I’m a nomad with an invisible illness. Just looking at me you won’t see a limiting disability. Call it what you will, the doctors never could agree on a diagnosis, but the main symptoms include debilitating fatigue that unpredictably comes on after even small amounts of exertion, along with varying levels of pain and body dysfunction. So how do I enjoy nomad life with a disability?
Life Before Disability
Before I got sick my body was my servant. I was super active, worked full time, had a second job cleaning houses and businesses, had a gym membership that I actually used, rode my bike for miles, and could walk anywhere with no problems.
Then I had a blood clot in my lung in 2004. I recovered and continued to work, but began having strange episodes where my physical and cognitive functions stopped working. It all peaked in 2014, and one day I collapsed at home and took a fun trip by ambulance to the ER. It was humiliating and depressing, and I started seeing a counselor, wondering if it was worth it to stick around in that condition. I was housebound, in constant pain, couldn’t drive, and couldn’t walk even a few feet without exhaustion. Sitting or laying down was virtually my life.
I was lucky. In 2016 I had an unexplainable remission of symptoms.
By then the nomad bug had taken over my heart and soul, and I bought a minivan to convert. I grabbed this miraculous second chance at life, and though I was still disabled, my intuition was telling me it was time to live closer to nature as a nomad.
Going from physically active to disabled I’d already learned some hard-earned life lessons, but becoming a nomad brought a brand new school of lessons. I quickly learned the reality of my limitations.
Nomad Life With A Disability
On my first trip out, I thought I was well enough to take a hike through the wild Adirondack forest. Alone. With zero cell signal. When the familiar symptoms of a “crash” took over and I realized my body wasn’t going to cooperate, I turned around. The “hike” back was a dizzy stumbling mess. I pictured myself laying at the base of of a tree for the night until my body recovered, and as I staggered into camp, relief flooded my being. I was lucky I didn’t get stuck out there.
It was pretty disappointing to realize I’d have to adjust my exceptions of nomad life.
The good news is, over the years I’ve slowly improved. That little hike I took in the Adirondacks 7 years ago would probably be doable today on a good day, and I have markedly less “crashes” then I did back then. I was right to trust my intuition. Living close to nature, getting sunshine and fresh air every day, putting my feet on the ground, and living my dream, has been better medicine than any pharmaceutical!
Coping With Disability On The Road
Now I’m still learning the balancing act with the many nomad chores that need to be done, along with self care practices and leisure time.
The solar has to go out every morning, and the batteries set up to charge. Is it time for shopping, water replenishing? Do I have to batten down the hatches for the Weather? Does the portable solar need to be moved? The fatigue of a chronic illness is another factor in what I get to do. I only have a certain amount of energy points, or spoons as those in the chronic illness community describe it. (read about the Spoon Theory here.)
And I always have to take into account the time and energy I need for my crucial self care practices of meditation, gentle stretching and yoga, Tai Chi, and healthy food.
As far as hiking, remember that scene in Rocky when he reaches the top of the stairs with the inspirational swells of music in the background? That’s how I feel when I can walk a slow mile!
To be honest, it still feels crappy when fellow nomads are getting up early to do long hikes and have other adventures that depend on physical stamina.
When I get discouraged about being disabled, I try to take stock of some of the cool things I HAVE done as a nomad.
I Wrote and published my first book, Wild Women On The Road!
Then I published two more books and two journals!
I was recently interviewed for a podcast, SoloWomenRV. (My interview is titled: It’s Harder Than I Thought It Would Be And That’s OK.)
I’ve designed a blog, cosmicnomadvoyager.
I finally put my feet in the Pacific ocean, so now I’ve crossed the continent from shore to shore!
Met a lover on the Arizona desert.
Traveled with a partner.
Traveled alone.
Learn to thrive in the deserts and forests of the Southwest.
Camped in the Kaibab national forest near the Grand Canyon.
Get to enjoy the most gorgeous scenery right outside my front door!
Get to enjoy the freedom and adventure of seeing new views all over the country, meet all kinds of fascinating people, and learn how capable I really am despite my disability!
There are many nomads traveling with disabilities, some much worse than mine. I’ve met nomads that get around in wheelchairs or braces. Some are dealing with mental health disabilities, which I’ve also had my share of on the road.
Can you still enjoy nomad life with a disability? We all give a resounding YES!
