Greetings from Southern California

[NineFiveOner]

Hello friends,<br>My name's Tony. I'm 30 years old and growing more sick and more tired of staring at my cubicle walls... I'm sure my situation sounds all too familiar. For the past month, I've reached the far ends of the internet searching for whatever information I could find pertaining to vandwelling and I've come to the conclusion that this is definitely a community I'd love to be a part of.<br><br>A little about me: I was one of those mediocre students that graduated from a mediocre college and landed the first mediocre job that didn't have anything to do with my amazing degree in film. Anyway, to make a short story long, the years have passed and the debt has piled up but somewhere deep down at there in the pits of my very being, my dreams of seeing ALL the States just won't die - and I've decided to chase those dreams now. I'll need a boat load of luck and bunch of help from you fine folks, so I'll take this time to thank you all in advance! I look forward to learning so much here, and hopefully, eventually, I'll have some knowledge to give in return.<br><br>Cheers!<br>Tony<br><br><br><br>

 

[Ricekila]

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[sl1966]

Love the nickname ... I guess formally known as the 909 is a bit too long.<div><br></div><div><br></div>

 

[Les H]

Hi Tony, welcome to the forum.

 

[Ricekila]

wow... 30 seems to be the age for this eh?<BR>Guess that blinking red light wakes ya up

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[NineFiveOner]

Thanks for the warm welcoming everyone! Yeah 30 years old with nothing in my name but a stack of bills. I figured I have been doing something wrong, so throwing all I know out the window couldn't be any worse! I may be a little melodramatic, but this feels like the first day of the rest of my life... And I'm shaking in my boots!

 

[WanderingRain]

You';ve come to the right place and welcome, fellow future traveler.<div>I unmoored from the regular life and began living on the road since September of last year. Yeah, the 30's seems to be the age people do this.&nbsp;</div><div>It may also be because the internet makes it possible for us to find a community like this and it has gathered critical mass to be noticed.&nbsp;</div><div>In any case, welcome and good luck with your search for a vehicle.</div><div>Cheers!</div>

 

[Lucy]

I just turned 33, and have maybe two more weeks before I set out. I guess this really is the age to make a choice like this. I always assumed there would be mostly older people doing this kind of thing. I'm glad to be wrong.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>Welcome to it, Tony! I'm with you on shaking in my boots. I think I will be until I actually start the engine of the van and drive it away from my home for the last time.&nbsp;</div>

 

[NineFiveOner]

Hi Lucy. Two weeks, huh!? I bet that will come up quick. If you ever find yourself in Corona, California in need of a pace to park, you can have my little carport anytime... well, if I'm still there! I'm a solid 1-1/2 years out myself before I can start my new life. Congratulations, and good luck out there.<br><br><br><br>

 

[sl1966]

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<div><br></div><div>Holy cow, I haven't seen since I was a kid.</div><div><br></div>

 

[VanTrekker]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Hello Tony,</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br>Welcome to the finest group of nomads on this planet.&nbsp; It's a fun place and very lively at times.&nbsp; You can count on just about&nbsp;any question being answered with all kinds of great ideas.&nbsp; The forum has helped me a lot and it's fun to offer assistance to newbies.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Live long... and prosper.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Van Trekker (V.T.)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Located&nbsp;approximately 35 miles north of Riverside, Iowa---&nbsp;the town self proclaimed as the "future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk".</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p>

 

[Guest]

Hi Tony...I missed saying hi to you. Welcome from Southern New Mexico. <br><br>I am reflecting on my 30th year. <br><br>I was living (caretaking)&nbsp; in a tiny off grid log cabin&nbsp; in 36 acres of virgin timber in the coast range of OR and pretty much making,&nbsp; growing, scavenging and trading for everything we used or had...a lot of trading going on in the area in those days....I made silver jewelry by hand without any power tools and we traded for doctors, dentists, veterinarians....just about everything. Damn, we thought the world was going to go on being that way! The most amazing people lived in Eugene area of OR.<br><br>We had had two babies at home and two years later, in 1976 left in our VW bus for a 3 month trip to Alaska... where we went on to live for 22 years...with a couple other events that brought us south. Awesome times for me, my son's mother and my sons.<br><br>I totally understand the desire and wish you the very best...all of you younger folks.......do it and do it as soon as you can....I don't regret one adventure I did.<br><br>Bri<br>

 

[Lucy]

Hi Lucy. Two weeks, huh!? I bet that will come up quick. If you ever find yourself in Corona, California in need of a pace to park, you can have my little carport anytime... well, if I'm still there! I'm a solid 1-1/2 years out myself before I can start my new life. Congratulations, and good luck out there.<br>

<div><br></div><div>That's a dangerous offer. SoCal is my destination, at least at first. </div>

 

[KatieinKansas]

<font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hi Tony and welcome...</span></font><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bri..... Wonderful pictures... "Those were the days my friend, we thought......"</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Katie</span></font></div>

 

[Guest]

<span id="post_message_1273561618"><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bri..... Wonderful pictures... "Those were the days my friend, we thought......"</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Katie</span></font></div></span>

<br><br>Hi Katie, my friend....those WERE the days....I am so glad to have lived them...how about you...<br>Bri<br>

 

[KatieinKansas]

<font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"</span></font><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">I am so glad to have lived them...how about you..."</span><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; ">Bri</span></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><br></span></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;">You betcha... They were "Norman Rockwell" days. <i>....Playing in the park, Sitting on the park bridge talking with my childhood best friend, Cracker Jacks, Chumming with my feisty,ornery little sister, and rowdy brothers, Kick the Can, Sleeping on the front porch.. &nbsp;</i>Life was simple then, and I treasure those days.. And now, I'm looking forward to living a simple life to the beat of a different drum. &nbsp;It'll be my turn to sing "Ain't In No Hurry Today."</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;">Didn't mean to hijack your thread, Tony... Go for it while you're young.</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;">Katie</span></font></div>

 

[NineFiveOner]

Dear All,<div><br><div>I cannot repay any of you for all of the kind words and open arms you have provided me. I truly am deeply touched by this entire community. I keep replaying in my mind what I was doing a mere month ago. Life just seemed to be at a standstill until I discovered vandwelling. Since then, I've found myself on the other end of craigslist and eBay for the first time - as the seller. My tiny one bedroom apartment looks like I just got robbed because I've been tearing through this place looking for things to sell. I tell people that come over "I'm saving up to buy a van." And I'm sure everyone here is quite familiar with the look that glazes over the eyes of the uninitiated. I'm new, yes, but I've read enough of your posts to realize that I need not live my life for the gratification of others, I have to do what makes me happy... and right now I'm miserable to the core. But I guess I'm preaching to the choir, right!?</div><div><br></div><div>I've had nothing but bad experiences with online communities. I've quit other forums and deleted my Facebook account years ago. Needless to say, this situation is quite different. I'm not a man of many words so to sum up what I'm trying to say here, you people are effin' amazing! I can't wait to get to know all of you and someday pass along what I've learned here to others who will fill my newbie shoes in the future. This has been a difficult lifestyle choice for me to make but knowing that there will be all of you waiting for me on the other side of the hill, I now know that the pastures really are&nbsp;greener. So please mark Corona on your maps. Although I don't have much, I'm always good for a few cold drinks for a few good friends.</div><div><br></div><div>Here's to you,</div><div>Tony</div></div>

 

[caseyc]

Hi Tony,

Welcome to the forum! Wish you luck in finding your van. I'm a part time newbie myself. Are you in SoCal ? I am in NorCal myself. Maybe we can all meet up sometime.

Cheers!
Casey

 

[Captain Logos]

Welcome Tony.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>I'm 31 and currently waiting to sell the bigger of my two motorhomes before I say goodbye to my overly-priced one bedroom apartment and move into my class B van. Pretty much every thing else is either sold or ready to be thrown or given away. Hope to full time it until November sometime next month and keep working rent free until November or so, but I'll have to find a cheap room or basement to rent for the next several winter months (I'm in Canada). In January, I go to school for two months to finally finish off my four year apprenticeship (mechanic). After that, I'm off to explore Canada, and then tour the USA.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>If you ever need any mechanical advice, I am offering what little service/advice I can over the internet. It's not much, but I hope to give back to this community of nomads for all the great help they have been to me.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Best wishes. Stay motivated and keep moving in the right direction.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Captain Logos <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></div>