If you have thought about leaving it all behind and wandering in an RV, be aware of one huge issue: you must have an address. A valid address. An address that is in compliance with the Patriot Act. If you do not, you are most likely a terrorist.

When I arrived here, I tried to obtain a PO box. However, you must show them two documents with a physical address. I was staying with a friend so did not have utility bills or anything else in my name.  My friend graciously said I could have mail delivered at her house. Then, when I rented a space in the RV park, I started using that address, as do many residents there. However, after I made all the address changes to places where I do business, I received a letter from my bank. It stated in somber tones that my account would be closed because my mailing address was not in compliance with the Patriot Act. I called to get more information, and an RV park is not a valid mailing address, at least for banks. I suppose if you were clever enough you could be a terrorist and set up an RV, then have bomb parts and secret mail delivered? I am not totally sure how the thinking goes, but I do know that the Patriot Act attempts to close loopholes for terrorists.

I didn’t take my banks scolding personally. They informed me that I could keep the RV park as my physcial address and simply obtain a PO Box. Sounds great to me. A PO Box would be practical anyway. Not that I get much mail; I do everything online to save a few trees.

Next stop: Post Office. As mentioned, I needed two items with my physical address. No problem this time: insurance papers and lease agreement. When I started to dig out the papers, I discovered that I had left the insurance docs at home. I thought and thought. My van registration would work, except that it is still registered in ND. Ditto with driver’s license. Hmmmm. The post office was closing in 15 minutes and if I didn’t produce a box number the bank would shut down my operation. Wait! My insurance documents are on my phone, thanks to a Geico App. I had spent hours the day before on the phone, getting a quote and switching insurance to Geico (as a nature buff, I love the Geico Gecko and my rep told me he got to wear the Gecko costume sometimes, which sealed the deal). The human gecko walked me through how to install the app, set it up and explained all the very cool features. No need for paper proof-of-insurance IDs, just whip out the app and show them proof. The policy is on the app too, along with lots of other helpful information. That’s what he said.

So, with just a few minutes before the PO closes, I pull up the app and show them the policy with my physical address and my proof-of-insurance card. Well, this set off a debate among the PO staff. Is an online copy valid? Have we done this before? Can we accept an e-copy as proof of physical address? They huddled and muttered for a while, looking at me sometimes, as if reading my face. I smiled sweetly, my best gray-haired old lady look. Voila. The consensus was, “YES. We will accept an e-version of your insurance as proof of physical address.” Whew.

Now, it makes sense in the small towns where I have lived that this issue never came. up. But here????? A city???? I was surprised. I imagine that LA, NY, and other big cities overcame this dilemma eons ago.

No matter, as soon as I get back to the van, I dial up my bank and they record the good news. Apparently I am not a terrorist after all, just a goofy old lady wandering around.