LIVING IN MY CAR - My Story & Why I’ve Chosen This Lifestyle 

I’m 52, a teacher near retirement, and the last few years life has become a boring routine. Teaching sucks because most kids and parents are whack jobs. I’m in the planning stages of changing my boring ass, unfulfilling life. I want the freedom and care less about having a lot of money. You did the right thing brother!

Just watched an almost 80-yr-old who’s done it all; from corporate accountant married 3x, building all 3 ranchettes, to joining the peace corps, to living in a Prius doing YT 3x a day, then onto a camper, a class C, class B, & now a van. He starts every morning vid with: “Today is the first day of the rest of your life - make it a good one! It’s the day after yesterday, the day before tomorrow, and right now… right now just went right on by. So you better get busy doing whatever it is that you want to do. Never worry about what you cannot change.”. And whenever someone objects to his lifestyle, he tells them, “You do you - I do me! Might want to ask yourself why you take time to invest in something that shouldn’t concern you.”.

I Love that quote from Shaw shank redemption " Get Busy Living or Get Busy dyeing". Benjamin Franklin had another good one"some people die at 25 y/o but aren't buried till there 75 y/o" My opinion is As long as you're not a burden to others there is no wrong way to live life.

100% agree with living your life the way you want. You only have a certain amount of time here and you might as well do it your way!

I was a critical care nurse/open heart surgery /organ transplant. I was a workaholic. And I could never get my vacation time. I had to call in sick to get any time off. I got into hiking in my mid fifties. It saved me. I retired at 62, three years early. I bought a camping van. But Covid interfered with my plans to do the pCT that year. And it has been one thing after another when it comes to doing a long thru hike. But I have gotten to do lots of shorter hikes. About a week on average out on trail. I went and hiked the relatively easy great glen way in Scotland. This past fall I went and hiked over the pyranees mountains starting in France. It was the beginning of the Camino Frances/de Santiago. About 120 miles in sustained an injury which brought me back home. Three days ago I had major surgery so will return to France, cross over the pyranees in Spain and do the entire 500 miles again, then about another 100 miles to the Spanish coast. In spring 2025. 26:41 26:41 In the meanwhile this July will be doing a lot of day hiking in Colorado. Last week of August a friend and myself will be hiking segment 18 of the mountain to seas trail, which is the outer banks coastal leg of the hike. I will do the Lone Star Trail here in Texas this fall. Then spend the winter going from Texas state park to Texas state park hiking various trails within the park and taking my camper van and small dog with me. To Arizona in January, and will be getting in some pct miles in January. Then to Spain as mentioned , be leaving April 10. So, other than that?? Who knows. I am now 66 years old. So I think, at least for me doing a hike that takes up 6 to 7 months of my life is no longer on the table. There is way too much to see and do to focus it so much on just one or two long distance thru hikes. So my channel. Wacky Jacks Great Adventures will be focused on all those adventures. But no 6 to 7 month thru hikes. Probably more day hiking than anything else.

Good stuff. "You can't buy Time." Enjoy

We definitely don't need anyone's approval or permission, to create and live the life we want. I am the same age and everything you are describing definitely resonates with me. Ready to have less debt, less commitments, less obligations -- and more freedom. All we need is less. In 2020 I started getting into hiking and enjoying being outdoors, and seeing all the beauty that is available to us in abundance. The more time I have spent out there in the natural world, and experienced it -- the more I want to be there. It seems like a healthy addiction! There has also been a string desire to get rid of stuff and simplify life, which creates more space for doing things that bring you joy. Anyway, I get where you are. My husband and I spend most of our time now in the San Diego area (when we're not back east visiting family). Maybe sometime we could do a favorite SD day hike. It would be great to meet and hike with you! Good luck with your channel. Cheers and Happy Trails!

Morning Marmalade, do what makes you happy. Others opinions really dont' matter. Still hoping to see you out on the trails someday.

Life can end at any time and in the end all the stuff goes to someone else but they will never get your memories and experiences.

My dad wanted so badly for me to finish school & go to college… something he never had the chance to do, but it was the biggest disappointment for me than I was to him. From the first day of kindergarten we did all the things I did at home, I knew all I wanted was to be outside & I wanted to work with horses. Working since the age of 11, finally got my dream job 33 years later. Although, I never held a job that I didn’t enjoy for more than 3 days. Haters are jealous of this, & you can’t really blame them.

Thank you for another informative video. Backpacking is not something you ever get out of your system, if you are one of those who love it. It is an easy progression to go from backpacking to traveling and exploring out of a vehicle. I have found I really like the minivan for living and traveling for months at a time. I have a n older class b van, but for one the minivan is the perfect travel vehicle. It gets good fuel economy and is aerodynamic, so it is easy to drive long distances without fatigue. If the minivan can't handle the terrain, I can always just park and go backpacking. Personally I would not off road in a built out van even if it had 4 wheel drive, because who would want to send your house through miles of earthquakes... Maybe when I am older I will revisit an want an RV or van, but for now I like the minivan for travel. It is just nimble and blends in. I am a verticality challenged older woman though and I feel the minivan makes me stay in better physical shape as well. I have a home base and responsibilities that don't allow me to be away more than a few months at a time, but I will eventually downsize my home base and be free to go for as long as I want I just hope I will still be healthy enough to do the travels I enjoy. I feel a lot of people get stuck in our consumer society and never find what truly makes them happy. I feel you are on the right track for what makes you happy. I enjoy all your content, but found your channel because of your backpacking. Your camping and exploring has been a bonus. Keep up the good work. ❤😊

Hey man you inspired me to also convert my car into a camper and live out of it when hitting overnight trails I make content too! Thanks man!! I live in SD too

OMG, I’m the female version of you. Different backstory and a few different but same circumstances and have yet to hike the PCT, but I’ve done a LOT of backpacking starting at 53. Same age as you and about 1.5 hrs from the PCT in the central Sierra. Good for you! We have one life.

Education is the best investment anyone can make in their kids or themselves. So is not letting anyone else define you. 😊

Thank you Mike for sharing your story. I love your complete honesty about your life. I love Hiking. I wish I could do more. 😅

Thank you for sharing your story Mike

Very interesting! Thank you

Keep up the good work brother. Thanks for videos.

A very well thought out to reaching your goals. Thanks sharing your journey with us.

Great video

Cool journey and practical advice

I started hiking when I was 50, now 53. I plan on doing the PCT in a few years. In October, I will be do the Grand Canyon R2R. Thank you for sharing your story. Very inspirational🌺

Hi Mike. Hiking question... where do you suggest I start a PCT hike as a beginner? I live in Manhattan Beach and would like to be able to drive to my starting point. I don't have much endurance so something easy to start, perhaps a 3-4 days hike-thru. Also, I would love to see a load-out video from you! Best wishes, J.

If you mentioned it and I missed it I apologize. What age did you start? I am thinking about doing this same thing but I am 43 years old and will be starting in a small car. Love the videos

Why are you divorced? Maybe you as ex wife get back together? Are you spiritual person? Just curious.. good video btw . And thank you.

I was a critical care nurse/open heart surgery /organ transplant. I was a workaholic. And I could never get my vacation time. I had to call in sick to get any time off. I got into hiking in my mid fifties. It saved me. I retired at 62, three years early. I bought a camping van. But Covid interfered with my plans to do the pCT that year. And it has been one thing after another when it comes to doing a long thru hike. But I have gotten to do lots of shorter hikes. About a week on average out on trail. I went and hiked the relatively easy great glen way in Scotland. This past fall I went and hiked over the pyranees mountains starting in France. It was the beginning of the Camino Frances/de Santiago. About 120 miles in sustained an injury which brought me back home. Three days ago I had major surgery so will return to France, cross over the pyranees in Spain and do the entire 500 miles again, then about another 100 miles to the Spanish coast. In spring 2025. 26:41 26:41 In the meanwhile this July will be doing a lot of day hiking in Colorado. Last week of August a friend and myself will be hiking segment 18 of the mountain to seas trail, which is the outer banks coastal leg of the hike. I will do the Lone Star Trail here in Texas this fall. Then spend the winter going from Texas state park to Texas state park hiking various trails within the park and taking my camper van and small dog with me. To Arizona in January, and will be getting in some pct miles in January. Then to Spain as mentioned , be leaving April 10. So, other than that?? Who knows. I am now 66 years old. So I think, at least for me doing a hike that takes up 6 to 7 months of my life is no longer on the table. There is way too much to see and do to focus it so much on just one or two long distance thru hikes. So my channel. Wacky Jacks Great Adventures will be focused on all those adventures. But no 6 to 7 month thru hikes. Probably more day hiking than anything else.