How did you end up on the road, and why are you still here?

[Sofisintown]

Thanks for sharing all of that. I agree that the chance of finding someone to share my van life seems pretty slim. The time when I feel most alone is when I find something unique and/or beautiful (and it happens often!) and I don't have someone to nudge and say "wow! Look at that! and share the wonder. But life does go on, and at least I can enjoy the adventure. And I also agree that many of the women who I have met in my travels seem to think I'm a nut, and I think they are too into their animals to have time for a human.

spent 6 years, 6 months, 23 days in the navy, traveled the far east and escaped with no damage and no tattoos. I did the drinking but not drugs, didn't need the extra push to feel excited about things. Of course I chased the girls as most young men did and do, ended up meeting a dream girl, one of 9 sisters and 6 brothers, dated all of the girls, chose the best one, married and after some time found that I was only whole with her. Now Half of me has died. Some times I wonder how my heart keeps on beating. but it does, I'm not a complete person any longer.
I made a wrong judgment about your age. So you are young, probably full of tomorrows to come. I'm old, very old. I guess 83 is old. But today I don't feel old, just getting there --- sort of.
Time and experience has taught me to plan ahead somewhat. That's what I am doing now. I am trying very hard to stop looking backward. As the clock tics, the time is coming soon to ease out into the last chapter of my life. I've decided that there is joy and excitement ahead as there was in those days and years that have passed.
Half of me is going to move ahead, taking the ache in the pit of my stomach with me like my good old friend. I'll just live with it.
A little more to go, shedding the "things" that just take up space, no longer used or needed. It's hard.
Nice things are afoot, I'm learning new, old things I'm going to need to keep this half me healthy and going. I just ate some food. Drank some unhealthy coffee. changed the propane tank on the nose of the trailer, re-lit the hot water heater. It's near zero outside. Nice 70 in here, well 68 but that's fine.
Ya know, one day we will cross paths, at least within 1000 miles, I've decided that this half of me can not be made whole again, so I'm not going to try that dead end road.
Taking stock of what is, not what I wish it were.
My son just came in and talked to me about his sailing adventure to begin this spring and summer. He is going to sail on the water, I'm going to sail on land.
Not that it would be of interest to you but I'm going to build him an auto tiller so he can sail single handed, also weld up the needed hardware to raise and lower his main mast by himself as he goes into the unknown.
As i take off I know that I will never see this place again. everything will be new again. Scary thought.
Ken

I'm so sorry your wife left early Ken, but life is not over until it's over. You have all these great memories from the happy days you shared with your loved ones, and the shrink was probably right. Keep the plans you made going. It is good you found your way here, because your wisdom and your experiences have great value for many of us here.

I left Wisconsin on January 7th, and now I'm hovering in NW Arkansas, but it is cold here too at night mostly. It even snowed one day, about half an inch, which is a far cry from the 4-5 feet of last winter in Wisconsin. I have stuff to take care of here, otherwise I would be in Arizona or somewhere seriously south.
Sailing on land is probably good enough - maybe not as good as sailing on the water, but pit stops are definitely a lot less complicated.
I wish you many happy tips and beautiful vistas for the future.

 

[grumpygrizzly]

In my case, I'm pretty much retired but, I do work from home drawing houseplans for clients that find my Craigslist Ad. Pretty much a 50-60 mile radius is as far as I go for jobs. I'm basically waiting for my wife to decide she's had enough of working and ready to hit the road.

I've got a 1995 27' Class C that could actually sleep 8 but, that's about 6 too many for me. My dogs, cats, and parakeets will make up those 6 places.

I started my own business fixing small engine equipment (chainsaws, weed eaters, leaf blowers) that I'd pick up at yard sales for next to nothing (seriously, I picked up a Stihl chainsaw the guy said wouldn't start, took it home, emptied the take, put in fresh gas, cleaned the sparkplug with a wire brush and it ran on the 3rd pull).

I'm also working on drawing caricatures so we can go to places that have open air markets or a fair going on, set up my fold up easel, put a couple of chairs out, even have a 3 piece fold up room divider I can hang samples of my work and block unwanted wind or lights. I saw a guy in San Francisco doing that exact thing and he was working at night on the sidewalk. He had a light that was hooked up to a battery via USB cable to be able to see his subjects and the paper he was drawing on.

My wife and I sat for him to draw us. He was charging $10 for one person, $15 for two, if you wanted it in color, it was $15. He was done in about 10 minutes.. Basically, he was pulling in anywhere from $60 to $90 an hour..

There area lot of things you can do like that. Small crafts, playing a guitar (busker), whatever talent you have or can develop.

In closing, I'd like to tell you what I think is the true rule of life, no matter what you choose to do.. It's a line from a song by Jim Croce and it said "There never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do once you find them." The song is Time in a bottle.

I hope everyone that lives their lives in a van, a camper, or a tent has a lot of time left in their bottles to enjoy the things they love.

 

[2tu808]

For me, it was alcoholism. Not mine, but my partner's. During our 10 year relationship, her drinking and behavior worsened, and like a fool and a co-dependent and a guy in love, I stayed till the bitter end. The bitter end was having the police visit our home several evenings in a single week because the neighbors thought I was killing her. (She was a screamer!!)

Anyhow, we talked it over and I left, taking with me my clothes, tools, Harley, and my Chevy Blazer. I was working full time, and thought it would be an adventure to take all of the seats out, cover the entire empty area with a plywood "floor," and sleep in it until I found a new rent. After about a week of sleeping in the Blazer, cooking and washing at work (I know, not much of a real van life, but a start....) I decided I would buy. I did, and I've been living in the van full time for 5 years.

I still work part time, and have a nice Social Security check each month, so I could certainly go back to a "real" home. I just don't want to. The freedom from stress, the ability to move my home to wherever, and all of the reasons that you are familiar with, keep me happy and satisfied.

How about your story?

hey, @geeneus, thank you for creating this post. you've encouraged story-telling in its warmest form. it seems from reading eash post that we've, each of us, trodden unique yet similar paths in this lifetime. it is amazing how i can clearly see my story in each reply (sometimes literally and often figuratively) and at the same time feel supportive of what each writer is going through or has gone through. i have been land sailing for most of my life (though not in an rv or van, but from house to house) which pattern was begun by a restless father who flew international routes for pan american and had a strong taste for the road). for me, the cornerstones of relationships of any kind and what i look for (in business, friendships, partnerships, et al) are friendship, comaraderie, kindness, and integrity. these are words, yes, but also viewable actions. i agree with ken that trapping someone in a relationship is not the way to go. it is dead from the start. we humans are capable of learning to leave each other 'just be' and stlll have a strong and vibrant friendships afoot. i would like to write more here, but have to be on my way to work just now. i am new to the forum and have yet to learn the technical and social ropes to posting on forums. thanks again, geeneus and all the other posters, for putting your hearts out there!

 

[wb8vyn]

I'm so sorry your wife left early Ken, but life is not over until it's over. You have all these great memories from the happy days you shared with your loved ones, and the shrink was probably right. Keep the plans you made going. It is good you found your way here, because your wisdom and your experiences have great value for many of us here.

I left Wisconsin on January 7th, and now I'm hovering in NW Arkansas, but it is cold here too at night mostly. It even snowed one day, about half an inch, which is a far cry from the 4-5 feet of last winter in Wisconsin. I have stuff to take care of here, otherwise I would be in Arizona or somewhere seriously south.
Sailing on land is probably good enough - maybe not as good as sailing on the water, but pit stops are definitely a lot less complicated.
I wish you many happy tips and beautiful vistas for the future.

Another one of those cussid nightmares. The mind is a terrible thing. It's now -5 with a north breeze. If I go outside I'll have to put on a shirt, maybe pants and shoes.
Heck, It's still dark out there.
Was just thinkin', makes my head hurt but I did it anyway. I bet I could just go out where weekend trashers go to party, where they make a mess and leave it, I could clean up their mess so some one else else could use the spot. That would make three people feel good, Me, the next to come along and the granola crunchers as they go by. I did that around the mile here yesterday, Picked up a 12 pack of soda and beer cans along with fast food wrappers, cost me next to nothing, traded in the cans along with 48 cents for a pack of hot dogs, people at the little store let me dump the trash in their dumpster. Stopped at a little joint on the way back, had a beer, chewed the fat, got warm, came home and felt good for a few minutes. been doing that around here for years, my own neighborhood so to speak. a square mile, 4 miles total, good exercise also come to think of it. Used my John Deere lawn tractor and a little trailer that my wife bought for me almost 25 years ago for my birthday. It's green. She liked green. She liked yellow too, all her cars had to be yellow. She wreaked every car she ever owned, the most recent one in our driveway, ran into a tree next to the mail box. she was taking a short cut across the lawn. She cried, me too and that was ok cause she didn't mean to. I got her another one. The tree only has bark on one side to this day. Oh and the garage, but that's another story. My pickup was safe, It's too big for her, thank goodness. It's a 1996 long bed 2500. You know how salt effects metal here in Michigan. It looks terrible but still runs and drives like new. Might get a new one some day. Maybe. One of these days I'll think about that. The way It's going, the darn thing is going to outlast me.
I'm looking forward to meeting you guys out there. If you happen to see an old bawled headed guy with miss matched shirt and sox, in a camp chair taking a nap, next to a rusty old blue pickup held together with masking tape and bailing wire, that'll be me. Keep an eye out, not literally of course.
Have a very good morning.
Ken

 

[Freelander]

WHAT? When did that happen? Did I miss something? We have a good camp down in Scadden Wash now. Too bad you didn’t come this year. I hear a bunch at the campfire laughing like crazy.

This was on Dec 3th, and the surgery was Dec 9th. It's mostly healed up now. Compound fracture I broke the bottom part of my upper arm and the rest went through my elbow.

 

[closed account]

I started my own business fixing small engine equipment (chainsaws, weed eaters, leaf blowers) that I'd pick up at yard sales for next to nothing (seriously, I picked up a Stihl chainsaw the guy said wouldn't start, took it home, emptied the take, put in fresh gas, cleaned the sparkplug with a wire brush and it ran on the 3rd pull).
....
In closing, I'd like to tell you what I think is the true rule of life, no matter what you choose to do.. It's a line from a song by Jim Croce and it said "There never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do once you find them." The song is Time in a bottle.

I hope everyone that lives their lives in a van, a camper, or a tent has a lot of time left in their bottles to enjoy the things they love.

Fixing small engine equipment... I assume a stick and brick business rather than the class C?

Before retirement a few years ago, I had spent a large portion of my working life either working on or selling parts for power equipment of all types, including a stint as a Briggs & Stratton rep, taking care of about 150 dealers. My lat official wrench turning job was at a Kawasaki MotorSports dealership, wrenching on OPT's (other peoples toys)... bikes of all sorts, jet skies, atv's, etc.

Equipment repair and Jim Croce songs... we must certainly be related.

 

[wb8vyn]

hey, @geeneus, thank you for creating this post. you've encouraged story-telling in its warmest form. it seems from reading eash post that we've, each of us, trodden unique yet similar paths in this lifetime. it is amazing how i can clearly see my story in each reply (sometimes literally and often figuratively) and at the same time feel supportive of what each writer is going through or has gone through. i have been land sailing for most of my life (though not in an rv or van, but from house to house) which pattern was begun by a restless father who flew international routes for pan american and had a strong taste for the road). for me, the cornerstones of relationships of any kind and what i look for (in business, friendships, partnerships, et al) are friendship, comaraderie, kindness, and integrity. these are words, yes, but also viewable actions. i agree with ken that trapping someone in a relationship is not the way to go. it is dead from the start. we humans are capable of learning to leave each other 'just be' and stlll have a strong and vibrant friendships afoot. i would like to write more here, but have to be on my way to work just now. i am new to the forum and have yet to learn the technical and social ropes to posting on forums. thanks again, geeneus and all the other posters, for putting your hearts out there!

2tu808, Hum that's a heck of a name. Your going to have a lot of fun on these forums over time and it does take time. To me, I get a chance to verbalize my thoughts. Helps me clear mental confusion and air out some clutter that seems all jumbled up at times.
A great deal of the give up and quit mind set is fading away. More and more thoughts of being productive in some way seems to me to make my remaining days worth something to some unknown someone. I like that.
I have done the tasks expected of me with joy. I have been perched on a two legged stool, getting along happy as a duck until one leg was kicked from under me by my anchor quitting on me. That's how I felt.
My balance is back, I now have a destination again, to go, look and really see stuff and people and some times hear the silence.
We live in America, We can be free if we choose. Money can not buy you time. Money can buy you freedom. An additional cost will be comfort. Freedom is cheap to buy. Comfort level is personal. Some want and need more, some less. Valuable things to me are laugher, the sweet smell of fresh air, a cool drink on a hot day, shade from the sun, a fearless sleep.
Come; join us, not too close but close enough to not be lonely.
Ken

 

[gizmotron]

So I have a story too. I got the bug to travel again after coming off the road as a full-timer, after Thousand Trails breached my membership contract by changing the rules. I knew about Quartzite and Boondocking in a 35ft Holiday Rambler trailer. It worked well at membership parks but would only last about 4 hours if I were to "Dry Camp." That is what we called it back then. Then "Boondocking" became a method for it once solar took off. Anyway I saw the movie 'Nomadland.' That got me interested again. I had already heard about the LTVA but I had never seen a Bob Wells video. Being on limited income, SSI, I had to find a way to coble together a good way to continue my journey.

I had spent the past 15 years perfecting a way to beat the casinos. I used computer programming, experimentation, and experience to find all the weaknesses in the games and in myself in order to get that going. It took an incredible amount of work. It was only in the last 4 years that I started to put together the right combination of strategy and method that then became a skill. I knew I had come up with something that disagreed with all common sense thinking by just about everyone. I also knew I might die pretty soon. So I set out to find a way to share it and to also use it too. So there is a story about that timeline including proving it to others, Covid-19 throwing a monkey-wrench into my plans, and seeing 'Nomadland.'

To make this a short story I got caught up in the Nomad attraction. It has always been camping to me, be it ski mountaineering, car camping, or full time RVing. I already know all I need to know. I just needed advice for solar. As you can see by my van build that I am not of the same thinking as Bob Wells when it comes to deciding what I like. I like a full bathroom in my van conversion. All I had to do was give up the garage full of junk. I have been rejected by the people that run the forums around this cultural movement. They tell me "no gambling." Yet they let me talk about it in one place on this forum. But there is no interest anyway. I tried to talk about it at HOWA and that was rejected after a bunch of people wanted to know what I was talking about. I got the 'no gambling' rule again. So heck with sharing it. I'm supposed to be controlled by those running the thing. So guess what? Now there is a raffle to give away stuff to support HOWA. It's gambling. They get around it by saying it's free. My information is also free. So anyway, that is exactly how the Nomad world really works. If it's mine then it's OK but if it is yours, nope.

So I'm down with Bob's advice that helps people not go to the bottom and homelessness. And I support the ideals of HOWA. I also understand the need for civil conduct on family friendly discussion forums. But after people really wanted to know what I was willing to share and then the hypocrisy of the control being implemented I needed to step back. I want to travel with like minded people that want to learn a skill that is ten times more fun than any other job working on the road as a traveler, boondocker, or so called nomad. Someone else said this: "Money won is twice as good as money earned." It's even better than things won in a raffle.

 

[unaccompaniedsenior]

I repatriated myself and two suitcases after many years abroad, and was unable to find suitable lodgings. Everyone wanted to rent to someone working (I'm retired) or to a woman (I'm a single gent), and everyone demanded references I didn't have because I'd been out-of-country so long. I was several months in a laundry room closet, and a few more in a garden shed (including Kanadian winters), before I picked up an old Astro cargo van and cobbled together some storage and a bed.

Since then, I've heard how folks with homes uniformly talk disparagingly about folks without homes (such as myself), and I've resolved to never, ever have folks like that for a roommate, neighbour or landlord.

I'm now in my second vanlife vehicle; Matilda Two is an Express cargo van. My setup is only a little more elaborate this time around: I moved up from a twin to a double bed, and added a desk. I've now got a camp stove, so I'm a little more food-independent, although I still get by without refrigeration (September to April the van is a natural fridge/freezer anyway). I also picked up a Jackery portable power station to power my laptop.

 

[wb8vyn]

So I have a story too. I got the bug to travel again after coming off the road as a full-timer, after Thousand Trails breached my membership contract by changing the rules. I knew about Quartzite and Boondocking in a 35ft Holiday Rambler trailer. It worked well at membership parks but would only last about 4 hours if I were to "Dry Camp." That is what we called it back then. Then "Boondocking" became a method for it once solar took off. Anyway I saw the movie 'Nomadland.' That got me interested again. I had already heard about the LTVA but I had never seen a Bob Wells video. Being on limited income, SSI, I had to find a way to coble together a good way to continue my journey.

I had spent the past 15 years perfecting a way to beat the casinos. I used computer programming, experimentation, and experience to find all the weaknesses in the games and in myself in order to get that going. It took an incredible amount of work. It was only in the last 4 years that I started to put together the right combination of strategy and method that then became a skill. I knew I had come up with something that disagreed with all common sense thinking by just about everyone. I also knew I might die pretty soon. So I set out to find a way to share it and to also use it too. So there is a story about that timeline including proving it to others, Covid-19 throwing a monkey-wrench into my plans, and seeing 'Nomadland.'

To make this a short story I got caught up in the Nomad attraction. It has always been camping to me, be it ski mountaineering, car camping, or full time RVing. I already know all I need to know. I just needed advice for solar. As you can see by my van build that I am not of the same thinking as Bob Wells when it comes to deciding what I like. I like a full bathroom in my van conversion. All I had to do was give up the garage full of junk. I have been rejected by the people that run the forums around this cultural movement. They tell me "no gambling." Yet they let me talk about it in one place on this forum. But there is no interest anyway. I tried to talk about it at HOWA and that was rejected after a bunch of people wanted to know what I was talking about. I got the 'no gambling' rule again. So heck with sharing it. I'm supposed to be controlled by those running the thing. So guess what? Now there is a raffle to give away stuff to support HOWA. It's gambling. They get around it by saying it's free. My information is also free. So anyway, that is exactly how the Nomad world really works. If it's mine then it's OK but if it is yours, nope.

So I'm down with Bob's advice that helps people not go to the bottom and homelessness. And I support the ideals of HOWA. I also understand the need for civil conduct on family friendly discussion forums. But after people really wanted to know what I was willing to share and then the hypocrisy of the control being implemented I needed to step back. I want to travel with like minded people that want to learn a skill that is ten times more fun than any other job working on the road as a traveler, boondocker, or so called nomad. Someone else said this: "Money won is twice as good as money earned." It's even better than things won in a raffle.

I'll take only a moment to comment. In 20 years I traded my learned skill for the home I own, Notice I said home. I traded my sweat for money, It was many more times it's value than any gift, It was not a gamble. My kids and I have a place to leave from knowing that there is a place to return to, a sanctuary, a safe place. All of this was hard earned and slow in coming. This place has value to me and mine. I have to pay rent to the state,(taxes) a little over 140 a month, so really I don't own it. But in return I have the freedom to live as I choose. Many years ago, I observed that some I knew went after fame and fortune. Some found it but at a terrible price. Those that are still alive have no privacy. Others wreaked their bodies living the fast lane way of life, Mostly drugs both legal and illegal. Some ended broke, you know easy come easy go.
Some years ago, a father came to me and asked me to teach his son the trucking business from the ground up. He was 26 at the time. The bottom line was he had to pay attention and take all of the beginning steps. Do the work. Little did I know he had already tasted the fast lane. (drug sales and trafficking) At the three month point he told be that he was not interested.
I put him on a plane for home. Some one else had stepped into his slot. He arrived home, two days later he was dead.
I say all of this to draw attention to the fact that there is no easy way to earn money.
Hard work is the best way. Pick a trade, any trade, make a plan, then work your plan for the long haul. weigh the risk. Easy come -Easy go?
Ken

 

[gizmotron]

In 20 years I traded my learned skill for the home I own,

I get your point. A skill that is difficult to learn, maybe by the time it takes alone, is worth something. If it's given away for free it might just be treated as worthless based on the personality and the goals of those that say they want it. You would be right to. That much has already been proven. The world that prides itself on finding the "Holy Grail" of casinos games has already had its first shot at this. 95% have rejected it without having any idea what it is. They think they know what it is, and that's enough to reject it. But 5% have gone on to learn the skills. I feel sorry for you that someone you know turned down your offer to teach him a much in demand trade. Something that could have served him his whole life. You can't make people do what's best for them. If they can't see it I'm not sure there is a way to make them see it. The skill I wish to give away for free takes hundreds if not thousands of hours of practice and a full understanding. It may end up taking a certain type of ability to concentrate and a capacity to be self aware. There is no quick and easy path. Never the less I want to see if I can teach people that are mobile, have free time to learn and practice, and are willing to find out if they have what it takes. That's incredibly sad what happened to you.

 

[Cammalu]

This was on Dec 3th, and the surgery was Dec 9th. It's mostly healed up now. Compound fracture I broke the bottom part of my upper arm and the rest went through my elbow.

Looks like you did a great job of it!!! Bet that hurt too! Hope you are able to get outta there soon.

 

[Cammalu]

After that I'd be fine. Uncertain where I could stop for a day or two when tired. I'll play that by ear
Ken

Ah hell Ken. I have nomads stopping in from time to time and it’s not a problem. I have a nice camping spot by my pond if you aren’t bothered by the graveyard back there and it hasn’t been raining a lot. We should be back in April I think. Then starts the mowing season for me.

 

[wb8vyn]

Ah hell Ken. I have nomads stopping in from time to time and it’s not a problem. I have a nice camping spot by my pond if you aren’t bothered by the graveyard back there and it hasn’t been raining a lot. We should be back in April I think. Then starts the mowing season for me.

I might stop by on my way outbound. The first while will be slow going. I'll be in touch when the time gets close.
Ken

 

[eDJ_]

I wound up on the road right out of school days looking for work in my field and an area that would support my kind of work. I liked being on the road quite a lot way back then when all I had was a couple of Rand Mcnally Atlases, a Camper's Bible, and my Boy Scout training. (pre-internet days). I encountered some curious LEO's but on telling them I was a recent grad and was out for job interviews, I was on my way within minutes.

On finding work, I was often sent to different branches of my company for temporary assignments. So I was back in my rig traveling again. So I got used to having one foot in the sticks & bricks and one on the gas pedal.

Only a few years ago I was in my rig in Paducah, KY getting ready to board a Tow Boat as a cook after taking a physical. My plan was to liquidate everything I had so I would be on the boat for a month and off for a month. On the boat I'd be fed and housed till back to my rig. But the physical revealed a hernia that I'd have to have mesh implanted to repair it. They also wanted me to get a cataract replacement in one eye. By the time that was all completed and I had my releases this Covid thing was shutting everything down and my plans folded leaving me in the sticks and bricks yet. But if and when this is over and I can still do it I'll try to get my plans back on path.

As I read thru the post in this thread I'm reminded of a movie starring Jack Nicholson titled, "About Schmidt". He didn't have cats or dogs but rather a pen pal in Africa as a poor child he sponsored there. I think this 2002 movie is something every Nomad should see as it's rather enlightening.

About Schmidt

 

[Freelander]

Looks like you did a great job of it!!! Bet that hurt too! Hope you are able to get outta there soon.

Well I have 2 plates and handful of screws in it now. Back to a little over 50% range of motion.

 

[Sky]

I like the way you put your thoughts into words that paints a picture. Of course over the years I've been to NYC more than many times, Also LA and all the places in between. Sometimes for a longer stay than I'd like. My thoughts even today are why anyone would choose to live like that if given an alternative, being constantly wary of other people, constantly conscious of threats that can getcha in the night.
I can understand though, familiar places. And the unknown is something only crazy people go to. Even Florida is crowded to my way of thinking.
Since I have traveled so much, and grew up in a town of 3 or 4 families separated by 1/4 mile or more, that was normal for me and yet today. My nearest neighbor is 1/3 mile one side and 1/2 mile the other. Even though I own my own home, It does not feel good any longer since my wife died. So like you, I need space and to be alone.
I'm not a recluse, just need to get over the ache a little at a time.
One day if you travel west, check out I-70 west of Denver for a place called Hanging lake, or a rest area called "No Name" or on US 50 for a place called "shoe tree" also called the "loneliest highway" while on your way to Reno, NV. Some day in south Texas along US 90 where judge Roy Bean held court called "langtry Tree". Still there.
All over in the west are free places to stay. Just take your time getting there. From time to time, others will pass by or possibly stop for a moment or a day or longer to conserve budget or make a meal or walk their dog. Huge spaces where you can be as close or as far away as you feel comfortable with. Soon the cramped space of NYC will fade into the distant past as a place to maybe visit, not to live.
Man it got cold here last night, Minus 4 this morning, I think I am hungry, lets see, I think steak and roasted potatoes sounds good, a little gravy on top and of course coffee.
Ken

I guess we are all sorts of combinations nomadic-hermits here. I can relate to both of you as I grew up in the SF west coast and then broke out to the other side in rural mountains and can relate

So I have a story too. I got the bug to travel again after coming off the road as a full-timer, after Thousand Trails breached my membership contract by changing the rules. I knew about Quartzite and Boondocking in a 35ft Holiday Rambler trailer. It worked well at membership parks but would only last about 4 hours if I were to "Dry Camp." That is what we called it back then. Then "Boondocking" became a method for it once solar took off. Anyway I saw the movie 'Nomadland.' That got me interested again. I had already heard about the LTVA but I had never seen a Bob Wells video. Being on limited income, SSI, I had to find a way to coble together a good way to continue my journey.

I had spent the past 15 years perfecting a way to beat the casinos. I used computer programming, experimentation, and experience to find all the weaknesses in the games and in myself in order to get that going. It took an incredible amount of work. It was only in the last 4 years that I started to put together the right combination of strategy and method that then became a skill. I knew I had come up with something that disagreed with all common sense thinking by just about everyone. I also knew I might die pretty soon. So I set out to find a way to share it and to also use it too. So there is a story about that timeline including proving it to others, Covid-19 throwing a monkey-wrench into my plans, and seeing 'Nomadland.'

To make this a short story I got caught up in the Nomad attraction. It has always been camping to me, be it ski mountaineering, car camping, or full time RVing. I already know all I need to know. I just needed advice for solar. As you can see by my van build that I am not of the same thinking as Bob Wells when it comes to deciding what I like. I like a full bathroom in my van conversion. All I had to do was give up the garage full of junk. I have been rejected by the people that run the forums around this cultural movement. They tell me "no gambling." Yet they let me talk about it in one place on this forum. But there is no interest anyway. I tried to talk about it at HOWA and that was rejected after a bunch of people wanted to know what I was talking about. I got the 'no gambling' rule again. So heck with sharing it. I'm supposed to be controlled by those running the thing. So guess what? Now there is a raffle to give away stuff to support HOWA. It's gambling. They get around it by saying it's free. My information is also free. So anyway, that is exactly how the Nomad world really works. If it's mine then it's OK but if it is yours, nope.

So I'm down with Bob's advice that helps people not go to the bottom and homelessness. And I support the ideals of HOWA. I also understand the need for civil conduct on family friendly discussion forums. But after people really wanted to know what I was willing to share and then the hypocrisy of the control being implemented I needed to step back. I want to travel with like minded people that want to learn a skill that is ten times more fun than any other job working on the road as a traveler, boondocker, or so called nomad. Someone else said this: "Money won is twice as good as money earned." It's even better than things won in a raffle.

Appreciate your tactful talent to delivery your story here. Keep on keeping on I personally have never been into the gam***** atmosphere but I find it interesting. I attribute it to my brainwashed CULTure of the proletariat protestant work ethic dominant in our society but also that I am a nature lover and more introvert type and as I have aged much less interested in hyped venues. Ironically when I went with a girlfriend 29 yrs ago to Vegas I was wining at a game I knew nothing about nor recall the name of LOL! I left like any non gambler cashed out the $ and gave most of it to my girlfriend and returned to our room. Of course she stayed much longer gam***** until she pissed it all away. ~ I used to be into a lot of stimulation and was pretty wild in my youth as well as a high energy musician/drummer just to say I have not lived a safe quiet life what so ever but as I age and have my soul mate I am quiet content and happy being mellow now.

 

[2tu808]

2tu808, Hum that's a heck of a name. Your going to have a lot of fun on these forums over time and it does take time. To me, I get a chance to verbalize my thoughts. Helps me clear mental confusion and air out some clutter that seems all jumbled up at times.
A great deal of the give up and quit mind set is fading away. More and more thoughts of being productive in some way seems to me to make my remaining days worth something to some unknown someone. I like that.
I have done the tasks expected of me with joy. I have been perched on a two legged stool, getting along happy as a duck until one leg was kicked from under me by my anchor quitting on me. That's how I felt.
My balance is back, I now have a destination again, to go, look and really see stuff and people and some times hear the silence.
We live in America, We can be free if we choose. Money can not buy you time. Money can buy you freedom. An additional cost will be comfort. Freedom is cheap to buy. Comfort level is personal. Some want and need more, some less. Valuable things to me are laugher, the sweet smell of fresh air, a cool drink on a hot day, shade from the sun, a fearless sleep.
Come; join us, not too close but close enough to not be lonely.
Ken

thank you for the invite, ken (come; join us, not too close but close enough to not be lonely)! i shall take you up on it at some point in the future. at the moment, i have (after years of caregiving assistance to family members) moved from the pacific northwest to central florida for more warmth and sunshine. i've been completely surprised by the cold winter weather here (this morning, 29 degrees). my current plan is to stay in sticks-n-bricks for a year while preparing to go out on the road. i came out of retirement and secured a job, which i have been at for 2 weeks. i plan on stashing the pay into savings to build up an emergency fund, paying off a 2006 prius i recently bought, slowly purchasing the supplies i will need to camp in the car, and last but not least, getting out-n-about enjoying the florida natural landscape (as i've never been to florida before this move).
ps: my account name is an acronym for my nickname. "2tu" is tutu (the hawaiian word for elder and grandparent) and "808" is the area code for hawaii.....
~tutu

 

[gizmotron]

Keep on keeping on I personally have never been into the gam***** atmosphere but I find it interesting.

Actually I need advice. It is clear that some people wanted to learn. I want to camp with them, travel around, teach them, and test them to make sure that they can do it without losing money. It is also clear that a caravan for that purpose will not be allowed by those that police the caravans. I also do not want to go around and bother anyone that does not want to hear about it. I feel like I'm trying to sell someone on Christianity that does not allow it to be told. Unless I can figure out how to find like minded people I will give up. My van is not ready yet. It will be this summer. Here is a thing that I learned from videos this week. I don't think that the LTVA pass for $180 is worth it. It might be if you want to stay in one spot all winter and save on gas. I don't. I was all jazzed about it because there was a dump station and potable water available as part of the deal. But the lineup to use those facilities is way too time consuming. I can go for two weeks between dumps for the van. So going to a place and paying $20 five times turns out to be cheaper. I can move every two weeks, hit a dump station, and meet up to camp with the cult of gamb.......rs. LOL That's what I hope to be doing.

 

[2tu808]

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
- Mark Twain