So, am I crazy?

[morgana]

What sort of job are you looking for, Kus? Lots of sales jobs on Monster and Careerbuilder in the Kansas City area . . .

[Kittish]

An idea for places to shower/park if and when you leave your original area- truck stops. Some of them may have at least electrical hook ups for RVs that come through, and if you stick with the larger/busier ones, fairly decent shower facilities. Just to be on the safe side, however, I'd recommend some shower sandals if you don't already have them. Truckstops generally charge for their showers if you're not getting diesel fuel, but it's something like 6 bucks or so.

[Kusanagi]

My gym membership is at 24 Hour Fitness so I can shower anywhere they have a club.

Plus, I want to work out! At this rate, I'll be under 200 lbs by july.

[Dave1982]

OK.... pardon me for saying this, since it isn't a helpful comment and I'm sure there's a good reason for it, but......

I think it's pretty messed up that your father can provide assistance with building this van and getting you the electronic gear, but can't/won't let you stay at his place. Even if it meant camping out in the basement I'd think that'd be far preferable to living out of the back of a van. (Though as you pointed out, you now can go pretty much anywhere and still have that mobile roof over your head).

I retract that statement if your folks are renting and the terms of the lease and/or the size of the place absolutely preclude it, or if this was your choice and not theirs.

On a more positive note, good luck with the job hunt. I wish I had something I could refer you to, but getting up here would be quite a haul in any case. Though if you decide to apply at Staples, you can say I referred you (which can't hurt. And no, I get no kickback for that, unless you are hired into a management position).

[Andara Bledin]

Nice job on the van, Kus.

And, I know it's hard to tell in text, but the tone of your messages sounds a whole hell of a lot more relaxed than some of your other not-so-recent ones.

I'm going to PM you with some possible job options you might want to look into. They're mostly a freelance thing, but if you can get a halfway decent Internet signal and are willing to put in the time and effort (which I'm pretty sure won't be a problem), there are some intriguing ways to make money on the Internet.

^-.-^

[Kusanagi]

I think it's pretty messed up that your father can provide assistance with building this van and getting you the electronic gear, but can't/won't let you stay at his place. Even if it meant camping out in the basement I'd think that'd be far preferable to living out of the back of a van. (Though as you pointed out, you now can go pretty much anywhere and still have that mobile roof over your head).

No space at Dad's house for me to stay, and this is alot more preferable to me living on the couch in their living room, honestly.

My grandparents have a spare room but since they live in a trailer park they have incredibly strict rules, so I could only stay about once a week at most.

I was staying at my mom's for a while but her landlord won't let me stay longer than the 4 weeks I was there trying to get on my feet. So they're helping me out as best they can, even if they do want to offer some criticism about it. I'm in sales, I'm used to people blowing smoke.

I'm doing my best to make some money on the internet, I always was able to before. I have a few business things going right now, and I'm looking to bring a few new people into it.

The days are relaxed while looking for a job. Bust out the camp stove, make some breakfast, go to the local fast food joint, get a soda and leech off the wireless signal and send out two dozen apps, lounge around in the evening at the park/beach/museum, go to the gym and work out/swim/shower, bust out the stove, make some dinner, clean up, find a safe place to park next to a 24 hour business and watch a movie before bed.

I tell ya...it's a new set of circumstances to be sure, and a new set of things to be stressed about...but knowing I have a home and can take it anywhere with me...it's an incredible relaxing feeling, and its the best thing for me right now before I get some more heart tests done in June.

[Dave1982]

OK, then I retract that comment. I hope you are able to get back on your feet.

You know, it may not be the best place to work, but it occurs to me that the Back to School season will be starting soon (believe it or not), so to reiterate a previous suggestion, you could try applying with your local Staples (which you can do online). Even if it's just a temp position, it's better than nothing and will get you at least some money.

I know that's not much, but it's more helpful that just "good luck."

[tropicsgoddess]

I would say to come down to my area, but the job market here in Fort Lauderdale SUCKS. Awesome job on the van,btw. Looks kinda like my dad's van, is it an '89?

[BrightEyedKitty]

Neat! Build me one?

[Kusanagi]

1985 Dodge Ram B150

I'm really enjoying the simplicity it's adding to my life.

[Kinoo]

Totally NOT crazy, the van is pure genius. Good luck with the job hunting.

[Eric the Grey]

Awesome job on the Van Kus. When I read you post about the attempted break-in I almost freaked at the idea that you were living out of it, but now, it looks kind of cool.

I've been near enough to the edge to appreciate what you're doing. Best of luck on the job hunt and be careful.


Eric the Grey

[Jester]

I'm not homeless...just houseless.

An important distinction. You have made something out of nothing, which is not an easy thing to do at all. That is damn impressive.

Interestingly enough, I've been hit hard by learning who my true friends are and just how strong some of the family ties are.

Everyone seems to have critisizm for how stupid I am for doing this. Everyone seems to be quick to point out the flaws with this. Nobody is offering any solutions, and I've been pointing that out.

It's like "Yeah, I don't want to be associated with the crazy guy that lives in the van, oh, and I don't want you even driving in my neighborhood but if you want to meet up somewhere where my other friends won't see us like at Denny's at 11pm then I might be able to make it..."

These people suck. Pure and simple.

In '98 and '99, I spent several months traveling the U.S. living out of my truck. Did all of my friends understand this? No. Did they criticize it? My true friends did not. They supported what I was doing, even if they did not understand it. My own mother said she thought I was nuts, but that despite the fact that she herself could not do something like that, she admired my courage for doing it.

I admire your courage for making something out of nothing, for taking a crappy situation and, rather than playing The Victim, as so many people in our society do, you took the bull by the horns and refused to be thrown.

You rock. Those who think you are an embarrassment to them are not worth your time or effort. I would be willing to bet that the vast majority of them would not be able to make as much of the situation if they were to lose their jobs as you did. Personally, I think you are doing better than the people who are forced to move in with parents or on to their friends' couches.

These people who think you are someone they do not want to be seen with?

Fuck 'em. They don't DESERVE to be seen with you.

And the only difference between these "friends" and myself is 2 paychecks.

No. There is also the difference of integrity, which they don't seem to have. Again, fuck 'em.

I....actually think the van is sorta cool.

Very cool. I thought I did alright for myself with my Blazer in my grand journeys, but honestly, it was not a home so much as a place to sleep when I had nowhere else (friends, relatives, or coworkers) to crash. The van? She is a HOME.

And yeah, the stealth mode of it is a nice touch.

OK.... pardon me for saying this, since it isn't a helpful comment and I'm sure there's a good reason for it, but......

I think it's pretty messed up that your father can provide assistance with building this van and getting you the electronic gear, but can't/won't let you stay at his place.

As his response showed, you did not know all the details of the situation, so for you to make such a judgmental comment was, as you yourself, not helpful.

Even if his father was being a total troll about all this, the fact remains that Kus took the lousy situation he had and went about making it better. Rather than focusing on the bad that was happening, he focused on the good that could happen, and then made it happen. Props to him.

The days are relaxed while looking for a job...

...leech off the wireless signal and send out two dozen apps

Suggestion: you might want to be a bit less relaxed, and actually go to businesses and apply in person for various jobs. Take a few hours each day after you've sent in the online apps, and actually pound the pavement to find a job.

Just one fellow's opinion.

[Eireann]

Kusanagi and Jester, try this for the people who don't understand van living.

Give them a copy of Steinbeck's Travels with Charley.

[Jester]

Eireann, there is a saying within the magic community.

"For those who believe in magic, no explanation is necessary. For those who don't, none will suffice."

Look, his friends do not need to understand what he is doing. They don't even have to like it. But to treat him like a pariah for doing it? That is just below the belt and not worth his time.

Perhaps it would have been different with my friends if I had been living in one place out of my truck, rather than traveling. Perhaps some of my friends would have reacted differently. I don't know, because I have been fortunate enough to never HAVE to live out of my truck. I only CHOSE to do it to travel. Perhaps if I had had to do it, some of my associations would have shown different colors.

Personally, I still say the folks treating him like this are assholes, and no explanation, book or otherwise, will suffice.