Some of the perils of stripping on the road

These days, I work weekly bookings in small towns in the upper midwestern part of the USA. This is great for me because I get less bored when I'm always going somewhere, and that "new girl factor" lasts MUCH longer when you're always on the road. (The hot new girl in any club almost always makes alot more money because guys always like variety. In small town clubs where customers see the same girls over and over most of the time, a hot new girl REALLY does well because she's such a huge novelty in such places.)

I've always loved traveling, the free feeling of being on the road, meeting new people and seeing different places. Being a gypsy stripper works great for me.

However, the "gypsy" life is not without its problems.

Aside from minor inconveniences like dealing with mail and banking issues, there are other, more serious problems one can encounter while on the road.

Good healthy food isn't always readily available, especially in small towns.

It can be difficult to replace broken stripper shoes in a pinch. Many towns don't have any stores that sell stripper clothes, shoes, garters, thongs, etc, so if you lose something, or find yourself in a club requiring specific items you don't own, or something gets ruined, it's not always easy to find quick replacements.

I have had to use things like super-glue, shoe goo and colored duck tape to make emergency shoe / boot repairs and I now keep these items with me. I also keep a sewing kit with several colors of multi-purpose thread for emergency clothing repairs. I also have plenty of safety pins, spare buttons and snaps and velcro strips.

Finding a good car repair shop can be difficult when you're always new in town. I drive a late model car but things do happen occasionally. I have had to deal with a blown radiator cap, dead battery, fuel pump going out, and flat tires. AAA's Plus service is great for roadside assistance. It can be your best friend when you're stuck on the side of a lonely highway in the middle of nowhere.

I carry a set of tools and plenty of water in case I need to make minor vehicle repairs. I can change my tires and battery, fill the radiator and fluids, hookup batteries for a jumpstart, and do other superficial fixes. I have had to replace my luggage rack, rain guards, mirrors, fuses, light bulbs. No sense paying for such simple work - one simple job can cost as much as the tools I own.

I've learned to keep tea tree oil and plain yogurt around all the time. The yogurt is the best yeast infection treatment I've found. Thankfully I don't get yeast infections often, but it is never welcome when your job is to take your clothes off and dance in close proximity to strangers.

Tea tree oil works as an antiseptic / antifungal and can be used to treat any number of things. I recently stayed in a nice hotel....but it had bed bugs. I had to wash all my clothing and such in hot water with Dr Brommer's detergent mixed with tea tree oil to ensure I didn't carry the bugs with me. Of course, I checked out of the hotel the instant I realized there were bed bugs.

I still have bites left though, and they are ITCHY. Very unpleasant.

Of course, as a single young woman traveling alone, I have to be constantly aware of my surroundings for safety. Always watching for cars following me, or people loitering around the club after work. As I leave work, hide my cash on my person in ways would-be thieves are least likely to find it all. Keep everything locked at all times - car, rooms, luggage, gym lockers, etc. I often camp instead of pay for hotel rooms, so I have to take precautions to minimize my risk.

Gyms are great places to exercise, tan and shower, but I'm afraid of getting athlete's foot so I wear rubber flip flops in gym showers. I never walk barefoot in public.

Finally, it is never a good idea to let people know too much about you on the road. The information strangers can find about you these days is scary, so I never give people at work any personal info, not even my first name. In fact, I don't give any personal info to anyone in the towns I work, because you just never know who you're talking to.

Lest I give the impression I live in fear or danger, I'd like to end this post by saying I absolutely do not. It is not difficult to take basic safety precautions, and if anything, doing so gives me more peace of mind. I am aware and watchful, but not paranoid or scared. Traveling is fun! Being careful merely helps ensure it stays fun.