Friday, May 18, 2012

FORD E-250 SUPER DUTY

The previous vehicle in which I traveled has gone away as a trade-in.  What a wonderful experience it was to go to my local Ford Dealer, R.E. Barber Ford in Holland, Michigan.  My sales person, Mark was kind, considerate and very helpful in my selection of a new van in which I could travel the highways and byways of the US.

My eventual choice was a 2011 E250  Super Duty/Flex Fuel vehicle, cargo van.  Just as described in the Vanaboding information you'll find on a previous posting it is exactly what is required to go off the grid and live on less than $20.00 a day while traveling.

Now I can chose my own interior design and make it "my own."  I am so excited to get started.  As I progress I'll be posting pictures and details so you can keep up with what I'm doing.  It will be a fun experience I'm sure and I hope you'll join me often to see what's up in my travel world.


Wednesday, May 2, 2012

It Is All About The Budget, Time And Desire

I've had several people write to me today and ask how in the world I'm able to spend less than $20.00 a day while traveling on the road.  Perhaps I should explain exactly what I mean by that.

When you travel you must always be aware of your budget.  It is never a good thing to be stranded hundreds of miles from your home-base with no cash on hand or available.  If you don't sit down and plan out how much you're willing to spend each day and then actually stick to that amount you will most certainly run into problems.

In reality you can spend less than $20.00 a day while you're traveling the vanabode way because you really don't have a definite destination for each day that you're away from home-base.   You are traveling for a specific purpose and that purpose is to enjoy your travel and not be bound by a schedule that requires you to arrive somewhere at any given time.  By being able to stop whenever and wherever you chose you have control of your budget.  You'll cook on-site, sleep without having to make reservations in a costly motel/hotel and only put the amount of miles on each day (or maybe each week) that you chose.

There is no rule that says you must pack your belongings and be out of "your room" by 11AM.  In fact there is no rule that says you can't stay another day, week or even a month.  If you haven't taken in all of the places you want to see simply don't leave.  By not leaving you're saving money which, when you divide your daily cost into the days of the month you'll find that you really are living on less than twenty bucks a day.

Go ahead and write down what you think you might necessarily spend money on each day.  I think you'll discover that it isn't nearly what you believe it is.  Once you are by that roadblock simply pack and go for a couple days to test the waters.  You'll be amazed at just how stress-less your days will become when you have no schedule to follow, no boss to report to and no financial requirements to meet.

Let me know how that works out for you.  Drop me an e-mail at THIS address.

I'm anxious to see and hear what you've discovered in the vanaboding world/lifestyle.




Gatlinburg, TN, Smokey Mountain National Park

For years whenever I got the bug to travel I'd get in my van, point it South or West and end up wherever I ended up.  On one trip I ended up in the great state of Tennessee and loved it.  The people were warm and friendly and the mountain views were awe inspiring, especially the Smokey Mountain National Park.

Yesterday I got information from the Gatlinburg,TN chamber of commerce.  It got me fired up about this destination all over again.



There is so much to see and do there that I'll likely spend most of a month just exploring there.

If you ever want accurate and helpful information about any destination you have in mind always contact their local chamber of commerce.  The information you'll receive for FREE is a good way to begin your planning.

Here's a great link that will take you to GATLINBURG CRAFTS.  I think you'll enjoy it.