The Airstream Chapter begins!

Catch the action on an all-new blog!

Underaged RVers

I've found a book I can't put down, except that it is a blog written in '04-'05 by a young couple who ditched their house and jobs to 'retire' early into rv life. It is lovingly well-written and photographed. I highly, highly recommend it for some fantastic inspiration and vicarious living.

http://underagedrvers.blogspot.com/

I came upon it while doing some research for a dream of our own. Back in the summer, Deb and I discovered that we have a mutual love for compact, mobile living spaces. So naturally we went to an RV show, because that is what 26 year olds do. At the time we did not know how an RV would fit into our lives, but we did know that while we felt proud of ourselves for landing great jobs, adopting two dogs and buying our first house, we aren't really ready to make the long-term investment into a stable lifestyle. Kids are definitley going to happen some day, and before that we've got some touring to do.

But the dogs... how do we travel with dogs? This question thwarted us. So we thought maybe we just needed to move somewhere wild and new. But we've already lived a lot of places and the idea of starting over again had lost its appeal. We have a lot of great friends in NYC and have always entertained the idea of doing a stint there. Plusses include a million adventures, a much larger diversity of job opportunities, cheaper airfare, and living near our friends, but the downside is that NYC is downright dirty and stupid expensive. Then, on a margarita-hazed post Thanksgiving walk in Everglades City, Deb and I realized that the RV life would liberate us and our dogs, too.

So we went to Virginia's largest RV lot last weekend, and the February show is on our calendars. If anyone comes across any nuggets pertaining to a life working and living on the road, let us know. Yes, working. We're basing our budget on PT minimum wage jobs. I'll finally get to be a baker! We'll work some music festivals! Maybe Sundance! Community Gardens! Bike couriers! And you know what? We'll have bunk space to spare if anybody wants to spend a few days on vacation with us in, say, the Redwood Forest? New Mexico? Kayaking through the Everglades? Climb onboard.

You thought we wouldn't notice...

A design watchdog blog, duly exposing ripoffs. I found it very interesting, especially since I am trolling around the 'net getting inspired. Are there any new ideas? I kinda feel we are all influencing each other.

Found Photography

I was loafing through the ReadyMade blog again, which lead to more blogs, and more blogs... so many treasures to behold... this photography blog is a creative's dream, full of thoughts and process and passion and zestful DIY ambitions.

Electric Riding

Here I am on my electric bike! It is an awesome machine, although one that is better if you can avoid busy streets. The "Strive to Drive Less" t-shirt I designed at Printfection.com an easy way to design your own tees; to note, the jersey styles seem to be better quality than the regular t-shirts. I advocate little changes rather than extreme moves (although both are effective), so am attempting 60 miles or less a week of car driving, which is a large decrease for the subburbs--I'll have to revise the goal once we move downtown where a car is less crucial. Walking is also an extremely enjoyable mode of transportation. I think the U.S. would be happier if they spent less time in their car.

Vicarious Cross Country Bike Trek

Good friends Hope and Dan are making the trek from Oregon to Virginia by bike. Get some inspiration here at their blog! 2bigwheels

Holiday Shopping Around the Corner

Check out the products at Global Girlfriend.  My mom brought this site to my attention (go mom!) after having attended a function where they had a number of sample products.  She purcahsed one of the recycled plastic handbags and not only did it look cool, it was a very good quality!  Women would scavenge the trash to find plastic grocery bags, and then iron them flat, layering them and finally ironing against newprint (or another colored material) to pick up the color.  The site supports women's products, paying them so that they can form their own businesses, offering business loans, etc. allowing them to support themselves and improve their situation.

Treadmill Dance!

Oh, this is so going to be my new routine. I want to pull it out at a party someday. A party where there is a room full of treadmills. A party at the YMCA...