Second big step accomplished: buying a good atlas. Thank you, Amazon, for perpetually being awesome.
I had mentioned before that there are several things that I'm concerned about & am attempting to prevent/plan for/be prepared for.
I suppose at some point I should discuss what brought me to this point & who I am. But not today.
Things I'm concerned about:
transportation--do I take my current tiny unreliable Kia? do I buy another car? how efficient would a station wagon or hearse be? [that is a serious consideration, mind you] should I get a long-term Greyhound pass?
lodging--I want to rely on Communities/couch surfing, but how long is too long, so as not to over-stay my welcome? however, if I have a large enough vehicle [see above], I wouldn't have to be so concerned, as I could sleep in there.
my cat--do I take her with me if I have a vehicle? if not, should I leave her with my parents? or give her to someone awesome?
my stuff--I've done well at the perpetual process of purging recently, but what items do I want to take with me? what items do I want to leave at my parents/in storage? should I sell the things I want to get rid of for funding or should I give them away?
insurance--I don't have any. should I be concerned if something happens to me & I end up in a hospital, etc etc etc?
medication--I take two Rx's daily & need them; should I find a FL provider who is willing to write them for 6 months? what about annual bloodwork?
toiletries--I wear contacts. should I forgo & just wear glasses, or get multiple years' worth?
traveling alone--should I fly solo or find someone [see: a current stranger] that I could trust to go with me?
--
to be continued, I'm sure.
1. I did not know you also drive a Kia. Or that you thought you were dying. You should seriously call me sometime.
ReplyDelete2. I had plans for a very similar trip and ended up changing my mind. I don't regret it, because the trip became a series of small adventures.
3. The trip and adventures are also not over.
4. First, you need to know the cost. Traveling, even the cheapest way possible, is fucking expensive if you're are not incredibly reckless.
I'm going to stop listing for better clarity, but this will still be sporadic.
My tips:
Do not sleep in your car alone. Seriously, it is not smart and it's fucking miserable.
Do not trust strangers who haven't been vetted by more than one friend or mutual friend.
Always have a definite destination and a contact in that city who will help you.
Take 2-3 pairs of jeans/shorts , t-shirts and cardigans/button ups. A dress or three that can be worn as a tunic and two pairs of shoes that can go with all of it. You'll learn to mix and match the fuck out of all of it. Stockpile dry shampoo and bandannas.
My biggest advice for you is to consider splitting this trip to a region at a time and looking for someone to go with you (I am a very good candidate.) Having a companion is more for safety and cost, as you can split any expenses and have eachothers' backs. Even if it's a stranger (who has been vetted!) Plus, geographical distance is a bitch. Stay east coast or go noth-to-south, but don't attempt everywhere at once.
Driving will get old very quickly. Gas will cost you more than food, and interstate fatigue will make you feel like a Zombie
I'd suggest the Greyhound hop-on pass. There's a bathroom and a place to sleep built in. My now deceased brother did a few Greyhound trips and told me it was scary as hell, and he wasn't scared of much. That's why he's not alive. Just something to think about. With that being said, if I had the nerve, I'd do it for a few months.
Amtrak offers a program with 8ish destinations per pass over a year (I think). You can do a cross-country or circular trip (I still have mine planned out) for $700ish. California is the only tricky place, but you can do it if you're clever. You have to book in advance, which is smart. Impulsiveness on the road, while fun, is what makes it potentially fatal.
If you're comfortable with the minimum of, say, $2,500-$4,000 for the whole trip (you can do it for much less), then look at if that's possible. That includes any prep, like stocking up on contacts and getting a 90 day prescription of your meds and finding a doctor who will call in wherever you are when it runs out.
As far as insurance, if you can afford it, find a cheap high-deductible policy (I think BCBS has one.) If you get hurt on this trip, you might be A.) not able to receive quality care without insurance B.) end up in more debt than you can imagine. Trust me, it's worth the cost.
I'm fucking tired, but I'm not discouraging you to do this, but remember that the idea of leaving is often better than leaving itself. (Paper Towns the only way I know how to talk about anything, really.) Planning a trip is easy, traveling is harder and everything you hoped it would be will very likely change (probably for the better, but still.)
If you need a place in Savannah, I'm staying here. I'll gladly do some regional travel with you at the very least!
<3
My friend Randy said:
ReplyDelete1. Don't go anywhere ever in an unreliable car
2. I'd say stay as long as they feel comfortable and don't give awkward pauses/looks
3. Don't take the cat. x.x just don't. It's bad for most kitties.
4. Storage isn't as bad as people think...and it will BE there when you get back
5. Insurance IS a bit of a concern...especially if you'll be on the road a lot. might want to think about that some.
6. Most providers are really good about the six month thing.
7. contacts--glasses are crap
8. not sure about the traveling alone thing. get a gun maybe?
Okay, these are my thoughts:
ReplyDeleteFirst, I disagree with Erin that the idea of leaving is better than leaving! I have had some amazing adventures!
You could take your car, or get a new one, (I like the idea of a hearse or station wagon to sleep in. We had a Jeep that we slept in, and it was too short, so we had to bend funny to sleep. You can sleep in Walmart parking lots, and Rest Areas. Both are relatively safe, but depending on the weather, you'll either need to sleep with your windows open or the air on- keep that in mind.
You'll meet amazing people that will take you in (in the form of Communities, Hospitality Houses, Couchsurfing, or brandon strangers- all of which will be adventures in themselves).
Greyhound is MUCH cheaper than driving, but having your own car is good too. Really, you'll just have to decide if the financial burden of gas is worth it. I've hitchhiked a bit, and wouldn't really recommend it. Nothing terrible happened to me, but there was an experience that ruined it.
People will be open about how long you can stay. Just talk to them, and be helpful around the house/community/whatever.
I planned on taking my cat during one of my adventures and I'm really glad I chose not to. You need to have nothing tying you down. Let her stay with your parents.
Don't take hardly anything. Wear jeans and tennis shoes, bring an extra shirt and skirt (and hoodie or something similar)and flip flops that are mixmatchy so that you'll have something to wear for any occasion.
You can wash your clothes (and hair) in sinks. You get used to it.
Sell or give away what you don't need, minus sentimental stuff. You can store the things you can't part with at your parents house or the church.
I wouldn't be concerned about insurance.. but I'm not usually concerned about that sort of thing. If you think you need it, pay it in advance so you don't have to worry about it. Do ask your doctor for your prescriptions in advance. As for bloodwork, get it before you go and if you need more and are still wandering, go to a cheap clinic.
I'd recommend wearing glasses but bringing a pair of contacts just in case you need them for some reason.
Traveling alone is powerful, but scary. And there will be LOTS of creepy men who will try to take advantage of you. If you choose to travel alone, be careful! Even if you do go alone, you'll probably end up traveling with someone eventually, since you'll make friends on the road.
You'll soon learn that there is no way to actually plan for it, there is nothing you actually need. Traveling, and adventure is amazing, and there's no way to do it wrong, as long as you are willing to break your own rules a bit.
PS -DON'T BRING A GUN. Do bring a knife.
Per Nina:
ReplyDeleteTRANSPORTATION :: How unreliable are we talking? If your car is prone to breaking down, it's not going to survive a cross-country trip…especially if the problem is overheating or the like. That said, while having your dream roadtripping car (mine was a VW van that was for sale on the side of HWY 98 for $1500 that I still dream about to this day) is that: a dream come true, it can also be a total nightmare if you're going it alone and aren't able to fix it yourself. Also, the cost of gas has more than tripled since I did my trip…so I don't think a huge car is a great idea. Plus, as Erin said, driving takes some of the fun out of travel, even if you like driving. If you do drive, stay off the Interstate and plan your route + estimated gas prices along the way so you can see how much it's going to cost. Consider borrowing a GPS, but there's likely one on your phone, and people have been roadtripping long before smartphones.
You know that we opted for the Greyhound route. Also, as for sleeping in your car -- you need to take into account *where* you'd be sleeping in it. The only places that you can stay without the police really bothering you are Wal*Mart parking lots (bright and probably not what you intended seeing across the country) and rest stops (weirdly deserted at times and I never felt super safe at them). That said, I wouldn't bank on sleeping in your car. I've done the Greyhound pass thing and let me tell you -- travelling with Aaron was a completely different experience than travelling alone. Every man wanted to sleep with me or protect me from the men who wanted to sleep with me so they could…eventually sleep with me. It was weird. Like being the only female smurf or something. BUT! I am not suggesting you don't travel alone (I actually think you should do both -- but I'll get to that).
Aaron and I did do some hitchhiking. It's a little weird and I would never do it alone.
I think you'd like going by train. Lots of time for very important thinking, a place to sleep, people to talk to and interact with (which, btw, is *the* most important thing about traveling. You'll soon find that most places are very similar, which is a sad truth about franchises and corporate takeover…but new people with new stories makes a place…plus they can show you to all the awesome places that you otherwise won't be able to find), and oh the romance of the train! Plus, since I don't really think you're much on non-planned spontaneous flip a coin to decide East or West kind of girl, planning out your travel itinerary beforehand wouldn't even be a painful concession (it would be for me).
Per Nina:
ReplyDeleteLODGING :: Yes rely on Communities and couch surfing. I disagree with Erin about the staying-only-with-friends-of-friends thing. I understand the concern…and I would never suggest you stay with some random Craigslist ad or anything, but the world is less scary than movies and after-school specials would have you believe. I'm not saying be careless, but I am saying that you need to be able to trust your instincts, feel out your surroundings, and be able to read a situation. That's probably my number one piece of advice. Get good at that. Don't be too trusting, but don't get wrapped up in the stranger danger hype. Couchsurfing has a great network of vouching for each other. Most people on there have a network of recommendations and reviews of their stay with people -- it's like Yelp for temporary roommates. You can look at someone's profile and see if they're well-travelled or well-connected and feel safe. I've done it in many states as well as other countries and have ONLY had good experiences. Same goes for everyone that I've spoken to who is involved with the couch surfing community. Two of my best Chicago friends were complete and utter strangers that let me crash their couches before I moved here. Both of those weekends are significant points of interest in my life -- I was inspired to change or create and both were very, very big factors in making me who I am today.
As for the over-staying… With Couchsurfing, you plan for how many days you're going to stay before you ever show up. Almost like a hotel, you book those days in advance, so neither of you is surprised. Also, I know you'd be incredibly helpful during your stay. People are less likely to think you're "overstaying" if you're doing the dishes. If you keep your things tidy, help out around the house, and are a social match to your host (again with the reading people -- but just enneagram them and you'll be good) (I just used "enneagram" as a verb) -- things will be right as rain. By social match I mean that I've stayed with people who were constantly "on" and liked to stay up till 3AM talking about travel adventures…and I've stayed with really quiet, turn-in-after-dinner folks. Behave accordingly. Additionally, I've never Couchsurfed with anyone who didn't invite me to stay a few more days…or a whole extra week. Couchsurfing isn't about finding a place to stay…it's about making new friends.
Lastly, I would also scout out hostels. In D.C. there was a place filled to the brim with bunkbeds and college-aged kids from all over the world…and it was a whopping $5 a night. I've stayed in hostels all over. They are cheap and full of people who will have lots of cool stories to tell and probably a guitar or two or three and folks that will stay up till dawn drinking wine and sketching each other. Do a few of those.
CAT :: Leave Emma at home. I have travelled with a rabbit (that I had to hide in a bag) and it was a little crazy. lol.
Per Nina:
ReplyDeleteSTUFF :: Bring as little as you can get away with. You will likely accumulate a few things on the way and you will hate carrying them. Aaron and I travelled with two backpacks, two sleeping bags, and an acoustic guitar. By week two, we wanted to sell the guitar, had sent home a box of clothes, and vowed not to buy another book at a used book store. Anything you want to get rid of sell for the trip. If it doesn't sell, make it cheaper…if it still doesn't sell, give it away. Things you want to keep or things of sentimental value, leave with your parents.
INSURANCE :: Hospitals have to treat you if you are hurt. That's not a worry at all. BUT -- I know that you're petrified of debt. Me, not so much. I'm not worried about having to pay off hospital bills at a slow and steady pace following a visit. Thankfully, I haven't had to, but insurance is gambling. Betting money (that you won't get back) that you're going to get sick. If you can find reasonably cheap insurance, go for it -- only because I think you want that peace of mind -- not because I think you need it.
MEDICATION :: Get a six month prescription of your meds. If you can't, find out if your healthcare provider is willing to call in prescriptions to drugstores local to wherever you are. Annual bloodwork? How long are you going to be gone? If you're only going a year, get it done before you go and get it done when you get back.
TOILETRIES :: You will find very soon that contacts will be more work than you are willing to deal with while on the road. Glasses are awesome. If you'll be driving, I'd keep a spare pair of glasses in your glovebox (get cheap ones from Zenni). Do not stress about having all your toiletries that you're used to. You will find out soon that having a bag of makeup, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, hair serum, etc etc etc will be a super-huge pain. I cannot express to you the importance of traveling light. Not because it's heavy, even. But because you will soon find you just don't need it. You're going to be surprised how very very very little you actually need to survive and be happy. If you have to, find the least amount of makeup you can get away with. My pick is eyeliner or mascara -- it opens your eyes up and makes you feel made up when you look in the mirror. Ditch blush, ditch eyeshadow. If you have to have foundation, bring one…but by the end of the trip, I had dumped all my makeup. Ask around (at stores and from friends and actually, since you have some time, send emails to companies) for sample packages of shampoo and conditioner. The flat little packets you see in sample boxes and magazines. I agree with Erin about the bandanas and dry shampoo.
TRAVELING ALONE :: DO IT. At least some of the time. Traveling by yourself is an amazing experience that will transform you. Adventuring alone is such a fulfilling and strengthening act -- you learn that you are just as strong and able and capable as people you admire. You stop defaulting to another person because you're the decision maker. You break through the wall of "I could never do that," because you can. I have treasured my solo travel in a completely different, self-renewing way from travel with others.
That said, I have told you that the people you meet are the most important parts of a trip. So I suggest that you do both. Especially if you're doing an entire tour of the U.S. -- find travel buddies who are interested in doing *parts* of the trip. That way others don't have to make the same lengthy commitment as you did, don't have to take as much time off, and you get to interact with more people *and* get to experience travel buddyhood and solo travel.
Per Nina:
ReplyDeleteALSO ::
>>You don't have to have a definite destination, but it helps to have a fallback plan of where you're going to sleep/shower/eat/etc. I've spent miserable nights, too cold to sleep, in a Greyhound bus station…washed my hair in public restrooms…snuck into hotels and eaten food from room service trays left in the hall and showered in their workout/pool facilities. There are creative solutions to problems, but it's easier when you don't have to use them.
>>Take less clothing than you think you need. You're definitely going to get good at mix/matching, but honestly, there's nothing wrong with re-wearing outfits, as long as you launder them. Per my notes on makeup and contacts, this trip isn't about looking hot all over the U.S. -- it's about experiences. Bring clothes that are comfortable and easily layered for whatever weather. Plan your trip around the seasons so you're not going through a place during really bad weather that you're not prepared for. Aaron and I started out with three pairs of jeans each, one pair of shorts each, enough shirts/underwear/socks x7 to last a week, a hoodie each, sleeping clothes, and two skirts, leggings, and three bras for me. A few weeks in, we shipped a box home so we were left with one pair of jeans each, three shirts each, three sets of underwear/socks each, a hoodie each, Aaron's shorts and one skirt, two bras, and the leggings for me. Jeans are heavy. Don't bother with sleeping clothes. You can sleep in t-shirt/leggings that you can use during the day too. If your clothes get ratty, buy new ones at thrift shops along the way and ditch the ratty ones. As for shirts, I suggest one tank top (good for summer, layering, and sleeping), one long sleeved thermally thing (good for fall/winter and sleeping), and one versatile t-shirt. For bottoms, I suggest one pair of leggings, one pair of comfy jeans and one skirt. Bring one dress that rolls up really tiny and looks okay wrinkly (think those cotton maxi dresses that go to the floor and will look dressed up under a cardigan). Bring a cardigan that will look dressy and nice with the dress, but also fine with your t-shirt/jeans. Bring a hoodie. You will wear it all the time. Bring a pair of comfy walking/running shoes or sneakers and some flip flops. The sneaks will serve you for working and cold and the flip flops will be good for warm times and under that dress. Get all these things in neutral colours so they all go together and can be made appropriate for any setting from church to a party to working in a garden…also, you won't have to sort them -- you can wash them all together as one load of laundry. It'd be best if they were all cotton because it's sturdy, doesn't wrinkle too much, isn't that heavy, and is very comfortable. As for underthings, you don't need as many as you think -- just wash them. You can do so in any sink and you can dry them with a hand dryer, air dry, or hair dryer. Anytime you stay with someone and they have laundry facilities, use them and wash everything. If you're going somewhere snowy, get a big coat as soon as you get there from a thrift shop. Donate it back when you leave. Don't bring a ton of jewellery. Just one piece that means something to you.
>>Do not get a gun. I can elaborate on this if necessary.
Per Nina:
ReplyDelete>>I took my major by-the-seat-of-my-pants type trips in a time pre-Foursquare, pre-Twitter, pre-Smartphones and before Facebook was as common and connected as it is now…which surprisingly was not that long ago: only 2005-2007. You are incredibly connected and able to access so much. During my U.S. tour, I wrote postcards and rarely had internet access. Which was great! Do not spend a lot of time online. In fact, I would limit yourself to 30 minutes a day. You're out there for a reason -- don't spend it doing what you'd be doing at home. But I digress -- check in to places so in the awful instance you do go missing, we know where to look and have a pretty consistent trail to follow. Tweet. It's a way to stay connected that doesn't take much time away from what you really ought to be doing.
>>As you're scouting out places to go and things to do, utilize every online resource. Via OneBrick and other volunteer sites, you can find places looking for volunteers to help with various projects from helping build community centres to serving at benefit galas. Find ways to give back to the communities/Communities you visit. Leave them with something good you impart. Look for festivals that are happening that are specific to that region. Get to know local culture. Look on Meetup and see if there are traveller parties and get togethers. Go on Couchsurfing and look for gatherings. You're going to find pretty immediately that Couchsurfing is an invaluable resource. You can even look up Couchsurfers who might not have the space for you to stay with them, but have time to show you around town or grab a coffee. It's like having friends everywhere you go! Get on Couchsurfing and read people's travel blogs and start getting involved with their online community!
>>Get a swiss army-style knife with scissors, tweezers, and a screwdriver.
>>Bring a lighter. It's useful for a great many things, best of all, making friends when someone asks you for a light.
>>Pack your things in a small backpack and have a way to attach a sleeping bag to it. Bring a sleeping bag. When everything feels foreign, this will be home. It feels the same, it smells the same, it will keep you grounded. Also, you will always have a place to sleep. If it's waterproof, you won't need a poncho or umbrella in case of rain -- you can just throw it over yourself and your backpack as you run for shelter.
Per Nina:
ReplyDelete>>Come up with a way to make some money on the road. I've sold homemade jewellry and other crafty things...there's always street performing...and I knew these great hippy kids who bought cheap shirts at thrift stores, tie-dyed them, and sold them at festivals and out of the back of their van to pay for gas. I'm saying this less about the money and more for the experience.
>>If you're going to be on a train or bus, you might want a book...but you should try writing as much as possible, so definitely bring a small journal. Books are heavy. If you must read, bring one book you haven't read on your way and trade (it for or donate it and buy) a new read at a used book store/thrift shop when you get the next place.
>>I don't think you should bring your computer. You have a smartphone for internet access and most places you go will have a public use computer, a library, or someone will let you use theirs for a time. Computers are heavy, require plugs or ample charging time, take up space, and you really oughtn't be on your computer much.
>>Anywhere you go, see if the people you're staying with have a bicycle available. It's the best way to get around and really *see* a city, not have to worry about parking, stop wherever you like, and really, just...you know, bikes are just the best transportation ever. In fact, I'd say bring a bike with you, if you can. If you're going to be staying for any length of time (a week or longer), buy a bike from Craigslist, and sell it when you leave. If you can get one for $40, even selling it for $20 (which will sell pretty fast), after a week, you would've rented a bike for less than $3 a day.
>>Go to Open Books and read travel zines. Order more from microcosmpublishing.com. Read Keroac and my favouritefavouritefavourite book ever (http://www.amazon.com/Off-Map-Hib/dp/0970910134).
>>Lastly, your experience will be your own. No matter how many people you talk to...no matter how much advice you get, your trip is yours. Don't forget that. Just because something worked for them or didn't work for them doesn't mean it will or won't for you. Don't measure your adventure against someone else's. You're gonna be great.
That's all I have for you now…if I think of anything else, I'll add it. Feel free to respond with questions and I'll do my best to answer them!
Love!
Per Gina:
ReplyDelete1. Renting a car is surprisingly cheap. Cheaper than Greyhound in many instances. And definitely safer. Some of the Greyhound stops are scary as hell. Or, you could try buying a van/VW Bus. The buses can be bad on gas, but it's only a few hundred dollars to convert them to run off of vegetable oil, which you can stop and get for free at fast food restaurants. You run the risk of perpetually smelling like french fries, though.
2. Stay long enough that you get to know people, but not long enough that tensions rise. That will be different in each situation, go with the flow.
3. I'd say no on taking the cat. I'll cat sit for you.
4. Sell what you can and give away the rest. Travel light. You'd be surprised at how little is necessary. Plus, when you get back, it'll be good to start fresh.
5. Find Catholic/Baptist run hospitals. They help millions of people for free. And the bills from the visits don't affect your credit.
6.See if they'll write you scripts that can't be filled until certain dates. That way they won't have to worry about you getting it all at once to try and sell it.
7. I'd say have some contacts for in case the glasses break, but glasses are so much easier, especially if you don't have a bathroom handy to rinse them off.
8. I would never recommend any woman travel alone. Even if you bring another female, there's safety in numbers.
I don't have enough time to read all the comments right now, but I wanted to get back to you.
ReplyDeleteLodging. Do it relationally. Stay until it's time to go.
I'd go with glasses. Are your really gonna go more than a year? Most of your medical concerns seem to seem that kinda long term thing.
I wouldn't worry much about most of the things you're worrying about, but I'm crazy. Maybe try to find a friend of a friend? But if you're gonna be surfing and in communities, going solo is okay. Just gonna be hard sometimes...