Annie Kassof: Nomad Life, Briefly

It’s never too late to try something new and learn something about yourself. Annie Kassof tells us about her recent adventure.

Earlier this year, tired of bad news and bad weather, I headed to Quartzite, Arizona for the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous, an annual gathering of adults living a nomadic life.

In preparation I’d removed the front passenger seat of my Toyota Corolla, making it less claustrophobic to curl up in the back atop cushions I’d saved from an old couch.

Enroute to Arizona from Northern California I curled up in my backseat and slept okay the first two nights in Walmart parking lots.

A line of porta potties were a welcome sight when I arrived in the town center of Quartzite the next day. An inkling of doubt about how I’d fare as a nomad had surfaced with my growing appreciation of indoor plumbing. Nighttimes I stayed a few miles away on public land.

The desert sunset was lovely, as was conversation with the folks who were camped nearby.

To a point. After we’d chit-chatted about the minutia of nomadic life, and after I was invited to sit around their campfire, I realized I was tired. So I declined and went to bed in my backseat and in the middle of the night, I woke up because I was cold.

So cold that it wasn’t fun quote going to the bathroom unquote when there wasn’t a bathroom to go to anyway.

Driving home after just three days I reflected on what I’d learned. For instance, that I’m not very interested in sightseeing.

And that, even though I don’t put a lot of stock in astrology, I’m a Taurus. Tauruses are grounded. We like staying put.

And that I’m actually shy inside and don’t always feel comfortable talking to new people. Yet if I was a nomad who didn’t talk to anybody, I’d be extremely lonely!

And that, despite having a chronic pain condition, I was still curious enough to hop into my car and reside in it, for a few days, anyway.

And finally, if push came to shove, and I had to live in a vehicle, as many do, I’d make it work.

With a Perspective, I’m Annie Kassof.

Annie Kassof, retired since 2019, is an artist and writer.