Well, I thought I would provide an update for all the kind souls who offered me encouragement here.
I have been on the road since November 7th, 2018 and I am doing great.
I spent a lot more for my solar than I thought I would ($1800 instead of $1000). And the costs of all the hardware parts necessary for me to build all the stuff I wanted to build was more than I expected. (Pro Tip: Don't buy hardware or lumber in Quartzsite or Parker. It is at least twice as expensive as in a Lowe's or Home Depot. If you have a big project to work on, go up to Lake Havasu City.)
I got my solar installed and I love it. I have 610 watts of panels and 100 Amp-hour LiFePo BattleBorn battery. I built a really cool frame to hold my laptops in position in my desk. I'll put that in
my van-build thread. I'm now sitting here with the rear hatch up, working on my computer in complete comfort and peace.
I went to the RTR and met lots of people. OK, mostly women who needed things fixed on their vans and RVs. But they all loved me and I had a great, if exhausting, time. I was one of the guys (along with a guy named Clint) who stomped down the garbage in the dumpster to get it below the top edge so it could be hauled off. That was fun, but super tiring. Someone took a video of us doing that. If anyone knows where I can get a copy of that video, I would appreciate it.
I also taught classes at the RTR about "You
can do a nice van build with minimal tools." I taught the class on three separate days, at my minivan. It was really well received. I am considering starting a YouTube channel (I know, yet another one) where one of the things I will talk about is going into more detail from that same topic. There are lots of little details that people rarely mention in YouTube videos about how to use all the tools I use to do my work. Subtle tips about stuff like the best way to hold the tool, or how to more easily cut a straight line, without hauling around a lot of extra stuff. The kinds of things that an ideal Dad would teach you over the course of you growing up and him coaching you through every step.
I put my minivan in the "Small Vehicle Show and Tell" and it was a huge hit.
I went to the Big Tent event and got hired at the first camp host booth I stopped at. I told them I can build and fix just about anything, that I am a former network manager, and that I have run my own business. They practically wanted to take me home to meet their parents. So, I will be working a Camp Host position in the Mt. Baker - Snoqualmie National Forest from May through September, for $12.50 an hour, 40 hours a week (if the government isn't shut back down by then). Maybe more hours and maybe for a longer duration. If I take this money, and spread it out over the course of an entire year, I could actually live on just this job alone.
I am now at the "Parker site" (which is actually north of Big River, CA) waiting for Bob and KC to show up, so I can do a van tour video with them. Bob has suggested that he would also like to do a series of videos with me on the topic of "You
can do a nice van build with minimal tools." But I will have to wait and see how that pans out.
I tried hanging out with the caravans, but that just seemed too crowded for me. So, I am already hanging out on my own, and loving it.
