Been in YARC camp about a week now. Met everyone here and so far everyone has been genuine and nice.

There have been bouts of ain’t rightness which make YARC camp palatable. Also there have been activities almost  every evening. I have been doing a good job of keeping the lid on my Pandora’s box of craziness (I don’t want to be excommunicated from this fine placid group) I am here for a few more days but plan on returning sometime this winter. 

Take care, Ted

Hi, Lily and I got here with our rolling menagerie last week of Sept and spent some pretty hot days to start. We’re in the 30’ Leprechaun on the west side of the wash. We moved off because our bark and bites yap too much whenever someone walks on by.

IS THERE A WAY I CAN POST PART OF A PM THAT I'VE WRITTEN OVER ON MY "I'M MOVING SLOWLY THREAD"?

TJB

IT LOOKS LIKE I AM GOING TO BECOME A UNPREPARED VAN DWELLER WITHIN THE NEXT 4 TO 6 WEEKS,

SINCE I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TYPE OF ROADS I MAY DRIVE ON I'M THINKING ABOUT PUTTING SOME OPEN COUNTRY AT ll's ON THE REAR OF THE SAFARI SINCE IT'S A REAR WHEEL DRIVE.

WHEN I HAD THE CURRENT DESTINATION ll's  <<<<< {I THINK THEY ARE II's} PUT ON I WENT UP TO 225/ R15s.  I WAS TOLD THAT WAS THE BIGGEST I COULD USE WITHOUT CHANGING RIM SIZE AND/OR CUTTING OUT SOME SHEET METAL SO THE TIRES WOULDN'T RUB.

IN THE "OLDEN DAYS" I OFTEN RAN DIFFERENT TIRES AND SOMETIMES DIFFERENT SIZES TOO.  MY '57 FORD FAIRLANE HAD SHACKLES ON THE REAR AND SOME KIND OF METAL DOO DADS THAT SCREWED INTO THE COIL SPRINGS?  MY DEARLY DEPARTED HUBBY DID THAT.  
I JUST THOUGHT IT LOOKED KOOL

WE RAN WIDER TIRES WITH A MORE AGGRESSIVE TREAD ON THE BACK OF MY '78 CHEVY CARGO VAN.  THIS WAS BECAUSE EVERYTIME HE DROVE IT ON THE BEACH HE EITHER ACTED LIKE HE WAS ON A SLIP-N- SLIDE  OR HE'D GET THE DAMN THING STUCK.  ONE NIGHT I HAD TO SLEEP WITH MY FEET AGAINST THE REAR DOORS/WALLS TO KEEP FROM ENDING UP LOOKING LIKE A PRETZLE CUZ WE WERE STUCK AT SUCH A INCLINE.  LUCKILY A DUDE IN A JEEP PULLED US OUT BEFORE THE INCOMING TIDE DID

THE ALINER WILL GET SOME ATTENTION LATER THIS MONTH AND HOPEFULLY I'LL BE ABLE TO RAISE AND LOWER IT.  THEN IT AND THE SAFARI GET ALL WIRED TO TOW     WHOOPEE!! IT'S A GOOD THING TOO.  TODAY THE CHEAPEST RENTAL I FOUND WAS A MOBILE HOME FOR $350mo DOWN IN CHIPLY FL AND IT NEEDS WORK.

I WELCOME ANY INPUT ON THE TIRES.  I HAD MY RANGER 4X4 FOR 13ys.  EVERYTIME I BOUGHT TIRES IT SEEMED LIKE A BATTLE.  SINCE IT WAS RATED FOR PASSENGER TIRES. I WAS CONSTANTLY SAYING " NO I WANT TRUCK TIRES OR HD TIRES CUZ IT'S LIFTED AND I TOW TRAILERS WITH IT"  SHEESH!!   

NOW I NEED TO PICK AND CHOOSE MY BATTLES CUZ I'M JUST TIRED.  I'M OK THOUGH.

JEWELLANN

hi, new to forum here, but staying at YARC camp since Sept 27th. I previously stayed at camp last March for two weeks while Jimindenver installed our solar. I live in an RV fulltime with spouse, 2 little dogs and a very zen kitty. We are here in Quartzsite waiting for the rest of gang to arrive. Come on back, its hot here but so serene and peaceful.

So I'm a few years away from retirement and some months ago I stumbled on the idea of a "Mobile Metal Tent" and found this great site.

I work as a librarian in a public library in SE Florida, but I am also a hobby musician playing several fretted instruments. I hope to set up a simple commercial van rig to do short term trips for music festivals and camps, fishing, etc. Maybe the wife will come along but probably not. She needs more "civilization" than I do so trips with her will be glamping at least.

In a past life I worked in IT and have used computers since the dawn of the PC age so I am quite at home on internet forums and I can tell this one has a great vibe.

So "Hello All" and thanks in advance for all the esoteric knowledge I will be gaining!

Bob

This will sound sad. I came from a family of pretty gulliable people. My parents were defrauded of the all the money, and two houses. After 20 years they are sill trying to get it back. I had an insular life, not prepared for people. I kept getting used in every aspect. I give money, driving, time, labour, friendship, work, DIY, chores, everything. Yet no one will lift a finger in return.
I do not like people doing anything for me anyway. I do not like feeling like i have to owe someone. I help others, but if i need help back its never done. I think society is set up like this. The problem is highlighted when person after person do not do anything.
I tried to describe how it feels. Its like pushing a grand piano up a mountain, the moment you let go its straight back to the bottom.
Empathy is very rare now. Look at world leaders and the wars, this would not be possible if there was empathy. I think the system is designed on greed. We get lured into wanting more and more things. People work hard. People are desperate to pay their rent, we are not allowed to live freely “off the grid”, so we all must work to pay the bills. There is no room left for empathy. Even in the bible its was said over and over that greed and money lenders are the root of the problem.
When no one else helps anymore, then you have to take care of yourself.
Since i lived in my van full time, 90% of my income i now save. This NEVER happened before. all my money i gave away every month in a fit of excitment.
Now i have all the time in the world, can work online, travel the world and save most of it. It is the best thing to happen in my life

So this is where all the cool kids hang out?  Glad I found ya.  I posted a lengthy intro on the other site.  Since many of you are there too, I will spare you.  Basic info: Two-lady, two-dog household.  One is a CPA, the other a forester...talking about us ladies not the dogs.  We have a '88 Sun-Lite Eagle truck camper sitting pretty on a Ford F250.  We go camping as often as possible and dream about hitting the road, at least part time, when we semi retire in four years.  Hopefully, we will get a chance to meet some of you in person someday.

there is a section hidden from view for females only,any not in that want in post here

I think it is quite a brave lifestyle to be a van-dweller.

Being self dependent is achievable, but there is a certain inner confidence, to have purpose.

In the beginning it is simply just "not being afraid", then there is the voices in the head saying "am i doing something wrong?"

For want for a better example, we as a human race are conditioned to renting (or buying) the brick house that separates us from the outside world.

There is a safety in locking the doors and windows and knowing that one is doing the "right thing", which is the accepted mainstream.

Pay the way and you are allowed to be. 

Suddenly Van-dwelling disrupts that whole equilibrium.

It takes a great inner achievement to be totally sure "sticking it to the man", when everyone is "paying the man".

I just feel that very powerful organisations do not want even 1% of the people to escape this paradigm.