Why did Fern become a nomad? 

Fern chose a nomadic van life because there was nothing left for her in Empire, Nevada, following the economic collapse of the town and the death of her husband Bo. She was unable to retire due to poor Social Security benefits, and life as a nomad appealed to her free-spirited, independent nature and limited finances. 

Why did Bob Wells create the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous (RTR)? 

Bob created RTR as a nomadic support system specifically for aging Americans who feel discarded by society and are looking for a more financially feasible and enjoyable way to spend their twilight years. RTR operates in a communal, familial manner where its members gather regularly in the desert to share in their experiences and provide help for one another, whether that’s teaching classes, swapping stories, trading various supplies, or sharing meals.  

Does Dave have romantic feelings for Fern? 

Though he never explicitly tells Fern that he loves her, there are several moments where Dave expresses his interest in her. Namely, he asks her to dance with him at a local honkey tonk, invites her to work with him at a South Dakota diner, and ultimately asks her to live with him and his family. Fern’s response to all of these hints is tepid at best, and her independent spirit combined with the grief over her husband holds her back from reciprocating any feelings. 

What happened to Swankie? 

During a poignant moment between Swankie and Fern, Swankie muses, “I don’t know, maybe when I die, my friends will gather around a fire and toss a rock into the fire in memory of me.” Later, Fern, Bob, and members of Rubber Tramp Rendezvous pay their respects to Swankie while tossing in rocks into a campfire, implying she lost her battle with cancer. Prior to her death, Fern receives a video via text message from Swankie revealing that she made it to Alaska to fulfill her dying wish of seeing the swallows hatch from their nests one last time.  

Why does Fern go to visit her sister Dolly? 

Fern goes to visit her sister Dolly because her van breaks down, and she needs Dolly to loan her money to cover repairs. Fern’s return to suburbia is a rocky one as she clashes with Dolly’s husband over her decision to be a nomad. Dolly tries her best to convince Fern to stay, but Fern quickly dismisses the notion much to Dolly’s dismay. 

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