Trip Learning 7 - Safety On The Trip

One of the more common questions I received on and after the trip were related to my safety.

I never worried about my safety on the trip except for the time I was hiking Finger Rock Trail in Tucson and I was so far up and out that I didn't see anyone for 4 hours.  I wondered if something happened if I could have found a way to get out as there was no cell service for a good part of the trip.

As for camping, boondocking in BLM Lands, or staying over in casino parking lots, truck stops, Walmart parking lots and rest areas.  I never worried about my safety or even thought of it.  

A question I got more than once was did I lock the campervan doors all the time.  The answer was no.  In fact I would generally lock my doors but there were times when I woke up in the morning and noticed I didn't lock the doors the night before.

Although I didn't worry or concern myself about safety, should not be construed that I didn't think safety was important.  

For example I would only go to ATM's during the mid-day and only to a large bank like Bank of America & Wells Fargo.  I minimized my chances of brewing a victim on how I conducted myself.

I didn't typically go out at night other than malls to attend a movie and even this I would go in the afternoon.

I don't wear expensive clothing or Jewelery and my 1994 camper didn't leave the image that I had money.  There were plenty if people I met on the road that obviously had money.

I always hiked trails by myself.  From time to time I would meet up with someone else and hike with them if they were going the same way.  I would be asked aren't you afraid to hike by myself?  My answer was no.  I thought about the question but I felt I would never hike if I waited to find someone else to do it with.  Heck I was on the trip by myself and I needed to be willing to do everything if I expected to do what I wanted to do on the trip.

There is a blog at Zcheap RV Living that offers tips on safety http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/staying-safe-vandweller/.  

I recommend that anyone that travels as I did alone should take what precautions as they see fit to stay comfortable and safe.  

I had a woman I met in Florida on the first month that told me that I should bring a handgun with me and I told her my gins were at home.  She made sound that my failure to bring on of my guns was a mistake.  I told her that I didn't to feel it necessary to have a gun to feel safe.  It is very rare that such situations occur that one needs a gun.  Yes it is possible but I actually felt that there was a greater risk for being found out that I was carrying a gun in a state without proper licensing.

One of my major goals on the trip was to meet all kinds of people.  That includes all walks of life and economic ability.

I met people with little to nothing for income.  How I looked, conducted myself and what and how i said what I wanted, all gave a modest appearance.  I was approached by many looking for money and for the ones I helped by giving money, I would only give the max of $5.00.  I would always say that I hoped what I gave them would help their circumstances.

I believe my modist appearance, mostly in shorts and tee shirt each day, was my best safety defense.  It als helped not going out at night much,  and staying out of known bad neighborhoods. 

Even with what I did, I was still a victim of crime when my bicycle on the back of my campervan was stolen in a commuter parking lot at a community college in Phoenix.