For future reference

 

Posted for future reference. Stolen from Wirecutter.

I got an email from a friend who is retired. He said he was on vacation.

How do you get a vacation from being retired? It relentless. Monday: Retired. Tuesday: Retired. Wednesday: Retired. Thursday: Retired. Friday: Retired. Saturday: Retired. Sunday: Retired.

Rain

I took pictures of the drainage around the house to identify those areas that need fill. Most of this stream was hitting the ground 5' away from the foundation. No problem!

According to the Raindrop app, I received 1.4" 2.2" of rain in the last 24 hours with most of it in the last hour. It is still coming down but most of the thunder is now east of my location.

Four miles south of me has only gotten a trace. 

Van-life

One of my younger acquaintances is fantasizing about van-life. He looks  at his rent and starts jonesing to be a gypsy.

The smart money would be to rent a moving van for a week. That would cost about $150. Take one day to dress-up the interior. Take it to some concert or "event" or campground that interests you. Stay for five days. Clean it out and return it on the seventh day.

According to the second link in the paragraph just above this one, the top locations for parking a van overnight (with you inside of it) are:

Walmart: Most Walmarts allow vampers. Call the customer service desk. Ask if you can. Then ask where they want you to park.

Cracker Barrel:

Cabela's, Bass Pro Shop:

Planet Fitness and clones: Showers with fluffy towels!!! Need to be a member but it is dirt-cheap for what you get.

Truck Stops: Showers and food and gadgets!!!  

General rules: Call ahead. Park in the designated area. Arrive late, i.e. after 7:00 PM. Buy something in the store to make you a legitimate customer, even if it is just a bag of ice. Leave early, i.e. before 7:00 AM. Do not exceed two nights in-a-row in a given place. 

Walmart and other companies allow short-term "campers" because their business model caters to outdoorsy people who travel. Key point, "business". You have to represent incremental business and not scare away any regular business. You are going to have to buy food and other supplies somewhere, right? Make sure that your host gets first crack at those dollars.

No loud music, strobe-lights or anything that attracts attention. No peeing in the bushes. No fires. Look presentable (fully dressed) when outside of your van. No visible drinking or weed use. You are supposed to present the look-and-feel of Johnny Tickseed driving from Janesville, WI to a Bluegrass Festival in Baneberry, TN not some "scary" homeless vagrant.