John Sears, 65, has given up life with cars and houses for life outdoors with a trio of four-legged equines.
For the last 10 years, the man who grew up in Bay Area suburbia now lives entirely outdoors, traveling the western United States in the company of three mules ages 13, 20 and 28 years old, respectively. They go by “Little Girl,” “Lady” and “Pepper.”
“We’re claiming our right to be outside,” said Sears, referring to a “we” that includes him, his mules, and “the spirits” – or the collective, living energy that surrounds them.
On Tuesday, he walked along Bolsa Road in Gilroy with a silver horseshoe – or rather, a muleshoe – in hand. He declined to share why he carries the shoe, but said he saves shoes that fall off during his travels.
Sears is a walking kind of man. He and his entourage have plodded through various states including Wyoming, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Kansas and Texas, regularly walking at least 10 to 20 miles a day. In the summer, the days are longer and the group walks further. In the winter, they scout out a place to camp earlier and don’t wander as far.
“Who are we? Where are we from? We are mules. We are from the outside. We live outside all day, every day. Where are we going? Nowhere,” states Sears’ website, 3mules.com.
Sears bought his first mule when he was 36 years old. At the time, he ran a tree trimming service, lived out of a pick-up truck and traveled. When he turned 55, things changed.
“I said, ‘what the heck, I saved a little bit. At 55, you can get cancer and be dead in a few days a few weeks. What the heck, I’ll just sell my truck and live with my mules,’” he said.
Sears keeps mules for the reason that most people keep dogs. He says their presence changes how the public receives him and his nomadic lifestyle.
For the most part, “people are pretty welcoming. They like seeing the mules,” he said.
Others, still, will call the police from time to time. About 10 days ago, Sears was arrested by the California Highway Patrol for walking south on U.S. 101. He will be appearing in court Thursday at the South County Morgan Hill Courthouse, where he plans to plead guilty to charges. He did not see signs on the highway prohibiting pedestrians, he said.
His Facebook page, 3 Mules, has a Sept. 6 entry, which thanked some of the page’s 2,814 followers for donating towards the mules’ $705 impoundment bill at the animal shelter in San Martin after Sears was arrested by the CHP and held in the County Jail’s psychiatric ward for six days before being released.
“They looked better than most of the animals we see,” noted Shelter Supervisor Brigid Wasson, who said the mules were in good condition. “They were actually a little chubby.”
The last Facebook post was written by John McDonald, an independent filmmaker from South Pasadena who helps Sears maintain his website and his Facebook page in exchange for the right to create a documentary about the man, his mules and their wanderings.
“He just pulled up in his car and asked me where I was going and where I was from. I appreciated the conversation,” Sears said, of when he met McDonald. “I found out he was a filmmaker and was interested in taking photos and such.”
The two worked out a deal in which McDonald updates Sears’ website and Facebook page at Sears’ request. McDonald, in turn, films Sears’ travels.
Occasionally, Sears goes to a Starbucks, ties up the mules, orders a cup of coffee and posts his own updates to Facebook and his website. Sears controls the content of both sites, but McDonald helps him maintain the website and makes posts when Sears cannot.
Thursday won’t be the first time Sears has had to explain his nomadic lifestyle to a court.
A section of his website named “court case” includes information about a camping citation in Torrey Pines State Reserve, just north of San Diego. Sears is scheduled to appear at the San Diego County Superior Court on Jan. 29. The Facebook page also includes updates about other citations. Sears was arrested once in Napa Valley for crossing a bridge that said “no pedestrians.” He spent a few days in jail and the animals spent a few days in a shelter.
Sears isn’t the type to seek charity from soup kitchens or homeless shelters. He and his mules travel with a tent, water and food. Sears also has a cell phone and a computer tablet. He receives social security money which helps pay for basics, including oatmeal, postage stamps, trousers, coffee and peanut butter.
“Technology is very interesting. It takes up a lot of your time, a lot of your attention, but it gives you a voice,” said Sears. “It’s giving us a voice to say who we are and what we are doing.”
While Sears acknowledges many others opt to give up suburbia and head for the great outdoors, he says his story is different. While others sometimes make a one-time trip across the country, Sears says he is in this lifestyle for the long haul.
Living with the mules lets Sears feel connected to a greater presence.
“We just feel a presence around us that protects and guides us. We don’t feel alone at all. It’s more a collective sense of being… we’re wanderers, we’re nomads, we’ve been all over the place,” he said. “We are not interested in going to the moon or mars, this is our home… this is where we stay.”
Sears will be in Santa Clara County for the next few days, so if you see a man walking down a country road with three mules, cargo shorts and a map in his front pocket, it’s probably John Sears, the mule man.
To follow Sears’ travels, visit www.facebook.com/3Mules.
To learn more about Sears and his mules, visit 3mules.com.
