Darrell and Rose found a camper, a van to pull it, and some solar panels for power. Now married, the Eddlemans live out of their recreational vehicle in forests around the Southwest with their dog, Freeway, and have seen a lot of the country. They now hike and visit with other campers. She paints. He fishes. "I like this lifestyle a lot," Rose said. Just one problem, in their view: The Kaibab National Forest doesn't want them around and is recently stating as much. Actually, living in the forest is illegal, say Forest Service officials, pointing to federal law. These are campers around Flagstaff you might not recognize as technically "homeless" -- living out of old motorhomes, vans and recreational vehicles year-round. Law enforcement officers estimate hundreds of them live on the Coconino, Kaibab and Prescott national forests, traveling to the low desert closer to Yuma in the winter. Some of these campers say finances leave them no other choice; others say they wouldn't want to spend their retirement years any other way. Here are some of their stories...more
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