Project Airstream!

[Tubbs]

Project Airstream!

Just over a year ago, the Wifey ran off with someone else, and the last year has been less than pleasant, however, we are getting there… No sympathy, please, as, this change in my life has given me the opportunity to return to my Bohemian Days of old, and, part of this involves ‘Project Airstream!’

The ‘dream’ is to be in a position in a year from now where I will be able to purchase a Tradewind and then spend another year getting it just as I want it. The end result being to arrive at a place where I can fit ‘most’ of my life inside such a trailer and then live full time in such. I say ‘most’ of my life, as I paint, and would eventually look at living somewhere where I could erect a wooden studio for such activities. I write as well, so, the plan for the Trailer would be providing a simple area to live in, write and cook. As I have a Son, I would need a bedroom area, which he recognises as his own space, so would look at this going one end of the Trailer, with me having a ‘put-down’ bed at the other.

Wifey, in her generosity, left me with some debts, but these are getting sorted. Fortunately, I get to work quite a bit of overtime with work, so this helps. Other means of raising money will include the sale of artwork and, as I wish to downsize my life, good old e-bay! It feels very liberating getting ‘rid’ of all that ‘junk’ one has gathered over 36 years of Life! Also, cut back on that spending I don’t actually need to do, and watch the bank balance grow. Having a clear target to aim for gives one the kick in the butt that we all need at times…

So, here I am, armed with my faithful Moleskine Notebook, a crude drawing of an Airstream on the front of it, in to which goes all my ideas, etc… Also exploring recipes for Airstream living – I enjoy eating! So any recipes for simple, good meals, please feel free to share them with me… And, hopefully, a year from now, I will be able to show you pictures of my little beauty… As they say, watch this space!

Pax

Tubbs!

[moosetags]

Welcome to the Forums. We're glad to have you with us.

It sounds like you have a plan and a goal. There's lots to read here about Airstreams, and what to look for when seeking one out.

Good luck in you search, and hang in there.

[HiHoAgRV]

We have found a method of simplifying our life and it only takes a single action, twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays. We have started tossing stuff into the garbage . A single pass through 1/2 of the garage resulted in a pile that was soooo big it took 3 garbage days to get it all tossed out.

Another mans garbage is, well, usually stuff I collect

Best of luck to you!

[dijer]

Originally Posted by Tubbs

Project Airstream!...I write as well, so, the plan for the Trailer would be providing a simple area to live in, write and cook...
Pax

Tubbs!

There must be an Airstream muse. I found that the perfect A/S parked in the perfect spot is a boon to writing. Here's hoping you create a workspace with a perfect view for you.

[Tubbs]

Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV

We have found a method of simplifying our life and it only takes a single action, twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays. We have started tossing stuff into the garbage . A single pass through 1/2 of the garage resulted in a pile that was soooo big it took 3 garbage days to get it all tossed out.

Another mans garbage is, well, usually stuff I collect

Best of luck to you!

Thanks for the good wishes!

As to simplifying your life, excellent concept and so glad to hear that it works. Due to split from Wifey and having to move, etc., I hope that I have learnt what is important and what isn't, and, it has also taught me of the amount of bits and pieces that we seem to gather around our lives for no real reason. Shortly after the split, I hired a skip and took great delight in getting rid of so much rubbish! It did me the world of good! However, I would point out that items that a charity could use went in their direction too...

At the end of the day, I recall the saying that 'if you can't live without the things you own, then they own you...' As long as I have a few good books, a place to paint and write, a decent music collection and a few choice DVD's, I would be quite content. And, what a lesson I'd be teaching my Son - One that flies in the face of the 'own, own, own society' of today...

Pax

Tubbs!

[Tubbs]

Originally Posted by dijer

There must be an Airstream muse. I found that the perfect A/S parked in the perfect spot is a boon to writing. Here's hoping you create a workspace with a perfect view for you.

If I could park my Trailer anywhere, it would be on the shores of Loch Morlich, at the foot of the Cairn Gorm mountains, in the Highlands of Scotland. That is one view that I would never tire of... Mind you though, it may be too distracting to get much work done...

[dijer]

Originally Posted by Tubbs

If I could park my Trailer anywhere, it would be on the shores of Loch Morlich, at the foot of the Cairn Gorm mountains, in the Highlands of Scotland.

Haven't been there (yet) but did travel to Kyle of Lochalsh and Eilean Donan Castle. Seems it is the stomping grounds of my ancestors. The Highlands are wild and beautiful. Images I remember are the open, rocky roadside pastures with massively wooly sheep. Then we were buzzed by 2 small, lightning fast fighter jets that seemed to come out of nowhere between the jagged mountain peaks. It was like being in a time warp, the ancient and the new. Breathtaking. But then you know that already.

On a lighter note, we almost met Nessie as we drove around Loch Ness on a road so narrow I thought for sure we were going in. As we faced a tourist bus coming at us (remember we yanks were driving on what is to us the wrong side) it was like a showdown, either him or us, there wasn't room on the road for both. We squeaked by in our wee little car but it was so close I think it rearranged my hairstyle

As far as a beautiful view being distracting, what I found while enjoying a gorgeous view long-term is that it opens you to so much more. I will stop before I start sounding too zen (too late?) Hope you get to live your Airstream Dream. Please share pictures if you do.

[Tubbs]

Well, started sorting things out that I don't actually need. The hardest task will probably be going through my library of two thousand plus books... However, I recall how Robert Service once said that he had been more content with 50 tomes than the few thousand he finally ended up with... As an ardent follower of the Poet and his philosophy, (I named my Son after him), I have every intention of putting his ideas in to practice.

Having moved back in with my Mother, following the split with the Wifey, I now have a room some 3 metres by 3.2 metres. If it can't be fitted in here, apart from certain items, such as bike, etc., it ain't coming with me to the Trailer and therefore can be turned in to cash instead.

Again, having a clear target to aim for helps greatly and makes it feel that the dream could actually one day become real... But then, I don't doubt that at all...

Pax

[craftsman]

Pax, Here is a recommendation for probably one of the best books ever written on downsizing your life and getting to what is important. Amazon.com: Your Money or Your Life: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence: Books: Joe Dominguez,Vicki Robin. I too love books and if we go full time , my books will go in storage. Good luck. it sounds like a good plan.

[Melody Ranch]

Check out what EllieZ has for sale...( in our Classified section) already in the UK and in France. They need work that will keep the price reasonable (I'd think) and allow you to get right into making it a homeplace like you want. The Forums will help out. It all sounds great to me.

[Tubbs]

Thanks for the advice - Will follow this up and let you know how I get on in due course...

[pilgrim]

A Goal and a Plan. That's more than most folks come up with in a lifetime. Good luck with both! As my wife is always saying, "You cannot have enough books in your life!" We tend to carry many of them with us. Reference books can always be looked at - others can be traded at good book stores. We've always got books at various stages of reading laying about. It sounds to me like you've gotten a great start on the rest of your life........don't loose focus and it's nice to have a travel companion. Again, good luck!!!

[Tubbs]

Originally Posted by pilgrim

A Goal and a Plan. That's more than most folks come up with in a lifetime. Good luck with both! As my wife is always saying, "You cannot have enough books in your life!" We tend to carry many of them with us. Reference books can always be looked at - others can be traded at good book stores. We've always got books at various stages of reading laying about. It sounds to me like you've gotten a great start on the rest of your life........don't loose focus and it's nice to have a travel companion. Again, good luck!!!

Thanks for the encouragement! At the moment, I have about four or five different books on the go, but that is usual for me. My passion has passed on to my little lad, as he seems to share my love of books, and enjoys being surrounded by them too! To be honest, I would not be looking at totally downsizing my library too harshly, as I have family and friends who can look after x-amount. Be good to get down to a favourite 'few' to live in the Trailer with. Robert Service and William Blake a must, along with Alan Watts, Terry Pratchett, James Herbert, Robert Louis Stevenson, to name a few...

As I can get loads of stuff on my iPod, I don't have to worry about room for CD's, do I?

Best wishes,

Tubbs!

[Tubbs]

Hello, folks,

Still working at down scaling my life, etc... To that end, part of this weekend will be spent sorting through my library. My theological, poetry, history and philosophy books, which make up the greater part of said library, have been donated to my church. All we need to do now is sort somewhere for such to be held together as a library. This weekend, I will be deciding what books will 'live' in the Trailer with me, and the rest will be sorted for selling, etc... Also slowly working through the rest of my bits and pieces to see which I actually need, and those items that can be done without - Mainly things I should have never purchased in the first place!

With regards to the purchasing of a Trailer, still suffering from the cash fallout following Wifey going off with someone else, but, hopefully, I will also find time this weekend to sit down and sort things here too. Get a plan oragnised, and then, as far as possible, stick to it.

So, that's my Easter weekend, among other things - Whatever you are at, may you and yours be blessed with a wonderful time!

Pax