Gave landlord my 30 day notice yesterday!

[caseyc]

What I like about the RoadTrek 170 is that it's a fully self contained over-sized van. The 170 model is the shortest length that RoadTrek makes. Even so, the RoadTrek 170 is still approx 2 footsteps longer than my Ford conversion van. With a shorter length RoadTrek, that would mean I can easily drive around town and park with little problem. Plus I would have no problem going to an RV dump site on a regular basis to fill up with fresh water. When I previously had a 24' Class A Fleetwood Jamboree RV, it was a total nightmare for parking and driving around town. Lesson learned the first time. For now, I'm content with my conversion van setup. But in the future, I'm lusting after a RoadTrek 170. Something to look forward to.

---

Thanks for having faith in me! Although I was pretty sure I could do it, it was still a bit of anxiety for me. -Casey

Thanks for the update. I love it when a plan works so well!

 

[akrvbob]

caseyc wrote:
I'm a happy camper. Hope to have at least $15k saved up a year's time from now from not having to pay rent. That will be another update!
= = = = = = = = = =

Maybe you can take all of us out for a steak dinner to celebrate!
bob

 

[caseyc]

Bob,

You're on! Your choice of New York strip, Top Sirloin, T-Bone, Prime Rib or Filet Mignon! With all the trimmings of course, plus a bottle of the finest wine!

Casey

caseyc wrote:
I'm a happy camper. Hope to have at least $15k saved up a year's time from now from not having to pay rent. That will be another update!
= = = = = = = = = =

Maybe you can take all of us out for a steak dinner to celebrate!
bob

 

[Patrick46]

eh!!


...a year from now he'll forget that he ever even knew us!!!

 

[caseyc]

Patrick46,

You're invited too!! Would you like it medium-rare?!

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Medium is fine for me, thanks

 

[caseyc]

Jay,

Medium it is bud! Mash potato with gravy or mixed veggies to go with it??

I'm starting to feel awfully generous knowing all the moolah I'm gonna save on not paying rent, haha!

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Oh boy, in that case, I'd like the loaded baked tater and some broccoli, please

 

[caseyc]

Jay,

For you, both Margie and Bindi are invited! Bindi can have it blood rare, yum!

 

[steamjam1]

Ninety-three-thousand-dollars?! I have a hard time contemplating that amount of money nowadays. I mean there is a raging debate going on in my head which will likely turn into a flat out mental bare knuckle brawl as I type this about spending $1200 on a high-top camper van upgrade to my $800 vandweller..

I guess I'm a cheap b*stard?

Anyways hope your having a great time, sir!

 

[sassypickins]

@caseyc - here in weird Portland I guess it's not just cleaning ladies anymore ~ now it's naked cleaning men. omg.

Sassy

 

[Patrick46]

hey Casey...I was gonna mention that I've got a freind who has a nice used RoadTrek van for sale if you're interested. Heck, he's even on a roadtrip this week in it!

I'm down on the south coast. PM me if you're interested.

 

[caseyc]

Hi Patrick,

Thanks for the heads-up. I would only be interested in the future, as in a few to maybe several years down the line. Plus I'm only interested in the later generation built on the GMC chassis, not the older Dodge chassis. Plus I'm pretty intent on the smaller 170 model. Thanks for the thought though!

Casey

 

[caseyc]

I thought I'd give you peeps another update here. I have passed the 1 month mark doing the full time van dwelling thing! Wow, almost hard to believe I'm actually doing it. In the beginning, I figured if I can stay overnight in my van for 1 night, I can do it for 1 week. If I can do so for 1 week, I can do it for 1 month. If 1 month, then one year. I guess I'll have to report back again in 1 year's time, haha!

It's been relatively smooth sailing so far. No disappointments or setbacks thus far. Nothing really unexpected happened. I now have a daily routine down pretty well for day and night. The first week required tweaking my routine, whereby every small thing for an improvement would make my life a bit easier. Going to the gym for showers in the evening has been a regular schedule for me now. Figuring out my clothing and laundry routine was another chore, but I got that figured out now. I always eat out as I never cook, so that makes my life a bit easier. Unless I'm out of work with no income, I will continue to eat out.

The hardest part is waking up early for work during the winter season when it's cold and dark. A couple times it rained so hard that I was awaken in the middle of the night by the raindrops smacking the vehicle. But heck, hard rain also used to wake me up at night when I was living in my apartment too! I'm looking forward to summer for longer days and summertime activities. The one thing I've been doing is treating myself (and my GF) for overnight camping stays at my favorite camp site over an hour's drive away. I tell my GF it's my summer home retreat in the woods, haha! She found that funny.

 

[Simran]

Thanks for the update. Glad to hear you're on your way to freedom. A house on wheels is truly freedom of the grandest kind.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

I was wondering how you were making out, great to hear that you are doing good.
Next week if you want to really impress your GF take her to the coast to your beach hut and the week after to your mountain chalet...... glad you are enjoying your city apartment, now if we can just get you to start cooking and enjoying it.

Hey I saw this business in Vancouver last time I was there that had kitchens set ups, they gave all the ingredients to the customer with a little advise for a fee and they would go ahead, prepare their meal then take it home, I thought it was a brilliant idea, very social, it was amongst a complex of large apartment buildings, you got to try different recipes as they had a few different choices every night, that would solve your issue with the smells, food storage, waste and cleaning. Not sure if there is such a thing where you live.

 

[caseyc]

Cool, thanks guys for the encouragement. I suppose one day I will learn/attempt/try to cook something that resembles edible food. But for now, I go to cafes to order take-outs that only cost between $5 to $8. I literally could not even buy grocery items that low of a cost, much less try to cook the stuff. Where I hang out, there are plenty of low cost cafes that I go to that is both tasty and nutritious, without resorting to fast food junk. So for that, I should feel fortunate.

---

By the way, I already live/stay near the coast, so I'm at the beach quite often. I can still enjoy a nice scenic sunset, and don't take for granted the free natural beauty that is nearby me. But it takes more effort for me to get to the mountains (or woods) where all the campsites are located. I normally have to drive at least 1-1/2 hour to get there. I enjoy the slowed down pace once I arrive at a campsite. Plus the fact that I paid $30/night for the campsite spot makes me feel like I actually own a piece of land that I can rightfully stay at, even if it's only for 1 night, haha!

 

[SoulRaven]

I always eat out as I never cook, so that makes my life a bit easier. Unless I'm out of work with no income, I will continue to eat out.

Greetings Casey!

If you're old enough, some of the bars have really great food for cheap prices. I still find steak dinners for $4.95 sometimes.

Also, a couple years back I bought a 2 for 1 coupon book from some guy down on his luck. The prices were good to start with, and when I explained that I had no-one to bring with me, a huge number of them either offered me a free meal to go, or a raincheck for a free meal later.

If or when, you decide you want to try cooking, I've seen a few good recipe sites aimed at singles cooking online too. Some have some pretty darned good recipes.

It's a great life, and it gets easier with experience... ENJOY!!!

Cheers!

The CamperVan_Man

---

once you make the move , you will find ways to improve on what your doing if its for you!

I had no choice when I came out here, did the car thing then the van ....everytime I went back to "Normal living" I just wanted to get back out here....more opportunities and less stress to make the move. when I became disabled the world closed in again took what I had left and bought an old class b Van and journeyed off.....your right your SSI wont do so well.....I get 900 a month , you break that down into day to day living thats roughly 25 dollars a day for everything.....I had to find a way to add funds in a hurry!!

Greetings Mike!

If you're in need of supplementing your income, I may have some ideas that might help. Flea markets can bring in some HUGE bucks, and I know some free and dirt cheap resources that I'd be happy to share with you.

Flea markets are kind of one of my money making hobbies, and a source of great entertainment. I'm a people watcher, and all types go through them... Just when you think you've seen it all, something new and crazy will pop up. Last month I saw this guy that had handwriting tattooed all over his body including his entire head. :huh:

Cheers!

The CamperVan_Man

 

[Lucky mike]

Thank you Camper man..

on the days I'm feeling well I make signs in the markets and at RV Rally's or Campgrounds....I have Even cut them in Walmarts parking lot!!!!!......I run ads on craigslist when Im in an area..

http://nh.craigslist.org/rvs/4397442993.html

 

[SoulRaven]

Coooooool! I love those signs.

Just wanted to make sure you had something to help make ends meet if you needed it. If you ever get in a spot where that becomes to much work, do let me know. For some reason, I've always been blessed when it comes to making money... Besides my regular businesses, even when I go out to have fun I seem to make money.

I'm currently helping out at the OSO landslide up in Washington, and even though I'm volunteering, I've made like $2k while I've been here from other volunteers, that refuse to take my goods for free. I'm donating all of the money back though, just doesn't seem right to profit from such a tragedy. I purposely picked up these goods to give away free up here, only cost me $50 total, and I still have about half left. I picked up a load of jeans & T-shirts figuring that they might come in handy for these guys with all the mud they're wading through. My sign says free, but they all insist on paying. Gives me a good feeling though, knowing that I can help them have clean clothes to wear. They come off the mountain caked in mud from head to toe. We do have hot & cold water here at the base camp, so me and a few others, set up some outdoor showers for them too. And the locals bring in food by the truckloads. I don't really do much, just mind the radio's when they need it. Works out real good though, they know that I'm available 24/7 if they need me.

Working these disasters, really helps to restore my faith in humanity though. Instead of the dog eat dog every day mentality, people from even thousands of miles away come to volunteer and help, expecting nothing in return, other than the good feeling it gives us deep down inside. Very refreshing, and the nicest, most caring people you could ever hope to meet. We have a couple dozen full-timers up here helping out.

Cheers!

The CamperVan_Man