Lost in Life – Thinking About Hitchhiking the U.S. Long-Term, Is It Possible?

I feel lost in life and don’t want to spend it stuck in a job I hate. Instead, I’ve been thinking about hitchhiking across the U.S. with just a backpack, surviving however I can—through foraging, work-trade, or whatever opportunities come up. This wouldn’t just be a short trip; I’d be doing it for years, living on the road full-time.

I know it won’t be easy, and I might get burned out, but I don’t see another path that feels right. For those who’ve done something similar, what are the biggest challenges? How do you stay safe, find food, and deal with cops or bad encounters? Are there any things you’d recommend I pack? I was thinking about taking some sort of survival class as well. Also, is it completely legal to just live this way indefinitely, with no job or fixed address?

Any advice from experienced travelers would be really helpful. I wanna be a nomad.