DIGITAL EXHIBITION: NAVIGATIONNOWHERE

Michael Fuehrer’s 2004 Thomas Freightliner

Name: Michael Fuehrer (@navigationnowhere)

Vehicle: 2004 Thomas Freightliner

I’m Michael. I am a traveler, builder, researcher, and explorer. I’m usually sitting on the fence of too many new ideas, trying to pick the least crazy one to pursue.

I was born and raised in New Jersey and graduated from college with a Bachelors and a Masters in Cultural Anthropology. I loved college, but something was missing. So, with an unfinished thesis, five weeks before my thesis defense and graduation, I took my parents’ sedan and found myself driving west. It was one of those periods of my life when the pressure of school and unanswered questions of the future overwhelmed my mind, and I chose to travel to reenergize myself and find clarity. When I returned a few weeks later, I was prepared to finish my thesis, but I was left yearning for a life that would allow me to continue traveling.

In the years since, whenever I had the opportunity to travel throughout the world, road tripping, hiking, and backpacking, I set out on those adventures. During this time, I’ve also experienced a growing passion for creating community, building a simpler, more meaningful life, and exploring the world. I have learned that I do not want to confine myself to one job or place. Who I am seems to be a compilation of all the projects I pursue and the relationships and community that form because of them. I am enjoying the journey of figuring out what to do with a restless mind and wandering soul. These characteristics are what have led me as I built a bus and continue to travel on the road. The more I learn and explore new people, places, and projects, the more I find a freedom in navigating my life.