Virginia. ‘BUH-BOOM-POP-POP’ a double blowout as I pulled over onto
the shoulder to get a picture. A FREAKING PICTURE!!! I was so upset with myself
for letting my excitement get the best of me, and I felt awful for Lillith as
the impact was very violent and I feared that her undercarriage may have been
damaged. It took only about a half hour for the tow driver to hook up to her, but
it felt like an eternity! Jim was his name, nice guy, local boy born and raised
in Virgina on Nascar. Thank goodness I adapt to accents quickly and was wearing
my “God Bless America” hat. I find that a smidge of social camoflague goes a
hell of a long way in any social situation. With that being said, I truly
enjoyed his company. He was an affable fellow, kindhearted and happy to jaw at
me about towing cars and his own mis-adventures with hitchhiking in his youth. I
appreciated his help so much that I bought him a pack of cigarettes. I know it’s
a strange way of doing it, buying someone cigarettes, but I believe in paying
it forward! It didn’t take long for us to arrive at the Hagerstown Walmart in
Maryland. By that time my spirits had rose back to pretty much normal…I’ve
always been a cup half full kinda guy <span style="font-family: "segoe ui emoji" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stay safe everyone!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Fit for Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013319379444378582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-375202308723739142.post-66214632954701741982018-02-22T05:06:00.001-08:002018-02-22T05:35:16.862-08:00Living Life Unplugged ( General/Philosophy )<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
( Postdated from 2/06
)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For some of you, the
idea of living on top of a 1400’ mountain, 35 miles from the Quebec border,
with no wifi or even cell service to entertain you, and a 3.1 mile hike to even
reach your sole mode of transportation, would not be an enjoyable time. Even
less of you would enjoy this experience being paired with 8-12 hours of
physical labor per day, in the form of snow shoeing, chainsawing and hauling
brush, cutting/sanding and staining lumber to make trail blaze signs. But this
was my life for 5 days. Let me tell you it was quite a trip! The one
time I made it into town during my stay was on the second day. I felt a burning desire to connect with the outside world as I was feeling a bit ‘off.’ During my
descent from the mountain to my car, my head was filled with a heavy fog, which
was in contrast to the beautiful sunny clear weather northern Maine was
experiencing. It even reached 34 degrees! Inside of me were thoughts of self
doubt and mania. As I reached my car these thoughts lessened and I relaxed into
the 20 minute drive to reach town. I stopped and went inside a local business
to ask where I could buy some craft beer. I wanted to share a few with my hut
mates later that night. As soon as I opened my mouth a voice came out that
sounded a little odd to me. The words this voice chose did not quite make
sense, given the context. I stiffened and a wave of anxiety washed over me. The
shop clerk pointed me in the direction of the general store and I shuffled off
in that direction. Strange, I thought to myself as I left the store. It is almost as though I am speaking a different
language after spending only two days up in those woods. It’s not like I was alone
with nobody to talk to. I thought more on this as I munched on my pizza and
drove back to the trailhead. I decided that I had been living/working with a
few people in a very specific and remote context and that when I was forced to
interact with people who were not sharing that specific context with me, I did
not know how to interact with them. When I reached the top of the mountain and
closed the door to the hut, I shared this realization with my hutmate Rob; he
smiled and said he knew exactly what I meant. I found comfort and comradery in
his response. I look forward to climbing those trails and exploring their
mountainous terrain later on this summer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t forget to escape from the daily grind.<o:p></o:p></div>
Fit for Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013319379444378582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-375202308723739142.post-13962088404498035382018-01-22T16:36:00.001-08:002018-01-22T16:54:17.533-08:00Part 2 of My Reasons for becoming a vehicular nomad. (Philosophy & Inspiration)Postdated from 04/01/2017<br />
<br />
<b>Home</b> is such a <i>nebulous concept</i>. For some people it is a <u>structure</u>, for others it is a person, or group of people, and for a few select intrepid travelers it is simply <i>wherever they find themselves</i> to be. I have always struggled with the concept of home.<br />
<br />
I feel most comfortable whilst being engaged and challenged physically, even emotionally to a lesser degree. Due to this fact, <b>stagnancy</b>, repetition, routine are dreadful to me. They are the bane of my existence. Once inactivity becomes routine for me I lose interest in social activities that I once found fun, I become morose and even shower and brush my teeth far less frequently. Lack of stimulation and change create mentally illness within me. I have been diagnosed with <b>Bi Polar disorder</b> type II. Over the years of my adult life I have come to learn, with <b>great</b> <b>pride</b>, what agitates my mental dis-ease. Living in a <b>traditional</b> <u>non-mobile</u> dwelling was one of these things. It allowed me, all too easily, to remain unchallenged and inactive. However, it is important to find<i> balance</i> between inactivity and over activity. I digress, as that is a whole different can of worms best suited for a fitness/spirituality blog. Every choice in life comes at an opportunity cost. There are negatives as well as positives to every choice. With this being said, I cannot say that living in a vehicle is glamorous, or easy, but it brings me closer to <b>reality</b> and what makes me happiest. Everything is more challenging, from doing dishes/making food, to taking a shower. However, the upside of this is that your ability to cook meals and provide sustenance for yourself is much more meaningful. That hot shower that was once a 15 second walk away, now involves a 15 minute drive across town and is a <b>luxury</b> to be <i>relished</i> and held <u>sacred</u>. These small challenges help keep me sharp, active and fulfilled. When maintaining ones hygiene and dietary needs is more difficult, it is more of an achievement once that need is fulfilled. I enjoy the following analogy: pioneers headed West across what was then a wild middle America, filled with obstacles and dangers had to expend much larger amounts of effort to accomplish tasks that today, seem inconsequential due to modern conveniences, such as electric tools and appliances. Living in a vehicle has allowed me the mental space away from obligations and routines to uncover and even hone my creative skills.<br />
<br />
I had a hard time writing the tail end of this entry, so I apologize for the delay. Part 2 took a long time to write because
there were so many countless life experiences, people I connected with, and media
sources that served to inspire me in my quest for the<b> ultimate life balance</b> and
led me down my <i>current</i> path. The more notable and recent of these inspirations
were the decision to practice massage therapy and the countless hours spent absorbing
youtube, blog and forum content on the topic of nomadic living. This research
starting at a time before van life became #vanlife - a hashtag frequently used
on Instagram. This research of course was due to a curiosity with pushing
boundaries, social and societal norms that is very evident, especially if you
read my more philosophical blog entries. If my desire to rebel against the<b>
</b>prescribed<b> </b>societal standard was the fuel, then my blossoming career as an
intuitive <b>healer </b>was the <b>spark</b> which lit the <u>wildfire </u>that <u>consumed </u>my heart
and mind in a <b>passionate blaze</b>.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
These are some sources that inspired me:<br />
<br />
Bob Wells: ( http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/ )<br />
Jed - Into The Mystery 13: ( https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu5fPDi4-KTNPI_3nVcnsQ )<br />
Jamie (spelling?): ( https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_W_E5SFCxwpSOaqMjOOBTg )<br />
<br />Fit for Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013319379444378582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-375202308723739142.post-31081752608015612782018-01-22T15:15:00.000-08:002018-01-22T15:40:00.254-08:00Finding Peace (Philosophy & Inspiration)<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
For several years
after graduating from Keene State college I dare not go near that town. If I
ever had to go by it, I would take the long way around as to avoid even passing
through it. The reason being the pain, shame and failure I associated with my
college experience and the physical space that insulated it from the outside
world. I won't go into the details as to why I felt this way as it would be less of a blog post and more of a novella! Today however was different. Today I sought it out going out of my way to drive to Keene and
eat at the dining commons where I am now typing this blog entry. I noticed as
I walked down the main through faire on campus that was head was on a swivel,
taking in all of the familiar angles of buildings in which I attended classes, lost
my mind, experienced passionate romances and fleeting connections alike and even
presented the cumulative work of my time spent as an undergrad. Unlike my last
visit to campus I was in a clear headspace and I was alone, and to my great
satisfaction I felt a <b>peace</b> within me, like a crystal clear pool of cool water,
unmolested, high above in the forested craigs of Mount Monadnock. I had made
peace with this space, and it was moving, causing tears to well in my eyes as I
smiled and thought on all of the <b>progress</b> I had made and <b>growth</b> I had experienced since walking this very
path on graduation day five years prior.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Keep growing and<b> </b>experiencing life my travelers and friends!<br />
💗 Nick</div>
Fit for Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013319379444378582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-375202308723739142.post-21355330611853090712018-01-22T15:11:00.001-08:002018-01-22T15:47:09.832-08:00Featured Weekly: The Kindness of a Stranger (Inspiration)Post dated to 1/20/2018<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I did not know Duane,
but as I left the Lowe's parking lot the plywood I forgot to strap down came
flying off (I know boneheaded!) and being the type of person who helps those in
need he stopped his truck behind the plywood, threw his flashers on and <b>patiently</b>
waited for me to sprint back to retrieve it. Yelling out his window as I
grabbed the plywood, “jump in!” I accepted the offer, throwing the
sheet of plywood in his truck bed and climbing in the passenger seat. I thanked
him as he drove towards my car, parked in a lot down the street. After
introductions he helped me out by <b>gifting</b> me a cargo strapping and helping me
secure my precious cargo. While securing the plywood we started talking about my project:
rebuilding the bed inside of my mobile #homeonwheels. He was immediately
intrigued, slightly concerned (a fear which I dissuaded quickly with my smiles & a few travel stories) and genuinely interested in helping me achieve maximum efficiency
with my project; as he could clearly see space is at a premium while living in
a Honda Fit. After discussing possible space saving options while constructing
my bed platform we started talking about life on a broader scale. I told him I
was a massage therapist and he said that he often needs therapists to staff
weddings, corporate and social functions at his Inn and function space! Not
only did I return to home base and finish my enlarged bed platform, but I had a
very pleasant conversation with a <b>generous</b> man whom I may collaborate with. What
an excellent day <span style="font-family: "segoe ui emoji" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span> Now to continue my adventure!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Adventure on fellow freaks, geeks and weirdos!<br />
<br /></div>
Fit for Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013319379444378582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-375202308723739142.post-30702612854525540862018-01-10T05:49:00.001-08:002018-01-11T06:44:05.090-08:00Omnipresent Optimism (Advice/Inspiration)<div class="MsoNormal">
I want to speak on the <i>non glamorous</i>
side of vehicle dwelling, as it does not get much attention in social media. It can be
tough, stinky, boring, sleep depriving. This is what vehicle dwelling can be. We
have all had one of those nights where you hunker down in your chosen sleep
spot for the night. You open the laptop to see that you can’t see your phones
hotspot. You glance at your phone, seeing one bar of service and let out an
exasperated sigh. Well, it is only 9:30 pm and you are far from tired…I guess
it is time to bust out a book. After a few minutes your stomach grumbles and
you relieve yourself of some smelly gases. “<i>Oh sweet jesus</i>,” you exclaim to no
one in particular. You want to step out and get some air, but you know that
would not be a wise move, due to the downpour happening right outside. So you
have to suffer inside your small and smelly home on wheels, with no wifi, and
no real desire to sleep. At this point you can do one of two things: get all
whiney and butthurt about your predicament, or you can play the optimist card.
The latter choice goes something like this: a weary smile grows into a hearty
smirk and you laugh a good bit at yourself. Maybe then you think back on your
previous life, living in a house or apartment and wonder how different life would
be for you at this particular moment in time…maybe at this point you start to
feel like a bit of a tit, as you know damn well that in your immobile home you could simply leave the stinky
room behind and go for a walk with your rain gear on and that wifi is almost
never a problem. Then you remember that rent check that you wrote every month,
oh and those several utility bills…don’t forget about those <i>grueling</i> commutes
to your 40+ hour a week job in order to pay for all of these things you now
consider <u>luxuries</u>. Letting your head rest lightly on your pillow you cross your
fingers and look up at your ceiling, basking in the lingering aroma of achievement.
Your breathing becomes slower and deeper as you drift into sleep. Your last
thoughts are of the mountain you are going to tackle in the morning and the <i>well
deserved</i> luxury of a nude dip into the refreshing cold stream - all by
yourself. I like to strive for the optimist card, as much as possible. It only
puts a smile on your face in the end; besides not often in life can you change much in your
given situation. So next time you are frustrated with where you’re at, try
playing the optimist card… why not have a little fun at the expense of your
dignity!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Keep your heads up and love to you all!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Fit for Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013319379444378582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-375202308723739142.post-50504173823201958622017-12-29T19:07:00.002-08:002017-12-29T19:10:25.525-08:00Featured Weekly: Naptime12/28/17<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It was 2pm and I was leaving my very last event as a massage therapist in 2017. I was headed up from Hyannis, MA to Portland, ME to visit my brother-from-another-mother Porta Potty Scotty. I was also planned on treating Vapor to a full synthetic oil change. She was in need of fresh fluids and I was driving by several Walmart Supercenter locations on the way up to Portland. I stopped in Seabrook, NH right off of I95 and pulled into the auto center at Walmart. "Full synthetic oil change will be a 90 minute wait, sir." said Christopher, the service tech. I nodded and told him I would be taking a nap in the car. He nodded, barely taking account of what I said. I handed him the keys and walked out to my car. Tucking into my arctic sleeping bag I wrapped myself up in my comforter, covering my head and my eyes I slip into a state of relaxation. 'Knock, knock,' I shed my comforter and look up to see a tech standing by my door. I flash him a big smile, swivel out of my bed, into my drivers seat and into my shoes. I open the door and stand up, greeting the spectacled tech."Hey man, just needed a nap. She's all yours!" He responds,"That's fine, I don't judge." The man obviously felt uncomfortable after seeing me sleeping in Vapor, my converted Honda Fit camper. I responded to his nervous statement, "no apology necessary, no reason to judge anyways. I chose this lifestyle and I enjoy it very much!" Hearing me "normalize" my decision to live in my car seemed to placate his dis-ease. The best part - the oil change only took 45 minutes and Vapor and I were back on the open road! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Greetings from South Portland, Maine</div>
<div>
Nick</div>
Fit for Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013319379444378582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-375202308723739142.post-61170076233766043082017-12-25T20:08:00.000-08:002018-01-22T15:59:35.855-08:00My Reasons for becoming a vehicular nomad. (Philosophy & Inspiration)Postdated to 04/01/2017.<br />
<br />
This will be a longer entry, as the content is complex, broad and philosophical in nature. I will try my best to keep it organized into groupings of thought.<br />
<br />
I have always been enamored by the thought of travel, and therefore have <i>romanticized</i> the idea of living a "gypsy-esque" lifestyle (disclaimer: I am Roma - SJW's feel free to judge anyway). As I have grown into an adult and become seasoned, my ideas of what exactly that means have evolved, starting with a <b>hedonistic</b> oriented womanizing playboy, who traveled in search of <b>sensual gratification</b> and grand life experiences, to the stereotypical "dirty-hippie", to my current iteration of ego which is more fluid: a traveling massage therapist, who seeks <i>free will, experiences and natural beauty on the open road</i>. All of this to say that I have had a hard time labeling myself, or even being OKAY with the concept of labeling oneself. I tend to have many different personality traits that are stereotypical to many different character types. For example, I have an excellent sense of time, which is a trait often exhibited by type A character types. At the same time, I am very spontaneous, which is not a stereotypical trait of an type A character, but more of a free and abstract thinking "hippie." You can see why I have difficulty fitting myself into a box of any sort! For all of you <i>Astrology</i> fans out there, I am a Gemini sun sign...surprise, not!<br />
<br />
Due to my tendency to romanticize travel and minimalism, as well as my spontaneous nature, I have always "<b>lived out of</b>" my car - constantly moving, visiting friends, going on short trips...occasionally sleeping in my vehicle, but mainly camping outside, or crashing a couch. As I worked "adult jobs" and gained life experiences I started to realize that I do not enjoy being told what to do, when to do it -<b> how to live my FREAKING life!</b> This mentality translates to every aspect of my life, whether it be romantic relationships, or where I put my toothbrush in the shared bathroom of wherever I was living. After what feels like many years of trying to find a balance between mental health, work, staying true to myself and maintaining my own happiness I decided that living in a vehicle was a great way to<b> satisfy</b> the majority of <b>my needs</b>. Read Part 2 of <i>My Reasons for becoming a vehicular nomad </i>- where I will share what inspired me and how I started.<br />
<br />Fit for Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013319379444378582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-375202308723739142.post-4177663049106649972017-12-17T15:19:00.003-08:002017-12-25T20:09:57.345-08:00My first night/week (Inspiration)<span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> Postdated to 04/01/2017.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> My First night as a vehicular nomad was rather manic. I felt excited/free and did not sleep much at all as a result. I was at a park and ride lot on the NH seacoast. During the several weeks that followed I acclimated quite easily to living in my car. I have always lived out of my car, to a degree, so making the jump to sleeping in it full time was a natural transition for me. After the first night I stuck to sleeping in wooded areas - hiking trailheads around Newmarket, Durham and Lee, NH. Pretty soon work picked up and I was having to travel all throughout Massachusetts and as a result I became very comfortable and adept with more urbanized nomadicism, or stealth camping. You may not expect this, but I found parking garages to be a great place to sleep, so long as you rise early as the commuters start to park. A lot of my work during the months of April and May was centered in downtown Boston, so parking at a garage and taking the T in was convenient for me. As I started to gain confidence while sleeping in urbanized areas I slept in neighborhoods, industrial complexes and parking garages. </span><span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">You may not expect this, but I found parking garages to be a great place to sleep, so long as you rise early as the commuters start to park. A lot of my work during the months of April and May was centered in downtown Boston, so parking at a garage and taking the T in was convenient for me. However, after a few months of parking at a rest stops, garages, Wal-marts and various other busy places work slowed to a halt and I got some quiet time. During this period I took time to explore where I wanted to be, not what areas were convenient to my work life. I found that Plum Island, Provincetown and the host of hiking trailheads I inhabited along the NH seacoast were my favorite spots to stay. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
Fit for Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013319379444378582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-375202308723739142.post-85839846702173275572017-12-13T16:29:00.001-08:002017-12-17T15:21:07.350-08:00Living in a Honda Fit Postdated to 4/01/2017.<br />
<br />
Greetings fellow humans, my name is Nick and I decided to live in my Honda Fit. I am creating this as a space to document my travels and experiences, share my thoughts and philosophies on the concept of travel/life, and to inspire others to live outside of their comfort zones and to challenge the status quo. I hope you are able to join me in my travels via this blog and are inspired to try something new, scary, yet exciting (this is for me)!<br />
<br />
Nick<br />
<br />
<br />Fit for Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013319379444378582noreply@blogger.com0