the change from materialistic to utilitarian/minimalist. ..

[compassrose]

I have an older B&W Kindle eReader (D01100 WiFi 6in E-Ink $35 with AC adapter). But I went cheap and I got exactly what I wanted too.. My previous ereader lasted a year (Pandigital Nook type in colour... I found out the company shut down after I got my ereader but the website was still up for a few weeks after I ordered the thing. Bummer). Did internet surfing etc. This Kindle is books and only books. Books get bought and sent to my "kindle for Win8" (I can also download books to my laptop), then I download to the kindle when I have wifi access pretty much anywhere (no logging in to any system). I can read it in full sunlight. That is what I wanted. But not in the dark (bummer). For internet, etc, I have my laptop. For both things (actually all three mentioned here) I bought them from cowboom.com whom I believe is the return arm of Best Buy. NOTE: If you buy from Cowboom, make sure you get the charging adapter for what ever you buy. Do your reasearch and may sure you are getting the best price. Sometimes newegg.com is a better deal.

I get my daily offers of freebie books via emails from ereaderIQ.com which are all Kindle. Also I can go directly to Amazon and search the Kindle store for "free Kindle books".

http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-eReade...keywords=Kindle+eReader+D01100+WiFi+6in+E-Ink

 

[Bdog1]

You can run kindle on phone app also. My iPhone will mirror my kindle books. And you prob. already have the phone....

 

[Baloo]

So it goes, less and less everyday. I actually feel relieved when someone drives off with some possession I didn't need in the first place...

 

[jeanontheroad]

One suggestion, get a box of round stickies that people use for garage sales. Put it one on everything. If the sticky is still there a year from now, get rid of the item. You aren't going to use it next year, either.

There only thing I got rid of that I just had to replace was a 2 qt Pyrex covered casserole dish. What was I thinking getting rid of that?!? But I have a 32 ft MH that I share with a pack rat hubby. You will be alone in a van. It all depends on who you are.

---

Bdog1, I have both Kindle and Nook apps on phone and tablet. They are great. I like Nook's format a little better, but Kindle is often cheaper. Saves a lot of space. I also got a temporary library card when we set up in Rangely, CO, for a month. I like free.

 

[stude53]

Nook makes it easy to find free books in their Barnes and Noble library.

Use the search feature - Enter 0.00, then space and add your desired topic. Search returns all free books in the category.

Examples to search,
0.00 detective or 0.00 courtroom or 0.00 adventure

Bob

 

[accrete]

...I keep trying to make sure I have enough storage for food. How often do you go food shopping? How many days worth of food do you travel with?

Greetings Baloo (& all),

My wife and i designed van1 (and in process of van2 design) with a 5 to 7 days between restock concept. For us we find this frequency of going back into civilization is easy on our onboard systems (we're usually on BLM/Forestry Lands when out away from our big home on wheels).

This also allows us to stick with (still debating this part for Van2 design) ice-box as cooler rather than a compressor 12v fridge and all the support system for it. So we go into town for 1) ice, 2) perishable food, 3) laundry.

That said we do have ~4wks supply of food on board at all times in the way of Mt.House meals and jerry cans of water. But the 5 to 7 day is our rig's design-restock frequency.

----on eReaders/Entertainment...
We sold our 600+ real-book collection and are building up our eBook library. We have the kindle ap (as mentioned by others) on each of our phones/tablets/eReaders.
Their use goes something like this...
When out in the sun or just wanting to read a book i will grab the Kindle Paper White. LUV IT!!!!
My wife likes reading on our Galaxy 10 Tablet (she's into technicolor. but it sucks in the sun!).
If i want entertainment (art doodling/music production) i will grab the iPad Air.
If we want to watch a movie we will grab the Galaxy Tab.
Each has its place IMO.

Cheers,
Thom

PS. HaHa. . .i just remembered this was a thread on minimalism!
I WILL HAVE ALL THE GADGETS I CAN AND LOVE LIFE TOO.
Of course _eyeing_ all those screens might morph mine into Marty Feldman Eyes.

 

[Baloo]

Well the ebook reader quest need with a second hand I pad 2. The price was right, perfect condition and does way more than I need it to do.

 

[RogueRV2]

Given what is happening in our country I believe it is prudent to carry a food reserve regardless of the extra wear and tear on the vehicle and loss of MPG. The least expensive and most compact is dry staple items. This means I'll have to cut my other belongs down to (in deference to Baloo)..." the bear essentials." One should also consider a fuel reserve that can get you back to a 'home base'.

 

[Baloo]

I have gathered that so far every inch if my ambo must serve a purpose. If it has no need, then I simply do not need it. While I like to plan for contingencies, there is only so much space available. Granted my choice of vehicle is bigger then others, it does carry 40 gallons of water and 110 gallons of fuel. I completely agree on food storage, the issue is temperature. Not all foods can be stored in a hot or freezing truck. I have been reading up on food storage, and have learned a few things I never knew. The truck got all new brakes this week and is almost ready for its ambo box!

 

[akrvbob]

I'm really looking forward to seeing it come together.
Bob

 

[Baloo]

Well with all the home invasions and shootings that have increased here, security has certainly been on my mind. Bought some counter measures today, gave me lots to think about...

 

[akrvbob]

What did you get for the ambulance?
Bob

 

[Baloo]

Government auction about nine years ago, quite the adventure driving it to Tennessee from Northern Wisconsin!

 

[karenishere]

I have a friend who drastically downsized and said that two things helped her.

1. She took pictures of the sentimental stuff before giving it away. She actually made an album with captions, a way of being physically reassured of her memories without actually carrying the stuff around. It's sort of an odd interim step between materialism and detachment, but it worked for her.

2. Along similar lines, she was a bibliophile, and she decided to give away most of the books and keep lists of them instead.

What she said is that over time her feelings of ... longing faded. Like having an album with photos of beloved children, you can look back with happiness and nostalgia for what your life story contains, without feeling upset about the passage of those times (or items). With the books it's even easier, as most of them have less significance altogether as time passes, and you retain the feeling that you could go find them again IF you really wanted to.

 

[anm]

...
2. Along similar lines, she was a bibliophile, and she decided to give away most of the books and keep lists of them instead.
...

I completely understand that, then if you feel compelled to re-read one you know the title and author. There have been a few times recently (after moving from Scotland to the US) that I've wanted to re-read a favorite book, but I confused the title AND author, it took me over a year to finally find one of them...

 

[RogueRV2]

Been thinking the same thing lately. As I'm building my rig up as an off-gridder, security measure are being incorporated, a little bit here and a little bit there. Some of it is very simple. If I would secure something valuable, it may be hidden rather than put under a lock that screams that something valuable is there. A more sophisticated, yet easy to employ security device is the Dakota Alert System. It is an IR sensor that when, like a motion detector turns on a light, this sends a voice message to a radio. When inside, it will alert you that some one or something is approaching the camp, or if you are away from the vehicle, and someone approaches or enters, it will alert. Range is about 1 to 1/2 miles, but I'll put one on a brick amplifier to increase the range if necessary. Get a couple of them to secure your camp real good, especially if one is way out there in the boonies. It can be placed along the road in a bush and let you know if some one is headed your way. Another interesting idea to deter a thief is to use get pepper spray that is triggered by a wire. These are sold over the internet. If they break in, the spray will fill the interior. If one is concerned with bad guys banging on your door and they will not go away, the same prepper spray device can be mounted outside and activated from the interior by simply pulling on a string..... Personally I would put on a gas mask before doing that. A good surplus mask from Maine Military runs only $20.

Well with all the home invasions and shootings that have increased here, security has certainly been on my mind. Bought some counter measures today, gave me lots to think about...

 

[accrete]

Greetings,
Your mention of the "Dakota Alert System" sent me to their website and then to YT videos. I'll do some more digging as the DAS set up looks interesting for what my wife and i find ourselves doing at a given camp...which is her down at one part of the river (usually 200 or so yards from camp but down at the river and not in view) and me also down there close by usually in my hammock or alite-monarch chair which is my go-to camp chair (i've even been known to use it indoors.)

I do have my Ham Tech license and a couple radios, i just don't use it much as i'm not one to talk on public radio. The MURS would be a bit more private. In fact if Ham radio ever _really_ got to a point (i know there are bizarre workarounds) that two peeps with a hand held ham radio could text message (even if if was public) between them in real time like a cell phone that would be my ticket to field comms.

Cheers,
Thom

 

[RogueRV2]

Yes, MURS is interesting. The first 3 channels are very narrow banded, I believe 11.5Khz, and unique to MURS so that the range is limited and the FCC can easily identify an illegal radio. MURS channels 4 and 5 are grandfathered in and broader banded at 20khz, and so they have nearly the same range and clarity as a 2 meter handheld on low power or 1 watt. MURS is not allowed to use repeaters, but one can use an external antenna, even a high gain yagi or perhaps my favorite, a slim jim that can double the ERP. MURS is still used by a few businesses such as Wallmart, but until recently has fell mostly into disuse. This means unlike a .25 watt or less and crowded FRS radio service, there is little traffic. MURS in my experience is good for 1 to 5 miles or more, while FRS is only useful for about 1/2 mile at best. You could pay the $80 for a GMRS license that would cover your immediate family including nieces and nephews. Because of the shortwave length of the 467Mhz GMRS frequencies that are better suited for short antenna on hand helds, and the up to 5 watt output of some GMRS radios, such as the Midland GXT, the GMRS radio does, in my experience outperform MURS if the MURS radio is using the original antenna. Put a good antenna on a MURS radio and it will greatly improve it's range. The DAS sensors have a BNC or SO239 connector so it is easy to attach a better antenna. I have a sensor in the RV attached to an external slim jim antenna. In the mountainous area I'm in the range is limited by line of sight, or about 5 miles, but from a hill top, I would expect 10+ miles. In the desert, it could be further....

Instead of getting a MURS radio or a GMRS radio, I might get some of those Boafeng UV5r, or the Wouxun, Chinese ham radios. These are very inexpensive, from $35, for the Boafeng, to $125+ for the Wouxun's. But you would have to program them. Using free software CHIRP makes it easy. Buy the one's that are open banded and you can program them with any frequency between 136 Mhz to 174Mhz, and 420Mhz to 520Mhz. In a life threatening emergency one can even use public service frequencies to summon help, and use the radio on 2 meter, Marine Band, 70 centimeters, GMRS and the licenses free services of MURS, and FRS. This makes the cheap Boafeng radio that can be had for as little as $35, 7 or more radios in one!!!

Greetings,
Your mention of the "Dakota Alert System" sent me to their website and then to YT videos. I'll do some more digging as the DAS set up looks interesting for what my wife and i find ourselves doing at a given camp...which is her down at one part of the river (usually 200 or so yards from camp but down at the river and not in view) and me also down there close by usually in my hammock or alite-monarch chair which is my go-to camp chair (i've even been known to use it indoors.)

I do have my Ham Tech license and a couple radios, i just don't use it much as i'm not one to talk on public radio. The MURS would be a bit more private. In fact if Ham radio ever _really_ got to a point (i know there are bizarre workarounds) that two peeps with a hand held ham radio could text message (even if if was public) between them in real time like a cell phone that would be my ticket to field comms.

Cheers,
Thom

 

[Baloo]

I have been looking into many options, and beside the standard alarm with switches on every hatch and door, motion sensor, and glass break sensor that I already have. There are sone nice video and gps type systems out there to keep track of my future home on wheels.

 

[accrete]

a ramble and update.
Some may know my wife and i live full time in a large 38 foot 5th wheel...and we go out adventuring in a van conversion + 15ft fiberglass TT. Now i will say that all that might come across as "Materialistic" to some, and i won't fault anyone who thinks so BUT for my wife and i, coming from a 3 bedroom farm house on an acre of land i assure you this was "Downsizing" to say the least! (And a bit traumatic for my wife). . .

BUT ~three years later and we are all the happier and certain we did the right thing. THAT said... we went to the Portland Oregon RV show this month and worked out a Win/Win deal on trading in our 38 ft Mobile Suite on a new Evergreen Tesla 39ft toy hauler. We did this for a couple reasons:

* The 2006 Mobile Suite (MS), while being built for full time living, was old technology (build wise) and showing sings of wear.

* The MS was also quite luxurious and ~frilly~ inside. I purchased this particular rig because i figured it would be an easier move into the RV lifestyle if the rig had similar look/feel (solid hardwoods and countertops etc...) as a brick and mortar home...which our unit does. . . but all that frilly stuff is really not us. We are more outdoorsy and utilitarian.
So we had been pondering getting a nice toy hauler.
The Tesla T3970

link to page, has a nice usable 12 foot garage that we can use after a prospecting trip to clean off any gear or rocks/etc. It will also double as a guest room when our adult kids visit (two queen beds/dinette/tv/xbox +).

I know this sort of screams anything but "CheapRvLiving" but honestly, if one wants to do so and has the means, it is far more affordable than being trapped in a stick & brick home on a lot in town.

So on commenting on "minimalistic" ...
While the above rig might seem anything but minimal ALL of our personal belongings fit into a dozen moving boxes inside our 15ft TT in a space of about 6'x6'x8' !!
And it feels soooooo good... i made about 5 trips to the donation center and we were both amazed at how much _stuff_ we had not touched since moving into the MS during the holidays of 2011.

Happy Trails,
Thom