Living Off the Grid in Arizona Desert 🇺🇸

Two hours west of Phoenix is a desert community living in their own world. People stay here for different reasons, but the one thread that connects this community is the desire to live in freedom. Join me as we meet some of the interesting characters that call Quartzite home.

FEATURED IN VIDEO:

BOB'S PODCAST & INSTA

ROBERT'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL & INSTA

► Video edited by: Natalia Santenello
► Researched by: Kymberly Redmond

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Thank You All!!!

All rights reserved © 2023 Peter Santenello

[michaelwalters]

Mike the bus guy here. Thanks Peter for coming out here and hanging out with us. Seems I hit the nail on the head with my comment about people thinking we are drug addled. My lack of teeth is actually the result of a particularly bad car accident many years ago, but seems to instantly get me labeled as a drug addict. That's ok though, I get that people could not possibly know my backstory so I do not judge them for their error. God Bless you and them. At any rate I am glad to have met you and to have had the opportunity to give some insight to people as to how we, the nomads live out here. Stay safe out there in the world sir.

[alllifematters]

This is awesome! My dad lived this lifestyle for the last 20 years of his life. He was an artist, a peace loving person. He would travel between the 4 corners of Arizona, new mexico, north Dakota, Montana and then back over to visit me in California. :) I miss my dad everyday. He was such a bright light in this world. Watching this makes me feel like I'm going home in some ways :)

[OKZK_Bros]

the most educational channel on the internet. no politics just real footage. Keep up the great work, Peter

[mrado]

"I don't practice Santanello, ain't got no crystal ball.." LOL that got me good.

You are one of the best anthropological filmmakers, capturing every corner of American culture & sub-cultures -- really appreciate your work, Peter!

[ashmomofboys]

I live in an converted van and people often think I’m homeless. But I consider myself homefree. I work seasonally and travel all over the United States. I don’t have a lot of stuff but I have a world of experiences. Thank you for showing this community for what it is. People simply living their lives. ❤ love my quartzite fam.

[nicwise]

I’m the fedex guy that delivers to quartzite from Yuma every day! Awesome place and and I meet awesome people every year with the gem show!

[christophermerrett]

I am a Sacramento resident and a company truck driver who operates out of Phoenix. A little over a year now have been driving I-10 to and from the San Bernard / Riverside area from Phoenix when I am not 11 western. I have always been curious about all the vehicles and RVs parked out in the desert. Because you covered this story, now I know. Thanks Peter for what you do !

[generations]

I joined this lifestyle over a year ago with my dog in a minivan. Spent my 66th birthday on Route 66. Met the nicest people whom I stay in contact with and I am very thankful to be so blessed 🙏❣️

[victoriamukami]

I’m in Kenya 🇰🇪 East Africa but through this man’s videos I feel like I’m exploring the USA without even moving an inch.

[SherryEllesson]

Peter, if you did another six videos on this community, I'd be glued. Thanks to the generous souls who were part of it, and I loved how spontaneous they were and candid in the mix.

[TheFlowOfDrumming]

As someone who lived the nomad life and stayed in quartzite, thanks for showing this side of life. It’s a great place for people to live during the colder months and be able to stay for free to low cost!

[leilareggie]

If a senior woman shows up unprepared because they have prepared to fail they did not watch enough Bob Wells videos. Seriously. He truly educates. Such novices would likely show up on a bicycle at Le Mans. I have watched him for all his uTubing. Authentic nomadic bunch of guys who have created their own community. Bravo.

[AndyMetz-xq]

I have just recently discovered Peter's videos. Whether he's in Appalachia, Amish Country, Alaska, New York City, or the Arizona desert, Peter approaches everyone with a non-judgmental, non-critical attitude, and he always looks for the best in people. I really enjoy his videos, and am learning interesting stuff about various places and people.

[whitewolfwoodcrafts]

I lived in a camper van for about a year. It definitely has its challenges, some of them psychological, but by the end of the year I was fully adjusted to the lifestyle, thriving. I eventually bought a small ranch in Wyoming. This Spring I was vanning around again down in AZ and I came across an area like this. I pulled in at night and wasn't sure how sketchy or not things would be. By morning I was sitting around drinking coffee with tons of new friends. We talked road life, vehicle modifications, backstories, etc.. all good folks. I was pleasantly surprised and look forward to snowbirding in these places a bit in the future. Still wary of Slab City though.

[kingsqueak]

Peter you definitely need to do Louisiana, the bayou, cajun country in Acadia and of course New Orleans. It's another set of unique cultural mixes. Another great video, never knew this existed for sure.

[zariballard]

I love the desert. Came here as a city girl 35 years ago and never left. My first AZ sunset confirmed for me that I was where I needed to be. I'm not off grid but I dream of it and it's the top item on my bucket list. Blessings to everyone in this video! Thank you again, Peter, for another great adventure....

[UDPride]

These all seem like awesome dudes. Bob is just a baller. He sounds like hes got more sense than 98% of folks still on the grid. Would love to have a beer next to a campfire with all these guys. Just proves that people from totally different walks of life can banter in good natured fun but never make it personal and still be friends when the smoke clears. There's a lesson there.

[dwcvxqu]

Peter, thanks for shedding light on this. They get such a bad wrap from people who have never felt truly free. I’m an executive who makes a great living and has all the things one can ask for, but my true dream is to live in a van in the middle of nowhere. It’s all about perspective.

[gutzi]

Hey, I just went to Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 and before I watched your videos. I think, you are one of the most authentic vloggers out there. My experience there was pretty much the same you had in Saudi. In Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 and Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬 my experience was also comparable to your experience there. I just wanna thank you, for doing so good videos. I think, your videos are also a good way for people to see the "the real world" who might not have the opportunity to visit the world.
The media shows you, the problems of a country and not how it really is.

[Correcaminos]

We've been nomadic travelers since 2017, living in our modest 1999 RV. We don't stay at Quartzite more than a night or two when passing through because the whole point for us is to be out in the wilds away from everybody. The biggest problem for us there is the lack of a decent supermarket, fresh food is pretty limited. This lifestyle keeps us healthy because we mountain bike all summer into fall then move down to our land in Baja and kite surf Nov-May. I'm turning 70 this season and still super fit, we workout with dumbbells and Beachbody videos all year over the internet. We drove the RV down the length of Baja six years in a row, now we've retired it here full time on our 1/2 acre lot we purchased, put in a septic and water cistern, parked out the lot keeping the native plants and built a stone masoned RV pad, it's beautiful. No rent, no bills, all solar and off grid, it's great overlooking the Sea of Cortez and the kite surfing below. Loads of American and Canadians here every winter and they are all fit and healthy water sports alternative type people, our tribe!

Make fitness and diet your number one hobbies and you will prosper physically as well as financially in the Nomadic life. It keeps you off the couch and away from the pavement, on your feet and active, constantly in touch with the natural world.