Getting reintroduced to Mother Nature

Nomad View dispersed camping in the Buffalo Gap National Grassland just outside Badlands National Park

Heat. Wind. Rain. Hail.

“Who’s dumb idea was this?” I asked myself for the half-dozenth time in the last month as crosswinds gusted to 50 miles per hour on the highway, pushing the tail of our trailer back and forth, into and out of my side mirrors. A wind gauge mounted on our vehicle wouldn’t have been able to tell if we were moving faster forward or sideways. Mine. It was my dumb idea yet again. 

Today was Sunday, and though the forecast had called for strong winds, since I work during the week, it was the last window of opportunity to travel before we needed to be settled in one spot with a solid internet connection. And so we went; truck, trailer, two toddlers, and the 2,266 pounds that make up our life right now bounced and swayed an hour and a half East on I-90 to an epic boondocking spot in the Buffalo Gap National Grassland.

Yesterday’s dumb idea was saying, “Yeah sure, makes sense for you to go grocery shopping while I put the kids down” without checking the weather report. This was followed twenty minutes later by my looking up what pink represented on the radar image (very strong rain/hail) and listening to little frozen BBs ping off the top of our little home on wheels, imagining Lauren dodging the more serious golf-ball-sized ice balls that the National Weather Service wanted me to know were in the area.

Until recently, I didn’t have to think about the weather very often. Sure, decide between long sleeves or a jacket, thanks Dark Sky. But honestly, my life was so insulated by layers of convenience and comfort, buffered from the extremes, that it wasn’t like I planned around it.

I think some of the best early parts of this adventure have been getting back to being close to nature, and reminded of its magnificent power. In awe of the tornadoes, lightning storms, hail, and punishing sun because now we have to do something about it. Let’s be honest, it’s still pretty cush to have running water, a bathroom, a refrigerator, air conditioning (when I don’t overload the inverter), and a freaking dishwasher on wheels everywhere we go. But our indoor space is so small, and the world outside feels that much closer for it.