Going Rogue - What was I thinking?

After decades working as a professional engineer - I went rogue, leaving my career and everything I knew, packed myself and my 3 large dogs into a 40-foot long, "classic" motorhome and hit the road.

I wanted to start a podcast. I wanted to see the western part of the USA. I wanted to meet new people and see new things. I wanted to LIVE before I DIED.

It wasn't like I had some terrible medical diagnosis - it was more like my choices were a boa constrictor, which had slowly squeezed the joy and life out of me over the decades.

I imagined how it would all go - life on the road in an RV, travelling full time. I had a sanitized view of the future on one hand; and, on the other hand I was terrified with the thought of everything that could go wrong and a deep fear that I would fail.

My sanitized view consisted of creating podcasts about the beautiful landscape, the pleasures of RV life, the freedom, and relevant product use and installation videos that looked as streamlined and perfect as the ones I had been watching on YouTube.

In my early attempts my nails were done, my hair was fixed, my makeup was on --- but I knew nothing, and my recordings stalled out as I tried to figure out what I could say with any authority. Frankly, I was making self-educated guesses about the best purchases, brands, and plans. It would take months on the road before I learned which decisions were smart and which ones were a waste of money.

The NOCO Battery Jump Starter turned out to be one of my absolute best purchases, but I remember opening the box and trying to figure out the various cords, as well as not being sure if I really needed the almost $300 dollar purchase for my full-time RV life. Turns out – I did – it saved me and paid for itself many times over the cost. I'll explain more about that in an upcoming blog. 

For now, let's just say creating a podcast or your tube channel about the best tips and tricks of RV life – is a lot harder than it looks. I have an even greater appreciation for all the hard work others are doing to publish so much free content on social media!

However, the idea of creating a podcast was not my main reason for Going Rogue. Competing with the sanitized view of my future life, was a deep urgency to do it AT ALL COSTS and to face my fear and failures along the way.

My fear was somewhat justified. It may not be the most prudent thing to do - leave a stable career with steady income - to embark on a journey having little knowledge of RV life, in an old RV with 3- large dogs, and a limited budget.

However, some fear is just Fear itself – the fear of change, the fear of the unknown, the fear for my safety, the fear of looking foolish, and worse – the fear of being foolish. I had a heavy dose of all these.

This blog, Going Rogue, is about what I discovered, where I went wrong, what I learned, and where I got it right.

Going Rogue is about the tips and tricks that I eventually learned. While it will include pictures of stunning landscapes, insights into the real story of full-time RV life; what I discovered about people was far more important. Finally – this blog is about the inner journey as much as it is about the outer journey. It takes courage to set forth on your dream, facing your own self and the new world you are creating. I won't say that it will always be easy or feel great - but the reward of following your heart is immeasurable.

If you are thinking about trying RV life or pursuing any dream, I have a lot of good information to share that will help you. But first, let’s start with you, because YOU are the most valuable asset in this process.

I hope you will get a notebook or journal and write out your answers to the list of questions, but you can also just think it over while your commuting to the job you don't enjoy, taking out the trash, or sitting in that Monday morning meeting that you dread each week.

Consider all the questions in the list above. Let your mind run free and consider all thoughts that come to you, for example:

• What are all your resources? List them.  No, really! List them!!! List ALL of them.

One thing I learned while I was Going Rogue, was that I had far more resources than I have ever realized. I discovered that having some savings is very helpful, but money is only one example of our resources - there are many more that we often discount or don't even consider as a resource. For example, I am much more creative and resourceful than I had realized. These were qualities that helped me immensely on the road.

Money is helpful of course, but it is only one resource. You have many talents, skills, aptitudes, abilities, and experiences to draw upon - both yours and the people you know and the people you’ll meet. Being able to make friends is a valuable resource on the road.

While boondocking in the Mojave Desert, I began to run low on diesel for the generator but the spout on my new fuel can was impossibly short. When I tried to add diesel, it spilled everywhere.

In the picture below, my newly made friend and neighboring camper provided a fuel can that worked without spilling diesel everywhere. On the road, I was helped so many times. While it is still hard for me to ask for help, I don't think I could have made it without the friendship and kindness of strangers. Being able to meet people and make friends was valuable to me emotionally, as well as technically, as often they had knowledge or tools that I did not have.

As you think about these questions, and I hope you’ll get a notebook a start a long list of all your resources. Don't discount yourself or play small. You are great at things that others are not and you are okay at things that others are exceptional at - it ALL COUNTS!

So, count it, you do not have to be the greatest mechanic in the world to put "good mechanic knowledge" on your list.

By the way, being a handyman and having some mechanical ability is a big plus on the road, so is problem solving skills and having a good set of tools.

Your list of resources should include everything from natural talents, to training and knowledge, to aptitudes, to personal qualities, along with assets, cash, credit lines, support from family and friends, knowledge, skills, and abilities. Even what I have listed here is not a BE ALL - END ALL list. I'm sure you have resources that I have never considered, so list those. Give yourself credit. Think about yourself and all your resources in a different way. Instead of just thinking about your bank account or your job as the resources that will provide for you, all your resources can be utilized to help you create the life of your dreams - whether that is on the road in an old RV or something else entirely.

It is not too late and there is no obstacle that you can't overcome - so go ahead - Dream a Big Dream. Going Rogue might seem scary or impossible, but you can do it - one step at a time.