Even on the bad days I feel lucky. My work takes me all around the western half of the US, from empty BLM savannahs to iconic national parks. I’m a footloose freelancer, who writes about gear and travel, and occasionally gets paid to shoot photos intended to make you feel guilty about not living the same way. Sure, during winter it’s common for me to spend a week somewhat damp, or a few days lonely, or an afternoon completely lost—and not in the good way—but these troubles always seem to pass.
Now, if you’re envisioning my life in a decked-out Sprinter van with prayer flags and Pendleton blankets, think again. I live in a Toyota Tacoma. Simple means in a reliable truck. The back has a LEER topper on it, much like a construction cap, with a few stickers on the back. Inside is a foam mattress and a couple sleeping bags and below that a small drawer for my kitchen—a double burner stove, pots, and bags of oatmeal and coffee.