Latest news with #nomadiclifestyle
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
We bought a bus off eBay and transformed it into our dream home... but living on the road has its downsides
A couple who bought a 20-year-old school bus off of eBay and transformed it into their dream home so they could travel the world full-time has lifted a lid on the ups and downs to their nomadic lifestyle. Shaquita Riley, 28, from Lincolnton, North Carolina, and Scott Heltz, 55, from New Orleans, Louisiana, bonded over their shared love of travel when they met in 2019. They quickly started dating, and six months later, they decided to purchase an old bus and convert it into a mobile home so they could set out and see the world together. 'I always loved traveling and dreamed of living in a bus. Scott knew he wanted to travel so it was a natural step,' Shaq explained during an exclusive chat with the Daily Mail. They bought the bus off eBay in June 2020 for $2,950, and they soon got to work on fixing it up. But turning a old rusty bus into a livable home wasn't easy, and the renovations took 'three long years' and cost them another $40,000. They took out the entire roof and raised it by 16 inches before replacing the entire interior. It now has a full kitchen with a stove, oven, microwave, and running water, a living room area with a big couch and flat screen TV, a bathroom with a toilet and shower, a bedroom with a queen bed, and a storage space in the back. Shaquita Riley, 28, and Scott Heltz, 55, bought a 20-year-old school bus off of eBay and paid $40,000 to transform it into their dream home so they travel the world full-time They bought the bus off eBay in June 2020 for $2,950, and they soon got to work on fixing it up. The renovations took 'three long years' and cost them another $40,000 They also added large RV windows, solar panels, multiple 200 gallon water tanks, and a Starlink satellite. In 2023, the couple, along with their two dogs and two cats, sold their home, quit their jobs, and 'officially hit the road.' They have now explored eight states, usually camping in state and national parks. 'We can stay off grid indefinitely or until we run out of water,' Shaq shared. But Shaq, who was going to school online for social psychology, confessed that living on the road and constantly moving around 'has its challenges.' 'For example, we did not have internet service in a lot of places and I had school and homework to do,' she explained. 'There are also challenges to parking a 40-foot bus in the city. Not to mention it's a magnet for thieves and law enforcement.' She also confessed that they sometimes 'fight,' adding, 'Things are not a fairytale. I like things a certain way while Scott's a bit "oh look a squirrel" kinda guy. It now has a sprawling full kitchen (left) with a stove, oven, microwave, and running water, and a living room area (right) with a big couch and flat screen TV The bathroom, seen here, has a toilet and shower There's also a bedroom with a queen bed (seen) and a storage space in the back 'Not to mention there are times we both need to use the toilet!' But she vowed that the space doesn't feel 'cramped' and that the upsides far outweigh the downsides. 'We have built our home entirely how we want it. 'Everything has a specific place and purpose,' she added. 'We get to see the world and travel. We have met some lifelong friends and have seen some incredible sights.' However, one of the hardest parts has been lack of income, since they both left their professions to live on the road, and they recently realized that their lifestyle is not practical for ever. So after two years of moving around they've decided it may be time for something more stable. In 2023, the couple, along with their two dogs and two cats, sold their home, quit their jobs, and 'officially hit the road' But Shaq, who was going to school online for social psychology, confessed that living on the road and constantly moving around 'has its challenges' After two years of moving around they've decided it may be time for something more stable, and the couple recently purchased 20 acres of land in southern Arizona They recently purchased 20 acres of land in southern Arizona and plan to soon buy a giant shipping container to transform into a permanent home. They want to get some farm animals and use solar power and a well so they can be 'self-sufficient' like they are on the bus. Shaq now works as a care coordinator in the mental health field after finishing her bachelors and is about to start her masters in psychology, while Scott is an independent contractor and RV technician. And Shaq vowed that they still plan on using the bus to travel in their free time. 'We intend to build our own homestead on [the land],' shared Shaq. 'We want to be self-sufficient and not rely on traditional means of living. But we still plan on traveling and enjoying life together.'
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
'I will die a traveller and be proud of it'
As Irish Travellers, Kim Moloney's family have lived a nomadic lifestyle for generations, calling caravans and wagons pulled up on parks and roadsides their after Travellers parked on a green space in Leeds, an MP has called for increased powers that would see communities moved from public land within hours."It makes me feel like I am not wanted in this world," Ms Moloney 55-year-old is no stranger to eviction, having spent much of her life moving from place to place around Leeds."You can get a lot of hassle," she described moments including people banging on the caravan door as her family sat down for tea."When I was a little girl, I saw all these men in the fields throwing bricks at the windows of the caravans and one injured a child," she said."The police did nothing about it, 'they should not be here' they said. That is how travellers have to live."Nomadism is not illegal in the UK but travellers can only park on authorised sites which can be either council-owned or privately-owned with a licence. Unauthorised encampments, including roadside or greenspaces, can be considered a breach of civil Moloney, who has been awarded an MBE for her work as a campaigner for Travellers' rights, said over the years her community had been treated "like dirt" because of their way of said she felt Travellers "lived life under surveillance" and described being followed around shops by people who seemed suspicious of her and her Moloney said members of the Traveller community had taken their own lives because of the negative attitude of society towards them."We are people, we didn't come from space, we are human like anybody else, why should we be treated any differently because we live roadside?" she said. However, Fabian Hamilton, MP for Leeds North East, said residents in his constituency are being "constantly disrupted" by encampments near Roundhay said residents had seen fence posts being cut down and "human waste being left undealt with"."What we need is legislation that allows orders granted instantly, so that removal can take place within hours, if not a day or two, rather than days and weeks," he said."It is far too slow right now, people have no problem with Travellers but they should not be in public parks because it stops others using the park. "Most of all they should not be destroying parts of public property so that other users cannot enjoy them."Ellie Rogers, the CEO of Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange (GATE), which supports the Traveller and Romany Gypsy communities, said more powers were the "last thing" authorities needed."We have enough powers and they are used very frequently," she charity has created a negotiated stopping policy with Leeds City Council but Ms Rogers said it was not being "actively implemented".The policy means Gypsies and Travellers will work with the local authority and may be allowed to remain on land for up to 28 days, as long as the site is left and skips are provided under the policy, in what Ms Rogers said was a financially beneficial arrangement for authorities."There are clear up costs and court fees you do not see, it saves a lot of money," she said. There are 3,000 Gypsy and Traveller families across the country who have nowhere to stay, according to Leeds GATE, with a further 10,000 living on land without permission."This is an issue of homelessness and social injustice," Ms Rogers said."The negotiated stopping policy is a really good tool we could be using and we are not using it as well as we could."Ms Rogers also called for more permanent sites for Gypsy and Traveller families."Camps do not disappear," Ms Rogers said."They just pop up somewhere else, you are not making that issue go away, you are just moving it."A permanent site is similar to a housing estate but instead of houses, the plot has a building with a bathroom, kitchen and space to park pay rent, council tax and Springs, a site in the Gildersome area of Leeds, opened in 1969 for Gypsy and Traveller families and has 41 Park opened in Hunslet in 2019, but has a temporary 10-year licence in place, because it is on the proposed route of the high speed rail line Lennox, executive member for housing at Leeds City Council, said the authority "considers the potential for negotiated stopping for all unauthorised Traveller encampments".She said the council "recognised the challenges where encampments cause loss of amenities and disruption to local settled communities".The council would continue to look for other suitable land for encampments, she added. 'Better management' West Yorkshire Police said it had a "long-standing commitment to engaging with travelling communities".Alison Lowe, the deputy mayor for policing and crime in West Yorkshire, said "better management of the situation" was needed and added that this included using negotiated stopping sites."More enforcement will only further marginalise our Traveller community, and I will continue to work with the police and our partners to ensure we apply the right approach," she Moloney now lives at Cottingley Springs but continues to fight for the rights of than powers to move people on she wants more suitable sites for families to live at to be created."People should not leave mess lying around. If authorities helped Travellers more, they might have solved the problem a long time ago," she said."You have to understand, Travellers are never going to give up their culture."I'll die a Traveller and be proud of it." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
The Guardian
06-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
The good, bad and ugly of life as a digital nomad
I enjoyed reading the stories of those who have had a taste of the nomadic lifestyle ('My mind was shrieking: 'What am I doing?'' – when the digital nomad dream turns sour, 1 July). However, it seems that none of the problems they mentioned are actually related to nomadism. These are universal issues. Everything they didn't like existed long before the words 'digital nomad' entered our vocabulary. Slow internet? Trouble finding an apartment to rent? Unfamiliar food? Heat? People feeling disconnected from each other? All these are symptoms of our crazy times, and our task is to come up with ways to fix this together, rather than running to the office, where supposedly some of these problems will be solved (spoiler: they won't). A nomad doesn't aim to recreate an exact replica of their life and everything they're used to in a different place. The Roman lyric poet Horace, in his Odes, told us centuries ago: 'They change their sky, not their soul, who rush across the sea.' No matter where people go, they carry their problems, personal histories and unhealthy habits with them. Our real job as human beings is to find meaningful new ways to cope with all this nomadic stuff in a psychologically healthy MedvedevTrento, Italy I was born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, and life for most locals there is far from the paradise it can seem for digital nomads. An americano at Starbucks costs around 11 Malaysian ringgit (£1.90), which is very affordable if you earn in British pounds, but not if you're paid in the local currency. The same goes for renting an apartment with a rooftop swimming pool. I'm curious to hear about the expat experience of leaving London due to soaring rents only to inadvertently contribute to rising rents in the south-east Asian neighbourhoods they settle GomezLondon Having lived as a digital nomad for almost 10 years, it's always interesting to read other people's experiences. However, the thing that always strikes me is that people take digital nomadism too much as dogma. It isn't for everyone, it isn't for ever. Like almost everything else in life, you should do something only if, and as long as, you enjoy it. The difficulties of daily life don't disappear just because you're in another country, which most people seem to forget or ignore. It takes work and effort to make a digital nomad lifestyle work, but it can be a hugely rewarding BaroniLondon Happiness is a state of mind, not a state of HastingsBalbeggie, Perth and Kinross Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Travel Daily News
04-06-2025
- General
- Travel Daily News
The secret rooftop society: Are tent people the new nomads?
Rooftop tent users aren't just wanderers; they're redefining what it means to live flexibly. Whether it's a weekend warrior escaping the city or a full-time traveler working from the road, modern rooftop tents provide a unique blend of adventure and practicality. In the ever-evolving landscape of urban living and adventure travel, a new trend is emerging—one that blurs the lines between home and wanderlust. Rooftop tents, once a niche accessory for hardcore overlanders, are now becoming a symbol of a growing nomadic movement. From city dwellers seeking an escape to digital nomads chasing sunsets, rooftop tents are redefining what it means to live freely. But who are these 'tent people,' and are they the new nomads of the modern age? The Rise of the Rooftop Tent Rooftop tents (RTTs) aren't entirely new—they've been used by explorers and off-road enthusiasts for decades. However, recent advancements in design, affordability, and social media exposure have propelled them into the mainstream. Unlike traditional ground tents, rooftop tents mount on top of vehicles, offering elevated sleeping quarters that are quicker to set up, more secure, and often more comfortable. The appeal is clear: Convenience – A practical rooftop tent can be deployed in minutes, eliminating the hassle of finding flat, dry ground. Safety – Being elevated keeps campers away from wildlife, moisture, and uneven terrain. Mobility – They turn any vehicle into a mini-RV, perfect for road trips and spontaneous adventures. But beyond practicality, rooftop tents represent something deeper—a shift in how people view living spaces and freedom. The New Nomads: Who Are They? The modern nomad is no longer just the stereotypical van lifer or backpacker. Today's rooftop tent community is diverse, including: 1. Urban Escapists City living can be suffocating. High rents, noise, and congestion drive many to seek temporary refuge in nature. Rooftop tents allow urbanites to leave the chaos behind on weekends without committing to a full-time nomadic lifestyle. 2. Digital Nomads With remote work becoming the norm, many professionals are ditching leases in favor of mobility. A rooftop tent on a reliable SUV or truck means they can work from a lakeside one week and a mountain vista the next. 3. Minimalists & Eco-Conscious Travelers The tiny house movement has inspired many to downsize, and rooftop tents offer an even more extreme form of minimalism. They require fewer resources than RVs and leave a smaller environmental footprint. 4. Adventure Seekers Overlanders, climbers, surfers, and outdoor enthusiasts have long used rooftop tents to chase the best spots without being tied to campgrounds or hotels. The Secret Rooftop Society What makes rooftop tent culture unique is its underground, almost secretive nature. Unlike van lifers who often park in designated areas, rooftop tent users can blend in more easily—parked at trailheads, rest stops, or even stealth-camping in urban areas. Online forums and social media groups have sprung up, where members share tips on the best spots, gear recommendations, and stories of life on the road. There's a sense of camaraderie among those who've embraced this lifestyle, a silent nod of recognition when two rooftop-tent-equipped vehicles pass each other on a remote highway. Challenges of the Rooftop Life While the idea of sleeping under the stars every night sounds idyllic, rooftop tent living isn't without its hurdles: Weather Dependence – High winds, heavy rain, and extreme temperatures can make rooftop camping uncomfortable. Vehicle Limitations – Not all cars can support a rooftop tent, and fuel efficiency can take a hit. Stealth Camping Risks – Urban camping laws vary, and getting caught in the wrong place can lead to fines or being asked to move. Long-Term Living? – While great for short trips, rooftop tents may not be sustainable as a permanent living solution for everyone. Is This the Future of Travel? As housing costs rise and remote work becomes permanent for many, alternative living arrangements will continue to grow. Rooftop tents offer a middle ground—more freedom than a traditional home, but less commitment than a full-time van or RV conversion. Could we see rooftop tent communities forming, where like-minded nomads gather in temporary villages? Some campgrounds and even cities are already adapting, offering designated parking for vehicle dwellers. Final Thoughts: Are Tent People the New Nomads? The answer seems to be a resounding yes—but with a twist. Rooftop tent users aren't just wanderers; they're redefining what it means to live flexibly. Whether it's a weekend warrior escaping the city or a full-time traveler working from the road, modern rooftop tents provide a unique blend of adventure and practicality. As this movement grows, one thing is clear: the allure of waking up to a new view every morning is irresistible. And for those who've embraced the rooftop life, the world isn't just a place to visit—it's a place to call home, even if just for a night. Photo by Jorgen Hendriksen on Unsplash
