The Modern Nomads Leading the Vanguard to a New American Frontier

Nomadism is a centuries old way of life for people who choose not to live in one place but continuously move on a cyclical basis. Nomads are often romanticized in literature and art through narratives of transience and travel such as the ancient Greek epic, Homer’s Odyssey or the exotic image of the nomadic Gypsy. Nomads are integral to human civilization because our ancestors once roamed the earth as hunter gatherers. This instinctive drive to begin new journeys forms the basis of today’s episode as we examine nomads in the modern context, through a travelling community of “van dwellers” living in the United States. Van dwellers are part of a social movement of nomadic individuals who reject conformity in favour of minimalism, frugal living and a broad re-assessment of their life values. It represents a counter-cultural approach to living because instead of sinking money into homes, they choose to convert their vans into living spaces. Although this alternative lifestyle is a clear choice for those seeking adventure and liberation, regrettably many people are forced to lead it for monetary reasons. This underlying theme of economic necessity is closely linked to our special guest, Bob Wells. He is a leading exponent of the nomadic lifestyle and has become an inspirational figure to those individuals who have rejected the standard script of economic wealth and security for all. In this episode we explore how he began living on the road during the mid 1990s, after a devastating divorce left him in dire economic circumstances, and was unable to pay for his rent. By learning to save money and live rent-free in a box van, he slowly adapted and learned to embrace his life of mobile living and the new found freedom it afforded him. He offers practical advice on how to live a nomadic life through his website and YouTube channel, CheapRVLiving. But his main audience comes from a predominantly older community especially those facing the stark reality of financial hardship and homelessness. He has made it his life’s mission to help and serve others who have reached an existential crisis in their lives. Bob also features in the multi-Oscar winning film Nomadland (2020), playing a fictionalized version of his own character as a real life nomad. He is also a vocal critic of the American Dream, believing it is out of touch with the harsh economic conditions lived by ordinary Americans. We also explore the darker themes of nomadic life such as grief, loss and emotional pain, which have been laid bare by the advance of American Capitalism. But despite more people abandoning the ever more ethereal American Ideal, Bob Well’s message is one of hope and resilience because the nomad’s story is underscored by a human will to survive. The ultimate belief that from darkness comes light, expressed as a rallying cry that, “the best times of your life” are still ahead.