PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA – We’re on the road again!
Two years ago, Kate and I became a traveling family… a sort of modern American gypsy family. We traveled the world, living out of a suitcase and homeschooling our kids. We’ve been to more than 30 countries and made a complete circumnavigation of the planet.
We never intended or planned to do this. It was an accident of timing and circumstance. Kate and I had gotten divorced. I was depressed. I had lost my business. One day, we just rented a van and off we went…
We found happiness on the road. Our family experienced a sort of bonding effect from being squashed together 24/7 in small hotel rooms, train stations, and airports… with nothing else to do except make our way safely around the world as a team of five.
Kate and I fell in love with each other again and we realized we were a perfect match for each other.
My passion for writing returned. And we found a lifestyle that was simpler, more fun, and a lot cheaper than the one we’d left behind. It was such a revelation; it was like we’d tumbled into a portal where life was just… better.
We returned to America this year, in January, to exit the portal and re-enter conventional life again. We were going to make a home in Baltimore, and I was going to start a new job. But then… we got to Baltimore and changed our minds.
“Why don’t we keep living in the Portal?” we thought. And so we packed our suitcase again and spread our wings again. We went to Nicaragua. And we bought airline tickets to Argentina. That’s when coronavirus hit.
We were in Florida, visiting Kate’s parents. We were about to fly to Argentina when we heard the Argentines had closed their borders. Luckily, Kate’s parents opened their house to us and told us we could stay as long as we liked. We ended up staying there for 60 days… and having a really special visit. (Kate and I got divorced and went our separate ways in 2014. So I hadn’t seen Kate’s parents in five years.)
While we were there, Kate and I decided our next trip would be a camping trip across America. The kids loved our camping trip two years ago – we all did – and with international travel being close to impossible at the moment, gas prices being so low, and America heading into a recession, we realized it was the perfect time to go “hobo” around America’s campsites for a while.
So a few weeks ago, I bought a used pop-up camper from a seller on Craigslist. It’s 14 years old and we are at least the third owner. It had no title or registration. We paid $1,500 for it.
A few hours ago, we said goodbye to Kate’s parents and cast off into America. We’re going to drive to Alaska. (I assume the Canadian border will have re-opened by the time we get there.)
I’m writing this message to you from our first campsite. It’s 68 miles north of West Palm Beach, near the town of Port St. Lucie. It’s a beautiful spot, right on the water.
Our first stop: Port St. Lucie
There are only three other customers here tonight. Otherwise, it’s empty. We’re paying $25 a night for our space.
Our pop-up camper sleeps three, so we also brought a tent with us for extra space. We just put up the tent and the boys are inside making the beds.
More tomorrow…
– Tom Dyson
P.S. It was difficult finding somewhere to camp. The first four or five places we called were still closed due to coronavirus. Will it be hard to find places to camp? Surely everything will be open soon. This place opened up five days ago…
P.P.S. As you know, as part of our revelation two years ago, Kate and I also went “all in” on gold. I invested nearly $1 million of my own money in our Dow-to-Gold strategy. But there’s more to it than just buying bullion. And on Wednesday, May 20, I’m sharing the details in an urgent briefing. To make sure you don’t miss it, reserve your spot right here.
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FROM THE MAILBAG
One reader sends greetings from Alaska… while others share their own road trip stories…
Reader comment: Hi Tom! Greetings from Anchorage, Alaska! Really enjoying your postcards! I’m a lifelong Alaskan and periodic subscriber to Stansberry newsletters. I was born in Alaska two years prior to statehood. Be very happy to welcome you to my hometown and host a lunch or dinner for you and your family. Let me know!
Reader comment: We drove an RV to Alaska. We went up through Montana. We stopped a lot. But make sure you take ground beef frozen. As you can’t get it in a lot of places. We were gone almost three months and had a wonderful time. The time was the very best with grizzly, elk, black bears, goats, sheep, moose… you name it! Also, take water as it’s hard to get sometimes, as they have to bring water there in tanks. Too much rock for wells. The sites are better than the Swiss Alps. It was the very best memories.
Reader comment: Twelve years ago, my daughter wanted to go to Alaska, packed a couple of little bags, hopped in my red convertible… and off we went, no plans, road maps, and an older automobile (meaning no GPS). Had a great time. You and yours may not come back, except to visit.
Tom’s note: Thank you for your messages! Please keep writing us at [email protected].