Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Is it safe to travel again?

We've been in crime-free, covid-free, and politics-free North Idaho since we left the Mojave Desert in mid-March. The weather has been ideal for working in the forest (not as great for growing heirloom tomatoes) and everything necessary for living the good life is cheap and plentiful up here. Even so, the season is showing signs of change and the road is calling us again.

So why would we leave and begin another six months of life on the road? America has some big problems on its hands. Several generations of Americans have been raised to distrust or even hate large segments of the population as well as the institutions and traditions which used to somewhat bind our diverse citizenry together. This will not change regardless of what happens in November. Our nation isn't suffering from a flesh wound, it's stage IV cancer. Not impossible to treat, but not promising either.

Across the country there are groups looting and burning down businesses, banging on people’s vehicles while ordering drivers rudely where to drive, bearing down on people to intimidate them into expressing support for this or that cause, and committing other crimes of violence and property destruction.

These groups have tended to have the upper hand so far. Victims have been surprised and unprepared to be victims. Victims have thought police would protect them. Victims have figured the acts of violence and property destruction will soon fade away. 

Well, the fade away is not happening, and police have often failed to protect victims from harm. More and more, potential future victims are preparing for confrontation.

We are starting to see the victims fight back. This will not end well.

So how does a traveler in an RV deal with this. Simple. We'll be doing what we've always preferred to do anyway. Camping in the middle of nowhere in places like Wyoming, Utah, and the desert Southwest. We'll be safe wherever we are because we'll be in spots that are too difficult to reach and with too few juicy targets to attract "protesters". There will also be little or no police.

Will we feel safe? Sure, maybe not as safe as we are in Northern Idaho, but safe enough to not lose a second of sleep. Good planning can do that for you. Can you say the same about your situation?