I have always been interested in your stories of your life, GypsyMonkey. I would like to know more. If you think my questions are too personal, just ignore me. I think of people who used to live in boats along the Mississippi about 100 years ago or the TV series, "Route 66" when I think of your travels. Your life seems so different from that of today's RV'ers. I wonder how you do some things. When you cook your food, do you just find a likely place or do you go to a park where it is allowed? Do you have a chair or just sit in your vehicle or sit on the ground while cooking and eating? Yes, I want to picture it, too. You must encounter a lot of curious people, including weirdos. Do you sometimes think of living another way or is this just the only thing you would enjoy? Is it possible to carry bulk food? Do you have things you have to do all of the time, such as get ice? Do you have a great deal of variety, non-stop? Or do you stay places for a while, such as using the parking lot at Walmart for your camping home, because of the cost of gasoline? Do you travel light? I travel light, whether going across the country or overseas, but I suppose you have to carry everything with you all the time, such as over-the-counter medicines you need only once in a blue moon. (I once took my African violets with me on vacation. They rode in the back floorboard.) Do you have a route you always follow, eventually coming back to the same place where you started? The biggest question of all is how did you think of calling yourself GypsyMonkey.

Sorry I have been offline a lot lately. Last year was hellish and I rather not discuss that. I am currently trying to get back what I lost and it is not easy right now. I do not mind the questions however I am hesitant to answer in great details since I tend to get backlash for my ideas and my lifestyle. I am a unique individual that enjoys an unique lifestyle that many do not understand nor wish to understand. I appreciate your questions and will answer the best I can.

I am a gypsy by spirit and not blood. I love to travel, I love nature, I love to be well as natural as I can be. I also think monkeys are awesome. They are vibrant, creative, and resilient. Hence why I am Gypsymonkey.

When it come to medicine, I prefer holistic. I have shaman friends, Wiccan friends, medicine women, and homeopathic friends. I have gotten to the point that I carry around salves and tinctures. I have essential oils and other ways to keep me healthy. I cook as natural as I can. I prefer going to my friends farms and co-ops for my fruits, vegs, meats. Before last year I had a full years worth of food storage, even for my pups. I had a home built RV that was my home. The front seat of the truck was my living room. The back bed area was my kitchen and I had sleeping area over the cab. It was able to handle 10 degrees outside with minimal heating required since I had a high insulation value. I had solar for electricity.

I will be rebuilding my home once I find the right truck. I am looking for something old and big and 4 wheel drive. I want a 1 ton or bigger with an 8 foot bed (or bigger) that can go anywhere. I do not stay in town unless I am unable to find some green space outside of town. If I hit NYC for example, I go into hostiles and store my truckhome at a friends home. If I am in Arkansas for example I will find plenty of spots to camp out. So no Walmart, campgrounds, truck stops and such are only when I have to. I tend to go to national forest, blm (land management) or other free land. Parking in a trail head over night is fine for a night or two as well.

How do I cook? hmmm well I prefer open fire pit. I also have mini camp stoves. Single burner camp stoves are better than the double burner which I have found waste gas. The propane containers can be refilled as well. Refrigeration is complicated to explain here however I will say that I rigged a system that keeps things cold for a week at a time. At another juncture I will explain in more detail. For heat I use mini alcohol burners. I take the quart metal containers with a lid, put in some toilet paper and then add alcohol. There is more to it then that however that is the gist.

I have been stuck couch surfing since the incident last year. It has been a depressing and difficult year. I have hated being stuck in 4 walls however I appreciate the friends that have been there for me. I have felt like a kenneled pup stuck in world that is foreign to me. Don't get me wrong, I was raised in NY in the 'burbs. I have been an executive and even owned my own business. I just found my self and my happiness behind the wheel and in the wild.

Not sure if I went into too much detail or not enough. Like I stated earlier, I get backlash from others about my lifestyle, choices, and ideas. I do appreciate your tact and consideration in asking me questions. I normally love to open up and show others my life however recent experiences have left me feeling battered - even here.

oh and as far as 'regular' locations go, in the winter I go where it is warm and in the summer I go where it is cooler. I friends in many places so it is difficult to say where I am at and for how long. I have permanent addresses in Or, AZ, GA, and MO.

For me: Home is where I lay my head - I just try to make sure that it is surrounded by green and nature with natural light.

You are very resourceful and amazing. If I was younger and did not have as much family, and did not have a bad back, I would love to achieve a smaller level of your lifestyle.

Thanks, GypsyMonkey. That was fascinating. We used to subscribe to "Mother Earth News". It sounds like something from that magazine. For me, there would be some loneliness in that lifestyle, though. I am also rather homebound. I once used a propane heater when I couldn't afford a stove in a house I bought before I met my husband. I was so glad to move to a gas stove.

Thank you for sharing that. I understand your hesitation to say too much. I love all the natural things you do. And those salves and tinctures are my choice as well. I use homeopathic remedies on my pets, too, and they are all so healthy.

I wish you well and safe travels and hope you get back on track with your plans soon.

I enjoyed reading about your lifestyle and appreciate your sharing.