The Journey Has Begun

[Journeyman]

It happened on a Tuesday. I finally moved into my van this past Tuesday, July 31st. It was a necessity at the time. I'm currently just parked in a church parking lot, with their permission, but as yet with no time limit, but they can always change that. I'm still trying to fix the engine but I still have my mini-van for getting around.<br /><br />I've found that everything that I had thought would fit into my van just won't fit. And that as ready as I thought I was, I wasn't. My camp stove wouldn't work and it was new. My 5 day cooler turned out to be a one day cooler, the Ice melts immediately. I've been sleeping on my bed for the last 4 months and the instant that I put it in the van, I think it shrank. The only power I have is one extension cord to the van from an outlet post to a surge protector. And I haven't got a bathroom.&nbsp;<br /><br />But I can overcome these obsticals. This has been my Dream for a long time and now that I am here I will not let it go, nor anything stop me. Now all I need is a workamping job and a port-a-potty.<br /><br />Yippee!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

Hmmm? No rent or property taxes, no house upkeep, no rental property with deadbeats to drain you dry emotionally and financially, yer' on your way to a better life Jman.<br /><span style="color: #0000ff;">But I can overcome these obsticals.<br /><span style="color: #000000;">Your positive attitude gave me encouragement this morning, thanks.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: #ff00ff;">Dragonfly</span></strong></span></span></span>

 

[Mortisha]

CongratZ Journeyman..... I am sure it will all fall into place soon and you will be smiling HuggZ

 

[Journeyman]

Thanks Dragonfly<br />And it is falling into place Mortisha<br />And Freedom is all I have ever sought Blkjak<br /><br /><br />

 

[VanTrekker]

The first night is always the toughest!&nbsp; Hang in there.<br /><br />There's always a learning curve about what works and what doesn't.&nbsp; You are doing great.&nbsp; Before you know it you'll be loving it.&nbsp; I hope the work camping job goes well.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br /><br />Yeah, that 5 day cooler thing is great marketing but it's a crock of poo poo in terms of reality.&nbsp; I tried keeping mine drained with a hose but that allows hot air in so the ice melted even faster.&nbsp; Now I use it for a storage box on Dad's back porch.<br /><br />Have fun!<br /><br />Brad

 

[yesican]

<p>Obstacles now when you have a place to park and plug in is a good thing.&nbsp; Its not perfect...yet....but man, you're FREE!!!!!<br />Rae</p>

 

[gypsydreamer]

I have the five day cooler and it works fine, 3-5 days depending on outside temperature. I make sure it's covered and no sun is shining on it, fill it with three bags of ice fo start. Then a couple bags every 3-4 days. The water stays cold till day five.

 

[Possum]

<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hey Journeyman,<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I'm jealous. I applaud you for the courage to venture out. Whether it was forced attrition or voluntary, it will work out fine. I am working on my "escape plan", but probably won't be for awhile yet. You have a great attitude an drive for what you want.....never give up!!&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /> <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Randy G.</span>

 

[Journeyman]

Thanks Randy, it was forced but I was almost ready anyway. I had a plan but then " Best layed plans...". Two months early, not quite ready, but willing and excited.<br /><br />Tonights my 6th night and all is progressing well. I'm throwing things away that I thought I had to have and finding that some of the things I do have are not of a quality that serve me efficiently enough but will work for now. I'm throwing five to ten things away a day. I built a table/counter into the van and then found that it was too tall and took up too much space so that's going out tomorrow.<br />&nbsp;<br />I had pared down my clothing significantly months ago and now have found that I don't need even half of what I kept, so even more room. Things that friends and family gave me are being returned on a daily basis, to them not the store.<br /><br />My van is still broken down but I still have some time to fix it or lose it. A friend from work is lending me a 7-day marine cooler he isn't using for now, so we'll see whether that will do what I need a cooler to do. Although, I think that it is going to be too large for the van.<br /><br />For some reason Wal-mart has taken all their port-a-potty's and solar showers out of the store here. They had them a month ago because I went to the store to price them, now they're gone just when I need them and can afford them, go figure.<br /><br />Gypsydreamer, one of the problems for my cooler problems may be that my van is closed up for part of the day in the full august sun, in Florida and I have no AC. But I could be wrong. LOL

 

[Journeyman]

The road is calling, calling, caaalllllliiiinnnnggggg.....

 

[She]

GO go go into your journey.......

 

[yesican]

Lucky for you Journeyman.&nbsp; You can go real soon and here I sit behind the wheel only pretending to be out exploring the world, just like when I was a kid playing in the neighbors junked cars.&nbsp; I was quite the adventurer then.<br />Rae

 

[Journeyman]

you can do it too Rae. All you need to do is have the landlord throw you out.

 

[She]

Next month after I get my van Im going to put a floor down and insulate half the back (where the bed will be)and move ...the rest can wait. I can start my journey. Wheeeeeee!

 

[Journeyman]

Congrats Rae, have you found the van or still looking?<br /><br />

 

[yesican]

I am the landlord Dennis!!!

 

[SoulRaven]

For the cooler issue, what I have is a Coleman Extreme and use two blocks of ice, not crushed ice... Blocks are cheaper and last longer... I am now in a heat wave up in the CA Sierras at about 6000 ft with noon temps around 90 deg. I keep my cooler out of any direct sunlight and it keeps things cold at this temp for 5 days with a couple chunks of the blocks left over... Remember to isolate the cooler, use extra blankets on the top and bottom to help out... Good luck and happy trails...

 

[dfh]

I remembered watching this a while ago, maybe it will help you out.<br /><br />[video]

 

[Simran]

I know this post is a little old but . . . .<br />Congratulations on your escape.<br />What seems to be the trouble with your van???<br /><br />The cooler issue has been addressed here before. I think Bob had a post about using Styrofoam insulation to, essentially, build another box around the cooler making the block ice last a very long time.<br /><br />use the search function to find info.<br /><br />gus

 

[Journeyman]

That's OK Simran, here a little update.<br /><br /> I've still got issues, but many things are settled. I don't use the cooler anymore except to stand my fan on. None of the mechanics will work on my van here, only at the shop. That would be OK if I wasn't living in it and they let me stay in it while they worked on it, but no go. And the mechanics who will come to the van want a 1000-1200 up front, the vans not worth it. So I will live in it here until I find something better or I cant stay here anymore. Then I will sell it to the junkyard. I won't lose much money doing that since I only payed 600 for it.<br /><br />My granddaughter was born 9/10 so I can now leave as soon as I can get moving. I was going to give my daughter my 95 Mercury Villager but her husband went out one day and bought an SUV, so now they don't need it. This is a good thing because the van that I WAS going to hit the road in had a V-8, this one only has a 6 with a complete tow package and EAT transmission. The engine is in excellent condition and gets 18 city and 22 highway, without towing anything.<br /><br />BUT I cannot live in it!<br /><br />So now I'm hunting for a canned-ham trailer or teardrop or enclosed, whichever is cheaper but more likely whichever is first. Haven't found it yet, but I'm not being rushed here, so I'm being choosy.<br /><br />Two days ago I blew a tire, yesterday I ran out of gas and this morning my battery died for good. Three's!!! But now it's over. No worries.<br /><br /><br />