Saturday, November 22, 2014

Without Bound - Perspectives on Mobile Living - A Video Documentary

So, what is this "living free" lifestyle all about? If you're living free, on your own terms, out of the mainstream, typical, might I even say "average," American lifestyle, then I'm sure you've had people ask you why you choose to live this way. Perhaps they even tell you they envy you, but . . . they could never do it.

I get that regularly. Now, I do my best to not be judgmental. Part of living free is to accept that everyone has the same choices as you and I have. It's not my job to "convert" anyone to my belief system or lifestyle. I don't mind explaining my ideas and thoughts and I'm always happy to assist anyone believing they want to give it a go and take on living free as a way of life.

There are a lot of us around the country (and around the world) who have chosen some form of living free lifestyle. Not all of us are mobile dwellers in RV's, travel trailers, vans, cargo trucks, utility trailers, converted school buses, SUV's, cars and tents. Some prefer to be more stationary and have created all kinds of unique and interesting housing units, many of which, definitely, can not be considered sticks and bricks.

The bottom line is living free is an individual's expression of his or her personal freedom and liberty to live and subsist in whatever manner he or she chooses as long as it doesn't infringe on anyone else's personal freedoms and liberties. There are as many stories as there are people living this kind of lifestyle.

A New Video Documentary

Michael Tubbs, a professional filmmaker and graphic designer, became intrigued by the lifestyle of a number of mobile living free proponents.  He, with a colleague, decided to interview and film a number of those people who have been doing this mobile, living free lifestyle for a number of years.

Each individual has his or her own take on why he or she chose to live free in some form of mobile living accommodation. If you've been part of this lifestyle or you're even a wannabe who lurks in the background of many of the RVing, Vandwelling and similar Yahoo Forum sites, then most of the people in the documentary will be familiar to you. You also likely follow many of their blogs.

Perhaps you are only an occasional visitor to my blog. You might have a healthy or, possibly, an almost voyeuristic curiosity about people like me and those in this documentary.  Maybe you're sitting on the fence, wanting to jump over on our side, but need a bit more of a nudge to make the decision and take the action. Then viewing this 50 minute, professionally and nicely produced, documentary will be well worth the time you invest.

You'll hear one of the main stigma's of this kind of lifestyle dispelled. That stigma is the difference between a homeless person and someone who freely chooses this lifestyle. There is a significant difference.

So, click on this link http://youtu.be/Lg37Cbx-kak  and enjoy learning about "Without Bound - Perspectives on Mobile Living."

My kudos go to Michael Tubbs, the producer and his colleague, Aaron Harlan for creating a well done representation of a unique lifestyle. As a 50 year media producer myself, I appreciate the care and professionalism displayed in the camera work, sound, storyboarding, sensitivity and editing for this production. I hope to have an opportunity to meet up with Michael Tubbs one day and express my appreciation in person.

Let me know what you think after you've viewed the documentary.

Additionally, I urge you to share this documentary with as many people as you'd like to. I would especially share it with those detractors who may be holding you back from making an important choice. That choice is to express your personal freedom through a non-conforming, alternative, living free, lifestyle.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello Ed. I watched the doc "Without Bound" yesterday and loved it! And shared it on facebook. Also read your "first step" post. Interesting! I'll comment more later as I read more of your blog. Linda

Ed Helvey said...

Thanks for dropping by, Linda.

I'm glad you enjoyed and shared the documentary. The producer, Michael Tubbs, already contacted me after I posted the article, so I'm glad the word is getting around.

I'll look forward to you thoughts on the 12 Steps. feedback is always appreciated.

Cheers,
Ed

Rob said...

I've been following Randy for some years on his blog and I have noticed that he and other nomads (like Bob Wells & 'others') are very outspoken (I am hesitant to use the word 'preach')about their chosen lifestyle.
There was a time I would argue with them about their recruitment drives, I don't do that any longer.

Watching that video was a well spent 50 minutes.

Ed Helvey said...

I guess after living a lifestyle that one is so in tune with, Rob, one can certainly, at the very least, become a strong advocate, if not an all out evangelist for the lifestyle.

That's why I will inform and share all kinds of information and experiences about my particular form of the lifestyle, but I am not seeking to "convert" anyone. That is a conclusion and a decision each must make for himself or herself.

There are a lot of "Walter Mitty" types in the world who would love to change their lives and do something non-conforming and, possibly, daring. Few will. Randy, Bob and the others are some of the exceptions and do a fine job of representing this unique lifestyle. I too enjoyed the documentary.

Good, as always, to hear from you and get your feedback.

Cheerio,
Ed

John Abert said...

I watched the movie twice, and I think it is wonderful that someone is presenting these views, so that the rest of the world can see that not everyone who lives this way is down and out and miserable. I think Bob's explanation of the difference between "homeless" and "mobile" should make that clear to everyone.

The only fault I can find with the movie is that they only filmed one group of such nomads, all of whom are very minimalistic in their lifestyles. I don't disagree with a thing they said, and we will soon be heading to that lifestyle ourselves, for similar and yet different reasons. But to balance things out, I think they should have also intereviewed some of those from the other side...those who travel in $100K+ motorhomes and fifth-wheels and don't mind paying camping fees or enjoying the occasional company of other travelers of like minds.

There are many, many people who have chosen to adopt the mobile lifestyle, all for various reasons. Not all of those reasons are due to personal hardships, finances, or in some cases the inability or unwillingness to conform to society's rules. Many of these new travelers are college educated, and have either left or retired from well-paying jobs.

As good as this video was, I would like to see the other half represented, also, to provide a truer picture of why ALL kinds of people choose to be mobile, and how some do it with much larger and more expensive RV's, and the places and amenities that they choose to use.

Those who know or follow me, know that we are in the middle, having retired from good careers, and with a decent chunk of SS, but have also chosen to ditch real estate and adopt a minimalist lifestyle for our own reasons, one of which is practicality. I have proven through several ways of figuring out the options on a spreadsheet that we are over $1100 per month farther ahead to go mobile, rather than try to hang onto real estate and travel part-time.

We have owned all kinds of RV's up to a 40-footer, and would never go that route again. We don't want to have to sit at a site for the maximum length of time because of fuel costs. We want to be on the go, seeing as much of this beautiful country as we can, and a Conversion van/Class B and a cargo trailer suits our lifestyle better. We can afford more, but that's our choice, and it's not for everyone.