Quality of Life

A view from a country folk oriented casino, South Point Casino.

*****

Today, I will have my last meeting with someone in the Las Vegas Valley as I try to find a place to live until an apartment becomes available for me in Boulder City, NV. If it works for me I can try to stay and live here. If it does not work out I will probably start a boon-docking trip back to the sanctity and security of conservative Oklahoma.

At this point I have to ask myself where I  will have the best quality of life. Here are my choices: 

1.) An apartment in Boulder City, NV.

2.) An apartment in Weatherford, Ok. 

3.) Living in my van. 

1.) Hands down, IF I CAN AFFORD IT, I would like #1 the best for VA Health Care, weather, things to do, opportunities to travel where I want to travel.

2.) Second choice is Weatherford, Ok. Weatherford is one of the fastest growing towns in America. It is still small, conservative, and safe. Drawback: I have not had health care to my liking through the Oklahoma VA. I do not like Oklahoma winters. 

3.) If I could afford a bigger van or small RV and afford to travel this would be my #1 Choice. But. my van is too small to carry a bed, have any kind of kitchen, a toilet and shower, my clothes, my camera equipment, music equipment, and computer equipment. And it is old enough so that breakdowns are inevitable. But, I am living in my van and it is challenging but still fun.

*****

Rock Bottom Or Heaven’s Gate

 Well, because I am a little picky about where I live,  it looks like I have made it to living a van life. There has been no movement toward me getting an apartment in Weatherford, OK. I am still #3 in Weatherford. It is the same where I have been waiting for coming up to five years for an apartment in Boulder City, NV. I am still debating ever living in Southern Nevada again. I was packed and ready to head that way this morning but Common Sense kicked my butt. So, I done some Craigslist research. It looks like California has moved to Nevada. Prices are way out of my league. 

I started this blog sitting in the laundromat in Weatherford. My laundry is done. I have been looking at going to OKC tonight, but ,,,,,,,,,,,. I’m thinking I need to go somewhere to see something I have never seen. Southeast of Amarillo there is a canyon I have never seen. Further south is the Big Bend Country of Texas. But, northwest is Santa Fe. I have been thru there a couple of time in a truck, but never stopped to see the town. But, here I now sit at the Ole’ Fishin’ Hole in Weatherford, OK. I am just relaxing and enjoying a beer. 

I bought my van in April of 2019 for two reasons: 1) A hedge against a socialist government. 2) I was a bit more than curious about living a van life. Now, I get to prove to myself that I can lead this life that is most definitely not for everyone. If I fail, I fail.

 I am happy for the chance. 

Busting Tail All Day

This day has been so long I’m having a hard time remembering what all I have done. I guess I am just tired. At 08:30 this morning I retrieved my van from the body shop. I now have a “new-to-me” drivers side rear door. The rear passenger door latch was repaired, but it is not perfect. I believe I will have to work on it soon. The trim that was damaged when I was rear-ended on June 16 was removed. My van ain’t pretty now, but it works. I will have more work done soon. I am re-thinking a paint job to a new color (black) as I was told it would cost about $5000. The van is now blue with a white rear door. To paint that rear door blue will cost $400. I like the blue. 

Once I had my van I spent most of the day working in the hot sun at my storage unit. I am getting my van ready for some boon-docking. I had to make 3 trips between my storage and my sister’s house to get out of the sun. And, I still have lots of work to do. So, I am typing this on my phone as I am stretched out on my bed and about to call it quits for the day. GN. 

*****

Going Nomad

Four failed trips to try to move to southern Nevada sine February of 2021. That is four trips in just less than 18 months. I have been trying to return to Nevada for the following reasons: 1) to continue my photography work. 2) I get better health care through the VA in Nevada. 3) I like living in the desert. For now my plans for a life in the desert are temporarily on hold.

Tomorrow my van goes into the shop to take care of some of the repairs caused when I was rear-ended on June 16, 2022. On Tuesday I go to see my primary care doctor at the Clinton, Ok. VA Clinic. By Wednesday morning I plan to be living in my van. Yep, I plan to go nomad very soon.

Meal Time

I went to the VA HOSPITAL this morning to make sure my records have been shipped here, an to refill my prescriptions.

   

For my first food, other than Cheeto’s, in 3 days I had a slice of Pizza at Boulder Station Casino. Yeah, I finally made it back to Nevada, but I turned down the offer for a place to live. My legs do not handle stairs very well.

Tomorrow I will fix the electrical connections on my van so that I can pull a trailer. On Sunday I will drive to Bullhead City, AZ. to get my hugs that I have had stored down there for almost a year. 

Monday I start hunting a place to live, or maybe I will just begin a van life.