Blast off 2/1

[[email protected]]

I am not ready, but my launch date is 2/1/19. I’m still living in a senior independent living facility. Costs too much for what I get. Can’t save enough to get my teeth fixed and never will at this rate. My stuff will be sold and donated. I’ll be living in a bumpy looking 01 dodge high top. It’s got a bed, folding table, and misc camping gear.

I’m a 68 y/o hippy with left side weakness from a stroke use a cane and a walker. Also a bad ticker. 

Couple of concerns.
I have a cat friend. I know people take their cats, but between my condition and his independence, he will get away from me. And then? Coyote chow? Might be a kindness to adopt him out. Advise please.

There are times that I cannot do much for myself. In the past I’ve hired personal care givers. But on the road? Put up a help wanted sign? I have mild trepidation about being infirm on the road. I mean, what are the ethics of that. Don’t bother me to get dead honestly. But what about the impact on my new neighbors?

 

[JohnnyM]

Go Kenneth -- Good for you

Glad to see you kept your van together when you moved into the facility -- that'll work great. Go for it.

I like cats too (well, you know, as weird as they are, they kinda grow on you), but I have never been associated with one of them that liked to travel in a vehicle, so...

Remember that Art Carney movie from a few years back called "Harry And Tonto", about the old geezer who took off across the country in his car with his cat? How did they even do that? (Full disclosure: Carney was 58 when they made the movie, but whatever...).

Anyway, have fun and please keep in touch.

Johnny

 

[wagoneer]

Sensitivity to your new neighbor is commendable if it's a phone call you can't make that would be helpfull, or I've fallen down and I cant get up stuff. Thats a personal call, I am sure people will respond with a helping hand.

 

[bullfrog]

I think if it were me I would be looking for a group or caravan to travel with, maybe even start one, the RTR has a few and I'm sure there will be a few after to specific locations. I would put up a post in gatherings or even this one explaining your concerns and what you would offer each other in the form of a safety net of sorts.

 

[Cammalu]

We travel just fine with a cat. He knows this is his home and we do let him out when we can watch.

Some people keep their cats outside on a long leash. Others cage them when out.

As we have lost the little butthead before we are thinking of getting a GPS tracker for him.

 

[[email protected]]

Yes, I thought I might need an escape planin my van. I can save up an emergency fund in two months of boondocking. Then I can go to los algodones for dentistry. Funny, boondocking on public land is just what we called camping in my youth when me and my friends went fishing did that in a vw van for years. The cat? He and I have been discussing this and I am not reassured that others take their cats. I know him and he escapes from my apartment whenever he wants I cannot stop him, I will probably adopt him out. Thank you for the encouragement.


ken




Go Kenneth  -- Good for you

Glad to see you kept your van together when you moved into the facility -- that'll work great. Go for it.

I like cats too (well, you know, as weird as they are, they kinda grow on you), but I have never been associated with one of them that liked to travel in a vehicle, so...

Remember that Art Carney movie from a few years back called "Harry And Tonto", about the old geezer who took off across the country in his car with his cat? How did they even do that? (Full disclosure: Carney was 58 when they made the movie, but whatever...).

Anyway, have fun and please keep in touch.

Johnny

 

[LivGolden]

Kitty Cat Goggles!  :heart:

 

[[email protected]]

Kitty Cat Goggles!  :heart:

 

[[email protected]]

Here is my goodbye

Hello family, I cannot make ends meet in my present circumstance, living in Sutter Estates. By all rights my county pension or the veterans administration should be paying for my dentistry and for my hearing aids and for vision care, but they don’t. Try as I might I cannot save up to cover these items.

I’m sober, so can’t blame that for my financial situation. It’s just inflation and lack of realistic cost of living increases in my pensions that have been the problem. When I was living in my apartment, I was saddled with supporting Michele and living with her son, a crankster, who terrified me with his violent temper. So I moved here. It’s not working out.

So, the only recourse i can think of is to get on the road with my van and live the nomad life. I’ll move up to a class c when I can afford it after I get my teeth fixed in Mexico.

This is how my government rewards my education and long civil service.

 

[uncagingmyspirit]

I hate to be a downer but I do want to be upfront and honest with my own experiences. When I first started van dwelling, I had a major (not car) accident and two vandwellers came to my rescue. It felt so heartwarming that two complete strangers came out to help me that I vowed to help anyone I could... And I still do, but with limitations due to a few experiences of being taken advantage of. This last summer/fall, I asked for help (FB & Craig's List) because my disability kicked in hardcore and made me almost completely unable to do very much. I even offered to pay for someone to help me. To my surprise, not a single person offered help. So please be prepared in case that happens to you. [emoji3525]

Cat companion

I've known a couple of people who have one or more cat companions in their van or RV. One person said it took a while to train her to be comfortable in her RV and she had to trainer for about 8 months so that she felt safe in the van while moving and not in her cat carrier. The other woman I knew, said both her companions were kittens and grew up in her van on the road.

Sent from my 5049Z using Tapatalk

 

[[email protected]]

Thank you for the real assessment. That is my fear, stuck on the road with no help. However, I have little choice. I’ll need occasional help with setting up and take down. Once in a while help making my van tidy. I’ll be offering $15/hr, what I offer now. My fond hope is that I’ll tag along with individuals and groups who among them may accept my employment offer. We shall see.

Let’s make this an official employment offer. I’ll be going to anza borrego on 2/1/19, camping in the boondocks. I’ll need help setting up. Any takers?