I laugh when people assume that I have money. It would make sense, I guess. I have lived the past four years on the road, and one question keeps coming up: How is this financially possible?
- The first thing I did was sell everything. Well, almost everything. I sold my car and furniture on Craigslist. I had a “garage” sale. I sold my coveted vinyl collection to a close friend. I kept my phone, laptop, and some clothes, and everything else went. Why? It is all just stuff. Experiences can’t be replaced.
- Couch Surf. I started off by simply posting on Facebook and letting people know where I was headed. I sent a call-out to see if there were any friends or friends of friends that had a place I could stay for a night or two. To sweeten the deal, I offered services like “I will mow your lawn for two nights on a couch.” Then someone told me there was a site that was actually called COUCHSURFING.COM. Yep. It exists. I use friends whenever possible, but this site has helped along the way.
- WWOOF aka World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. In exchange for volunteer help, this organization offers food, lodging, and learning opportunities. Check out their site: www.wwoof.net
- Camping. For a while I just wandered between small Southern towns and slept in a tent. Rest stops were my friends.
- Odd jobs. Some of the odd jobs I have done on the road are working at hostels in exchange for stay, teaching English, working as an au pair, and picking fruit.
