tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4851199461598037680.post6385101135169916144..comments2021-05-03T21:18:31.077-07:00Comments on My Teardroppin' Life: Catch-Up Post #2: My Belated Birthday TripJordan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09480452045428356942noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4851199461598037680.post-57497626218216682602017-05-22T12:16:50.012-07:002017-05-22T12:16:50.012-07:00Hi Elaine!
Thank you. It was a shock to lose him ...Hi Elaine!<br />Thank you. It was a shock to lose him so suddenly, but we are all so grateful he didn't suffer and was spared the worst of the Alzheimer's. I figured you and Ming and Charley had seen many of these spots! SO amazing aren't they!? I hope we can all catch up again somewhere out there soon! Jordan Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09480452045428356942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4851199461598037680.post-26697288475922084652017-05-21T15:16:12.316-07:002017-05-21T15:16:12.316-07:00Just catching up with your blog now Jordan, So sor...Just catching up with your blog now Jordan, So sorry for the loss of your Dad. Your trip sounds wonderful, I experienced a lot of these places on this winter's trip down to Az. where I met you and Zelda. Elaine from BCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4851199461598037680.post-47557770918409441222017-05-10T14:01:16.328-07:002017-05-10T14:01:16.328-07:00Hi Painted Sunset!
I am glad if I can inspire oth...Hi Painted Sunset!<br /><br />I am glad if I can inspire others to choose to live their lives their way - whatever way that is. So many people don't and either have lots of regrets or are miserable. Life is too short for either. Also for being in a toxic work environment - glad to hear you recognized that, took care of you and got out. I had a similar experience myself. Getting out and choosing to live as a nomad was the best thing I did for myself. It has been challenging and down right difficult at times, but I know it is what I am supposed to be doing right now and I love attacking the challenges and the adventure of it all. It is a life in progress and I am still working on getting things the way I want and need them to be. But aren't we all. <br /><br />I understand being uncertain about regulations on where you can and can't camp. I am still trying to figure some of that out myself. But if you are out west it is much easier to find places. If you read my reply above, you will see a couple of links that will help you figure all that out and find free or very cheap campsites. The more you drive, the more you will spend - in gas and other expenses for things you might see along the way. This past winter I am pretty sure I was under budget (FINALLY!) for most of the time I was out west. The budget I've set for myself is $500 per month - preferably less until I can get my income streams up and working. I still have to input my expenses into my spreadsheet to see if I did succeed there. The nice thing about this lifestyle is you can control most of your expenses. It's not always easy, but doable. People are living on $400 to well over $2000 - just depends on what they have. I find that if I keep things simple then I can save a lot more. My teardrop doesn't have fancy anything, so I can fix a lot of things on it myself. When you get into larger trailers and RV's then there are all the different systems and gadgets and appliances that can break or have something go wrong that many people can't fix themselves. Then you can have some big expenses to have it fixed. I personally like to avoid those things. <br /><br />If you are starting out, it is best to have an emergency fund. Then to determine what your monthly budget will need to be, look at what expenses you will have that are fixed (insurance, cell phone / internet, other bills) and then think about what you will need for your day to day living and try to estimate what that may cost - and up it by a quarter at least. After you've been out and living the life, you will start to get a feel for what you do and don't need and where you can cut expenses, but it's hard to guess at first. Also, don't go buying a bunch of things you THINK you will need - chances are you will find you don't need them, and will find that you will need other things you hadn't thought about. Start out with the basics and add to that as you learn what will and won't work. Check out CheapRVLiving for tons of info and if you can get to the RTR next January in Quartzsite (see above reply), you will get great ideas and lots of input from everyone there. It is a treasure-trove of knowledgable and helpful people.<br /><br />I'm also happy to help in any way I can. <br /><br />Good luck to you and best wishes! Being a nomad is full of amazing experiences.<br /><br />JordanJordan Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09480452045428356942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4851199461598037680.post-32942166880205347352017-05-10T12:53:56.448-07:002017-05-10T12:53:56.448-07:00Hi! Glad to have you along. I'm excited to h...Hi! Glad to have you along. I'm excited to hear you may be purchasing a teardrop. They are awesome but can be a challenge to live in full-time some days - especially during bad weather. Yes, during bad weather you can go hang out somewhere else, but for me, I don't always want to have to hang out somewhere else, I want to be home working on things. Also, if I go into town, I am using more gas and am also more tempted to spend money (if I hang out at a restaurant) - which my budget can't always handle. I usually go to libraries, but not all small towns have them.<br /><br />As far as parking. Having a teardrop is so much easier to park and deal with than a big trailer or RV. There shouldn't be any problem if you are shopping somewhere, or stopping to sightsee, as long as there is room to park. The plus of having a trailer and a tow vehicle is you can leave the trailer where you are camping and just drive around in the tow vehicle. When it comes to overnight parking, that can be different. Not all rest areas allow overnight parking. Some Walmarts do and some don't. Many of the truck stops do allow it, but it is a noisy and smelly option since truckers leave their rigs running all night. Some casinos also allow free overnight camping. There is a great website you need to check out: https://freecampsites.net This is my go-to site for finding free or cheap camping spots. There are other websites you can also use, but this is my personal favorite. As far as moving around to avoid problems, it would depend on where you are camping. Most public lands have a 14 day limit. If you are trying to camp in more urban areas, then you probably would have to be more careful about how long you stay - though stealth camping doesn't work very well with a trailer - even a teardrop. ;0) This past winter from January till now, I haven't paid to camp anywhere. I have camped on public lands and at free campsites, rest areas and Walmarts. My budget doesn't allow me to pay to camp much. My trip along the Oregon Coast was an exception- and I knew that I would be paying to camp at the State Parks on the ocean, so I planned for it. It will get expensive to stay at pay campgrounds, but if you stay in the western half of the U.S., you wouldn't have to worry about that so much since there is a lot of public land to camp on. I understand your fear of camping alone as a solo woman, but many of us do it and have been doing it. I will say that I feel safer camping out in the "boonies" than I do living in civilization. I would highly recommend that you come to the RTR next January in Quartzsite, AZ. You will meet lots of solo women full-timers and just a lot of wonderful and helpful people to talk to and learn from. There are seminars on how to do everything you would need to know about as a full-timer. You can also check out Bob's website and Youtube channel now for tons of information: http://www.cheaprvliving.com<br /><br />I hope I will meet you sometime out there on the road! There is a large community of wonderful people out there full-timing that are happy to help and I'm here too if you have more questions or need any help.<br /><br />Best wishes to you as you begin this amazing new chapter in your life. I think it is a wonderful way to live, but that's me. <br /><br />Peace and Magic,<br />Jordan Jordan Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09480452045428356942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4851199461598037680.post-8574918261547392112017-05-10T08:52:32.981-07:002017-05-10T08:52:32.981-07:00Hi Jill,
Sorry I haven't been as good about po...Hi Jill,<br />Sorry I haven't been as good about posting. Been traveling a lot and having so many other things going on - not a good excuse I know. You have to get back to Oregon soon! I went from warm to cold to warm to hot and am now back to cold. I can't win. ;0) Jordan Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09480452045428356942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4851199461598037680.post-44089193111809422812017-05-10T08:49:14.914-07:002017-05-10T08:49:14.914-07:00Glad to have you come along on this vacation Julie...Glad to have you come along on this vacation Julie! As someone who lives on the opposite coast, I know you can appreciate how magical the ocean is. Only wish I could take photos like you do! Your's are AMAZING! Most days I have a wonderful life - depends on how the Weather Goddess is feeling about me. ;0)Jordan Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09480452045428356942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4851199461598037680.post-83807699922451183292017-05-10T08:46:41.060-07:002017-05-10T08:46:41.060-07:00It was!! Can't wait to do it again! ;0)It was!! Can't wait to do it again! ;0)Jordan Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09480452045428356942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4851199461598037680.post-21449183102491825182017-05-10T08:46:13.544-07:002017-05-10T08:46:13.544-07:00Thanks Carolyn! I LOVE taking photos of the place...Thanks Carolyn! I LOVE taking photos of the places I go and things I see and especially sharing them with Dad. These are all with my phone which is pretty amazing!! My only complaint is I can't take good zoomed photos with it. Some day I'll get a decent camera. :0)<br /><br />Love you too!Jordan Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09480452045428356942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4851199461598037680.post-55082454503993142922017-04-30T21:57:36.730-07:002017-04-30T21:57:36.730-07:00Hello, I am really inspired by your story. I just ...Hello, I am really inspired by your story. I just left a toxic work environment and I am considering a life like this. I am a little scared of laws. Are you able to park it anywhere,like if you were driving and got sleepy, or do you have to only at a rest stop? Also are there any free campsites? What if you only have money for gas?painted sunsethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02567420175482455651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4851199461598037680.post-7256406999908657502017-04-30T21:55:07.039-07:002017-04-30T21:55:07.039-07:00Hello,I am considering purchasing a teardrop and s...Hello,I am considering purchasing a teardrop and sent in my quote, but I am too excited to wait to hear back. lol. How much is one your size? Last where are all of the places you can legally park? Like when you need groceries, do you have any problems parking it? Or like if you got tired and needed to stop and spend the night, do you always have to go to rest stops to legally sleep overnight? I am really inspired by your story and may be joining you in this kind of life soon. I just left a very toxic job environment, and this probably going to be my next home. What is the most you spend in a month if you were to stay on a campground for like a week? Are there camp grounds that are free? Any help you could give would be great. Also, do you have to keep moving to avoid problems? I guess I am a little scared of problems because I am an African American woman, and I know that sounds strange to say but I just want to be safe.painted sunsethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02567420175482455651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4851199461598037680.post-18993733937230985612017-03-10T17:22:59.936-07:002017-03-10T17:22:59.936-07:00Omg I have been wondering and thinking about you. ...Omg I have been wondering and thinking about you. So glad yo are alright. What amazing pictures. It has been over 25 years since I have been to Oregon. Still the same. Glad you are finally somewhere warm. I look forward to your next post. jdl1968https://www.blogger.com/profile/11511525275756744705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4851199461598037680.post-89150596142712481122017-03-10T06:06:53.911-07:002017-03-10T06:06:53.911-07:00I sat here drinking coffee and went on the most fa...I sat here drinking coffee and went on the most fantastic vacation! You do have a wonderful life!thanks, your cousin julieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4851199461598037680.post-9840428347597201112017-03-10T00:40:06.025-07:002017-03-10T00:40:06.025-07:00What a fabulous trip!What a fabulous trip!Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14069570527287744567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4851199461598037680.post-40853979292023596552017-03-09T23:49:08.287-07:002017-03-09T23:49:08.287-07:00How amazing this is, those photos are breathtaking...How amazing this is, those photos are breathtaking!! Love you honey!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16282209208962644595noreply@blogger.com