21 Years in a 1973 Dodge Van

Thats the key isnt it wiv freedom, doing things because you want to not because you have too- I did manage to read the whole post and feel blessed to have found the thread.

Beautiful pics thanks for sharing

xxx

 

Geeze...you're going to give me a fat head.

 

Well credit where credit is due, you have given people a true insight to free living ...
When I make it to Arizona Il be sure to look you up-

 

I hope I will have to wait a few years till I can join the ranks of the free. My wife is in poor health and needs my care and doctors attention to get the meds that make life livable during her remaining days. I have been intrigued by Arizona for a long time now. Long ago, when studying up on gold prospecting, I learned that there is gold in almost every county there. I like the fact that you can have comfortable temps, year round in one state too. One thing that I haven't learned about it the ability to use alternative/herbal type medications there without getting a problem from LEOs. Do you have any knowledge/ideas about this subject?

 

TwoDogs! I love your style man!!!

I just semi finished (do we ever finish these things??) my van and Im hitting the road some time next week for destinations down south. Trying to make it to Panama and back over the next few years, just surfing and exploring.

Love your way of life dude, you really have it figured out. Hopefully I can pull off something similar.

van stats:

1993 GMC 2500 with a hightop.
160 watts of solar on the back
basic lights, laptop, stereo and fans.
packed with surfboards, me and dog!


Maybe Ill see you out there on the road in the west when I work my way back home.

 

Looking forward to it.

 

Sorry to hear about your wife.

Where I go prospecting, the gold is in every wash too.

I have no idea what a "LEO" is...except that it's an astrological sign.

 

Man...sounds like you're all set. Have a GREAT trip! Sounds like quite the adventure.

 

here leo is referring too....the law,,,the cops,,,,the fuzz,,,eeek

 

Just checking in to see if all is well. This thread is like reading an ongoing story, you gotta heep comin back to see if there is a new chapter

What I respect here ,is that you dont sugar coat the life style. I see a lot of people write that they are thinking of doing the same thing and dream of a perfect life of freedom.- Its our nature to dream * * *
Although you saw it turned out to be the life for you, I often hear you caution people that its not for just anyone, and just because you chose the lifestyle that fit - -its not that easy- -after all this is no vacation- (unless someone choses to make it one)

Some people just see the romantism, -as I earlier mentined somewhwere in this thread> yrs ago I had the same idea and lasted a few yrs in the Colorado Rockies. Although the memories of that time are too awesome for words, I felt as time went on- that I needed to move on- -:willy_nilly:

Once again- Be well TwoDogs> much respect from an oldtimer on the eastern seaboard
JJack

 

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh...thanks for the clarification wyldwynd. Arizona, as of now, frowns upon the use of certain "herbal" medications. Simple possession of such is not so simple when it's a felony. There is an initiative on the November ballot to legalize medical usage with a prescription. If it passes it will be regulated strictly and won't be like other states where you can get a prescription if you get bitten by a mosquito.

 

Hey JungleJack, long time no hear. You're right about not trying to sugarcoat the situation. If I made it sound too good I'd never be able to find a place to park. The crux of the biscuit is, that while I have my periods of pretty much total freedom, there are still things that I have to do that I don't want to do in order to maintain my lifestyle.

The swapmeet, for example. After long periods of solitude I have a great deal of trouble maintaining my "Game Face" while dealing with a multitude of people trying to buy something for less than I just bought it for. These are people with money, mind you, and a good portion of those people will only buy if they feel like they're robbing you. It's part of the game, though, and it's one of the necessary evils.

Maintenance on the van. I HATE mechanicking but it's another necessary evil. I beat the crap out of my van to visit the lonlier and lovlier spots and wind up paying for it with my time and bloody knuckles.

Yeah...it all sounds like it's pretty romantic but there's a lot of unromantic and mundane stuff involved. STILL...man oh man...it's the life for me. I couldn't live any other way now.

You take care of yourself and keep those East Coasters in line.

 

Thanks for the update. I'll keep an eye one the changes in November. I suppose that till then, I'll just look for places in Ca. Or. and Wa.

 

Hey Brother 2 Dogs',

I have been rather busy driving this ole truck around, but every time I do get on 40 I make the loop around Williams several times. If you have made Williams this summer, I have missed the weekend that you may have been there. Hopefully I will make it on a weekend that you are there, or when I get more time to roam in my "Condo On Wheels". When we can meet up I'll bring ya a box of your favorite Little Debbie snacks!

I have been working on my van when I get a chance, and I am about to add a solar panel, batteries and charge controller. Still got to get a new black holding tank and get the shower installed. Not sure I will need the shower to often inside the van, but it is a nice option.

I am not sure if I sent you a link to my blog, but I don't want to post it here with out your permission. Right now it is a lot of text, but I just bought a cheap digital camera to spice it up a bit. I do have family and friends following, and I know the pictures of the southwest and the Vegas Buffets will get some attention. I am rather far behind on my blogging, but soon I will be living the live I have dreamed of for the past 20 some years. You know, the dream that you was man enough to just go do and not conform to society. When you conform to society, that is just another way of saying that you are a coward, because it is easier to conform than to go out and live your dream! My hats off to ya brother!

Perhaps you can show me how to prospect for gold! I have never tried that activity, but I think it would be exciting looking for hidden treasure. I bought a really nice metal detector several years ago, Whites Spectrum XLT with a hard shell protective case, and I have only used it once. I found a dime on the beach. Looks like I am still over $1,000 in the hole on this investment! hehe

Take care brother, and I am looking forward to meeting you some day soon.

Bernie

PS Keep posting those beautiful pics!

 

I haven't made it to Williams yet this year. The way the weather has been, sunny during the week and rainy on weekends, I haven't wanted to spend the gas money to drive up there just to get rained out at the swapmeet. It's a lot cheaper for me to get rained out in Prescott Valley.

You keep that sugar whore temptress away from me!!!

Sure post a link. BUT...as soon as people start posting how inspirational YOU are rather than ME...the link comes down. My head is the one that's supposed to get fat here.

It's easy to do as you please when you haven't got any responsibilities, but if someone accepts the responsibility of raising a family and pretty much has to conform to make ends meet, I feel that they are MUCH braver than I have ever been. To put the welfare of others before your own desires is a laudable form of sacrifice and I admire those that choose that path. I'm irresponsible, and if you REALLY want to examine my choices, I think it's evident that laziness has a lot more to do with the choices I've made than bravery.

That particular metal detector is more of a "coin shooter" than gold detector, isn't it?

 

Hey Brother 2 Dogs,

Wow, that was a fast reply to my post. I am sitting out here in Las Vegas right now for the 3 day weekend. I took lots of pics of the buffets and the area, and will post some on my blog.

Yeah, the detector is not a "GOLD" exclusive, but it is suppose to still find gold, jewelry and coins. I thought that to just buy one detector, that one was a pretty good choice. If I decide that metal detecting is something I want to do more often, then I may consider buying a "Gold Shooter" version.

Do you have a detector? I don't have any pics of mine on the blog yet, but I will soon.

I did eat at a Chinese Buffet there in Prescott a couple of times. It is the one up the hill above Costco. Stayed at Walmart one night. Was not sure if I was going to get run off or not. Signs did not look all the friendly, but the lady inside said I should not be disturbed. She was right, and I was not alone, as other campers perched there for the night.

The rock formations going up toward Chino Valley out of Prescott was beautiful. I think that was 89? Also, the day I was there they was having a huge Bible Conference at the corner of 89 and maybe 89A? It is the intersection that is close to the airport going north out of town.

Just wondering, I did not go but about a mile down Walker Road. Is that a place where we can camp and hang out with out being bothered? The day I was going through town in my "Condo On Wheels" I was headed to Williams for the July 4th BBQ Cook Off Competition. Williams has never smelled so good!

Thanks again for the reply. Take care Brother,

Bernie

 

Two Dogs, I have spent the last several evenings reading through the entire 58 page thread. I can only say- way to go , man! I found your story linked on another forum, vandwellers. I also am a member at vandwellers construction. I am a self employed contractor. I spent the last 6 months of my drinking living (existing) out of a backpack in Albany ny. When I got sober in 2001, my life got better and bussier!. Since then, I have yearned for the simplicity of that life back ( but that's ALL I want back). I have spent a lot of time traveling , camping, kayacking, and recently hiking the east coast. I've only been out west once, a week in the grand canyon and Sedona. It was there that I fell in love with the desert and red rocks. I even took the rented Kia sedan 17 miles down a dirt road trying to find the end ( frowned upon by the rental co.) I will make it back one day, and I have started to plan out building my 2000 mini bus for long term living/ traveling.
Peace Dude,
Les

 

Win lots of money.

I was asking because I'm not really familiar with that model. Yes, I have a Gold Master II, a relatively inexpensive "nugget shooter."

I've eaten there many times. The China Buffet.

The Granite Dells. Yep...one of my favorite scenes there in the Prescott area.

If you drive waaaaaaay up past Walker there are some spots, if I remember correctly. There's too many people in that area for my taste. I go work Lynx Creek for gold on occasion but never spend the night in that area.

Sorry I missed you. I sold $901 worth of crap at the Prescott Valley swapmeet that weekend.

 

If you set your preferences page to show 20 posts per page you would have only had to read 29 pages instead of 58. Congrats on getting the monkey off your back. It's amazing how alcohol has way of complicating lives. Good luck with the mini-bus and good luck with returning to a simpler lifestyle.

 

Hey Brother,

Where do you get your Internet access at? Is there some free spots around Prescott & Prescott Valley? I have a little meter I use to find Wi-Fi Hot Spots, but have not had a chance to look around there in your area.

Bernie