So, am I crazy?

[Slytovhand]

OMG - Kus are you CRAZY????

Well - someone had to say it... didn't they??

Actually - I think it's ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!!!! eleventy

Strangely, I actually feel proud of you for doing this, for the same reasons as Jester. You were in a seriously sucky position, and you've gotten yourself up off your butt (ok, you weren't really on your butt) and made things work your way... total responsibility! AWESOME!

(btw, I'm at work, so I can't see the pics).

Also, you've done something that most people are scared to do - you've made yourself incredibly independant! And I can tell (as can others) that you really are a lot more relaxed. Excellent!

As for finding a job?? Sod it! Why do you really need one? After all, if this new found freedom allows you to start doing some things you've never really thought you could do before, go for it! I know someone who has a combi all done up with mattress, stove, etc. She just needs the public toilet/showers and she's right. Does tarot readings in exchange for... whatever... sometimes money, usually food or some such similar. She gets to go where ever and when ever she wants (her only problems are if the thing starts to break down... that's when she needs to charge for some of the work she can do... much like yourself).

So - where do you want to go today?? As you said, you can pretty much go to whereever you want now....

I can get you a job here... but I suspect that as awesome as your van is, it might have a bit of difficulty with the Pacific Ocean

Oh, and as for your 'friends'... I'm sure you'll find 'better' in your travels! And, though you may not see them as much, they'll still be a lot closer.

[Jester]

As for finding a job?? Sod it! Why do you really need one?

1. Food.
2. Gas for the van. Can't travel without it, and gas stations are not big on the whole bartering system.
3. I get the general feeling that Kus doesn't want this to be a permanent thing.
4. A job can make you feel good about yourself and not like you are just sitting around doing nothing, not to mention providing money for various things you either want to do (entertainment) or need to do (remember, he has some health issues he needs to take care of).

[Slytovhand]

Well, I was thinking more - permanent job. Cash flow - yes. Money - yes. But a stable constant regular hours type job - no, not really.

Sort of like the difference between a home and a house....

[sms001]

You're absolutely NOT crazy Kus.

To tell you the truth, this idea was in my head so long that it still gives me some peace of mind comfort to think about even though I'm not "two paychecks" away from the whole show collapsing.

I really like that you took things to a logical conclusion. My idea was always one of those pickup bed campers. Not nearly as practical as your van.

I totally understand the peace of mind having such a thing brings you. I have no family and if worse had come to worse it would have been really REALLY nice to know that there was someplace of my own that I could go and rest and be relatively safe and gear up for the next round of challenges.

The downside of course is that in a few years when you are over the hump and someplace that utilizes your talents well has made you filthy rich and you need the room in the driveway for your new boat.....you're going to hate to let the ol' Ram Casa Kusanagi go.

Good luck and godspeed.

[fireheart]

What you have done Kus, was amazing, and more than me or my friends can say. (one of them was booted for being gay as far as I know, one lives with a drunken dad, the other is fine, but she herself worries me at times). But yeah, like the others have said, make sure your battery is well ventilated.

Also, I don't know if you can afford it or not, but have you considered prepaid wireless broadband if they have it over there? You get a USB modem, which once you get a signal from, you can download to your heart's content. You just pay for the amount you think you'll need. There's nothing wrong with leeching, but if you're somewhere without a nearby source, chances are there may be a signal you can download from.

Um...one other thing I'd heartily recommend as well is to search sites for tips on living cheaply.
*ducks tomatoes*
Not in the SC sense. There are some sites out there that have tips like what to soak your red markers in if they start to run out etc. Some magazines might have them too...I know it may seem weird, you buying or thumbing through women's magazines, but they don't have to know you're buying them for yourself. (That's Life and Take 5 are two magazines in Australia that publish a heap of tips, if you like, I'll PM some to you).

[Slytovhand]

Well, now that I've seen the photos, definitely waaaaaaayyy cool!

[ArcticChicken]

I think it's kind of.....romantic.

Not as in flowers and candles, but the romance of the open road, all those choices in front of you...

[Kusanagi]

After a few weeks of living in the van, the changes to my lifestyle have really been beneficial.

I have a part time job right now that brings food to my stomach and gas to the van at $60 a fillup. Oy.

My job tends to take me to the costal areas of San Diego so I've spent alot of time down at the beach and at the gym, and damn, it's showing. When a friend you haven't seen in a month doesn't recognize you because of the weight you've lost and the shape you're getting in, that's awesome!

I do my laundry about once a week - there's a laundromat in a shopping center where I spend the night sometimes (The place has free WiFi.) I go to the laundromat, take my hamper out from under the bed, start it.

Go to the store and find out what I want to eat and settle on some pork chops from the counter and grab a quart of milk.

Go back to the van, set up the stool inside, set up the camp stove. Take some flour from the tupperware container in the pantry, dump it inside the bag from the store with some garlic and spices stored above the sink, coat them, throw them in the pan with a little oil.

Fry them up till the smell fills the van as I watch some downloaded anime on the laptop, then take them off and use the drippings in the pan with some more flour and milk to make some basic gravy...make a pouch of instant mashed potatoes on the other burner and eat like a king while watching the sun set and listening to music on the laptop.

Spend about an hour doing dishes in the little sink, putting everything away, putting the leftover milk and pork in the fridge, and finish up the laundry. Go to the gym, grab a shower, and then find a nice place to park and go to sleep.

Wake up in the morning, open the fridge, take out the rest of the milk, pork, and some eggs and that really thick bacon from the deli, and make an omelette on the stove. Heat up a cup of water in the microwave.

Watch the sunrise to the smell of cooking bacon and eggs while enjoying hot chocolate.

Dear god...why the fuck didn't I start doing this sooner!?

[Food Lady]

Tell us about the job. Any SCs?

Wow, your laundry is even more convenient than mine! And yeah, it's $60 for gas, but you're NOT paying $700 a month for rent. I'm glad things are working out for you; I knew they would.

[morgana]

Sounds like you're much more content than we've ever seen you, Kus. Bravo!

[Slytovhand]

Oh AWESOME!!!!

Sometimes, as crap as the universe sometimes makes things go, doesn't it really make it worth it????

[Der Cute]

This is where we can say:

Proof. Simplicity- roof, shelter, clothing, food.. the rest is really gravy.

Kus, I'm proud of you. You sound really....relaxed here.... Much more so than you were at the store. Take some time and think about life in general. Enjoy it.

I hope you're sleeping better, more often, waking up rested. I hope you go see a doctor soon - I bet your heart's much happier now.

Keep us updated, and post pics of the beach! I'm jealous!!!

Cutenoob

[Jester]

Dear god...why the fuck didn't I start doing this sooner!?

We often find some of the best things in life when we are not looking for them, or when we are forced into them. The first part is how I got involved with just about every awesome woman I've been involved with. The second part is kind of how I ended up in Key West.

You rock, Kus. Don't ever forget that.

[smileyeagle1021]

I was going to say, if Kus is still looking for a job, we just had yet another part timer walk out...
Salt Lake does have rather pleasant weather normally this time of year, only 12 hours away
And I know quite a few places to leech internet and at least one 24 hour fitness






or he could take my job... please oh dear God can someone take it off my hands...

[SengaKitty]

Kus, the tone of your posts here have been getting lighter and lighter. Happier than I've ever seen your posts, which makes me happy for you! Sometimes it's the simple pleasures in life that mean the most, and it seems you've come to realize that. Keep it up and enjoy what you've got going! It sounds great