Take it all on your back

Like a turtle, hermit crab or snail. This is a choice to have everything you need with you and mobile. There are those extreme minimalists who would tell you that you can 'outsource' what you need. Then there are homesteaders who send down deep roots into the DIY ethos. The concept behind the BodPod is to design around a lifestyle and find a way to take that on the road.

An extreme example: Take a whole city on the road

While it Bod is the acronym for bio-centric on-road dwelling, on-road could easily be replaced by off-grid. My design ethic is heavily influenced by ecological design and permaculture. So while most RV's or campers can plug into the umbilical cord of electric and sewage at a campsite, the goal of the BodPod is to close as many loops as possible. Water is a loop, energy is a loop, food for the inhabitant, etc. I'm considering what the inputs and outputs of this small home are and finding ways to close these loops. I'd argue that closing loops is one knight in the vanguard of the battle against climate change ecological destruction.

While it may be more convenient to outsource your energy, water, waste, and nutrient needs to a third party, it provides much less freedom. The idea of being on-road and off-grid is centered around the concept of freedom. While a minimalist could simply make sacrifice and shit in the woods, I believe that 'making it sexy' or even just comfortable and elegant is important if the idea is going to spread. That's what the BodPod is attempting to do. Provide mobile self sufficiency in a way that is beautiful and enjoyable.


It's a belief of mine that most emotions stem from the two most basic ones: fear and love. Hate and love are not opposites. It seems obvious that hate is just a result of fear. Something threatens our egoic boundaries and defies our beliefs which makes us afraid and we can respond with hate. Why would anyone bother to deny ecological destruction? The science is solid. People are afraid of what climate change, ocean acidification, habitat loss, growing economic inequality, or corporate hegemony can mean. So we deny. Fear 
causes people to build walls. 
 






On the other hand we can intentionally seek out beauty and love. As I remember Keith Morris saying once, "you give a person a choice between two tomato sandwiches; one is made with factory grown tomatoes, wonder-bread, miracle whip. The other is made with a juicy red heirloom tomato from your backyard and bread from your friend the miller." One is the obvious choice. The more authentic option. 


Going on the road is not running from something but moving towards something. It is motivated by love, not by fear. Move towards your bliss.