The Freedom of Van Living

By Penny Espinoza

Last year was a pivotal time in my life. It was the year I finally set myself free: free of clutter, free of worry, free of the four walls that had contained and trapped me, and free of conforming to the life everyone thinks I should live.

I was tired, and we were restless, my husband had lost his job, and…initially we had thought “Oh no! What are we gonna do?! How will we pay for all of our ‘stuff’?!” We worried and stressed.

In the end, we decided not to pay for any of the stuff we'd been working endlessly to house. Instead, we sold it all and decided not to sign another lease with our landlord. The timing was right, since the house had been inherited by another owner. We’d grown fond of our landlords, though one had passed; spinning our future down an uncertain path. It was time to move on.

For months before my husband’s lay-off, I had felt compelled to start selling on eBay. Just about everything I hadn't used or worn in awhile went up for auction. The more I sold, the more I wanted to sell! And so I sold to my heart's content: anything and everything.

By the time we were jobless, I knew I wanted to sell it all. More importantly, I knew I wanted to travel and see God’s beautiful creations; see different places, meet new people, smell a new scent in the air.

I had been trying for nearly four years to track down the owner of an abandoned Classic Volkswagen Westfalia Camper Van that was parked in someone’s backyard, just down the street from my Mother-in-law's.

At last, there was a For Rent sign posted in the yard where the van was parked behind the house. I called the number, and spoke with an English gentleman; he turned out to be the owner of the van. I told him I wasn't calling about the house, I just wanted to buy the van in the backyard. He laughed, but quickly named his price.

Somehow, my reality was coming to me. I wanted to travel cross-country in that very van. After some doing and much selling, we gladly sacrificed two ‘younger’ Germans (a 740 i L and 325 i C), for the sweet pleasure of acquiring one ‘older’…much less inhibited German.

It was like my freedom had been delivered right to my door the day our classic Westy came home via a flat- bed wrecker. Even though our van would start and run, we didn't want to take any chances on damaging her further; not knowing what had been left to go bad.

It was like the best Christmas ever, ten times over. I was beyond excited to know she was actually ours. I had fallen in love with our van. To me, she was our ticket out of the rat-race. My mind was alive with dreams and my heart with hope. I felt like a kid once again.

The first day we had her (though it was no easy task) we washed and scrubbed her, sweeping out the cobwebs, giving our classic Westfalia a new look. From that day on, we called her Peniki (a nickname our family had given us—a mixing of mine and my husband’s name).

To us, she was part of the family that had consisted of me, my husband, my two adult kids, our little girl, and Blanca…our K-9 kid. I knew Peniki was our way to living ‘off the grid’, as a family.

Of course, we were met with doubt and criticism from our family and friends. Fortunately, we didn't care what they thought about our grand plan. They hadn't been the prisoners of our bills and a lack of steady income. We stepped out in faith with the Lord.

Somehow, I just knew it was what we must do, against all odds and acceptance. It was exciting to think of living our lives out there…in our van, waking up to see a different sunrise, somewhere down the road, self-sufficient and not so reliant on shore power. Never could one feel so free.

I come from the philosophy that nothing worth having in life is ever easy. I can look back over the last year and realize…this life we chose has certainly not been easy.

Was it worth it?
I can undoubtedly say “Yes! It was so worth seeing the sunset in the Florida Keys, the Grand National Forests, waking-up to a lovely sunrise over the ocean or tucked into the Grandfather pines of our nation’s protected land.

Yes! It was completely worth sifting my toes into new sand; the likes of which I’d never-before known, and seeing the smiling face of our little girl…waddling in her toddler way…down to the beach, or nodding-off in a hammock with her Daddy…by the water’s edge.” I wouldn't change it for any size ‘house of four walls’, or a line of the most luxurious automobiles; not for all the tea in China!

What we lived…what we experienced was worth more than money can buy. It was priceless! As I believe, the best things in life are free. God’s land is there for the viewing and enjoying… the caring for and coveting. We choose one or the other; conforming…or not. I’ll choose ‘not’ any day. It is a ‘free’ country, so they say. Shouldn't life be the same?

My answer goes without saying. God Bless…and “I’ll see you down the road.”

Food Items We Carry on Van:
Dairy:
Powdered Milk Mix for Baby, Butter in Tub or Sticks (if Ice Box is chilled), Eggs, Cheese (small pkg if Ice Box is chilled). Misc Items: mayo (small jar), Bread, Hot Dogs (if Ice Box is chilled), Ranch in non-refrigerated single-serve cups, mustard, ketchup (in packets or small container), honey.

Necessities: Water (Gallon Drinking Water, 7 Gallons in Van Sink Holding Tank), Ice in Ice Box (16 lbs lasts about 2 days…at best)

Dry Goods:
Peanut Butter & Saltine Crackers, Trail Mix, Ramen Noodles or Cup o’ Noodle, Rice, Instant Pancake Mix (just add water), small container syrup, Instant Oatmeal, Instant Mash Potatoes, Cooking Oil, Olive Oil, Flour & Sugar (small supply of each), Dry Pasta, Dry Legumes (beans), Jar Sauces (small supply), can tomato sauce, coffee…coffee…coffee (and decaf too), tea (loose or bags), various spices such as curry powder, garlic powder, sea salt/pepper, Italian seasoning, chili powder, all-purpose seasoning.

Fruit & Veggies:
Dry Potatoes, Bag of Apples, Onions (1 or 2), dry Carrots, Avocado, Canned Veggies (we limit b/c of weight), a few Pears, 1 or 2 Tomatoes (if Ice Box is chilled), Grapes, frozen peas & carrots (if Ice box is chilled).

Canned Meat, Poultry, Fish: small can chili, Vienna Sausages, Spam, potted meat, sardines, smoked oysters, smoked scallops, tuna fish, chicken in can, etc.

Other Necessities:
Kitchen:
Camp stove, Extra cans of propane, Paper Towels, Foil or plastic wrap, 2-3 small cooking pans, Bowls, Plates, Flatware, Kitchen tool caddy, 2 Thermoses, Small Igloo Water Cooler w/ Spigot (for extra ice and cold water), Small collapsible cooler, Various glues/hooks/clips, Portable 110 cooler/warmer, Trash bags, Reusable shopping bags, Several small lighters and 1 or 2 big ones,

Bathroom:
Solar shower, Coleman port-a-potti, Shower/Potty tent, Toilet paper, Bath/shower supplies, Wet wipes, Tooth brush/tooth paste, 4 to 5 towels, Washcloths, Extra blankets/pillowcases/sheets, Female stuff, Sunscreens & bug sprays or wipes, After sun aloe gel, Lotions (because I like to have soft skin),

Clothes: Clothes according to season (I ALWAYS pack too much), Spare off- season clothing, Rain parka & boots, Small collapsible back-pack,

Family: Drive away room tent, Bikes, Baby stroller/trailer, Fold-up camp chairs, Various chargers for phones/laptop/cameras, Small electric heater, A few books, Playpen for baby, Air-up floaties for baby, Life Jacket/swimsuit for baby, A few small toys for Baby, Portable high- chair for baby, Blow up ducky tub for baby, Blow up baby pool,

Electrical/Entertainment: Flash lights, Battery powered lantern, Extra batteries, Small solar panel (working on an upgrade), Two extra on-board batteries (1 deep cycle charged while driving & 1 regular battery for solar charging), 400 Watt power inverter, smaller power inverter for charging directly while driving, Three socket 110 connector on deep cycle battery, 110 clip-on fan, Small light for night viewing of maps or compass, Slim line CD player/clock radio, CD/DVD’s in pocket-book holder, Portable AC/DC DVD Player,

Tools/Van: Various tools, Extra parts & fuel line for van, Spare tire (of course), Various road maps, Compass, Emergency tin (matches, candles, knife, mini-light, etc), First-aid kit, Lock box, Free or Cheap

Read more about Penny's lifestyle and Camp Spots for Self-sustaining Family on their blog, Travels in a VW Hippie Van : http://cheapgreenrvliving.com/Family_IN_VW_Bushttp://mswrite1968.wordpress.com/

Rv Education on Awnings For Starters

This is just one of the topics to learn about on RV Education 101's :RV Awning Use, Care and Accessories. To learn more about Rv lessons, go here: http://www.rveducation101.com/cb_refer.htm?hop=ftfamily

RV Awning Use, Care and Accessories ...Plus how to install a window awning in six easy steps.

If you have been around RV’s, you have probably heard many horror stories about RV awning mishaps.

There was the camper who decided to leave the awning out while they headed to the beach for a couple of hours. When they returned to the campsite they discovered the awning hardware and fabric was on top of the RV, due to a strong gust of wind from a storm that suddenly moved in.

There was the camper, which in this case was me, who was driving down the Interstate and the awning tried to unfurl as we were traveling. In my own self defense it was because of a defective awning lock on our new RV at the time. And there was Robin Williams in the movie “RV” who left the campground with the awning still out, in an attempt to make a hasty retreat from his pesky neighbors.

There are many other campers with many other awning horror stories to tell. My goal with this e-book is to make sure you are not one of those campers, with one of those awning stories to tell around the campfire.

The good news is the awnings on your RV can and will provide many years of reliable trouble-free operation, if we take the time to properly care for and maintain our RV awnings. Click here to purchase RV Awning Use, Care and Accessories now for only $9.95. http://www.rveducation101.com/cb_refer.htm?hop=ftfamily

RV Living: Why You Should Consider Solar Power

from: http://forexindicatorformt4.com/2011/07/rv-living-why-you-should-consider-sol...

Half a lifetime ago, when my wife and I first got a taste for remote RV living, we decided very early on that solar power had to be the way to go.

Despite rapid advances in solar technology — even way back then — many fellow travelers were surprised when they learned our RV was “solar powered”. Granted, that tiny house-on-wheels was getting on in years, and there was still a general belief among caravanners and motorhomers that solar power was “too expensive” and “too technical”.

But whatever their reasons, I’m here to tell you that solar-charged 12 volt battery power was then, and still is, worthy of serious consideration — regardless of the size or age of your traveling rig. In fact, even the most basic system — such as ours was then — provides not only a significant boost in self-sufficiency, it also saves enough money to recover your outlay in under three months. Even today.

For example, a 30-watt, self-regulating solar panel costs around 0 to 0 here in Australia. If you then factor in a no-maintenance, deep-cycle battery of at least 75 amp-hour capacity — to be installed in the RV — at maybe 0, plus suitable cabling, a salable plastic battery box (vented to the outside), and miscellaneous hardware for, say, more, your total outlay shouldn’t be much over 0.

After that, every night you make use of your on-board power, on a “no hook-ups” campsite, you stand to save between and on tourist park fees. Sometimes more. On those figures, the whole set-up pays for itself in maybe 30 nights or less!

True, sufficient power would normally be available from your towing vehicle’s standard battery over one or two nights, but if the vehicle doesn’t move for two or three days the engine will almost certainly need a run for an hour or more to “top up” the charge taken out of the battery. And with single-battery set-ups, there is always a risk of over-using your power, resulting in a flat battery!

On the other hand, if you prefer the overnight security and companionship of a tourist park, an unpowered site — those nice, quiet spots down the back — saves maybe – per night. Which means you could still have your investment back in the bank within six months.

No matter how you look at it, solar was — and is — the way of the future. It’s clean, efficient, silent, and requires almost zero maintenance. And once the initial outlay has been covered, basic power needs from that point on are free.

However, there is a downside. (Isn’t there always?) A fixed solar array — on the RV roof, for instance — needs to be receiving the sun’s rays long and strong to adequately replenish the battery’s charge.

Parked too long in the shade, or suffering through a lengthy stretch of rain-filled skies, can knock out a single-battery power supply in two or three days, even with judicious use. For that reason, some travelers have an additional, portable solar panel that can be constantly repositioned to catch the sun’s most direct rays, for as long as possible.

Nevertheless, in the four years we owned that well-traveled little van we had very few problems. (Mind you, we have always carried “conventional” backup in the form of a small petrol generator, and our vehicle has always been dual-battery equipped to share the campsite power needs.) And about that tricky technology?

Well, if a techno-slouch like me can have the whole system installed and operational in under two hours, anybody can! What we did was: (1) mount the solar panel directly onto the RV roof (with sealant carefully applied in and around the screw holes), then (2) run the panel’s cabling down into the van (through the corner of the all-seasons hatch) into a cupboard.

Being a self-regulating solar panel, a regulator was not necessary between panel and battery, so the cables were fixed directly onto the battery. The battery was housed in a robust plastic storage bin with a close-fitting lid, which I further sealed with silicone. Two lengths of 6 mm plastic hose vented the box to the outside through the caravan floor (inside the cupboard).

Battery terminals were fitted with heavy-duty extension straps that passed through the side of the box to the outside to facilitate normal connection via alligator clips, a portable 12 volt socket, or sometimes a low capacity inverter. All holes in the floor and the battery box were fully sealed (both sides) with silicone sealant.

As for maintenance, all that’s required is an occasional wipe-down of the solar panel, and a general examination of wiring and seals from time to time. I also put a multimeter across the battery terminals every so often to see how it was tracking. (Of course, this reading is only accurate after the battery has “rested” for a half hour or so, i.e, no charge in or out.)

OK, we’ve learned a bit more about solar power since then, so we did some things differently second time around. But these differences were, essentially, because our fulltime travel now needs more than twice the power, with quite a lot more in reserve.

So gizmos and gadgets are scattered throughout. But when we think back on that tiny, “drag-it-anywhere” caravan, with its most basic, D.I.Y. solar power set-up, we still get to feeling warm and fuzzy. (Self-sufficiency in the bush will do that!)

For our money, solar power and RVs are made for each other; it’s impossible to imagine a wandering life without either.

Bill Revill is an Australian freelance writer, fulltime RV traveler, and remote lifestyle expert. For further information go to: http://www.livingontheroad.com http://www.authorsden.com/billrevill Copyright 2007 by W.V. Revill.

Full Time Rving Family

I found this very interesting blog that is fun to read and inspiring for any family dreaming of living on the road even if only for a year like the Sorenti-Burns family.

Here is an excerpt from the blog. Go here to get the full story: from: http://fulltimervfamily.com/welcome-to-the-full-time-rv-family-blog.php#more-1

Nope, we are not “professional RV people”…we’re not even experienced RV people.

In fact, we have barely ever camped, RVed or done anything remotely related to “roughing it” in the outdoors. The only other time we ever vacationed in an RV was a three day RV rental that cost us a small fortune to Acadia National Park in Maine over three years ago.

We were so bad at it we vowed we’d never do it again. Never being ones to shy away from completely intimidating tasks that could easily over match us, and despite that first major setback, we decided to give it another go…but this time do it 100% – doing it full time.

Why Full Time RVing?
Most people thought we wouldn’t actually go. We have a nice home in a nice neighborhood with good friends and family nearby. We have good jobs and our kids are doing pretty well in school and life overall is good. We consider ourselves to be very fortunate.

So why throw all that aside and go in an RV full time for a year? The main reason is that we love to travel. We’ve traveled and vacationed in the continental United States and Canada many times before but always felt we never had enough time to really enjoy all the sites, as well as see all the places we’ve always wanted to go to.

So we decided that to get a real taste of what our country is really all about, we had to do it by RV. In fact, this passion to see the U.S is so strong that in spite of our lack of experience and knowledge of RVing full time, we would buy an RV site unseen on the Internet, buy a big honkin’ truck to pull it (twice in fact, but more on that later), take the kids out of school for a year and home school them, totally take our own businesses mobile and travel the country for a year living in an RV full time.