The Vagabond Identity

Where are you all from?

We get that question daily. For a while we would stumble over our answer. How to you explain that you were born and grew up in Minnesota, went to school in Iowa, have residency in South Dakota even though you never lived there and the most recent place you lived that didn’t have wheels was LA. To make it harder you don’t feel super tied to any of those places. I’m not Minnesotan, not Iowegian, sure ain’t South Dakotan, and will never consider myself Californian.

Home is currently the van. Yes, home. When texting on the trail I’ll tell Jake that Leinie and I are on our way home, meaning the van, not any set location. Home is where my immediate family is, my partner and my dog. For a time, that was Anoka. For several years, RPV. Now, it’s a yellow Econoline with a mattress and xbox. But when posed the question, do I point to the van?

It makes me curious why the question is such a constant. Does everyone camping get the question? Is it reserved for vehicle-dwellers? Or is it our strong accents that we will apparently never shake that give our non-local status away. I dropped the pop for soda, but can’t seem to shake a good “ope” when necessary, if you’re curious. But if that’s the case, when you hear a strong southern or Boston accent, do you ask the question?

Ultimately, I don’t believe anyone who has asked us this has anything but good, curious intention and just trying to make conversation. We will likely continue to stumble over our answer and at times Jake will say one thing and I another. At times one of us may say something about originating from Minnesota. Depending on the city or person, we may feel necessary to leave our stint in California unspoken. Other times I feel rebellious and just state South Dakota despite none of our license plates stating such.

Where are you all from?

Lots of places, but currently here.