Hey there so the motivation for my post is to practice my writing and see what people do and do not find useful. Ultimately I want to write for a living and impart real world knowledge based on experience.

Here are 10 most valuable pieces of advice I can think of off the top of my head:

1. Set aside like $100 cash for tolls. Depending on where you go the tolls add up and they add up fast. Seriously, even if you don’t come close to spending $100 in tolls you must be prepared with dollar bills and quarters to get through. And cash is necessary for emergencies too, because you never know when your card may not work while traveling or if some vendors only accept cash.

2. Wet wipes are incredibly useful. There are two types: wet wipes for your body and Clorox wet wipes for hard surfaces. You will find them useful for when you need to clean up and don’t have access to a toilet, and you will find the Clorox wipes useful for cleaning the inside and outside of your car.

3. Spend less time on the road and more time experiencing the towns and cities on the way. If you do a road trip but it’s just 500 miles of highway driving, then you’re ultimately missing out on the best part of the road trip which is experiencing the people, culture, and events along the way.

4. Walmart is your best friend for supplies and many 24 hour Walmart Supercenters allow for truckers and overnighters as that’s business for them when people need to buy stuff to resupply.

5. Your car is a vehicle for you to experience the world. If you outfit your car to become this “home on wheels” then you will never be satisfied with the experience because a car was not built to become a fully functioning apartment home. People will leave you alone, no one will bother or report you, and as long as your car is locked you can feel safe inside to sleep.

6. My bedding is dog beds and sweaters, and that has worked well for me and my pup. To each their own, but you should maintain appearances and be able to pack everything away at a moment’s notice.

7. Food pricing is incredibly varied, and I have found you can always find wonderful foods like a loaf of bread, bag of donuts, spaghettios, vegetables, can of soup, and other stuff all for less than $2 each.

8. Make sure to have at least a gallon or two of water in your car. Water is necessary for thirst, cleaning, and also just to feel content that you have a water supply on hand.

9. Maintain your appearance by changing your clothes, smiling, and being optimistic while dealing with people. Lots of misunderstandings can happen all the way, but if you are outside or in your car you have more to lose than they do and so your best bet is to see the bigger picture and let it go.

10. Keep physical books with you in case your tech runs out of battery. I put an American flag in my rear view window, and I do think that makes me look more patriotic. I also have a university bumper sticker which hopefully displays some sort of class and intelligence.

And here is my analysis of the areas I’ve visited so far:

Upstate New York: still the rush rush of the City, Albany, Syracuse, Utica, and Buffalo all felt like large industrial towns still waiting for their next renaissance moment.

Ohio: cheap across the board with a cheaper cost of living and cheaper gas as well as more affordable housing.

Chicago: brilliant and beautiful city which lives up to the hype and stil has room to grow, though each neighborhood is totally different with regard to what is offered, the public amenities, and socioeconomic status.

Omaha: the residents here are long term, and I think it’s for a certain type of person who wants a smaller city yet with everything still offered.

Colorado: fresh air, friendly people, lots going on here, and plenty to see and do whether it’s hiking or working for a large business in a city, and even in the city you still have miraculous views of the mountains in the distance.

The goal of my roadtrip isn’t just to gain new experiences, it’s to also find the community which is right for me, and so I will continue exploring, learning, and if this post goes over well, sharing what I have experienced in order to benefit you too.