New job / new bike

1) my laptop died. It rough, I know. It might be a minute before I can replace it. I'm at the library with 0 time to write this.

2) I got a new bike for $30. Some local old bike guy. It's a Raleigh road bike frame converted to a coaster brake bike with 26" wheels, fenders, and handlebars with a moderate rise. The seatpost is frozen at a very reasonable height for me. I'd like to have the bike that I plan to tour on later this summer (build it) - but having a $30 shit-bike seems to make sense too. It rides pretty nice for Key West. Nothing special, and the coaster hubs clacks, as they sometimes do when too tight. We'll see about this - I only got it about 30mins ago.

3) most importantly, I got a job for at least 2 days a week at Eaton Bikes. Now I'm going to do pedicab only on Friday and Saturday, and be a mechanic for another 2 days. That means 3 days per week off, and I can sleep when it's dark outside a lot more. This is important, because my van gets hot when the sun is beating down on it. Sleeping at night with less traffic and sun will help me out a lot. Eaton Bikes pays $15/hr cash. I'm not on the books. No job interview either. I just started pulling tickets, and fixing bikes. It's a great atmosphere. Nobody acts cool, nobody is holding a stopwatch on you. And: employees buy at cost. Probably the best feature of working at a shop.

4) That means I might stick around for awhile if everything is treating me great. It's warm, I'm making some amount of money. I'm in more debt than when I started (van, loss of $ for truck)... but maybe I can make that turn around. I'm eating a lot of Life cereal, and I'm 'cooking' (heating mostly) my own food instead of buying $10k food per day. I still buy food, but it's getting a lot more reasonable. And I'm drinking Natural Ice, which everyone knows will save hundreds per month.

5) That means things are getting figured out a little better finally. All this cooking, and job sorting is a pretty recent thing, so more about that later. Van living is getting pretty normal. I have a spot where I can always stay that is always in the shade, and is always fine. I want to move around... but it's tempting to just park in this lot by my friends' apartment every single night. There's very limited parking on this little island, and a lot of van people.

6) I swear I'll get some pictures. The dead laptop doesn't help. But I'll be making a flickr account with a lotta shit.

7) I have seen every movie at the local theatre except for Alvin and the Chipmunks. I won't see that. I bring in booze and an Albertson's 'Poorboy' sandwich from next door. That's like 5 movies in a month. Charlie Wilson's War, Alien vs. Predator, I am Legend, Walk Hard, and National Treasure Book of Secrets (had to get woken up). Mary told me I shouldn't avoid the movies because I'd be going alone. She was very right. I'm perfectly amused there by myself.

8) I need to find someone to take out the van's damn enormous electric folding bed. Then I need a twin mattress or something similar. And a damn 12v fan for peter's sake. I have a list, and the fan isn't even on it. Bigger cooking pot and french press are on the list. And banannas. I'm waiting around for cheap things or free things. Funny when you can spend $9 on a movie, $5 on a sandwich, but not $8 on a cooking pot because there will eventually be a $1 or free one. If there was a french press, I'd just buy it.

9) Debt: $10,716 on credit card. $1998 on loan accout (for van). Then student loans of $2156. Wow, did I screw up big for a number of years. Hopefully I can turn this around in a noticable way.

Truck House SOLD / Steinbeck GOOD / Heart ALOOF

I sold Truck House, and now I have one less thing to think about. I slept in it one last time in the northern keys somewhere below Key Largo. I got at least 7 hours of sleep. Not bad at all! That thing I was sleeping on in Truck House is more comfortable than the fold out bed in the van. I hafta get someone with some real-man tools to help me get that bastard removed and into a dumpster. The Truck House bed, though comfortable, had to be included in the sale. No way I'm Greyhounding it all the way back.

My City Bike was stolen. If anyone in Key West sees a cheesy green-metallic Diamondback mountain bike with 3-speed-style handlebars and a big yellow milk crate on back: shoot the rider. I leaned it on a wall, got in the van to change for work, came out: it was gone. 2 mins. 4:15pm on a tiny, almost invisible side street. Fuck you.

I'm at a library in Del Ray Beach. That's near Boca Raton. I lived in Boca Raton for 8 months in a past life. I ghosted over to Einstein Bros Bagels, and had a spiritual moment with the same food and free refill that I got regularly 2 winters ago. I'm about 5 years older now. It was a pleasant stop to reflect and read The Red Pony for a little bit. That's not a crappy story if you're not in 6th grade - and Steinbeck is great. Evidence: Tortilla Flat. Like a less sarcastic Salinger. But descriptive and amusing.

I don't know where my heart is. I know it's in my chest, but I don't know where it ought to really be. Home is Pennsylvania, but I'm not going there yet. My heart is not in Key West: but I'm happy and warm there while I figure out this puzzle. Right now my heart is getting a cheeseburger across the street. Then we'll resume our dialog when we catch the bus.

Updates

I got through Christmas and the New Year pretty well down here in Key West. I've had thoughts of moving, and still do, all the time. Before that occurs, I'm tying up some loose ends. Truck House has been sold on eBay. I'm getting $2000, and delivering it about 5 hours to the north tomorrow. I'll be the happy man with a secret drink on the Greyhound tomorrow.

I'm an outlaw. I had a fake police man banging on my van this morning. I wish he would have thought to just knock politely, and say "excuse me." But that's not how it goes. I was stupid for parking at Publix overnight, so I wasn't surprised. I just hid under my blanket while he shined his light around. I know he couldn't really tell anything, so when he went to his car, I slipped on some shorts and drove away. Just as happy not to say a word to anyone.

I thought about this later, and part of me deciding to live in a van is the same as the part of me that just likes to 'get away' with stuff. The same part that feels entitled to do whatever I want if it doesn't hurt anyone else. I don't like my van getting banged on at night, but I feel like I should be allowed to live in a van, so I do, and damn the consequences if someone doesn't like it. I wonder how long I will be living in the van. At this point, I really don't picture myself in an apartment. I like the van, and I don't even have it set up nearly as well as it will be, with electricity, skylight, roof vent, etc. Also, I'll have a bed that takes up less than 50% of the living area (I need to address that soon...). With all that - and complete mobility - and no apartment rent - and no foundation to tie me down: it might be awhile. It all hinges on good parking and my desire to keep on finding it. I look forward to leaving Key West and spending time in a National Forest parked in the woods by a fire reading a book. And going to Oregon when it's warm. And I most look forward to a long, long bicycle trip on my City Bike, which is getting a parts makeover very shortly.

I don't have much to report aside from my aspirations. Key West is a good place to be, but I work too many hours. It's getting pretty normal here, and I'm ready to go. But the Klopps might come down here, and I want to see that happen. Jennie said she'd visit, and I'd like to see that. (Jennie: if you read this, there's room for two in the van - I measured it.) Also coming up: more money from more tourism? A new job?

One more report. I finally got a camping stove that I really like. It's the $19.99 coleman propane one that you can get anywhere. It's too big for a bicycle trip, but it's really good for cooking in a van with the doors open. This changes my life for the better. I hope I'm cooking on this when I'm 50.

Current location: outside at Bubba's, where you can do laundry, get free wifi, and order food. I'm doing laundry. It's beautiful outside. My laptop and phone are now charged.

Truck 4 sale

I'm definitely flying by the seat of my pants down here. Two vehicles, one license plate, nowhere to hide. The good news is I managed to find my misplaced digital camera and thus was able to get Truck House on eBay about a minute ago. If you want to buy Truck House, here's the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=012&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&viewitem=&item=220185897340&rd=1

Also included here is a picture of Truck House showing how it was set up like a squatter cabin. That's how it was. Not uncomfortable, but not very well thought out. In comparison, the van (Van House?) is much more 'open.' I can have the side windows open, and even get a breeze. I have the entire back section curtained off with three $3.50 table cloths from K-Mart which are clipped in place with those clips I got at Staples. This setup is about as near-perfect as I can imagine. The cloth is thin enough that it lets in some light and breeze. I can see shapes of things or people outside, but nobody can see in at all, hands cupped to the window or anything. The curtains are a reasonable match to the color scheme, and go to the inside of the existing curtains and 'window dressing shit.' This results in a thoroughly normal looking vehicle. The built-in ambient lighting, reading lamps, and storage space are all great. It's TV-ready. If I want to start watching movies, I can just plug the components right in. For now, I have underwear and a quasi medicine cabinet instead. I have to do something about the enormous electrically powered fold-out bed. It takes up twice as much space as it should. I'm also carting around an extra captain's chair that I took out of the floor. That's jammed head-first behind the bed. I'm thinking about throwing all that stuff in a dumpster on the fly. But then I won't have it "if I need it." To me this is a highly amusing "stuff" dilemma for someone trying to simplify.

I was talking to Seth yesterday to find out where he said the unlimited french toast was. He is constructing a deck on the roof of his van, which is strap-clamped in place. He built it in the Home Depot parking lot. When I was talking to him he was standing up there putting a canvass 'fence' around it with bamboo posts. He's going to drive into the desert and set up camp, and have a little star gazing setup. Seth was talking to another guy who lives in his pickup truck. This guy told us that he enjoys that the last thing he sees before sleeping is the stars. He said he wasn't trying to be poetic or some shit, but there is so much action up there. Then he asked if I wanted to buy any porno dvds. That reminded me that I think I've seen him before in the K-Mart parking lot, when I was deliriously tired after no-sleep when Truck House was getting worked on. "Nah, man, I don't have a TV anyway." "You sure you don't want to look at what I got?" "Nah - I don't even have electricity." Pause... "I believe you..." Somehow that caused me to burst out laughing. "Alright then."

I ran into Seth again today getting breakfast from Publix. I gave him the Van House tour, and got his strong approval. He was excited to poke around under the hood and start looking at conditions and fluids. He knows I know nothing of this, but we compared engine areas for a few minutes and chatted. He said everything looks great on my end, and showed me where he has some cardboard and shit jammed in his engine compartment keeping that great as well. He paid $500 for his van. Maybe I'll do that some day when I learn how to fix 1979 vans. I like the idea of a fucked up painted beast. He's got a real gem.

I'd like to have something meaningful to say about my feelings concerning Truck House, but I really can't come up with something. It seems that it was just a box truck, and a vessel to get me down here, and a place to sleep. I have no real love or hate for Truck House, but from a practical standpoint I'll be happy to see it go.

1990 GMC Vandura conversion van

I'm sitting in my new van. I made an offer, which was subsequently accepted, for a van on eBay. As I've stated, a van will fill my needs much better than Truck House, and make much more sense overall. As I have not yet stated, but would like to now: this van is awesome. It's a 1990 GMC Vandura conversion van outfitted with the "Explorer" package. The 'Explorer' part is just a description of which company decked out the interior. The van has 91,000-some miles, and drives dreamily. It's quiet, rolls smooth on the highway, is very clean and makes me very happy. It has a CB radio.

After wiring funds for the van on Tuesday, I left yesterday in a rented car on a one-way trip to the St. Petersburg-Clearwater airport. There I met the seller, Don, who took me to my purchase. We gawked and squawked for a few minutes, starting it up and opening the doors and closing them - then he signed over the title. Since I want to register it in Pennsylvania, and this is Florida, and it was already 6pm, I had no tag - temporary or otherwise. I decided to roll without one, and I'm about 50 miles from Key West now where I'll deposit the van in a safe location until a proper tag can arrive. I had a long drive and very little sleep at the point of purchase, and left in my new car pre-exhausted for a night of fun.

Within a couple hours, traveling approximately nowhere due to a couple stops, I parked at a Wal-Mart. I was happy and delirious. I went into Wal-Mart to look for something to use as a curtain (maybe a curtain), and ended up with a reflective windshield shade, a long skinny sandwich, and a 4 pack of tall Miller High Life. It took at least 30 minutes to round up these items. The back of the van (license plate end) was parked into some shrubs, so I thought I was safe for the night. Windshield cover in place, curtains closed and clipped tight, I called it a night. I drank 2.5 of the beers and accomplished the sandwich before passing out. I was pretty well hidden, but a security guard busybody had me beat. Around 3am I got a knock on the side door from a police officer who was looking for clues. I kept my bottom half in my sleeping bag, and answered the door. He asked a few things that I can still remember.
"Have you been drinking?"
- "yes"
"Well I can see it and smell it" (gotcha!)

This exchange amused me. I already admitted it, and he continued with his line anyway. At this point, he wanted to know about the no-plate thing. I told him that I just bought it hours ago, and I pulled over because I couldn't keep my eyes open. I showed him the title and bill of sale. Then he had to take some notes. I liked this exchange.
"Eyes... blue"
- "Blue"
"Tattoo of a turtle on your stomach"
- "yup"

All noted on the police-work tablet. He told me where to get a temporary tag (which would have been the smart thing to do), and he told me about the ordinance against sleeping in vehicles, (but I could sit in the driver's seat). He said not to drive, or something-something consequences. Then he left. When I judged that he'd been gone for about one minute, I got the hell out of there and parked behind a church. Best sleep ever.

After some driving this morning, I went to Waffle House, and on the way out some radio DJs from some show called me. I don't know who or what show, and I wouldn't have answered the call if I knew I'd be on the air, etc. These were the first DJs who were real dull-normal jackasses. Real proponents of the 9-5 work week and having money to buy things to make you happy. I was slightly successful at setting the record straight at a few points, but they were persistently boring and unimaginative. They were pretty mediocre humans. They're the kind of guys who might run over your cat, then trivialize it.

S'not all great

All these posts seem really happy. And I've captured some great moments for myself here. At the heart of it all - my heart - I'm still homesick a lot. Or just looking for another change. I'm not completely wild about the job, and I'm not so wild about the truck either. I've had some great moments, but I have a tendency to screw it up by thinking about what could be better. A van would truly make more sense for me. The interior of Truck House has a huge amount of wasted space. These pedicabs are so mechanically beat that it boggles the mind. This is my complaining post to balance out the ones that make it seem like everything is 100% peachy-awesome. I'm thinking about several things. Hobostripper (aka Tara) who I respect and find to be wise, said if you're not happy, move the fuck on. I'd like to see San Francisco and Portland. I think that feels important. I'm definitely switching to a van, but don't know when. Money rules my mind, and I keep hearing "keep the bike, keep the bike" - the pedicab - because in a week, we'll all be making money. This gives me comfort. But I'm still apprehensive. I'm still parking in my a-list spot, hoping nobody notices or cares. I kinda just want to see how that plays out, cause there is NO other spot on this island 1/10th as good.

Truck's Fixed / Everybody Dances

Truck seems good for now anyway. On Stock Island, $380 will buy you a three night stay at a repair shop, two new batteries (main and backup), and a long and possibly coked-up story about 499 trophies.

I don't have much Truck House specific news, so I'm just going to start sharing moments that give a picture of what it's like here in Key West for me. I do have one specific story that is closely related to vehicle living though. I had my first police encounter.

I had about 4 beers on the beach after work. Two big beers in reality. One bottle one can. (Clap your hand). Then I zipped out to Stock Island, which is the next island up from Key West, to get into Truck House. I was opening the lock and rolling up the back door when a police cruiser pulled in behind me pretty fast. His main concern was to establish that I was a person, and this was my truck. I showed him my ID so he knew I was real. It was clear that I hadn't jimmy'd the lock. Basically it was 4am and he saw me with the city bike (highly suspect bum-machine) and thought I might be breaking in. I told him I live with the brazilian guys who I ride the pedicabs with, but I was crashing here 'cause I didn't want to impose on them tonight. The cop was pretty nice about it, and gave me zero bullshit. He asked to look inside, and I rolled up the door so he could stick his flashlight in there. He even said something like "cool setup." This encounter went as good as possible because I gave short reasonable answers and kept my fucking mouth shut at every opportunity. Then I got in and burned some incense to try to get rid of the wood and paint smell. That's starting to work for me.

Right now, flash forward to truck-is-fixed, I'm parked in my A-list spot with the roll up door halfway up. It's fine. I'm catching a breeze, there are people walking around and parking, nobody cares. I just watched a Key West rain storm - a long one at about 30 minutes. I also got about a two hour nap right here with the back door open and a modest breeze keeping me very comfortable. I'm settling in. I won't let myself be concerned with the police anymore. I'll do what I think is fair and reasonable, because I don't like being sneaky or scared, which I had an initial tendency to feel. Each day I plan like a dog. Sit around at one place until for some reason you get up and move - I roll around endlessly on a cheap bike. All of my time is spent outside, and the truck is there just to sleep in. I haven't had a real (long/hot) shower for 13 days, and I don't care. I haven't had electricity, and I haven't needed it. My little 3 AA battery lantern is on the original batteries, and I'm making enough money to buy whatever I want. Cuban sandwiches. I ate two of the best sandwiches down here. Best ingredients, then they get smooshed flat in a special industrial strength Forman grill. I danced around a little bit on the end of the pier last night. This is a pretty easy place to "put in the time" as Huck Finn put it. "Dog my cats" as Jim might add.