Nomadic Nurse Diaries

Dear Roundabout Gods of Wifi Connectivity,

You’ve heard of SOS as a distress signal, but have you ever lived it as your permanent phone status? Welcome to my life in rural Washington, where cell service is a rare and mystical force, like spotting a unicorn or finding a pair of socks that match on laundry day.

This past work week was surprisingly great. I’m finally feeling more settled into the environment at the prison. The correctional officers have warmed up to me, and by “warmed up,” I mean they’ve stopped being cold assholes, which is progress. Yay for small victories! It’s nice not to be treated like an unwelcome outsider every time I walk through those gates. Baby steps, people.

My sleep schedule has also finally corrected itself—thank the sleep gods. I went through a rough patch where I was getting maybe an hour or two of sleep between shifts. Adjusting to van life and working those odd hours took a toll on me mentally. I was walking around like a zombie, which, considering the nature of the job, was not the best look. But I’ve found my groove now, and I’m actually getting decent sleep. No more staring at the ceiling of the van at 3 AM, contemplating life’s mysteries… like why roundabouts are so popular in Washington. Seriously, what’s the deal with that?

Speaking of which, driving the van has become second nature, even with the constant threat of everything flying off the shelves every time I hit one of those endless roundabouts. I’ve considered bolting everything down, but where’s the fun in that? Living on the edge, that’s what van life is all about… right?

I’ve also started feeling more confident talking to the inmates. Not because they intimidated me before, but because I finally know some answers to their questions. I’m picking up the prison rules and processes quickly, and I’ve learned that knowledge really is power—especially when you’re working in a place where people will try to test your limits every day. Now, when they ask me something, I don’t have to do that awkward, “Umm, let me get back to you on that” dance. Progress!

So, I’m thinking about heading to Mt. Rainier this weekend. The season is almost over, and I need to catch it before the park closes. Writing this out now, I’m realizing just how little time I actually have left to make that happen. Procrastination, thy name is Nomadic Nurse. But seriously, I need to get my act together and go. I’ve heard it’s stunning this time of year, and I don’t want to miss out on something that’s practically in my backyard. Plus, the girls could use some fresh mountain air. (Not that they’ve complained, but I know they’re secretly craving a good adventure.)

Looking ahead, I’m considering extending my contract until Christmas. After that, I’m thinking of heading home for the holidays and then making my way to Baja, Mexico, for a month before picking up another contract. Baja has been on my list forever, and it’s the van lifer’s snowbird mecca. Life is short, and Baja sounds like the perfect place to escape winter and soak up some sun. We shall see!

Oh, and on a random note, I got a new hotspot for internet because my service out here is absolute garbage—seriously, I get SOS all over this place. I found a cheap, generic hotspot on Amazon (I know, I know—convenience over perfection), and it came with a built-in plan that gives you 100 GB over the course of three months. It’s been life-changing. I can stay anywhere and work from the van. No more schmoozing it up with my local friendly librarian, Bernard (shout out to Bernard!), so he’ll let me stay all day to use their WiFi. Nay nay. Hotspot is here to stay! I will miss Bernard, though—he always had the best stories.

So that’s the latest from the road. Life is good, things are boring in the best way, and I’m finally feeling like I’ve found my rhythm out here. Hope you’re all doing great and living your best lives!

Until next time,
Your Well-Rested, Well-Connected Nomadic Nurse