In America poverty is becoming a real issue among older people because of the costs of divorce, housing and medical bills – many of them have little or no pension or benefits. Some of these people have found a way in which to live which is significantly cheaper and gives them an element of independence. In Nomadland Jessica Bruder talks about these people who buy camper vans and travel around the country looking for work.
This is not tourism. Most of these people have no home other than their van and none of them has very much money – maintenance and repairs on the vans can use all their available capital or strand them somewhere until they can raise more money. They have websites online and other ways of sharing free, or cheap places to camp and friendly towns. They also share details of jobs, mostly on minimum wage, which are available. They are adept at making use of everything they have and being able to adapt to meet problems which might come their way.
These people are older and often in poor health but they travel around the country undertaking seasonal jobs usually for minimum wage levels. In the summer there is fruit picking and agricultural work, many of them work in theme parks in the summer in menial roles, and at Christmas there is Amazon and other fulfilment warehouses. This is hard work but the employers often provide sites for camper vans and facilities for those who live in them in order to attract this workforce.
The author tells us about some people who live this way and what they have found particularly difficult but she also talks about the comradeship and joys of this life on the roads. It’s an interesting story about a resilient group of people who live hard lives because of economic circumstances but who try to make the best of what they have.
Anne Is Reading 