I'm a vandweller AND enough an introvert I'm glad I wasn't there for that mess. Look at that crowd! Bah humbug! But then, I'm not a BoobTube star.
11
Homelessness is now rationalized as being bohemian and chic. Nice post-industrial society you've given us, Republicrats.
42
It's not a bad goal in life, "To Be Happy". It takes a little work and planning.
30
I'm perplexed and disappointed at the level of animosity directed at the people -- and their lifestyle -- featured in this article. Whether out of financial necessity or desire for the open road, these people are hurting no one and may actually serve as an inspiration to those who are unhappy working desk jobs and barely managing mortgages. (A litany of self-help books on how to be happy says it all.) All of our lives need not look the same. In fact, what a boring world it would be if that were the case.
179
Live-aboard boaters have been doing this sort of thing on the water for generations. One big difference--with a boat you've got the entire world as your playground. World cruising yachting can be very minimalist and anti-consumerist as well. If you've got the skills (not that difficult actually), boating is the way to go if you want to get away. Sail away!
55
"Hair bands" usually refer to post-1985 pop-metal bands that had no discernible musical talent. Otherwise this is very well written.
15
Burning Man participants are still 90% white and 10% Other.
6
So? My 1st Bob Marley concert, at MSG, also his first American concert was 98% black fans. Then Woodstock which I also attended was 98% white fans. The road to Burning Man is open for anybody. As a life long camper, I have come across few non whites. Should I stop?
22
What’s your point? All are welcome. Why make everything a race issue?
34
Nice click bait title. What is described has nothing to do with burning man, because burning man is not about simplicity, it is about radical extravagance, and it is about making art.
22
Looking at the pictures, it would appear all of these people are pretty good at consuming.
17
Yeah because doing coke in a trailer powered by a gasoline generator running 5,000 Christmas lights actually means something.
10
AS if everything has to have some profound meaning. Drinking beers at tailgating parties before concerts and football games sure doesn't have any deep meaning but is a heck of a lot of fun. I doubt much coke is done at Burning man because its hipness is long gone. Its so 80s. You don't get around by anything using using gasoline? That's how most to the food you eat gets to the marketplace.
15
I take issue with the classifying of Van Halen as a "hair band". Van Halen was a widely respected rock band that opened up new territories for electric and even acoustic guitarists thanks to Eddie Van Halen. Winger, Dokken, et al never had such an impact.
49
“Widely respected?”
17
Very interesting article! But the usually exhaustive NYT reporting did not mention two important issues: where do they obtain water when at this event, and how do they access the internet in these very rural areas? I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who might know the answer to these questions! Thanks!
7
Because of the major influx of full-timers in Quartzsite in the winter (numbering in the 100s of thousands) there are plenty of places to fill up water (both general water, and drinking water). The town of Quartzsite is only 5 miles from this event.
As far as internet goes, there was a decent amount of cell service in the area.
I love that Internet was one of the two basic necessities from the OP :-)
31
Thanks so much for the info!!!
8
You must bring your own water as well as anything else you need to survive in the desert. Cell service is available at the RTR so if you are techy you can have wifi. I just used my cell for access to internet.
15
What good is the desert for if not to litter with old heaps. Explains why it's the natural habitat of the slow moving giant desert tortoise.
8
Finished Nomadland earlier this month. A powerful and disturbing read. Many RTR attendees have been forced into the lifestyle by the economy, and Amazon (and others) exploit them ruthlessly for cheap, hard labor...
54
Protesting consumerism, but only thanks to the abilities and freedoms provided by capitalism. Irony.
28
A) Unfortunately none of these people have chosen the economic system they live in.
B) Capitalism and Consumerism aren't necessarily co-dependent.
C) Freedom and Capitalism are far from synonymous.
89
Life is full of irony. Why does that mean these folks can't do what they want? If I benefit from capitalism does that mean I have to accept all of its ills or not try to do something different.?
52
And liberty a resounding gong.
1
Not an accurate story at all, this is hardly a refuge for anti consumerist hippies. In fact you will be sorely disappointed if you think that’s what Quartzite is. What they aren’t telling you: Quartzite has been a gathering place for mostly retired RV travelers for decades, especially January/February, when it’s population swells to almost 1.75 million people. This is a huge event, and I’m not talking about the people in the story, because it’s mostly well off retirees. Yes, camping is free and primitive, but you can almost jump roof to roof on million dollar coaches. It’s The Villages West. They have giant flea markets that sell some amazing crafts. It’s worth checking out. We always stopped going back San Diego from Lake Havasu.
23
You are speaking of Quartzsite, the article is referring to the RTR.
31
You are thinking of the main Quartzite area and not this event. This event is nearby but is much different. I haven't been, but from the YouTube videos I've seen, most people at the RTR have fairly humble rigs and many live in homemade conversions of cars, minivans, cargo vans, or something bigger. They live in or maybe travel part-time in vehicles of all shapes and sizes. There are of course a few with expensive big RVs.
25
Sensational story. And well written. Thank you. Almost makes me sad I canceled my 'not-what-it-was' N.Y. Times digital subscription the other day. Almost...
8
Don't worry, Mr. Wells & co. The rest of us will continue to slug it out with life every day by working, paying the taxes that fund the roads you drive on and the parks you enjoy, raising kids who will keep society going when you retire, and, a lot of us, fighting Trump and the evil he represents. You want to live in a place where everyone is like you, go to, say, sub-Saharan Africa, and get a taste what it is like when everyone gives up hope for society.
36
Stuart, I'm not sure where you read that the people of this community don't work. Many of them have work camping jobs, work part time or work online.
In fact, it could be argued that they pay the same percentage of taxes, use fewer resources and cause less harm to the earth.
73
In addition to the folks who work, as mentioned by Jane Doe above, a lot of the folks attending the RTR are also retired and living on their social security/pensions. Some are there because their retirement income is not enough for rent/mortgage, but others are taking advantage of the opportunity to travel full-time and see the country.
59
Read Nomadland and you'll discover many RTR attendees feel forced into this lifestyle, and often work very hard for low wages paid by Fortune 500 companies. You might gain a little compassion and humility too...
59
Strange things grow in the Petroleum Efflorescence.
6
Sounds like the perfect and purposeful solution to the insanity of Burning Man...gets me thinking.
10
It similar to when the poor, starving artists and others go into a worn out part of a city then make it hip and livable. Then the Yuppies, techies and those boring types come in, buy it up and make it theirs. Forcing those who made it desirable, out of the neighborhood because of the raised rents and gentrification.
Burning Man is no different. Now it is exclusive and expensive.
All the cool, creative kids have left the party.
71
I have been a hippie all my life now 70. I was forced out of a teaching job I loved by retrenchment when I was 64. After a few poorly paid teaching gigs I gave up and finally accepted retirement. With no time ties I bought a GMC Vandura conversion van, tossed some camping equipment in, loaded up my two dogs and hit the road to warmer climes for winter. Since then I have gutted the van and built an RVan inside. This coming June my DH will retire and join me in the part time nomadic life that he has gradually come to embrace. Living an essential life.
101
American Freedom manifests itself in oh so many ways. Fringe going Mainstream.
8
The vestiges of the 1970s Rainbow Family Gatherings.
12
Not the ones I attended filled with run away teen aged girls or "rainbow family" girls (neglected/sexualized) like myself being tracked by older "rainbow" men. Wishy washy hippie culture was never about strong, straightforward actualized women or protecting children who weren't ready to be objectified as "goddesses". When I see these converted vans and schoolies, it brings back bad scary memories; but the people featured in this article seem nice/safe and the culture described as well.
73
I'm almost done reading Nomadland and the sad thing is that because people can foreclose on their homes, file chapter 7 and 13 every decade or less because of credit card debt, I can't get any help for my medical field student loan. I can't work in an underserved area and have it forgiven or cut in half. I can't bankrupt it. I buy nothing but the essentials and my car was purchased soley for this reason. I can live in it.
56
I'll tell you why taxpayers should help with health-related student loans: heavy debt forces many students to work in specialized fields or in geographic areas where there is no shortage of healthcare workers. Who gets the shaft? Rural residents, inner-city dwellers, the poor, the elderly (geriatrics is far from the highest paying specialty), anyone who wants or needs a primary care doc or more time with their MD. Also, the cost of medical training is so expensive that talented but poor/ middle-class students might opt out. Sure, I believe medical trainees should work in exchange for help with the funding of education but this is different than saying let's not fund it as a country. In contrast, in many countries, medical education is free or low'cost as long as one is admitted to a medical training program.
47
Astounding lack of empathy. Sounds like this person went into a field which would help people - yes, by choice - and is choosing to live in their car because they have no other options. How do you know this person doesn't pay taxes? Consider that you might not have all the information about someone else's life before criticizing it.
12
Please explain why you should pay any taxes for the populace to be educated, then? Get rid of all public schools?
Me, me, me...you exemplify what is wrong with the greater contemporary US society
16