One thing I didn’t fully anticipate when we started this “slomadic” life was how complicated gym access would become. When you live in one place for twenty years, you pick a gym and forget about it. When you move every few months, the equation changes. Suddenly you’re comparing day passes, initiation fees, commute time, and whether the place even has the equipment you actually use.
A lot of nomads default to Planet Fitness, and I understand why. For around $15 a month (sometimes $25 for the “Black Card” with nationwide access), it’s cheap and ubiquitous. You can find one almost anywhere in the country. For someone focused on treadmills and weights, it’s a simple solution and for some “van lifers” it is worth it just for the showers 🙂
The problem? We swim.
Most Planet Fitness locations don’t have pools, much less lap lanes suitable for serious swimming. For me, that makes the bargain less attractive. After all, saving money only works if the service provided actually fits your needs.
Omaha: The YMCA Win
When we were in Omaha, I joined the downtown YMCA. It was a great facility. Clean, friendly, good lap pool, and within walking distance of our apartment. The cost was $30 a month which was absolutely reasonable for what I was getting.
It checked all the boxes:
• Lap swimming
• Strength training
• Classes (if I wanted them)
• Convenient location
For that price, I didn’t think twice.
Myrtle Beach: Sticker Shock
When we arrived in Myrtle Beach, I assumed I’d do something similar. Some teachers I work with here recommended the local YMCA, so I checked it out.
The facility was fine, but the pricing made me pause. Adult memberships start at $69 a month, plus a joining fee of $50. That’s not outrageous in the grand scheme of things (and to be fair, it includes a pool, fitness center, and classes) but for someone who is constantly coming and going, it felt a bit steep.
The bigger issue? Location. It would have been a 20–25 minute drive each way from where we’re staying. That’s nearly an hour round trip before I even get in the water. For a morning swim, that matters. After all, at some point, you’re not just paying in dollars, you’re paying in time, convenience, and other friction points.
The Rec Center Surprise
So I started looking at local recreation centers. Their monthly rates were significantly lower than the YMCA, and several were much closer. After a bit of research, I found one that opened at 6:00 a.m., perfect for getting a swim in before work.
Then something interesting happened.
The staff member I spoke with suggested that, given how often I travel, I might be better off paying the $3 daily rate instead of committing to a monthly membership.
Three dollars. That changes the math. If I swim 10–12 times a month, that’s $30–$36 total. No initiation fee. No guilt when I’m out of town. No feeling like I’m “wasting” a membership. Katie can even join me when she gets the bug without needing to commit ahead of time.
I combined that with:
• The workout room included at our resort
• Free walking and running on the beach
• Occasional bodyweight workouts
And suddenly we had a flexible, low-cost system that fit our lifestyle much better than a traditional membership.
The Real Lesson
Of course this isn’t really about gyms. It’s about intentional spending.
Planet Fitness is a great solution…for some people. The YMCA is a great solution…for others. But in a “slomadic” life, flexibility often beats optimization.
In Omaha, $30 a month at the Y was perfect.
In Myrtle Beach, $3 per visit plus beach workouts is better.
Same goal. Different environment. Different answer.
One of the hidden challenges of early retirement and slow travel is that we constantly have to re-evaluate our assumptions. What worked in one city may not make sense in the next.
And that’s okay.
The goal isn’t to find the cheapest option. It’s to find the option that aligns with your priorities — fitness, convenience, budget, and enjoyment.
For me, swimming in the morning and walking on the beach in the afternoon beats driving across town to justify a membership fee. Sometimes the best financial move isn’t committing to the lowest price. It’s choosing the most adaptable solution.
What about you? If you travel, or even if you don’t, how do you handle fitness access? Monthly memberships? Day passes? Home workouts?
