MY Nomadic Life for 17 years...

[Ray Eklund]

I read some Threads about how ‘Wonderful Family Full Timing’ could, would or may be. The latest had no trailer and nothing to tow the trailer, they do not possess. I would recommend they sit down and pencil out how the finances, that will cover the tow vehicle, trailer and provisions and where this imaginary site to park the trailer is going to cost. A home will seem… cheap in comparison.

My family of five moved five times by the time I was in Second Grade. (Montana Lumbering jobs.)
My family of five moved three times by the time I finished the sixth grade. (My father was in the US Army up to the end of sixth grade.)
My family of five moved three times during junior high school. (No idea why.)
My family of five moved each year during my high school years. (No idea why.)

I moved ONCE, when we had children. With the second daughter entering first grade, we were financially prepared to purchase a larger home ten miles from the first. We never moved until they graduated High School. When they graduated the University, they were on their own. The youngest stayed in the area and the second has lived at a number of locations in the USA and Europe.

Now my grandson is getting closer of school age, it may be interesting to see if there is a change to this Nomadic Life. It is their choice, not mine.

In my young perspective, this moving was a personal disaster. If no one understands, you must have not moved much, or not at all. The generation, that moved a lot, may have children who do not want to when they become adults.

Nomadic Indians of the Central Plains traveled as a GROUP with friends and relatives. I would have preferred this, most of all.

Those who did not move a lot, if at all, may have children who want to live in many different places. That would be interesting to hear about. Mine are 50%/50%.

Yes. I saw the World. If I had a choice, I would have had a better life and my siblings, had we stayed at one place. If you and your special other want to travel… ask the kids what THEY think of it. If they resist… wait until they have grown up, left home and you can do whatever you find appealing. This decision may make profound changes, positive or negative to young minds.

This Nomadic Life ’suffered’ by my brother and sister did not transfer well in their adult lives. My sister has not moved since moving out as an adult. My brother is a Nomad from Missouri and Oklahoma Boondocking.

Myself, I managed to be independent and self competent by 8 years old. Social interactions between friends did not exist, as we moved often to have any friends. When I read about a couple taking their children on a Nomadic Life… there may be personal costs to one or more of your children.. You may not see it today, but it could manifest in their teenage years.

I have met some traveling with young children in trailers. The children were intelligent, well mannered and eager to enter a conversation… with adults, as children were not available. They were disciplined and organized. Their parents were not like mine. Highly educated to Home School, disciplined, organized, financially secure and had a PLAN. These children's experiences, traveling, may enhance their extroverted and introverted self being. These may be the success stories. These kids were self reliable, responsible and worked well as a group.

Please. This is MY story. There may be others willing to step forward and give young parents some idea of how you felt about… Nomadic Living. It may have been a success and others would like to understand how you felt and managed.

Much like Child Movie Stars… their lives were changed. Some managed and some did not. I managed… but would have preferred a “Home Sweet Home”.

[Hittenstiehl]

I grew up in a military family and could not wait to move often.

I found it exciting to find the new "duty station" place on the map and see what was around it. I also joined the military and enjoyed the thrill of the next unknown. Work after the military has now kept me in one location for some time but new homes have taken care of the urge to move.

I can pack, move and set up house quickly and comfortably. I do not have friendships dating back to school days as communiations then required letter writing which I was not good at.

Experiencing new places is the thing I miss most with stationary life and the thing I enjoy most about our nomadic Airstreaming.

We have family members who also spent time in the military. To hear their three children talk about the hardships the trauma and the negative impact it had on their growing up is always quite amazing to me.

These family members will often discourage nieces and nephews from joining the military explaining to them how hard it was or can be on a family unit. I excitedly encourage them to join and tell them of all the amazing things they will encounter.

As Ray said we certainly all process these experiences differently. What is in one person's makeup or DNA could be totally different from their sibling.

One of my guilty pleasures on TV is watching House Hunters International. In my fantasy life I move to all those exciting places, set up homes and houses, learn new cultures, eat new food and live as the locals.

In my real life we will retire in some years and part-time travel this beautiful country. We will visit big cities and small, hang out with the locals, eat good food, learn more about our history and geography and be just as happy.

[trekerboy]

Thanks for sharing your experience. My wife and I are parents to 3 young ones, all living full time on the road. We've been at it for almost 2 years and can definitely understand the desire for community. It's one of the things we miss most on the road. We don't think this is a "forever" lifestyle for us, but at least for now this lifestyle is serving to instill the values we want our children to have. Nonetheless, I thank you for your perspective on the topic of moving around a lot growing up.