Growing up in my youth, I learned about Scouting from my next door neighbor, Dale. He told me about how they go camping every month in the woods. That was in on 1 October 1963 and I did not waste any time but went with him the next evening on Wednesday, 02 October to join Scouting.

Soon, I found out that my friend was right, we would go camping each month, even in inclement weather, which went a long way in teaching me how to enjoy the outdoors in every season.

While a member of the local Boy Scout troop, I came to learn that camping meant that you would arrive at a site in the woods, set up a tent, dig a hole for a latrine, gather down wood, build a fire to cook you supper and then after eating, sit out and watch the stars sail across the sky while naming constellations.

About a year later, I was to experience my first backpacking outing with the troop as we backpacked a trail along one of the rivers in Texas. It was at this time that I received my Fifty-miler award.

After that, I was totally hooked on backpacking and searched for new opportunities to experience more.

Today, one loads all of his possessions into a large RV, drives to a campground, parks in a paved space, plugs in the cable and electric, connects the sewer and water, and then climbs into the RV to spend a relaxing weekend watching the games on the TV drinking their favorite beer. In the evening, a steak is thrown onto the grill, a bottle of wine is opened and then a movie is streamed onto the large screen.

What I learned to be called the Life of Riley, many in the world now believe this, so much so that the size of the RV′s have reached massive size with large pullouts in every conceivable wall. Too, the amount of possessions carried are unimaginable with boats loaded on top, cars pulled behind and more.

Do you think they could get any more stuff on board? What′s wrong with that picture? Therein lies the reason for the statement:

If it has wheels and doors, you are not camping, you are just parking.

A growing number of wayfarers thus believes that in achieving Need Level, a person has so much more freedom from all the encumbrances that are inseparable with many possessions.

One method in particular learned by many wayƒarers is to reduce possessions down to what can be carried in a vehicle. Then, when the time presents itself, the wayƒarer can make this home also the means of travel.

Although sleeping in a car overnight to forego the cost of a motel was the practice with all of my previous vehicle, this has not become a full time practice but only occurred when traveling. However, beginning with the 1966 Volkswagen, I began to live full time in each of the following vehicles.