About

Hi there, and welcome to Nomad for Nature.

I’ve had several blogs in the past; I had one for my free spirited lifestyle, one for my writing and one for my photography, in addition to my online photography store, and it was just too much to handle. So I tried to come up with a name that would allow me to include all my blogs into one.

One of my favorite writers is Everett Ruess, aka Vagabond for Beauty. If I had lived in his time and had met him in person, I think we could have been soulmates. So I did some searches online typing in Nomad for Beauty etc. and the word beauty always brought up suggestions for make-up companies like Cover Girl, which is typical of a consumerist world and something I really don’t want to have much to do with, and so I settled on the word Nature.

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Nature is my biggest love. I travel to seek out the beauty in nature. I love watching the sunset on continually changing horizons and waking up to different views in the morning. I like sitting up in bed and feeling the air on my face from my vehicle window, just inches away, and having a new view to enjoy as often as possible..

I think I was born with what scientists have dubbed the Wanderlust Gene (DRD4-7r Gene). When I was a child I was already dreaming of escaping dreary old England and traveling overseas. I even got the paperwork to apply for citizenship in Australia and was disappointed to learn that it wasn’t going to be possible until I was much older.

I finally escaped England in November 1987 at the age of 25 and flew to the United States on a whim then ended up just staying here. I was illegal for a few years, and eventually paid my fines and got my Green Card. Then in July 2009, I became a U.S. Citizen.

Between my birth in 1961, and the year 2013, I estimate that I lived in about 50 different brick and stick homes (do the math). However, since the year 2004, I’ve primarily lived a nomadic life out of a vehicle, with occasional house-sitting jobs, and temporary homes that have only lasted a few months, weeks or days, and my vehicle has always remained packed for a quick escape. The number of places I now consider home cannot possibly be counted and none of them have an address that the post office would recognize.

I work part of the year, then spend as many months as possible traveling, hiking, exploring, doing photography and ultimately writing about this wonderful nomadic lifestyle.

I hope you will follow me on my journey, and perhaps you too will consider a non-traditional life, filled with experiences instead of things, while you are (hopefully) still young enough to do so.

ALSO, READ MY NOMAD LIFE.

~ Roxy ~ a Nomad for Nature

40 responses to “About”

  1. Roxy,
    I’m so glad Bob had you on his channel. Otherwise, I would have never learned about you. I envy your ability to live the way you do. Thank you for sharing your life on your blog.

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  2. Hi Roxy
    Thank you so much for sharing your story with Bob’s channel. You are such an inspiration for the lifestyle I will be heading towards when I move back to Australia in December. I was so happy to see your second video in which you had bought a van. I hope to find a group with people like you to meet up with in Aus. Thank you again.

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  3. This lady, (I’m calling her K), just bought me a coffee on my Ko-Fi link and sent one of the sweetest emails. I wanted to post it on here so that I won’t lose it. She says I’ve inspired her, but I’m the one feeling inspired now. Thank you for writing this K. I’m glad you are getting out again, and please spread the word that women can do this on their own.
    ~~~ Here’s what K wrote:
    I haven’t been out in the wilderness (camping) since my separation/divorce in 2001; I dismissed it as “unsafe” to go out on my own. I admire your courage and strength to pick yourself up and carry on no matter what life has thrown at you. You and one other woman’s blogs and vlogs about living a nomadic life have shown me that I really can do some car camping on my own to reconnect with nature again to refuel my soul. (Small
    steps – I don’t feel called to the nomadic lifestyle at this point). I live in British Columbia, which is a stunningly beautiful province nature-wise and I’ve been missing out on that for the last 15 years because of that limiting belief.
    I’m also learning from you that living with less is actually living with more, a realization for which I am grateful. Thank you.
    Kind wishes,
    K

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Hi Roxy. I just remembered a place i visited which you might like to live at sometimes: Indian Valley in northeast California, it is the area around Greenville, they even have a hot springs there. Try Alta Camp Road for low cost overnight camping. The area is very quiet and has cafes, grocery stores. It is really nice. But not sure about the winter weather. Click this link to visit Google map of the area: https://www.google.co.nz/maps/@40.1323347,-120.9432059,14z?hl=en

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  7. Hi Roxy, I am also from England now living in Las Vegas. My husband and I are thinking of doing some RVing. I think we are a bit too old for full timing. I admire you for following your dreams. Never know, we may cross paths somewhere. Happy Trails

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  9. You are such an inspiration. I immediately subscribed to your blog after finding out about you from Bob’s video. Have watched your video at least 6 times and have read your previous blog posts.
    What was the lightweight material you used to make the base for your bed? That was a genius idea for making a “basement”. I will need all the space i can get in my 1999Honda CRV.

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    • Thanks for the kind comments 🙂 My bed was made of a sheet of plywood, that’s all. I had a piece of 2.4 screwed on the underside at the one end, to raise the height so it was level.There was the odd occasion where I couldn’t get Mitzi level for sleeping, and all I had to do was put something under the bed to level it out, instead of leveling the car. LOL. Worked great! Good luck with kitting out your Honda…and thanks for the follow.

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  10. Hi Roxy! I am a kindred spirit, a photographer, and nature lover at 31 and can’t wait to start living the way you do! The place I always felt the most comfortable was Colorado. You should check out Evergreen. Anyways, haven’t you ever considered a tiny house on wheels? A small one on a 10ft trailer could be pulled by your SUV if you have a tow hitch. I’m planning on building one with my dad after I save up the funds. That way you would have better insulation, more privacy, composting toilet, and some room to stand up and move around. The best way to park it is to find someone with a big parcel of land you can park it on in the woods and rent from. Some people trade for rent. Anyways, good job so far and I hope you are happy and well. -Deanna http://www.empirestudio.net

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    • I’m totally into the tiny house movement, and may consider it one day. However, right now I move almost every day throughout the winter months. I won’t even consider pulling a small trailer right now it’s just too restrictive for my needs. However, if someone wants to move occasionally and stay put in one place for say…6-months at a time, I think they are wonderful. A small RV might be just as good though. Anyway, I’m happy with what I have right now, I can park almost anywhere and also go onto plenty of dirt back roads 🙂 – I may consider upgrading to a truck with a camper shell one day, when I can afford it.

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  11. Hi Roxy! I’m another one who made it over here after viewing your video with Bob. And I no longer do Dell either after having had issues with them too. I was wondering about vehicles… You mention awd/4wd as essential but wanting maybe a little more room. Also mentioned was a fondness for the Tiger RV; ouch… they are expensive, and even older used models are hard to find. Given all that, do you have a next best vehicle option you would consider?

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    • So much of it depends on how a person wants to live and where. A van may work best for city dwellers, but I’m an outdoors gal, and I hate cities. I dream about Tigers and such (with a lift even), but they are not in my price range (no where near). I think I’d like my next vehicle to be a 4wd truck with a camper shell. It would be ideal for me, and because I don’t ever intend to have to stealth in a city, it would be perfect for one such as I. Also, if I were to get a job say as a camp host, or stay in one place for any length of time, I could remove the camper part and set it up for the summer, and continue to use my truck to get around. I’ve given this a lot of thought, and that is the way I would go, but it is a very personal choice as we all have different needs and goals. Thanks for your comment, and I hope this helps a bit.

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      • Thanks for your helpful input. A truck/camper sounds like a nice plan. At one point, I was considering a small trailer, but didn’t really like the extra hassle and limitations with dragging it around. Keeping vehicle options as simple and stress free as possible seems like a good way to go.

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Hi Roxy
    I wrote to you on Facebook as well, and just wanted to say how much I enjoyed watching you on the Nomad Youtube channel. I asked Bob for your info, and he posted it. I am living vicariously through you, but realize I may be too old to begin this type of lifestyle, I just may somehow figure it out. I am looking to minimalize as well, and reduce my footprint before i leave this plane. Look forward to seeing more of your incredible photos, and reading your stories. Ildiko from Ripton, VT

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    • Thanks for your kind words, I’ll be sure to look for you on Facebook. You don’t say how old you are, but I was talking to a lady in Anza-Borrego State Park this February who was probably in her seventies. She was watching the sun set on the cliffs and watching the shadow climb slowly up the walls, when she commented to me that this was the way she wanted to die. Watching the sun set on cliffs, or some other beautiful location instead of in a nursing home. She had started her travels in January, and had to fight with her children to even try this lifestyle, but once she started living in her little RV she knew it was the way she wanted to spend the rest of her days. She was trying to pluck up the courage to tell them she had made the decision to live this way until she could no longer function, or better still until her drying day. She could not think of a better way to spend the rest of her life. The truth is, this life is easy. As long as you can drive safely, and have a little bit of money for emergencies, this lifestyle can be way easier than living in a home. A person can make it even easier still if they can afford camp grounds (and don’t mind them) etc. I’ve met people in their 70’s, 80’s and 90’s living this way, and they say their health improves and there are all kinds of benefits. Just food for thought. And if you don’t try it (it’s not for everyone) then I hope you continue to live vicariously through me and other blogs like mine, and I hope I don’t disappoint.

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      • Hi Roxy

        I am turning 69 this month, and shared your story with a few friends, one, who happens to live semi- nomadically as well, using a van. She loved seeing the documentary on this lifestyle. What I love about what you do, is that you are a nature lover, like myself, and a photographer. Your purpose is different than those who appear to live mostly in RV parks. I myself, would prefer not to be parked next to someone with a generator, but where there are only nature sounds. I left my house in PA to move to VT three years ago after selling my beautiful Martin guitar….for the reasons of peace and quiet and the mindset of what i thought was all of VT. I live in the Green Mountains, but have to endure gunshots and fireworks from some of the neighbors. I have not found a peaceful neighborhood yet, in all my places where I have owned homes & lived. This is one reason that traveling in my own space appeals to me. I can just pick up and go. The one thing though that would be a drawback for me is that I have animals right now. I also have chickens, and have grown dependent on their wonderful eggs. Anyway, I don’t want to ramble too much, but I think you are great and I will keep you in mind in trying to figure out what my next course of action will be. (i love my creature comforts like a daily hot shower, and a toilet that flushes too much i am afraid.)

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  13. Roxie,

    I learned about you and your site from the video that Bob Wells did about you and your SUV. I just finished reading your post, “My Nomadic Life.” Wow, what a story and what an ordeal you have been through over your life. But, the best part is that you haven’t given up. You’ve made lemonade out of lemons. I think you should consider writing a book about your life story.

    Liked by 1 person

    • How many people talk about my writing a book…I’ve lost count. Thanks for the encouragement…maybe if I get a more comfortable place to sit and write for long periods some time, and have a phone with data which I can tether to my laptop… (I know, excuses, excuses). I started a book once…but then I started traveling instead. LOL…now I don’t have time to do much more than this blog. 🙂

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      • Hey Roxy….if you want to house sit for me, let me know. I live in a little log cabin with my dog and three cats and six chickens. I would love to go up to AK to help my son with his business or to visit my uncle & aunt in Hungary, but pet sitters are expensive and if you think this may be something you would like to do, let me know. Ildiko

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        • I’m afraid I don’t have any intentions of going near VT in the next year or two…it certainly sounds like you and I are kindred spirits though. We both love nature and quiet. I intend to write an article called “The Right to Silence” soon…I just have to stop traveling long enough to be able to think…ha ha. I’m moving daily right now, have been for a long time 🙂 maybe I’ll get going on it today, write it piece-meal.

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          • ahh too bad…..but if you ever decide to, let me know. now that we have connected on FB, we can stay in touch. I look forward to reading about your “Right to Silence”…one of my greatest needs as well. 🙂 later. have to get back to working on taxes. 😦

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  14. I too enjoyed watching Bob’s video about your “mansion!” Very inspiring. I will now follow your blog and have to say your photography is beautiful. I couldn’t tell in the video, or missed it. Where do you store water and how much do you carry?

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    • I keep water on the floor of my vehicle in the front of the passenger seat. I’ve found that it doesn’t freeze so easily there (I know not why). I also have some near at the rear end, I think they can be seen in the video and some of my pictures of the rear end of Mitzi. I usually have around 5 gallons of water with me, in many different containers. If I were going somewhere remote for an extended period, I would add more. Five gallons of water can last me a very long time, and I rarely run out. I’m a pro at making water go a long way. I might do an article on it one day, but it could end up being very tedious and boring.

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  15. WOW, saw your video on Bob’s site, I’ll have to study your site more thoroughly, I feel exactly what you feel. I can only imagine what those 12 years must have been like. All those fantastic experiences in nature. Words are not enough to describe… Stopped working about 15 years ago for the same reasons and I never looked back…

    All the best and ciao

    Claudio (googling my name you’ll find some pictures of the areas you are traveling through…)

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  16. I saw you in Bob Well’s video yesterday and I am so inspired. I especially appreciated seeing your organization inside your vehicle, as I too have a pretty small vehicle, a minivan, in which I have lived and traveled. I’m alway looking for ideas on how to organize the space more efficiently and you have given me lots of ideas.

    I am curious to know about the pretty things you wear on your head. What are those and where do you get them?

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    • They are called Buffs. I have tons of them, all different colors. They can be worn as a neck gaiter, head band, hat, all kinds of different ways. They are great for hiking in as they are light enough to wear in the sun when there is a slight cooling breeze. However, Buffs cost around $20 each (those with the name brand Buff), and all they are is a piece of fabric tubing, so I go onto ebay and buy similar items for about $2.99 or $3.99 each. I like them because they make me look ‘dressed up’ even when I’m in my outdoor gear. They also hide my gray hair quite nicely 🙂

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