H868436
New member
Hello Everyone!
First off, I want to thank Bob for his YouTube videos which is how I found this site! Spent almost all day today watching these videos during slow times at work, which today was very slow! I have always been a fan of minimalist living, (Walden by Thoreau had a HUGE influence on my life!) and I have been looking at the tiny/micro house movement for a very long time, and have always wanted to take that plunge, but the cost to get started, and the legal issues always put the brakes on that idea. For some reason, while I was "daydreaming" of a tiny/micro house and looking for plans for a small house online, and looking up what some others have done and posted on YouTube, I ran across Bob's video "Beautiful Astro Minivan Build for Vanlife - Great Living in a Beautiful Astro Minivan Build-Out" (link to this video if you have not seen it: ) and I knew that I had found the way! Since I have an old 1999 Astro cargo van, listening to Bob and Richard talk about this really got me excited! So I spend the next few hours watching the videos[font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] [/font] (still "watching" some as I am registering on the site and typing this) and learning a BUNCH of what and how I need to go about making this a reality!
A little about me: My name is Jeff, I'm 54 years old, and I am currently in a bad marriage and am looking for a way out. I know that a lot of guys would have a hard time admitting this, but it is rough being mentally, emotionally, and sometimes physically abused by my wife. This has been going on for the past three years of my ten year marriage. Everything started out good, but I slowly found out why I was my wife's third husband. But not going to get hateful on her because I read the rules for the forum! LOL! I am still working as a Call Center technician, and thanks to Covid 19, I have been working from home since March of 2020. As of October, the company I work for has decided to make my position a permanent "work from home" one, and since all I need to have to be able to work is internet access and the company laptop and screens, I am free to go anywhere I want.
I have been involved in the automotive and small engine fields since I started working way back in the 1980's, and even longer than that if you count the summers that I worked for my Dad in his shop starting when I was about 10 years old. My Dad is also involved in motorsports and has been for over 60 years now, mostly Drag Racing. I still love that, but I can't afford to go Drag Racing, so I scaled my motorsports down to racing karts. Since I race at tracks all over the United States, I ended up getting the Astro and using this as my kart hauler, and I would camp out at the race tracks when I went racing, and always loved this freedom. Since the amount of karts that I have has gone up from just the one kart to now having seven (anyone want to buy a racing kart?), and they don't all fit into the Astro, and I have been planning on getting a utility trailer to haul the karts in, and turn the Astro into more of a camper style vehicle since this is the main purpose for the van. Of course, seeing the videos about using a cargo trailer instead of a travel trailer has given me quite a few ideas also! Thanks Bob!
I'm wondering if there are any other people that have purchased land and use this like a base camp for an address and to store items that you normally don't take with you on the road. This is something that I have thought about doing, possibly putting up a small building to store the karts and other parts, but also to have a "permanent" address. I know that I am going to have to look at the laws on where I decide to put up a "permanent" address, like zoning laws and so on, but I would really appreciate any advice I can get on this area also.
I know that I am slightly different than some people that are involved in Vanlife in that this is a decision that I am WANTING to make and not being forced to make due to being out of a job, being homeless, or having no other option. My heart really goes out to these people! Another reason that I am more than happy to help out anywhere that I am able, because I have been there before, and but for the grace of God, I am not in that position now. I also love the idea of being able to travel around this wonderful country of ours to be able to see the sights, experience life in other areas, and to learn about the rich history of America from a first hand experience!
I know, I have written a book here, but I just wanted to introduce myself, and give an explanation of why I am here, and what I am hoping to accomplish. Sorry that I have rattled on, but I am excited that I have found this forum and Bob's YouTube channel and have finally found a way to make my dreams come true! Can't wait to meet some of the great people on the site and looking forward to learning a lot, and it looks like I have TONS of material to go over!
Thanks!
Jeff
First off, I want to thank Bob for his YouTube videos which is how I found this site! Spent almost all day today watching these videos during slow times at work, which today was very slow! I have always been a fan of minimalist living, (Walden by Thoreau had a HUGE influence on my life!) and I have been looking at the tiny/micro house movement for a very long time, and have always wanted to take that plunge, but the cost to get started, and the legal issues always put the brakes on that idea. For some reason, while I was "daydreaming" of a tiny/micro house and looking for plans for a small house online, and looking up what some others have done and posted on YouTube, I ran across Bob's video "Beautiful Astro Minivan Build for Vanlife - Great Living in a Beautiful Astro Minivan Build-Out" (link to this video if you have not seen it: ) and I knew that I had found the way! Since I have an old 1999 Astro cargo van, listening to Bob and Richard talk about this really got me excited! So I spend the next few hours watching the videos[font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] [/font] (still "watching" some as I am registering on the site and typing this) and learning a BUNCH of what and how I need to go about making this a reality!
A little about me: My name is Jeff, I'm 54 years old, and I am currently in a bad marriage and am looking for a way out. I know that a lot of guys would have a hard time admitting this, but it is rough being mentally, emotionally, and sometimes physically abused by my wife. This has been going on for the past three years of my ten year marriage. Everything started out good, but I slowly found out why I was my wife's third husband. But not going to get hateful on her because I read the rules for the forum! LOL! I am still working as a Call Center technician, and thanks to Covid 19, I have been working from home since March of 2020. As of October, the company I work for has decided to make my position a permanent "work from home" one, and since all I need to have to be able to work is internet access and the company laptop and screens, I am free to go anywhere I want.
I have been involved in the automotive and small engine fields since I started working way back in the 1980's, and even longer than that if you count the summers that I worked for my Dad in his shop starting when I was about 10 years old. My Dad is also involved in motorsports and has been for over 60 years now, mostly Drag Racing. I still love that, but I can't afford to go Drag Racing, so I scaled my motorsports down to racing karts. Since I race at tracks all over the United States, I ended up getting the Astro and using this as my kart hauler, and I would camp out at the race tracks when I went racing, and always loved this freedom. Since the amount of karts that I have has gone up from just the one kart to now having seven (anyone want to buy a racing kart?), and they don't all fit into the Astro, and I have been planning on getting a utility trailer to haul the karts in, and turn the Astro into more of a camper style vehicle since this is the main purpose for the van. Of course, seeing the videos about using a cargo trailer instead of a travel trailer has given me quite a few ideas also! Thanks Bob!
I'm wondering if there are any other people that have purchased land and use this like a base camp for an address and to store items that you normally don't take with you on the road. This is something that I have thought about doing, possibly putting up a small building to store the karts and other parts, but also to have a "permanent" address. I know that I am going to have to look at the laws on where I decide to put up a "permanent" address, like zoning laws and so on, but I would really appreciate any advice I can get on this area also.
I know that I am slightly different than some people that are involved in Vanlife in that this is a decision that I am WANTING to make and not being forced to make due to being out of a job, being homeless, or having no other option. My heart really goes out to these people! Another reason that I am more than happy to help out anywhere that I am able, because I have been there before, and but for the grace of God, I am not in that position now. I also love the idea of being able to travel around this wonderful country of ours to be able to see the sights, experience life in other areas, and to learn about the rich history of America from a first hand experience!
I know, I have written a book here, but I just wanted to introduce myself, and give an explanation of why I am here, and what I am hoping to accomplish. Sorry that I have rattled on, but I am excited that I have found this forum and Bob's YouTube channel and have finally found a way to make my dreams come true! Can't wait to meet some of the great people on the site and looking forward to learning a lot, and it looks like I have TONS of material to go over!
Thanks!
Jeff