21 Years in a 1973 Dodge Van

I just finished reading all 28 pages. Great thread. I visited the 4 corners area a few years ago. Magical place. The ruins and vistas are amazing.

I like the simplicity of your life. I have similar goals. Thanks for sharing.

I noticed all the speakers you installed. What music do you listen to?

 

My mom was the English teacher in my childhood. I never got whacked with a two by four, but plenty of other things. The worst year of my life was in 7th grade when my English teacher got together with mom and put me through the wringer. I haven't given up on the dream. I just have to wait for the right circumstances. It'll work out. I have a feeling that TwoDogs is much happier than SlumDodge Millionaire would ever be.

 

Wow, i just love your story!
I read all 29 pages and signed up to this site, just to talk to you!
I myself am living in Holland, but i want to leave this country. It's way to crowded for me.
I love your lifestyle and i definitly want to live my life in a similar way. And i will.

I also got one question to ask you. I guess there are lots of snakes in the area where you are? (correct me if i'm wrong, i'm not to familiar with the USA), but isn't it risky for the dogs to walk around?

Good luck with everything, and i hope to hear something from you!

 

The only snakes we have down there are rattlers, diamondback and sidewinders. Dogs are much more aware of them than we would be and aren't really in much danger. Generally, you hear them before you see them unless they are crossing the road. His dogs are pretty furry, too.

 

Thank you for the answer. I didn't know that

 

Mostly old rock 'n' roll and blues. A little jazz and R+B on occasion.

 

I think you may be right. If I won the lottery it'd probably ruin my life.

 

Geeze...now my head is swelling up and I won't be able to get it through the van door.

Plebe is right about the dogs. They're snake smart. Up here in the higher country there aren't as many snakes as down in the desert lowlands. However...a rabid bobcat walks into a Cottonwood bar...sounds like the beginning of a joke, doesn't it? This just made the news here. It really happened. One guy got up close to try and take a cell phone pic and got his face torn open. All in all two people were attacked before the cops showed up and shot the cat. Both are going through treatment for rabies now.

PM me if you want to talk.

 

Always good to see you alive and kicking.

Tell me, have you see the weather change in the past decade down there? You spend alot of time outdoors, so I think you would see things other folks don't notice.

The forests are starting to get brown spots up here. Not a good sign for the future.



x

 

We had quite a long spell of drought and the pine beetles have nailed quite a few of the pine trees at higher elevations. They turn brown and die. Drought makes life easy for the pine beetles. We just had a nice wet year in 2008 and our lakes and reservoirs are pretty full right now. As far as weather changes go...it might be a bit warmer in the Summertime as an average now than it was 20 years ago. Other stuff, as in extreme climate change, freak storms and so forth? Not that I've noticed.

 

easily the best post ive ever read mmmm ever ... you are truly an inspiration...

 

great pictures.
how is the new engine working out?

 

Love it. Your a hero.

 

Great thread! Just read the whole thing. I hope to do something similar sometime after college and it's good to see that this alternative lifestyle can really be a success.

 

Thanks. Sorry it's taken so long to get back to civilization and post here again. I just spent a month next to a tree with an occupied bird's nest built into it. The nest was made mostly from my white dog's fur. Pretty cozy, I guess. The chicks just flew the coop last Tuesday. The birds got pretty used to me being there and even flew into the van to say "Howdy." I had to help the male back out 'cause he kept trying to fly through the windshield. I'll post pics of the birds tomorrow if I have time.

 

I'm getting 15% better gas mileage and it seems strong. Hopefully I'll die before it does now.

 

Nah...just a lazy bum, actually. Thanks anyway though.

 

Yep...easy and cheap. You just have to like a more Spartan lifestyle than most people. Keep your dream alive and give it a shot while you're young and before getting tied to the grid. If you don't care for the life you won't be too old to reenter society like the old fart that's typing this.

 

too old to reenter society...are feeling like doing just that, 2dogs?

do you ever think you'll make a return to society on some level?

 

Not a chance. Most of my socializing is on the computer 'cause I can just turn the thing off when I'm tired of social interaction. When you hit the off switch when dealing with people in person, for some reason, they tend to cop an attutide.

Yep...I'm spoiled now.