Hella-Truck-Stop-Nation-Bob Davis Podcast 1153

Hella Truck Stop Nation

It’s a Hella Truck Stop Nation. In this case “Hella” is used in the negative sense. Get the full scoop in Hella-Truck-Stop-Nation-Bob Davis Podcast 1153.

Las Vegas

Firstly I am supposed to be enjoying a perfect Southwestern sunset in front of a warm campfire.

Instead I am in Las Vegas waiting for a heater I’ve ordered to arrive at Camping World.

And dealing with a strange noise and potential mechanical problem with Mobile Podcast Command.

Therefore I am rotating around Las Vegas.

Truck Stops

From time to time visiting various truck stops both in the city and in surrounding areas along the freeway.

Long Time Traveler

More importantly I have been doing this for a long time.

That is to say traveling around the country visiting towns and cities.

Certainly spending most of my time on the back roads and avoiding the major cities.

Shiny Hotels Of Las Vegas

All things considered when most people come to Las Vegas they come to the shining hotels.

In essence to gamble, enjoy an expensive and delicious dinner and see a show.

Miss The Back Streets

Under those circumstances visitors never see the back streets of this city.

Desperation

In particular the in town truck stops.

At the present time I don’t think I have seen this many desperate people.

And not just here in Las Vegas.

But all over the Southwest.

Fool No One

To explain we’re talking about people sleeping in cars and converted vans and utility trucks that fool no one.

Or the free campgrounds in the desert.

Digging A Little Deeper This Time

Therefore I certainly could have recorded a breezy and fun podcasts about how much I love truck stops.

On the other hand I decided to dig a little deeper and push a little harder.

Haves And Have Nots

There’s nothing like a trip to Vegas to emphasize the gap between the haves and the have nots,

The Abyss

As well as the unfortunates who have fallen off the last rung of the economic ladder…into the abyss. And sure there’s jobs for those with certain skills.

And of course there are those who I describe as useless.

Sharecroppers

Thirdly about 90 years ago hundreds of thousands of Oklahoma Sharecroppers headed west.

Grapes of Wrath

For the purposes of illustrating our current situation I spend some time discussing “The Grapes of Wrath”.

There Is No Plan

Finally the difference between today’s desperate and the Okies is a plan.

In conclusion there is no plan.

Word To The Wise

In fact if you’re a nomad or want to be one you have to be able to identify this situation and the places you don’t want to stay.

Hella-Truck-Stop-Nation-Bob Davis Podcast 1153

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Four-Years-On-The-Road-The-Bob Davis Podcast 1148

Four Years On The Road

Four years on the road full time as a nomad is pretty hard for me to believe. Details in Four-Years-On-The-Road-The-Bob Davis Podcast 1148.

Halloween

Four Years ago on Halloween I left my emptied duplex in Minnesota for a life on the road.

Full Time

In nomad and RV parlance it’s called ‘full time’.

Travel

I certainly put my time in as a part time nomad from 2015 until 2020.

But full time is something else again.

No Big Thank You’s

By all means I am grateful for the support friends, family, listeners and subscribers have given me.

However there won’t be a lot of thank you’s in this podcast because I usually save that for New Year’s Eve.

Change

Additionally this fourth year was a year of change.

Beneath The Surface

In fact I did not know my ideas about nomad life were changing at the same time Nomad Life in general was changing.

Goodbye Quartzsite

For one thing while I love Quartzsite and have enjoyed at least two years there in the winter.

There has been a change in the air and I feel it is time to seek out new adventures.

I’ll explain in Four-Years-On-The-Road-The-Bob Davis Podcast 1148.

Adventure

Equally important to me is the idea of new adventure.

Now, adventure means different things to different people.

Instead of climbing mountains and jumping out of airplanes just the idea of movement and seeing new places is adventure for me.

Joshua Tree

For example following my departure from Quartzsite this fall I am now in Joshua Tree.

Although by the time you read this I might be somewhere else in the Southwest.

Travelogue

All in all one of the great things about these Halloween Anniversary podcasts is a chance to do a little travelogue.

Nomads Are In A Different Timeline

First thing to remember about nomad life is we’re on a different timeline.

Given that we travel around a lot sometimes it’s hard to remember where we were and when we were in one place or another.

After all life is about the experience. Not always the dates and times.

Podcasts

As a result I often have to go back and consult the list at The Bob Davis Podcasts to see where I was and when I was! You can do the same thing by clicking here.

Fifth Year

Henceforth we begin the fifth year.

What Do I Want

At this point it’s all about figuring out just want I want from this experience.

Freedom

One thing’s for sure.

I don’t think I could ever go back to the old life.

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Four-Years-On-The-Road-The-Bob Davis Podcast 1148

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Sharecropper-Nation-Bob Davis Podcast-1116

Sharecropper Nation

Altogether I think it’s a sharecropper nation these days. Details in Sharecropper-Nation-Bob Davis Podcast-1116.

Oklahoma

Certainly my drive through the Oklahoma Panhandle made a big impression on me last month.

Social Media

But a recent social media exchange accentuated my experience.

To rephrase I am impatient with argumentative comments on social media on some of my posts.

Pressure Back Home

On the other hand I forget the pressure the average person ‘back home’ is under.

Bob Davis Podcasts Economic Series Podcasts

To review I’ve done a number of podcasts about the US and world economic situation.

Click here for the most recent podcast in the economic series.

Trouble Back Home

However I have not done an installment the pressure those back home have to deal with.

Not Keeping Up

For one thing the average income hardly keeps up with average expenses.

Even more children and student loans are expensive…

…And you begin to understand there isn’t money left over each month.

Inflation

Furthermore the consumer class has been most exposed to inflation.

Higher Interest Rates

At length efforts to address inflation by central banks have resulted in higher interest rates.

Gone To The Credit Cards…Beer…Weed

In addition both small businesses and the consumer class are forced to use credit cards at very high interest rates.

Sharecroppers

Firstly in Sharecropper-Nation-Bob Davis Podcast-1116 I give a history of sharecropping.

Sharecropper Nation

Secondly I compare today’s working consumer to the famed sharecropper movement west in the 1930’s.

Second Guessing

Therefore until now I worried about my decision to travel.

Nomads Are Insulated

To sum up to a certain degree our lives as nomads are more insulated from the pressures of every day life.

Even With Drawbacks

Even though my existence has a nomad has it’s drawbacks.

Bliss

In conclusion I am more free to experience bliss.

Freedom

And I have to remember sometimes not everyone back home has that luxury.

Sharecropper-Nation-Bob Davis Podcast-1116

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