INSTEAD OF CONFINING MYSELF TO A STUDIO
ENVIRONMENT, I SEE MYSELF WORKING IN THESE
BEAUTIFUL OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTS.
Today their sense of home is much more about being comfortable
wherever they find themselves, with the help of the Airstream. “We have
created a really comfortable space for ourselves. It’s nice to know we can
take this feeling with us wherever we want. We have been able to narrow
it down to the essentials and that feels good to us, instead of us being
overwhelmed by our belongings.” It took four months of extensive online
searching to find the 188 sf Airstream. “We had a budget in mind and were
willing to restore, but we didn’t have to. The only thing I did was upholster
the cushions and hang curtains,” says Taryn. They also switched all bulbs to
LED, which meant that the wattage went from 20 to 2 in over thirty lights.
Working from the road, Branden runs a software development company
with the help of his business partners. He describes his working hours
as being much more efficient, since Internet connectivity can be limited.
Often, when the Airstream is parked in a more desolate area, he will
have to go into a nearby town to work. “I do what I need to get done and
then move on with my day. I have been able to take more control of the
stress and not let my work consume me as much. Also, cutting down on
useless Internet surfing has been key.”
Taryn is an artist, who says this quality of expansion has also found its
way into her artwork. Recently, she has been focusing on fiber art and
weaving. Taryn says, “My work has become a lot bigger. I am most inspired
by being out in nature. Instead of confining myself to a studio environment,
I see myself working in these beautiful outdoor environments.” Taryn’s goal
for a new body of work this year includes using weaving as a medium to
visually document the places they go and then holding an exhibition once
she has prepared a full collection. During their time in Denver, Branden
has built a large loom to take with them, so that Taryn can set up found
studio spaces along the way.
On average, they use about 40 gallons of water per week combined.
Branden describes showering as “a quick on-and-off military-style shower,”
and Taryn concedes that this is one of the challenges of life on the road.
She is careful not to call it a down side, however, because “as much as I
don’t like it sometimes, it creates a focused awareness of how much water
we use and [how much] is necessary. Cooking and drinking become the
priority when we are out camping in remote places.” For us “The water crisis
is very real. For us, there is an immediate consequence if we use too much
water. If we are not careful with our resource usage, we might have to cut
our visit short somewhere we don’t want to leave.” Branden adds, “From
the start, we wanted to be in charge of all our own resources and it has
become the forefront of how we are living today. The question of how we
can use our resources wisely is always on our minds.” The couple notes
that this lifestyle comes with limitations, but they accept them gladly
because of how they are able to live. Minor cons include rain: “Things get
moist and we can’t really go outside. When the propane runs out, it gets
cold. Sometimes, our clothes will all come off the hangers, things will fall
out of the cabinets and we will have messes to clean occasionally after a
drive.” When they first began, they experienced the stresses and anxieties
of the unknown—pulling a large rig around the country, mechanical issues,
etc.—but as they have settled into a life constantly on the move, much of
this has subsided, and the teamwork they have fine-tuned helps maintain
a sense of ease and routine.
One major con the two report is the inability to cultivate a garden;
this may be enough to take them off the road. Taryn says, “Food is very
important to me. One of my goals in the next couple of years is to have
a garden and grow my own food.” Several times they have looked into
WWOOF (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms) opportunities,
but each inquiry about bringing the Airstream along has ended uncertainty
from farm organizers. “We can provide our own resources and give what
we would use in the program to another participant. I think the farmers
are wary of what kind of vibe the Airstream would bring. We can create
almost every other experience on our own. This is the one where we need
to have someone accept and welcome us in our state.” Taryn chimes in
with eagerness, “We are dying to get our hands dirty.”
All in all, the two say, their cost of living has been reduced to about
one quarter of what it was before. Camping on BLM (Bureau of Land
Management) land, using WVO and solar energy, and not acquiring
unnecessary things have all contributed to these savings. They find they
have everything they need and more—constant exploration and discovery,
immersion in nature, freedom to roam, sustainable living, and the ultimate
satisfaction that comes from pursuing their wildest dreams.
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