Update: June 10, 2021

Bugout Buggy

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The fiasco I have been going thru since the last week of February has set my van life plans on hold for the foreseeable future. I do not have the equipment needed to live in the van even halfway comfortably in the summer heat. So, as of today I plan to stay in Oklahoma and be a weekend van-life warrior. I now have a home available to me, but I do not know how long that will be. So, I will stay here, do some fishing, make a few weekend type photo trips, and try to save money for another attempt at moving. But, this time, I will not go unless the friend that I do have in Las Vegas has an opening for me in his house, or the apartment complex that I am trying to move into Boulder City, NV. calls to say they have an apartment available for me.

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Living the Life,-UGH.

Jackery 240

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So far, as expected, it is not what it is supposed to be. It is not fun. After a solid week of living in my van I am still on a learning curve. Tomorrow I will go back to my storage to get rid of more dead weight and make changes with what I carry and how I pack it. 

Since the last week of February, I have been in and out of van life. At this point, I still do not know if my body will let me do this. That is why I am using my van life break-in period to explore other avenues including getting an apartment or buying an RV. I will have to make some decisions soon.

 

My biggest hang-up so far is my physical health. I have suffered immensely from the physical work that I have had to do over the past two months. I will say that the soreness is subsiding and my shoulder seems to be healing. So, I do hope that I will soon start clicking the camera shutter, editing, posting, and playing music again soon. 

The Van-Life Begins

Home Sweet Home

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Just a short note to declare that this is the beginning of my adventure into a van-life. In the past week or so I have actually slept in my van 3 times while I was equipping the van and getting things done for personal stuff.

I have stopped to visit a few parks that I do plan to return to and photograph in the near future. Although I took a few photos at each place it may be a while before they are edited and posted.

Still, I will mostly be around Oklahoma City for a few days. On Monday I plan to visit a senior apartment complex to get on their list for an apartment just in case I need one in the future. Also, I have a few things to do of a personal nature in western Oklahoma, and I hope to make my first photo outing soon.

So, this is the true beginning of my adventure. Wish me luck.

Not The Right Time But Not Giving Up

I have just returned from a 4 week trip to Las Vegas. The trip was to find a place to live until my apartment in Boulder City, (just southeast and out of the Las Vegas Valley) Nevada became available. Not only was the trip a bust but I am sick, sore, and tired from the trip. I have been back in Oklahoma for 4 days, slept in a real bed once, and about to try out a new mattress I put in my van yesterday.

I have not and will not give up on having a van-life but tomorrow I will see my former landlady to see if I can return to the complex where I last lived. If she lets me in now I will take it. If she puts me on a waiting list I will live in my van and travel and photograph Oklahoma to get an idea of whether I can do the van-life.

While my van is purposely currently rigged with portable camping equipment throughout. This is for a reason. Since buying the van I have needed a camper van, a passenger van, and a utility van. But, today I took a look at what is there and how it sits in my van, and I now know what I want to build to put in my van and follow one simple theme I have in mind: Keep it simple, keep it fun, and get it done.

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DESTINATION LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

Las Vegas is that way.

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No, it is not the casinos, although I occasionally dine in them. No, it is not the cities. I can’t stand the traffic or to be in the same valley as 3 million other people. But, take a drive outside of the Las Vegas Valley, pick a spot to park, get out of your car, and take a deep breath.

Take a look at the landscape. I am always surprised when people say they see nothing but barren mountains. I see life. I see adventure. I see nature at its finest. I see and talk to God.

On the road to Mt. Charleston

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When I am truthful with myself, I know that Las Vegas is simply my main camp, a starting point. And, I realize that what is really calling to me is the open road, all of the mountain ranges that are west of Interstate 35, and all of the adventures that are waiting for me.

Pahrump road trip.

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