Humans evolved as tribal nomads. We followed the herds, primarily hunting but also gathering when needed. The concepts of ownership over land, houses, food, tools, gear, and even other people, were for the most part alien to our ancestors. We kept only what we could carry from camp to camp, only what we needed to live off the land. Why build a permanent shelter, a house, when you moved every few months? The dawn of agriculture was also the birth of ownership. Accumulation of excess grain and staple crops required storage facilities. These silos in turn needed to be guarded by militia. A caste system sprung up consisting of lords, merchants, artisans, soldiers, and peasants. Whereas nomadic tribes maintained egalitarian social structures, post-agrarian societies were inherently hierarchical. The haves above the have nots. Going forward, land ownership became a status symbol. Success went from how full the tribes bellies were from that day’s kill to how huge is my McMansion.

For those desiring a return to a simpler, ancestrally-inspired life, tiny homes on wheels offers an appealing approach. Living small appeals to those of us who are minimalists. Having a tiny home necessarily means having less stuff which often results in greater peace of mind. A small home also tends to be quite amenable to being mobile whether in the form of a tiny home on a flatbed trailer, a motorhome (class A, B, or C), a travel trailer, or a converted cargo trailer. How sustainably off-grid these moveable homes are mostly comes down to securing sources of water and power. The power problem can be easily solved with solar and regular trips to a fueling station. Water is easy to find from a variety of sources. Storing clean and grey water in tanks and energy in batteries and fuel tanks allows today’s nomads to untether themselves from modern life for quite extended periods of time. An added bonus of living small off-grid means that the money one would normally spend on rent or mortgage, may in stead be diverted to a retirement account, travel fund, or debt repayment. Many people also find that by bringing expenses down to a minimum allows for working shorter hours or even early retirement.

Many people living in stationary homes are not aware of the alternative living arrangements available to them. They believe the rules of society do not permit them a choice in the matter. Many of us who are aware of the options might still choose the comforts and convenience of a house or apartment. A growing segment of society is choosing the throw off the yoke of convention in favor of flexibility over security, freedom over material comforts, and simplicity over material possessions.

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away.”
― Henry David Thoreau