Simple Stress Free Lifestyle

love the cooler idea.... Try adding some type of plastic tray on the bottom. The purpose is to attempt to keep your food and what not out of the ice melt water. Some type of plastic tray 2 inches in height will do the trick.

 

Here you go Brother Bernie ! Nice plate of ribs for ya !



OOPS too late man



Oh well, how about some dessert ?



HAHA hope this made you laugh man. No photo magic here.. just good eating ! Have a great week friend !

 

Next time you're in Vegas go bitch slap Chumly.

 

Tip of the hat to ya Brother Bernie !! All is well here my friend... Happy holidays to you and yours.

Kenny

 

Picked up a 12v electric blanket at Costco today for 17.99. Has a 30 and 60 minute timer. Just might get some good use....

 

Hey Brother Kenny, sounds like a nice find. I sure could have used that last night here in Prescott. It was about 40 last night, but it felt a bit colder than that.

I have been looking at getting one of those 12 v pads. It is similar to the 12v blanket, but it goes under the bedding so the heat raises. It is rather expensive compared to your awesome find, so I may have to pass on my idea and go with yours. Here is a link to what I have been looking at for this winter.

http://www.12volt-travel.com/12-volt-60-x-36-twin-size-bunk-warmer-pad-p-6687.html

Thanks for sharing Bro!

 

Maybe I can ship you one Bernie?

 

Brother Kenny, that would be awesome. Let me know where to send the cash. Also, how did the Ebay find go? Man, that was looking like an awesome ride. Somebody sure got a good one!

 

Hey, love your blog. I recently bought a 79 Dodge Sportsman Companion 24' RV. Am wintering in Troutdale, OR while I get her 100% road worthy. I have owned school buses converted and 1 convert old 1955 Greyhound and they was just cop magnets. I prefer RVs now and am looking to gather hippies and Rainbows RVers to form a nomadic community. Maybe even create a Rainbow Family form of say the Good Sam Club. Wouldn't that be awesome? Rainbow RV Rallies/Campouts.

 

WanderingDruid, Interesting about the conversions being "just cop magnets". I've heard that before. Your Class C (I think that's what the Sportsman is) should be better. The mileage sucks but parts are pretty cheap and the vehicle itself is is usually pretty reasonable. There are a quite a few "C's" making the fleamarket rounds without police interferance. "Stealth" camping can be a problem but most Walmarts still allow overnight parking. The paint jobs on a lot of conversions attract attention. I do try to stay below everyone's radar so a nondescript appearance is important. The condo nazis are giving me grief about my van so I'm planning on heading south (from Ohio) for a few months. Starting in April its warm enough to pretty much live full time at fleamarkets in Ohio. There are quite a few free spirited vendors doing just that- in vans, C's, and A's. fleamarketvendor

 

Yah! I try not to camp in Wal-Marts if I can help it. A lot of the local homeless use it in the beat up RVs with tarps hanging off of the and cardboard in their windows. The tend to get drunk and leave trash around them. The Sheriff runs the plate of every RV that pulls into the Super Wal-Mart here in Wood Village. I prefer the truck stops. At least here. It may be different else where. Once I get everything taken care of with mine, I'll work on getting a generator and further down the line I'll upgrade to a nice 30' Class A and along with the generator, add solar panels. I prefer to boondock out in the woods. During the summer I work several of the music festivals up here, so like your flea markets, it's a nice full timer lifestyle. I hope to travel & work at other music festivals and volunteering at State and National Parks is nice too. Have a friend who turned me onto Workamp, which is another great option. I didn't get in on time, but next year I'll be running a X-mas tree lot. A friend of mine makes a few grand in a month and that lasts him awhile. There are so many options. Music Festivals, Workamp, Barter Faire's & Fleamarkets. All I can say is you you kids don't be so fast to give up you backpacks for the first beat up van or what not that you can afford. Rough it just a little beyond that till you can afford a RV that not only runs good, but looks good too. It makes the free spirit nomadic lifestyle so much more fun if you aren't being interrupted by the cops all the time. There's a time for protesting. Don't bring it to your home.

 

I like the idea of the nomadic community. I have never been to a Rainbow Gathering, but I would like to in the future.

I have thought about the bus thing many times myself, but with the attention, expense and inconvenience of finding such a place to park, I opted for the more stealthier van. If I stay here in AZ where I actually boondock all the time, then I may opt for the bus for more room and space. You can really add some solar panels to the roof of a bus. Since I would be hanging out in the back woods, the 4 X 4 would be an incredible option.

If Cali is your thing, don't forget about the Slabs right outside of Nilan, CA. Stay forever if you want, for FREE!! I think that would be way to hot for me in the summer.

I have been to Troutdale many times back in the late 90's. The truck stop I always went to I think was Burns Bros. If I remember, it was exit 17??? Anyway, had many buffets there, and I think Popeyes Chicken was in there as well.

WanderingDruid, thanks for the post, glad you like the blog, and feel free to post some pics of your ride.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years! :thanks:

 

WanderingDruid, We don't really have a big problem with the "homeless" (LOL!) at Walmarts around here. But there are always some who abuse any privilege. Most truck stops are OK as long as you don't inconvenience the truckers. They can get annoyed with amateurs. There are a couple of Flying J's I really like that are on my normal routes. I just keep from taking spots the truck drivers need A few years ago I was camping and deer hunting on public lands in southeast Ohio. I discovered after an auto accident (I wasn't involved- just in the area) that local law enforcement had recorded all the plates on the hunters vehicles every day. Its just a normal thing. I'm sure they checked further on any thing that looked unusual of just different. A few months ago, at a larger fleamarket, a very local LEO was stopping every vehicle with out of state tags. A very few got tickets but even those obviously overloaded weren't bothered. I'm sure they'll all get a nice letter from the sales tax man though. You get used to it or drive yourself crazy worrying. Be careful of the Class A's if you're less than flush. The average windshield is well over $1000 and other parts aren't as close as the nearest salvage yard. Most C's use many regular van parts. Those on 1 ton and under chassis are a piece of cake. I might get into solar at some point. right now its not cost effective for me. I keep seeing on the internet that, in the southwest, panels that were state of the art just a few years ago are just tossed out. Maybe I'll get out that way some year. fleamarketvendor

 

Brother Bernie !

Looks like I bought that van/shuttlebus I sent you from ebay. I sign papers tomorrow and I am STOKED. Hope all is well with you ? I'll see about getting you one of those 12v blankets. Give me a ring some evening if you get a chance...

Fleamarket and Wandering.. Welcome to the blog. kenny

 

update _ The van turned out to have some negative history via Carfax so I didn't pull the trigger. Oh well....

 

you are too funny brother bernie !

Hey looks like I bought that van after all. Worked out a deal with the previous owner and traded in my Dodge. Will be different driving a diesel thats for sure

 

Well, how is that there diesel Brother Kenny? I guess you have been having so much fun with it that you have not been back over here visiting your "Cyber Buds"! I am glad you have got a large van to travel in. I could use a bit more space, but I will manage just fine.

Does that Bose Surround Sound work? Looks like the same system I have at home. Sounds great!

Keep us posted on the new "Mobile Casa".

I still don't have my solar set up yet, and it is freezing out here in Prescott. When I wake up, I have "Ice Water", and it is not in the fridge or cooler. Burrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Brother 2 Dogs, are you staying warm in this frigid cold? I know you have 2 dogs to help keep you warm, but my 2 dogs would look at me to keep them warm. We call our dogs the "Decorative Breed", as they are just suppose to keep an eye out for candy customers and to sit on your lap.

Here is the page I undated with "My Babies". I hope you all like the "Doggie Fashion Show".

Stay warm,

Bernie

 

Hey Bernie !

Are you traveling in your van these days? Snowstorm has crippled Atlanta for the last 6 days. I haven't been able to do much with the van. It's funny how 4 inches of snow can cripple a city of 2 million people. Missed a full week of work.

 

Hmmm. Havn't been to Prescott in a few years. Last time I was there the people were so friendly and happy.