65: Finding Your People: Building Community on the Road

The Wayward Home Podcast

Feeling connected while living a nomadic lifestyle can be challenging. In this episode, solo female van lifer Courtney Stevenson shares her best tips for combating loneliness and finding community on the road.
Courtney talks about how she leveraged social media connections to find and befriend fellow nomads online when she first started out. She then eventually met some of these internet friends in person while traveling. Courtney explains how attending van life gatherings and events is one of the best ways to meet fellow wanderers. She discusses some popular events like Descend on Bend and the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous.
We also chat about the pros and cons of seasonal travel and how winter brings more interactions by nature while summer allows for more exploration and independence. Courtney weighs in on the need to find balance between community and solitude, even as an extrovert. She also talks about dealing with loneliness amidst the highs and lows of van life.
Whether you’re a solo traveler looking to make road friends or a couple hoping to connect with other nomadic pairs, this episode covers actionable tips for combating isolation. Tune in to hear Courtney’s hard-won advice after 3+ years living in her van.
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Chapters

1. Finding Community on the Road (00:00:00)

2. Connecting in Van Life Community (00:09:34)

3. Van Life and Community Dynamics (00:21:21)

4. Find and Join a Community Tips (00:32:02)