First of all, Merry Christmas wherever you are. Thanks for your perspective, which I enjoy (obviously since I subscribe.)
Since I'm not retired yet, my plan for retirement was to be a writer - but economic conditions during the Great Recession hastened that by about 15 years. So in a sense I'm really not going to retire, but I will someday stop going to a job every weekday - after eight years, I finally got the job I was laid off from back after a series of detours that included scrambling for the aforementioned writing jobs.
I have a smattering of paid subscribers here but also get a monthly stipend from another writing job, so it is a work in progress. While I do enjoy traveling to some extent, I also like sleeping in my own bed that's not a foam mattress, but to each his or her own.
Okay. Hi Michael. You can I have a regular bed mattress of your choice. It doesn't have to be a phone mattress. I just so happen to like phone mattresses. Thank you for wishing me a Merry Christmas. It's been a relaxed one. Well, you can retire. Once you retire, you can be a writer. You can be writing now, before you retire. You can start by journaling and writing short stories; that's a good idea. I find out that after retirement, a person doesn't want to just sit around and do nothing. They want to be active. Having a variety of things you enjoy doing is important, but writing seems to put it all together.
There's an AI tool out there called Flow that's speech-enabled, and it's wonderful. I just discovered it recently. It helps you speak your notes in instead of writing. It saves a lot of time, and they're extremely accurate. I'm so surprised.
You sound like you're loving life and that's good enough for me.
As long as our health and finances hold out once my wife and I get there, I'm sure we will enjoy our retirements too. It just won't be in a van, that's all - we'll keep our home base here in Delaware as long as we can.
We do have some nice state parks, though, if you wander this way.
The illegal aliens don't vote unless they have stolen someone's identity. Our immigrants have to pay taxes and work like a dog...I mean long, long hours and cannot get free health care or any of the benefits Americans receive. Immigrants contribute up to 40% to our economy. I appreciate immigrants, because they put food on American tables. They work jobs that Americans can't afford to work. Because they are willing to accept less.
I totally agree with you. The rich are in control now and trump lives above the law and people who work 2 and 3 jobs just to keep a roof over their head keeps getting poorer and poorer every day. If they are renters, it's just a matter of time, they won't be able to pay the rent, utilities and put food on the table. One needs to prepare now to find a van, camper, tent or something for a back up plan. If you follow me, I can give you some tips to help you along the way.
I love this. At 65 it's a dream to have a van. i've done most of my traveling out west an around in my Subaru.Either camping or sleeping in the Subaru, it'd be fun to have something a little bigger.😊
Graduated from motorcycle tent camping to a $1200 cargo van last winter. My property taxes and insurance just went up, making me essentially a renter. I decided to sell and summer by the river in Iowa and winter @ New Mexico hot springs. I travel with my 2 cats. Not participating in the indentured servant exploitation economy. Nice knowing I’m not alone in my calculations and trade offs. Best years.
Hi Dave,I've been thinking about getting me a cat to travel with. I have a 16 year old Tiben terrier that is jealous, so I don't know if he is too old to accept a newcomer into the family or not. But spending your winters in New Mexico is a great move and living by the river in Iowa helps you escape some of that Iowa heat. it's good to meet you here on my Substack.
There are companies that offer services such as America's Mailbox in South Dakota. They offer a permanent address, you can vote there, they will forward your mail to anywhere in the world. It was set up especially for nomads. I think there's a similar company in Texas.
My ultimate dream is to do this. I am moving from living in a RV to a home with my girlfriend but if anything happens I may just have to consider this.
Once upon a time, I thought I might live like you. I wanted to buy a small camper, travel around, visit my kids but have my own space. I did not do it and it’s just as well since at 78 I am starting to have more physical limitations. But it sounds like it is working well for you. More power to you!
I admire you, you are damn brave. Living in a van is probably a life in a kind of freedom, but still probably not optimal . And you didnt do it because you wanted to I guess, it was the only opition 😔
Not really Tony. I have other options. I chose to live in the van and travel. It’s freedom and joy to me. It’s true, you have to sacrifice certain conviences of living in a sticks and bricks, but the tradeoff is worth it to me. I feel like I’m wasting my life away sitting in an apartment feeling all crowded up with rules and regulations. I don’t mind doing without a washing machine or big refrigerator, so I can be free.
First of all, Merry Christmas wherever you are. Thanks for your perspective, which I enjoy (obviously since I subscribe.)
Since I'm not retired yet, my plan for retirement was to be a writer - but economic conditions during the Great Recession hastened that by about 15 years. So in a sense I'm really not going to retire, but I will someday stop going to a job every weekday - after eight years, I finally got the job I was laid off from back after a series of detours that included scrambling for the aforementioned writing jobs.
I have a smattering of paid subscribers here but also get a monthly stipend from another writing job, so it is a work in progress. While I do enjoy traveling to some extent, I also like sleeping in my own bed that's not a foam mattress, but to each his or her own.
Okay. Hi Michael. You can I have a regular bed mattress of your choice. It doesn't have to be a phone mattress. I just so happen to like phone mattresses. Thank you for wishing me a Merry Christmas. It's been a relaxed one. Well, you can retire. Once you retire, you can be a writer. You can be writing now, before you retire. You can start by journaling and writing short stories; that's a good idea. I find out that after retirement, a person doesn't want to just sit around and do nothing. They want to be active. Having a variety of things you enjoy doing is important, but writing seems to put it all together.
There's an AI tool out there called Flow that's speech-enabled, and it's wonderful. I just discovered it recently. It helps you speak your notes in instead of writing. It saves a lot of time, and they're extremely accurate. I'm so surprised.
You sound like you're loving life and that's good enough for me.
As long as our health and finances hold out once my wife and I get there, I'm sure we will enjoy our retirements too. It just won't be in a van, that's all - we'll keep our home base here in Delaware as long as we can.
We do have some nice state parks, though, if you wander this way.
You are truly blessed Wendy!
The illegal aliens don't vote unless they have stolen someone's identity. Our immigrants have to pay taxes and work like a dog...I mean long, long hours and cannot get free health care or any of the benefits Americans receive. Immigrants contribute up to 40% to our economy. I appreciate immigrants, because they put food on American tables. They work jobs that Americans can't afford to work. Because they are willing to accept less.
I totally agree with you. The rich are in control now and trump lives above the law and people who work 2 and 3 jobs just to keep a roof over their head keeps getting poorer and poorer every day. If they are renters, it's just a matter of time, they won't be able to pay the rent, utilities and put food on the table. One needs to prepare now to find a van, camper, tent or something for a back up plan. If you follow me, I can give you some tips to help you along the way.
I love this. At 65 it's a dream to have a van. i've done most of my traveling out west an around in my Subaru.Either camping or sleeping in the Subaru, it'd be fun to have something a little bigger.😊
Graduated from motorcycle tent camping to a $1200 cargo van last winter. My property taxes and insurance just went up, making me essentially a renter. I decided to sell and summer by the river in Iowa and winter @ New Mexico hot springs. I travel with my 2 cats. Not participating in the indentured servant exploitation economy. Nice knowing I’m not alone in my calculations and trade offs. Best years.
Hi Dave,I've been thinking about getting me a cat to travel with. I have a 16 year old Tiben terrier that is jealous, so I don't know if he is too old to accept a newcomer into the family or not. But spending your winters in New Mexico is a great move and living by the river in Iowa helps you escape some of that Iowa heat. it's good to meet you here on my Substack.
What do you do for a mailing address, because doesn’t the Postal service require a physical address to get a box?
There are companies that offer services such as America's Mailbox in South Dakota. They offer a permanent address, you can vote there, they will forward your mail to anywhere in the world. It was set up especially for nomads. I think there's a similar company in Texas.
My ultimate dream is to do this. I am moving from living in a RV to a home with my girlfriend but if anything happens I may just have to consider this.
Your concerns are valid because everything is expensive.
You are my hero. How often do you have to move parking locations?
If I camp on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) I have to move every 14 days. But if I park with paid services, I may stay there a month.
Once upon a time, I thought I might live like you. I wanted to buy a small camper, travel around, visit my kids but have my own space. I did not do it and it’s just as well since at 78 I am starting to have more physical limitations. But it sounds like it is working well for you. More power to you!
Envious at 77!
Have you seen Nomadland? Frances McDormand is amazing, as always
I envy your courage and education in van life. You’re an amazing woman.
I admire you, you are damn brave. Living in a van is probably a life in a kind of freedom, but still probably not optimal . And you didnt do it because you wanted to I guess, it was the only opition 😔
Not really Tony. I have other options. I chose to live in the van and travel. It’s freedom and joy to me. It’s true, you have to sacrifice certain conviences of living in a sticks and bricks, but the tradeoff is worth it to me. I feel like I’m wasting my life away sitting in an apartment feeling all crowded up with rules and regulations. I don’t mind doing without a washing machine or big refrigerator, so I can be free.
That sounds fantastic, that freedom is underrated 🙂👍🏼