An Ordinary Odyssey

I didn’t know what to say or how to start this post. It’s taken me 11 days to sit down and finally even try to do this. It was such an incredible weekend of camping and it completely filled my soul in ways I didn’t expect. I hosted the 2nd Annual Midwest Meetup in a Facebook group I belong to, SUV/Car Living & Camping WOMEN ONLY 🚙🚗. It’s a community of over 120,000 women who either live full-time in their cars or are “weekend warriors” like me, taking on adventures in smaller vehicles. You’ve probably heard of the #vanlife and #rvlife trends. They’re all over the place and almost mainstream by now, but our group is a bit different. It’s all about car dwellers, focusing on how you can live and/or travel out of a smaller, stealthier, and often more budget-friendly vehicle.

For some women, this lifestyle is a choice to explore and travel on a budget, or to save for the future. For others, it’s a necessity, a way to escape difficult situations or simply make ends meet. We don’t call it homelessness; it’s being houseless, and that distinction is important. There’s a lot to unpack, but that gives you an idea of what this community is all about.

There had been so many conversations about how there weren’t any meetups in the Midwest, but no one was stepping up to organize one. And we’ve all been there, right? Those “we should totally do this!” talks that never go anywhere. If no one else was going to step up, I knew it would probably never happen and I really, really wanted to meet other women who live this quirky out of the box lifestyle. I figured, if not me then who? And I did it. That event last year we had 17 total people and it was an incredible experience! I knew immediately that I would do this again. So, this year we met up at Hartman Creek State Park for four days, October 17th – 20th and it was indescribably amazing. But, I’ll do my very best to describe it!

Setting the Scene: Fall Colors at Hartman Creek State Park

Hartman Creek State Park was the perfect spot for our meetup, but on my part it involved a ton of planning and weighing options. Hosting a camping trip where everyone stays in their vehicles brings its own set of challenges. Last year, we had 17 women show up, so this year I wanted to find a place that could handle at least that many individual cars, SUVs, and vans without us having to carpool or cram together like sardines. It’s one thing to park close together when sleeping in tents, but when you are sleeping inside, the last thing you want is your bedroom window right next to someone else’s!

I wanted a place that wasn’t just spacious but also had a good variety of things to do. For myself, I love outdoor activities and I know many others in the group do to, but many people have different interests too. I wanted a place that had things like hiking trails, kayaking spots, biking paths, fishing and other outdoorsy stuff as well as proximity to a cute little town for supply runs and interesting townie activities like thrifting, visiting museums, hitting up a coffee shop or book store and other such fun.

Accessibility was a big deal, too. I knew that some people might have physical limitations, so I needed a spot where everyone could enjoy the beauty around us without needing to hike miles into the wilderness. At Hartman Creek, you could drive right up to the lake and and see the beautiful fall colors OR you could hike to it. Plus, the campground itself was gorgeous, with trails starting right from where we parked, a wide open sky to view the stars, and great fall colors all around. Practically, I wanted to include as many amenities as possible but at the very least I wanted a bathroom of some form near by. Ours was a pit toilet, but it sufficed! Not all of us have potty set-ups in our rigs. Nearby at the family campground there was a bathhouse with running water and showers. There was firewood and ice available at the office. Great cell service for everyone, as we were near town, that was great! It made it so much easier to stay in touch with each other, with those who were coming in late and needed help finding us, or potential emergencies. I would never want to pick a place for this type of meetup that was a total black out zone.

Now, let me spill some tea about being a host. It’s incredibly rewarding, but uhhhhhgggggg it can also be a rollercoaster! I’ve hosted tons of events over the years, from hiking meetups to book clubs, and you’d think I’d be used to it by now. But every time, without fail, I find myself knee-deep in messages like, “Where is the campground?” or “Is there electricity?” even though I did intense and painstaking research on everything I could think of and laid it all out in the event description. Some people outright don’t read the info, others want exceptions to rules to be made for them. Then there’s the fact that people reach out in so many different ways and it is hard to track — some in the event posts, some in the group chat, others reach out to me privately. And in the end, usually a huge percentage of people who RSVP yes don’t show up at all and it makes planning a challenge, as you never know for sure how many people you will have. Sometimes in the days before an event I seriously wonder why I do this to myself and vow that this will absolutely be the last time! I’m an introvert, actually, and life would be so much easier if I just went off to do my introvert-y things.

But then the event actually starts up, and all that frustration melts away. I meet the amazing women behind those endless questions, and I realize their questions often come from a place of anxiety, fear, or confusion. It’s often the first time someone has done anything remotely like this and they just want to make sure they have crossed ever T and dotted every I. I can relate. I’m the one True North for them and of course they are going to ask things of me. That’s what I need to be ok with as a host. That’s my job. Seeing everyone come together, helping each other out, and genuinely having a blast makes all the headaches worth it. It’s a learning and growth experience for me every single time, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. This trip, I had a lot going on in my personal and work life leading up to it and my patience was stretched to the limit. A few times I answered in ways I probably could have done better at, looking back. But I’m so happy with how everything came together and proud of myself for continuing to stretch myself as a host. I will definitely be hosting this event for a third year, and I hope every year I get better and better at it!

Building Blocks for Lifelong Memories

Once we settled into our little community at Hartman Creek, the weird magic of our group set it. As people started arriving, I was nervous. Thinking about all the things going on still…people messaging me questions and arrival times, worrying about and expecting people to get lost, knowing someone was already having car trouble, being anxious that the park staff wouldn’t remember they granted me an exception for number of cars in the lot and kick us all out, and being anxious that no one would like me and it would be an awkward 4 days of feeling left out. But a bunch of absolutely perfect weirdos showed up and it felt like we all clicked so fast!

Seriously. I can’t imagine a more perfect group atmosphere. We were all so different. I’m certain that we all had different religious and political beliefs, we had a huge range of ages, and overall just came from utterly different walks of life. But none of that mattered. We had something else in common: an adventurous, curious, open spirit. Each and every one. I don’t think you show up in the middle of the woods with a bunch of strangers you met online in a Facebook group if you didn’t have that! We bonded so quickly over that spirit and over the interests we all do share that brought us here.

We kicked off our adventures with just setting in and setting up camp. Getting all our rigs set up, getting a fire going, standing around chatting about where we all came in from and how the drive was. That’s literally all we did that first day. Just sit around our campsite and talk. Simple, but so powerful.

The rest of the weekend was definitely full of adventure though! Hikes out to the lake, taking silly pictures the whole way. Two of us on the hike had injuries and everyone still stayed together, keeping everyone included. So often on group hikes, the slow people just get left behind and it feels awful. But that didn’t happen here in the slightest. That’s special and I don’t know if everyone realizes that! We came upon a group member working on an incredible painting of the lake, which sparked a whole crafternoon later! We had people drawing, whittling hearts from branches, doing chalk pastels, beading, and crocheting around the campfire. So fun!

The Rig Tour was a highlight that we all absolutely loved. It was like watching a YouTube tour in person! So often, we only see how people camp in their cars on social media, rarely coming across others in the wild who do things the way we do. It was amazing to poke around other rigs and ask detailed, sometimes nosy questions about how we pee at night. We learned little tips and tricks, discovered cool new gadgets, and got inspired by different setup ideas. It’s so fascinating how unique the rigs are. Someone might be in a very similar sized and shaped vehicle as yours and have a totally different set-up and style. It was also interesting that only two people lived in their rigs full-time, and yet they were the two with the smallest cars!

What is Your Why?

The most moving experience happened around the campfire on the 3rd night. We asked each other, “What is your why?” Some wanted to see the world, others were healing from past traumas, saving money for family, or just getting out there even though no one wanted to go with them. The answers were incredibly different yet, somehow, the same. I think on some level, we were all able to relate to each other’s stories, even if we hadn’t been through the same experiences. We’ve all come to the similar conclusions about life and what truly matters. Even those who this trip was only their first or second time out in their cars. We’ve all been in the group for awhile, been dreaming about hitting the road, traveling, being self-sufficient, and discovering not only what is out there in the world to be seen and experienced, but what exactly is deep in the core of our beings. We all know on some level that we will find ourselves out here. I think that is truly something that underpinned each and every one of our whys, whether the women were conscious of that or not yet.

Looking Forward

As I drove home, a mix of exhaustion and gratitude washed over me. Last year’s event was fantastic, but this year felt even more like family. Staying in the group campground made all the difference—we weren’t just camping near each other; we were truly living together. Despite being a group of introverts and solo campers, we connected on such a deep level.

I already miss these incredible women and wonder when our paths will cross again. We talked about future meetups, maybe even hosting two next year. Some of us live nearby, but others traveled from five different states. Regardless, I believe these friendships are the kind that last. The ones where you pick up right where you left off, no matter how much time has passed.

Reflecting on this weekend, I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of such an amazing community. Hosting these meetups may come with challenges, but the rewards are insane. I’ve learned so much…not just about camping or rigs, but about people, compassion, and the incredible strength we all have within us. To anyone thinking about taking the leap, whether it’s joining a meetup, starting a new adventure, or stepping out of your comfort zone; I say go for it. You never know what amazing experiences and friendships await you.

Here’s to many more adventures together!