Newbie

[anewday3125]

Howdy everyone, just starting this journey to becoming a van dweller.(I hope?) I'm retired, DIYer, seamstress, crafter. (Jack of all trades... master of none) ?? 1st off I gotta buy my van. Excited to be here!

 

[nature lover]

And I am just as excited To welcome you to the forum. You will get lots of ideas, advise and opinions here. Your job, should you decide to accept it, will be to sort through it all to see what might work for you. This post will sell district in 10 seconds. God bless the nomads new and old.

 

[RvDreams]

Welcome anewday3125 to the CRVL forums! To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips, Tricks and Rules" post lists some helpful information to get you started.

Most of our rules boil down to two simple over-riding principles: 1) What you post should provide good information (like your introductory post), and 2) Any response to someone else's post should make them feel glad they are part of this forum community.

We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[Cammalu]

Are you going to be bringing your sewing machine with you? I have mine but I don’t really know what I’m doing. I bring plenty of fabrics for quilting. I’ll be sewing in Quartzsite this year if you are headed that way.

 

[jacqueg]

We could have a sewing group, I'm bringing mine too. 

I'm not a quilter though. I like tinkering with thrift shop clothes. (Not very good at it, but it's fun.)

 

[nature lover]

I would think a seamstress who set up shop in Quartzsite for the winner would keep her self rolling in money from all of we single men nomads with holes in our pants And shirts and missing buttons. I might even drive across the country for that. You might even be able to barter sign for mechanical work on the rig. Dag gone it I’ll bet the modern generation would consider that sexist with gender roles at all. SEW what I’m not PC.

 

[Cammalu]

Yes Jac come on over. I meant to set up a room for it but popped up the canopy and John quickly took it over with tools and rocks. I might have to have a separate canopy.

 

[bullfrog]

Cammalu with a “She Shed for sewing” , you are in trouble John!

 

[bullfrog]

You can use all those rocks to anchor the shade structure legs with a 32” piece of 4’ chain link fence woven together at the ends around the legs of the shade structure, wired to the leg and filled with rocks. Then you will need to remove the material canopy when the wind blows or reinforce the top structure with 2”x4”s and PVC lag bolted and duct taped. Mine has tarp walls and bamboo holding the tarp on and is still legally a portable shade structure in the park although we have had it for 10 years. Sort of looks like a teki bar. A really fun project and cheap storage except for the indoor/outdoor carpet, solar lights, fans and furniture! Still cheaper than a portable storage shed.

 

[nature lover]

So who collects rocks? And what kind. I have all the stuff from my nature center in two rented storage Units include Quite a few rocks, minerals, fossils, and gems. Maybe we can trade some West Coast for some East Coast. I’ll have to inventory mine before I do any trading. Or we could have a rock concert.

 

[eDJ_]

Welcome to the CRVL Forum 

All of those little things you've learned to do in the past can filter into being a Nomad.  The more you know how to do the better off you'll be.  If you join up with some other Nomads your skills will always have you in demand and
you will be able to barter in those times and places where money itself is of no value. 

So think of all the things you can do that you could barter with.  That can make your Nomad life a lot easier.

 

[Cammalu]

Nature lover we love rocks. We don’t know anything really other than see a pretty rock and pick it up. We joined the Quartzsite gem and mineral club the last few years and have had a lot of fun with them. They go on rockhounding trips once a week, have weekly meetings and have all the equipment anyone would need for cutting rocks, faceting gems and making jewelry.

They offer classes in everything you can think of dealing with stones.

Will you be coming to Quartzsite this winter?

 

[nature lover]

I won’t be getting to Quartzsite this year I don’t have the gas money to do it so I’m going to be very content with beautiful South Florida. Even that seems like it might just be a dream now that I’m sitting alone for seven days in quarantine. As for rocks I don’t know a lot about the minerals and that kind of thing but I have friends who do and people who donated stuff to the nature center who taught me something’s But how much are retained is questionable. I love the minerals the geodes and the like. The fossils are fascinating. It sounds like there’s more than to the desert in the winter than camping. I will have to keep it on the bucket list.

 

[VanFan]

Greetings!  I do hope you'll incorporate your wide range of interests into your van life.  Creative problem solving is one of the best parts, IMO!

I am also a seamstress, with heavy emphasis on pattern drafting, garment construction and costume "building".  Mending is always in demand (as you probably know!), but many would-be customers have little appreciation for what it can take to resurrect a damaged piece of clothing.  My daughter was a Renn Faire performer for years, and since I spent a lot of time in back lots, I considered hanging out my shingle: "Get Your Fix Here," but the young'un vetoed the drug reference.

Again, welcome!