Where are you registered?

[yugogypsy1963]

I'm a Canadian citizen, not planning to go far until I am truly comfortable with my rig and the lifestyle--want to work the bugs out basically. I've never fully explored this Island I live on, so I'll start here and maybe hop around some of our Gulf Islands. Just renewed my drivers license, and all my other I.D. is up to date.

I'll apply for a passport when I feel ready to start exploring in the lower 48, ferry to the San Juan Islands is 2 hours away from here

My friend who will travel with me is also Canadian, he works in construction, does artwork and plays the guitar, so between us we have enough skills to keep ourselves alive. He's the one who is nervous about travelling (he hasn't done much camping and NEVER been boondocking)

I have to convince him that we'll be safe

Cheers
Lois

 

[MrNoodly]

... he works in construction...

I crossed from Washington to BC about a decade ago for a short visit and they questioned me about intentions to work while in Canada. They were going to turn me back if that was my plan. They almost searched the trunk to make sure I didn't have any tools with me.

 

[MrNoodly]

...No income tax...

Will you be making enough that income tax is an issue? 
I set up residency in South Dakota, which had no income tax, cheap registration, low insurance and no vehicle inspection. After four and a half years I switched to Arizona, which also has cheap registration, low insurance and (outside of Phoenix/Tucson) has no inspection. They have income taxes, but not on Social Security. In fact most states don't tax SS. AZ was more convenient for me. I also got better insurance coverage from the same company for slightly less than in SD.

 

[yugogypsy1963]

Mr. Noodly,

Yeah, I had someone I met through "Hip Forums" come up and I told him--don't say WORK--say volunteering or you'll get sent back. Well he forgot and said work--no visa so he got sent back. And wrote some very rude things about me on Hip Forums.

I had a girl come through the WWOOF program and they almost didn't let her in. She had to get out her WWOOF membership card, the WWOOF directory and spend an hour explaining the program to customs at the airport before they finally let her in.

Needless to say, I now pick Canadians when I'm searching for a temporary room mate to help during garden season, just to avoid hassles like that.

My travelling companion doesn't WANT to do any construction if we go travelling unless its to help another traveler. He wants to concentrate on his art and music.

The only tools we'll have along are what we need to maintain the rig and build things we need ourselves. (shelves etc)

Cheers, Lois

 

[MrNoodly]

...I told him--don't say WORK...

On another occasion a US client was having flooring sample books printed near Montreal and I had to go check the progress and make sure the colors were correct and other things. It's called a "press check." I told immigration I was there on work-related business. It took them a while to understand I was an agent for the client, that the client was spending money in Canada, not taking jobs from Canadians.

 

[yugogypsy1963]

Mr. Noodly,

Yes, customs can be a little thick-headed sometimes, even by phone. I explained something to a clerk at Canada customs at least 3 times one day and she still didn't get it so I called back another day and talked to someone more intelligent!

Cheers
Lois