About Stormy

The Driver

Hi. My name’s Stormy Shafer.

I’m a journalist, author, commercial copywriter, marketing consultant, artist, independent book publisher, indie author consultant, teacher, public speaker,  storm freak/tornado chaser, sometime animal rescuer, and avid metal detectorist.

(I’m a triple Gemini — I get bored easily. And recently discovered I have ADHD.)

As a regular sticks-and-bricks dweller, I lived in upper Bucks County, in southeastern Pennsylvania. That’s still my home base…for now.

In November, 2017, a number of factors came together to cause me to want to change my living situation. I decided to move from a stationary apartment dweller to a full-time RVer, living in a 20-foot travel trailer towed by a bright yellow Jeep Wrangler…even though before that, I had never RVed a day in my life.

I explain that whole situation here.

Evolution

Wildheart II, my 1997 Coachmen Catalina Lite

As I moved into my second year as a fulltimer, I upgraded our rig and tow vehicle to a 2000 Toyota Tundra S-5 pulling a 23-foot 1997 Coachmen Catalina Lite. The more powerful tow vehicle gives me far more confidence as a driver, and the larger rig makes me feel more like a grownup able to make a living on the road than a kid playing in a blanket fort.

In January, 2021, I upgraded rigs again. This time, I got a 27-foot 2000 Skyline Nomad 261-LT. I got a great deal on it from friends I knew had taken great care of it. It had a bunkhouse, which I tore out to turn into a dedicated office space. This will give me back my kitchen table to use for table things, and allow me to figuratively close the door on the office at the end of the workday.

While this isn’t something I ever planned to do or even contemplated, it has turned out to be a sanity-saving choice for me. I like a life that’s interesting and adventurous, and I like the mystery that comes from a certain amount of ambiguity. I don’t necessarily want to know, when I get up in the morning, what will happen to me or where I’ll be when I go to sleep that night.

Chasing tornadoes for my 50th birthday

Being too certain of everything is a sure recipe for sleepwalking through life, at least for me. Though I don’t feel I’ve ever been that much on autopilot, I’ve been closer than I care to be. This new journey ensures I will probably never get close to that again.

Keeping Track

I’m keeping a blog here as a way to document my journeys, all the experiences I have, and all the people (both cool and maybe not so much) I meet along the way. My intent is to use this material to remind me of my sojourn once I come in off the road, and to write a couple books about it. I believe I will have enough new experiences to fill both a how-to guide for solo RVers, and another book that will take a more spiritual/emotional approach while remaining nonfiction…a kind of memoir.

Why do I think anyone would be interested in reading such books? Well, first of all, because I realize I’m on a journey not too many people get to experience in modern life. Also because, as I’ve shared my story with people, one of the most frequent comments I get is, “Oh, how cool! I wish I could do that. But at least I’ll be able to live vicariously through you.”

In my mind, a book is just a longer form presentation than a blog. And, well…you’re here reading this, aren’t you?