Tiny ‘nation’ in California desert might be worth a day trip, or not

According to Worldometer, there are 200 countries of which 193 are member states of the United Nations and seven are not for various reasons. The breakdown of U.N. countries consists of 54 in Africa, 48 in Asia, 44 in Europe, 33 in Latin America and the Caribbean, 14 in Oceania and two in Northern America.

It’s pretty hard to imagine running out of travel destinations, right?

Actually, Randy “R Dub” Williams, a well-known San Diego late-night DJ, has visited all 200 countries, which is why he created his own on an 11.07-acre plot of arid land in California that he purchased for $19,000. In December 2021, Williams broadcast the Republic of Slowjamastan’s secession from the United States from his open-air government office in Dublandia, the capital. To date, there are 500 registered citizens, with 4,500 more conditionally approved and waiting in line for citizenship.

Interested in visiting this newest country? It’s located off Route 78, a two-and-a-half-hour drive northwest of San Diego. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see the enormous “Welcome to Slowjamastan” sign. There’s no infrastructure yet, but Williams is optimistic about the future of the world’s foremost “micronation.”

My guess is that visitors with an RV could stay overnight, which would make for great bragging rights, plus there are photo ops in front of the welcome sign or flag. Some of the country’s currency (the duble) could be a novel souvenir.

While Williams has the newest country on record, he’s not the first to have established a micronation. In 1998, a slightly smaller micronation – Molossia – was established in Nevada. Visiting this “sovereign neighbor,” Williams had his passport stamped and photo taken at the “border” separating the nation and the U.S.

Apparently, these countries can have a sense of humor: Molossia’s President Kevin Baugh has established the valora as its currency backed by chocolate chip cookie dough rather than gold.

Williams admits that some aspects of his country may be a bit outlandish, but that’s the intention. In his travels, he has experienced firsthand the contradictions of many leaders; thus his future projects fit right in with his paradoxical perspective. He’s planning to build a lazy river, an armadillo farm, an all-you-can-eat Mongolian BBQ establishment and, of course, a giant statue of its Great Leader.

Even if those don’t come to fruition in the near future, this geographical novelty could be worth a day trip just to say you’ve been there. Be sure to pack a picnic lunch, plenty of water, and bring chairs with those attached umbrellas. If you go, please send a selfie.

Writer, editor and speaker Cheryl Russell is a Laguna Woods Village resident. Contact her at [email protected].