I have to be fair and say that I was well-prepared for those three road years. My father was in the air force, I was in the air force, and my husband was in the army. I'd already lived over much of the country and a bit of the world. Because of my lifestyle growing up, I wasn't attached to four walls, and a building isn't home for me, it is about the people. Since I wasn't from anyplace firmly, no one really missed me. On the other hand, we formed relationships with people that only lasted days, but made life interesting. I wish I could say I conquered my fear of heights, no I did not. I overcame them a little for a little while, but have no intentions of challenging that fear again. Climbing over Mesa Verde and a couple of other spots out west (I'll think about it and tell you where they were) were a challenge, but once we settled back in, I told my husband, that's it, not doing heights again! Enough is enough!
If anyone is interested in doing the nomadic thing in an RV, send me a private message so we don't bore anyone else, and I'll give you my hints on how to survive and keep (if you're a couple) intact.
We planned our lives day-to-day. If we heard of a festival, we might head there. My husband studied Rand McNally day-to-day, which has notations of things that might interest us. I'm a voracious reader, and he'd say, huh, Claire, do you know Willa Cather? John Steinbeck? and we'd head to their home towns and museums. I might read a chapter to remind myself and husband of the author. (by-the-way, husband wasn't ignorant of the authors, I just would say, "Oh, Pioneer" or "Grapes of Wrath" and we'd be on our way).
I have said often and will repeat for you all, this entire nation seems build on cars, to my great angst sometimes (I lived in Germany as a child and in DC as a young adult, then later in Hawaii, and still to this very day miss public transportation). Since we are stuck in this auto-centered social thing, then I think you should take Addie's comment to mind. That is to say, get in your car and move. Don't kid yourself that everything is where you are living. Don't kid yourself that when you fly from here to there and see another city, you've seen this country. I have crossed the USA in a car more times than I can count (this is the serious truth), and if you think you know the USA because you've flown into a few cities, you are so wrong. Right out of my memories, I'll never forget the zoo in Garden City, Kansas. If I could just transport myself right there right now, I would. Along with the Vietnamese community. And the migration of butterflies. How about the great beef we ate that was fresh off the King ranch? How about ... well, I'm getting boring again! But it was a wonderful experience. Give me a PM if you're considering it.