Mission Complete

Today's mission was to retrieve the van from that parking lot I left it in yesterday. After running some errands with Heather, we used her Mom's car, we went to the Kragen which just so happened to be in the parking lot the van was in. I picked up a funnel, some Dot 3 brake fluid, and some coolant that requires no water to mix with. I filled up a gallon of gas in a tank, and had to duct tape the funnel to the end of a thick plastic hose in order to get that gallon in to the van.

The gas tanks nowadays are made in such a way it is damn near impossible to get any of it in to the older vehicles, and you wind up spilling most of it on the ground. So that makeshift funnel/hose thing will be staying in the van for future use...thing looks more like a beer bong.

So it turns out the fluids were not the problem after all. Turns out the master cylinder was half full still, and the radiator was full as well. I put what I could of the brake fluid in, and put the coolant in the back. Oh well, it's good to have these things on hand for wshtf (when shit hits the fan).

I drove the van home, following Heather all the way. Man, that was a nerve-racking drive. It was only a couple miles, but a couple of miles with an uncertainty about whether or not you'll be able to stop in time is scary indeed.

Well, I made it back safely, mission accomplished, the van now sits outside. Now to accumulate the funds to get it worked on...looks like I'll be hitting up that Ford mechanic guy here shortly...

A wrench in the machine

Well, today has been an interesting, rather frustrating day.


Some dude called me off of craigslist with a free standing coat rack for $15, I talked him down to $10. I've been looking for one so to have a display for the various arts & crafts we will sell when in Santa Cruz. So this guy lives about 20 minutes away from me, it's a little drive. Well the van gets absolutely no MPG's whatsoever, and I underestimated how much gas I had to get there and back as I was not counting on the AC being the huge drain it was. I got a little lost on the way there, he lives in a really confusing suburb, and by the time I got there, the van was already on E. 


So, I buy the coat rack, i chat with the dude a little and leave (without the AC running now). Well, on the way to this guys house, the opposite lane of traffic was heavily congested so I decide not to come back this way upon returning home. The area was really confusing, familiar streets ended up turning in to different ones. I wasted even more gas getting lost. I just wanted to get back to a familiar area before/if I ran out. I ended up going back the way I came anyway, but the traffic thankfully had cleared up a bit by the time I got there.


Then the brakes start giving. I knew the van needed repairs, and now it is time. Just as I reach a familiar intersection, the brakes start getting dangerously low. I also notice the engine is running pretty hot. So I pull in to an inconspicuous spot in the adjacent plaza parking lot and call Heather for a ride home. It's sitting there now as I write this. Tomorrow I will bring some brake fluid, coolant and a can of gas and hope it's just the fluids making the van act funny. I'm really surprised I made it as far as I did before having to stop.


A wrench in the operation.


Without the van, the trip does not happen. However there are some things on my side at the moment: I took the placement test at Clovis Adult today, and I guess I scored really well. I qualified for independent study which will allow me to go as slow or fast as I want towards earning my HS diploma. So we have ample time before the trip to get the van fully worked on and roadworthy.


Also the guy I bought the coat rack from, I guess is some Ford certified mechanic or something. As I pulled up to his house he was outside replacing a block in one of several cars in his driveway. He says" Hey, sounds like you need 'this and this' done." I tell him that I do, in fact need the van worked on. He said he would accept $25 /hr rather than the usual $60 to $90 most shops charge, especially if I bring the parts to be replaced if any...


:) - I also got to smoke some really nice buds with my Sister Ashley, which was a very welcome feel good from the stress earlier today. Still don't understand how buds are illegal, but alcohol is okay...but that is a topic for another entry another day. I can go forever on that subject.


So here I sit typing this, feeling a little stony, Heather and Liam are on the bed behind me, and I have a new coat rack standing next to me which is slowly beginning to accumulate hemp objects to sell.


I wonder what tomorrow holds?

How to Adventure

Okay so just how will this escape from Fresblow work? We're going to be living the nomadic life, so the usual creature comforts everyone is so used to will not be there, or at least be harder to attain. What follows is the method to the madness (as so many people would say we are mad for choosing to live this way).

One thing to keep in mind is we will have about $5000 for necessary expenditures, and as a fall back option, in case things happen, which they do.

"How will you stay clean?"

Join a 24 hr. fitness club. Can take showers whenever we want, and even work out should we feel the need. Just need to remember the water shoes, public showers are an ideal place to catch something through your feet. Might even get a few bath mats with suction on the bottom to bring in to shower with me.

"How will you eat?"

Currently we receive about $400 in food stamps a month. Only problem is to get food stamps, you have to have a residence and fill out monthly questionnaire forms. So we will just say we are still living at Heather's Mom's house, set up a P.O. box when we get to whichever place we decide to settle, and have our mail and stuff forwarded there. Cooking on the beach is no problem, people do it all the time. A little two burner propane camping stove and a little dollar store folding table is all we need for that, aside from the dishes and utensils of course.

"Where will you sleep?"

That one is obvious. We sleep in my van. It's a full size '85 Ford Econoline, back bench folds down in to a bed, built in cooler (need ice) and clothes rack in back. I drove this thing all the way from Ohio to California, and man, that was a very comfortable ride. It's in excellent shape, only has about 70,000 miles on it. Very very clean, very spacious. Curtain windows, CB radio, fuse switches in front roof panel to control 4 different light stages (one controls the window lights, looks very homey in the dark!). Will need to get a few things done to it before leaving, the brakes are acting a little funny...shouldn't be too much to get it fixed.

"People freak out about people sleeping in their cars, where will you park?"

That's why we're headed to the beaches, specifically Santa Cruz, where it's known for its quirky people and "alternative lifestyle". People camp at beaches all the time, so we'll just stay in one area for a few days, move a few miles up or down and stay another few days. Rinse & repeat. The van is relatively incognito, it does have the usual hippie stickers on it, but it blends in pretty well. Plus it's the beach man! Call me crazy for living on the beach, but I think you'd be crazy for NOT wanting to live at the beach! How about that coastal air eh?

"How will you take care of your electrical needs?"

Seriously? Nomads and gypsies have little to no need for electricity. Although recharging my laptop comes to mind. Can not Google and Blog on dead batteries...I say this one is situational. I'm going to look in to getting a deep cycle battery for the van. If that works, problem solved. If I am unable to get one, I'd just hit up libraries to plug in to for an hour or so. Also, frugal power settings on the laptop! Not many people set this properly for what their required power use is, and end up with dead batteries quite frequently. Our cell phones both fit my car jack, so that's taken care of.

"How will you pay your bills?"

The only bills to pay are cell phone bills, and if any, vehicle expenses, which will be forwarded to the P.O. box we set up in said town.

"How will you make money?"

Peddling our arts & crafts! Heather and I are creators of various macrame projects, specifically hemp jewelry. Necklaces, bracelets, anklets, belts, key chains, wall hangings, wind chimes, guitar straps, etc...Sitting on the beach or a boardwalk playing my guitar should also bring in some revenue. We can also hit up good ol' Craigslist on the laptop to seek out odd jobs, as well as permanent jobs.

"Gas prices are ridiculous, there's no way you can afford to keep driving around looking for jobs."


Very true. If that were the case. We will purchase a bike rack for the top of the van, and we will ride our bikes around town. Good way to meet the locals. Only way we're actually driving is if we absolutely need to. We can even get our son Liam one of those little tag along buggy things you attach to the back of the bike he can ride in.

"What will you do for fun?"

We're on the beaches. 'Nuf said.

"You're in Santa Cruz, the beaches, you're bound to run in to some crazies."


I am going to try to get a CCW (Carry Concealed Weapon permit), so I can travel with my .38 loaded at all times. If I am unable to get the CCW, I will see if it's legal to travel with the gun and bullets separate from each other in different containers or bags. If anything, I have my good ol' K-BAR knife lol. Also a very loud car alarm will be installed, which can be activated by me, remotely. That will end most problems before they even start. Heather will be in charge of the pepper spray and stun gun (I think tazers are illegal, since they shoot those prong things).

"What if you are unable to find a job?"


Then we just come back to shit ass Fresno, and we're in the exact same spot we're in now. Only we had a much needed vacation!!

"You mentioned you have a new son, do you fear for his safety?"

No, not in the least bit. That's not saying I'm not worried about anything happening to him, but this is all planned out with every conceivable scenario and options. You might be thinking he's too young to be going with us on a trip of this nature, but what's the difference between what we are doing, and taking him on the usual road trip with us? There is no difference, except the time spent doing this, and the methods of how we get along each day.

"Do you plan to scope out the locations before heading there?"

Most definitely, it would be very unwise to not do so. We will take a little road trip to Santa Cruz first, stay at a hotel, eat out, blend in with the locals, hit up some hippie shacks, and see what's up with the area. The ideal place would be easy access to the beach, easy access to shops and other places, and a lot of people. The crowd scene should be like Haight Ashbury in San Francisco.

Typical recon of an area includes:

• Conversing with shopkeeps (tea shops, trinket stands, new age shops, craft shacks etc...)
• Posted flyers
• Places to eat
• Talking to the fellow hippies
• Partying with the fellow hippies :)

"You're nuts."

I know.