Category: Uncategorized

 

by Cathy Harris, Syndicated Columnist

May 14, 2022

What to Do if You are Totally Out of Funds:

-Get A Job: If you have been laid off because of COVID or another reason, then apply for several jobs to make money. Try to obtain 3 or 4 part time jobs to make ends meet.

–Apply for Payday Loan: If you have a bank account, you should be approved for a payday loan of at least $150 to $200 but you will have to pay back 30% to 40% of the amount you requested within a few weeks or the interest will continue to add up — so it will be like digging a hole.

–Get a Title Loan: If you have the clear title to a vehicle, you can receive a loan for several hundred dollars. The amount probably depends on the shape and type of vehicle. If you don’t make the payments of course you will lose the vehicle.

–Reach Out to Family: Remember your family is your #LifeLine so these are the people you should reach out to first when you have a hardship. Call your family and friends to try to get a loan.

–Reach Out to Food Banks: Go to food banks for foods.

–Reach Out to Churches: See if you can get churches to help the family out. They might be able to get a family to sponsor your family, give you funds or foods.

–Sell Extra Foods, Personal Belongings, etc.: Sell extra foods you have stored or is growing in your garden or crops or auction or pawn off personal belongings.

–Tell Your Story and Ask for Donations Online: Go online and tell your story on www.GoFundMe.com or use these accounts to collect funds — PayPal.com, Venmo, Cash App, etc.

–Get a Tin Cup and Ask for Donations: Many people on the side of the road can make up to several hundreds of dollars everyday so don’t be ashamed if you have to stand on the side of the road and ask for donations.

What To Do If You Are About to Become Homeless:

–File Your Own Bankruptcy to Stay in Your Home: Before funds run out you can file your own bankruptcy on your home to save it. You can go to Office Depot and fill out the bankruptcy packet and file the bankruptcy yourself – until you can obtain the services of a bankruptcy lawyer to assist you. Fill out as much as possible then take the packet to the bankruptcy court. Once they stamp the bankruptcy packet, fax it over to your mortgage company. This might cost a couple of hundred dollars. The stamp on the paperwork should buy you some time and you won’t have to move. You might have to file a Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 to continue staying in the home so don’t miss any court dates. You can probably get away with not paying anything to remain in the home for several months.

View the Gesara updates with my e-newsletters at www.CathyHarrisSpeaks.com.

Remember all mortgages up to $150,000 is about to be wiped out by Gesara so filing this bankruptcy your ownself will buy you time to continue to have a roof over your head.

Learn more on filing bankruptcies from my first book in my 3-part empowerment book series – available as an ebook and paperback  — “How To Take Control of Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide to Empowering Your Family and the Entire Community (Series 1).”

–Don’t Move Until You Have To: If you haven’t paid your mortgage for at least 3 months banks might start sending foreclosure letters. Don’t let these foreclosure letters scare you because you still have time to stay there and keep a roof over your head. Don’t leave until the Marshal place a yellow or pink slip on your door then you will have 2 weeks to move.

–Reach Out to Family or Friends: Call family and friends for a loan or have them come and pick you up if you receive a final notice from the Marshals. If you have to move call family and friends to see if they can hold your belongings in storage or their garages.

–Don’t Wait Until You are Totally Broke: Before you totally run out of money, you can go ahead and put all your belongings in storage for at least 90 days but if your circumstances don’t improve and you can’t make monthly payments, you will lose everything so you might also want to think about holding yard sales and auctioning off everything.

–Go To a Homeless Shelter: For protection to keep a roof over your head try to go to a homeless shelter, but these will probably be full and if you are an abled-bodied male, they really will not want you there.

Remember if you are a single mother and have a pre-teen male, he will have to stay on the side with the men and will be at risk of being molested.

–Move In Your Car, a Van or RV: Many people move in a car, van or RV and go to Walmarts, Truck Stops and out on government land (BLM.gov or National Forest Land, which is plentiful out west). Or ask a family member or friend if you can park in their driveways or on their land.

Because of the weather, you can stay on government land for up to 12 months out west, but you might have to change spots every 2 to 3 weeks. You can bring along a tent to stay in and you can work remotely from your computer or go to local libraries or coffee shops to get the internet.

Check out Living in a Car, Van or RV tips on my traveling blog at www.SimpleLifeRVing.com.  

–A New Way of Living in a Car,  Van or RV 

–How To Live Successful in a Car or Van 

–What You Need to Know About VanLife 

Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3

No one goes into a house right away and says I want this house. Many people are even in a position to build out their houses so this is what I wanted to do with my Van.

Since I was going to be living in my Van for a minute, it was important for me to understand what was being done to her, so, therefore, I chose to do my ‘Van Buildout’ in Phases.

–Phase 1: I added 2 Maxx Air Fans. I finally added Fan Covers so it’s dark inside because I chose the black instead of white color even though my van is white. The black fan covers match the black stripe on the side of the van and because of the 2 fan covers, I can also leave the fans opened for ventilation as I drive down the highway or when it’s raining.

–Phase 2: I added 800 Watts of Solar to the roof then connected the wires on the Solar and Maxx Air Fans to the Power Box then connected the Power Box to the alternator under my front seat.

–Phase 3: I am on my way to Texas over the next few weeks and a carpenter there is supposed to help with Phase 3 of my van build out but I am still conducting research on how I want it and trying to make sure the materials he will be using, especially for the insulation is not toxic.

I am still looking at the following that will complete Phase 3 of my van build – such as the insulation, floor and side paneling, cabinets, sink, bed frame, and garage/storage under the bed.

I will be buying the refrigerator, an Apicool when I reach Texas. I also need the front seat turned around, which will give me another seat to work at and I need the electrical port on the side of the van for plugging in at RV parks.

I am not sure yet whether I will cut the bed off and/or turn it sideways or keep it longways. The carpenter wanted me to throw it away and get a 6-inch foam mattress, even though it’s only a little over 2 years old. 

The bed is the reason I have enjoyed my van life up until now, therefore, he and I are in disagreement on this and this is why I might have to find someone else to help me with the completion of my van build, which might take many more months.

However, now that I have my power box, which means I can be on the computer and prepare my dinner in my steamer and blender at the same time — I am satisfied.

Finishing Up Phase 2 of Van Build

On Nov. 12, 2021, I just had a very awesome week finishing up Phase 2 of my van build in Flagstaff, AZ, which is a #GameChanger. I got pretty much all the power I need now in my van so I can retire my Jackery 500 and Portable Jackery Solar Panel — unless I use it for an outdoor reason.

It feels really good to be able to remove the Jackery 500 and Solar Panel after 2 years out of my front compartment and store it in the back of my van. It has always laid between my two seats so it’s nice having that extra space in my van to jump in and out of the front seat to the back of the van.

The new power box, which I put behind the front driver’s seat, has made it a priority to keep the area around it clear so this has freed up even more space in the front part of my van for working on the computer or even getting in the floor and exercising.

So far I am happy with the Aspen Power Box and 800 Watts of Solar that I bought from www.LightHarvestSolar.com and once a mechanic nailed the Power Box and Inverter to the floor on a piece of plywood in case I have any type of spills, it all just seems to work out fine.

The Aspen Power Box is a substitute for using a smaller Jackery or another power box and it is also a substitution for building out an expensive “Battery Bank.” 

To install a Battery Bank in Vans — it can cost anywhere from $4000 to $8000 (with Parts and Labor), but since I opted to use the ‘All-in-one’ Aspen Power Box System instead, I saved thousands of dollars.

The ‘Power Box’ is powered in two fashions. Of course, once the sun goes down at night, the power box is no longer powered by my solar, but it is powered by the main source most of the day, which is my 800 watts of solar.

So, therefore, once the sun goes down or on gloomy or rainy days when the sun doesn’t come out, I can just crank the car to power up the box in minutes.

The solar is powered on the DC power of the Power Box and if I decide to put in electric lights — it will also be powered on DC power, but everything else is powered on AC power such as my phone, tablet, laptop, desktop, camera equipment, blender, steamer, ceiling fans, etc. so all I have to do is flip a switch when I want to use my AC power.

I will be using the pop-on lights instead of adding an electrical system for the lights because I have seen these go out too much on youtube shows. I will however like several plugins by my bed for my phone, tablet, computers, etc.

Top 3 Van Build Mistakes

The top 3 Van Build mistakes on youtube shows were:

1) Not buying a van you can stand up in.

2) Not installing two fans on the van.

3) Installing an air conditioner which took up the space for solar or a second fan.

Right now all van builders and carpenters are extremely busy especially because no one was working in 2019/2020 when I first went out on the road because of COVID. Now the wait for van build-outs is anywhere from 1 to 2 years — everywhere.

So understand I am not just a prepper but I am also a researcher. I research things before acting on them. Then I narrow everything down then make a decision.

The way I did my van build just allowed me the opportunity to see how everything was installed from the beginning to the end. I wanted to get to know my van (#StarShip) before having everything added. Surely you can understand that. After all, I am a prepper/planner. That is just how I am wired.

Tap into Your ‘Spiritual Side’ for The Answers

I teach “Happiness” (My Happiness Project) for a living along with Health, Business, Minimalism, and other topics and at the age of 65 — it has to be about being happy for me. If it is not going to make me happy then I am not doing it. It is as simple as that.

Whether you know it or not – everyone has a ‘Spiritual Side.’ Unlike many others, I am a “Spiritual” person and I have tapped into my “Spiritual Side.”

What you need to understand is I wasn’t able to find that pure joy and happiness that I needed to live out my life — until I sat back and studied what was the true meaning of ‘Spirituality’.

Spirituality can have a different definition for many people. For me, Spirituality is a sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves. If you are still trying to learn more about “Spirituality” — attend community or online “Spiritual Meetings.”

For $25 a month you can have 3 different meetup.com groups. So, therefore, you can form these meetings yourself and this is a great way to become a part of a community.

If you are a reader then here are some of the recommended ‘Spiritual Books’ that might help you understand that there is something even higher out there.

 

List of ‘Spiritual Books’ include:

-Rhonda Bryne, The Secret

-Deepak Chopra, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success

-Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now

-Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth

-Gary Zukav, Seat of the Soul

-Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life

-Abraham Hicks, Ask And It is Given

-Abraham Hicks, The Law of Attraction

-Eben Alexander, Proof of Heaven

-Neville Goddard, Manifestation

-Ram Dass, Be Here Now

Louise Hay, You Can Heal Your Life

-Sandra Ingerman, Soul Retrieval

-Sandra Ingerman, Shamanic Journeying

-Edgar Cayce

-Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements

-Paul Selig, I Am the Word (any books by him)

-Elaine Aron, The Highly Sensitive Person

-Cyndi Dale, Kundalini (any books by her)

-Michael Harner, The Way of the Shaman

-Guy Finley, The Secret of Letting Go

-Barbara Hand Clow, her stuff can be out there though (ufos, crystals, different dimensions)

-Dolores Cannon, any of her books (ufos, quantum physics, different dimensions)

-Bradley Nelson, The Emotion Code (an important book!)

-Alberto Villoldo, The Illumination Process (any books by him)

-Bruce Lipton, The Biology of Belief

-Harvey Bigelsen, Doctors Are More Harmful Than Germs

-Penelope Quest, Reiki for Life

-Sadhguru, Inner Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy

-Dan Millman, The Way of the Peaceful Warrior

-Brene Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection

-Michael Singer, The Unthethered Soul

 

At 64 I am in the third tier of my life so I am closer to meeting my maker than I was 20 years ago. Therefore, everything I do must matter. Can I sustain a Nomadic lifestyle like this for the next 20 years? It all remains to be seen.

I wanted to write this blog post so that I could answer some questions that many interested parties might have about me.

Since my 21 months on the road — living and teaching from my van on the topics: 1) Natural Health/GMOs, 2) Business, 3) Minimalism, and 4) Happiness, many men have reached out to me.

Many men want a woman like me in their kitchen, living room, and especially their bedroom, but they need to understand up-front that that won’t be enough for me. 

I wanted them to see up-front my goals and ambitions for living this lifestyle so they would not distract me or waste their time pursuing me.  

Making Plans for the Future

My youngest daughter always tells me I make too many plans. However, I think it’s important for those around you to get a general idea of the direction you are going in, so they won’t think you have totally lost your mind.

Setting goals whether they are short-term or long-term to me is a very good thing. When I started this Nomadic lifestyle 21 months ago, my initial goal was to do this for the next 20 years.

Then my goal was to buy some land, a tiny house and grow some food and live out the rest of my life. In my 21 months, I would say that I am still on track to achieve my 20-year goal.

Whether it turns into a 5, 10, or a 15-year goal – that remains to be seen. If my life changes – it would have to be a significant reason for it.

Evaluate Your Current Situation

At 64 years of age, I am not the type of person that needs to be in a relationship to be happy.

I left my last relationship 2 years ago because I just did not like where it was headed. I had actually gotten off the road – traveling — very happy and content — living in nature — to be with this man. 

But when you get that #TravelingBug or #TravelingItch — something will have to give and for us — it was our relationship. 

A majority of the time my partner spent his time watching TV, especially CNN, instead of eating good foods, being active, and making plans to travel or be with me in nature.

I did not watch TV and wanted to be closer to nature traveling and it was so important to me at that point in my life that I live in this manner. It was as important to me as breathing in fresh air.

So, therefore, I left the 4-year relationship and moved to another city and one year later bought a van and started traveling in my new Nomadic lifestyle.

I have no regrets about my decision to move on. When you have outgrown a relationship and when you feel like you can no longer breathe in a relationship, either mentally, physically, or spiritually,  it is definitely time to move on.

The goal is not to have any regrets in your life, and you should never feel that you are wasting your life – because you are staying in a relationship that isn’t going anywhere. Life is just too precious.

Listen To What Potential Partners Say To You

When men tell you, they have traveled enough in their lifetime – believe what they say. They are telling you up-front how they really feel.

And if it is your plan to spend the foreseeable future traveling then you will not waste your time with potential mates — who are obviously not on the same page as you.

Sometimes you will get all of this from their first conversation. Do not linger for months! Try to have these conversations up-front. Conversations on the phone need to start – not just conversations online.

Listen to everything in the background especially his attempt not to even turn down the noise on the TV — while he speaks to you. This is a sign that this person spends the majority of their time watching TV.

And you have to ask yourself especially since you have found peace on the road – can you allow all this noise to occupy your thoughts and well-being again. The answer for me is an unequivocal ‘No’.

Why Men Do What They Do

Many men want a relationship but they are not willing to put in the work. At 64 I am ‘old school’ and I still believe that men should pursue women.

I was in the military for 3 and a half years and I worked with nothing but mostly men for over 25 years at U.S. Customs so I have spent a significant part of my life around men. Therefore, I understand many times how they feel about the opposite sex.

As a dating and love coach at www.BlackMatchmakerClub.com, I still watch a lot of men and I see how they pursue women. 

Men are very visual. They will watch you online and they especially are looking for full-body pics and/or videos of you.

If they like what they see, they will take it to the next stage to reach out online. The next step would be to ask for a number, but many will spend weeks approaching the opposite sex online instead of asking for a phone number.

And when they do get your number – all many want to do is text. There is nothing like hearing a person’s voice to determine if they are a potential match, but men have yet to pick up on this.

How Men Can Step Up Their A-Game and Find the Woman of Their Dreams

There are many good men out there and many good women so don’t give up hope. Because of 2020, many men now more than ever have become lazy when it comes to pursuing the opposite sex.

If they sat around for the better part of a year doing very little exercise and eating GMOs or Processed Foods, then these foods did nothing but turn off their brain and made them lazy.

The sooner they understand that and start taking the steps below – the quicker they will become a good, potential mate for that special woman.

Do the following daily:

-Smile more (Just like men like women to smile more — so do women so fellas show those pearly whites)  -Eat good, clean organic foods
-Drink good clean water
-Take daily supplements
-Exercise regularly
-Get plenty of rest
-Get plenty of sunshine
-Do regular detox programs
-Breathe in good air (Remove masks)

What Men Need To Know About Women

There are many potential things that men need to understand about women such as:

–Let her breathe after a past relationship: Fellas if you are getting with her after she is just coming out of another relationship, it’s too soon. Let her breathe first. Try to find a way to stay in her life. Do small, little things for her to let her know you are there, but she is just not ready to fully commit after leaving another relationship.  

–Don’t pull her away from her dreams: If she is traveling, or on a spiritual journey, or just doing something that she always wanted to do when you meet her, step back and try to meet her out there on the road. If you pull her off the road too soon or away from her dreams too soon, that is trouble down the line. She will always think about how you pulled her away from her dreams.

–Take care of yourself first and foremost: The benefit of being with someone is that you both take care of each other. What is really attractive to women is men who take care of themselves — physically, mentally, and even spiritually. Most women, especially seasoned women, biggest fear is having to be a ‘nursemaid’ to a man that she just met a few years earlier. Caregiving can cause major depression for a significant other so many women might walk away from you — especially if she just met you and you haven’t had a life-long commitment. 

-Be careful what to say in a relationship: Just remember that relationships take a lot of work and once one of you stop trying — the relationship is basically over. There will be quarrels and upsets in relationships, but the goal is to #FightFair and continue saying #KindWords to each other. Sometimes it’s no going back so watch what you say to each other because the other person will never forget what you said. Just remember that a  woman can and will walk away from a relationship when she is still in love with you. So again, #FightFair.  

–Keep the romance department strong: All women like to be romanced — no matter what they tell you. Most like flowers, cards, other trinkets, etc. but mostly your affection and attention — so make sure you keep the romance department strong.  Plan nights to be alone or trips away together. Just keep showing her you appreciate her for being in your life. 

-Set her up an area in the home where she can relax: It doesn’t have to be a she-room, a spa in the other bathroom with a garden tub, but those would be nice accommodations to set up for her. Remember that women do so much in the home, therefore, they need a space where they can do yoga, meditation, listen to music and just relax. The benefit is she will come back fulfilled and ready to please her man.  

Meeting Potential Partners on the Road

There are plenty of opportunities out here to meet potential partners on the road. The fact that they are traveling like you — as a Nomad — can be very attractive to a potential mate.

Read my article “Meet Someone On The Road.” I live on the road so for anyone to pursue me – they need to do more than to scroll up and down my online presence, reach out to me online, or even call me on the phone.

They need to meet me on the road or even travel with me on the road — in their own vehicle – of course.

Even though I say I will be on the road for the next 20 years, there are potential men that I would probably alter my lifestyle for and I will know when I meet that man.

Meanwhile, what is really attractive though is men who realize that I am not just living my best life on the road, but the way that I am living is why I am who I am and no matter what he does – if he tries to take this from me, he will never get the whole person.

What I Really Do On the Road

I don’t know if people even understand what I do out here on the road riding around the country in my van #StarShip — and why it makes me so happy.

As the author of 26 non-fiction books at www.AngelsPress.com, parking in nature has allowed all my thoughts to flow freely again so not only do I have a great traveling blog at www.SimpleLifeRVing.com, but I have also started back working on non-fiction books again after giving up writing initially to do my videos on youtube at www.YouTube.com/SimpleLifeRVing. I post daily also to my Instagram page at www.Instagram.com/SimpleLifeRVing. 

I initially came on the road to – 1) Meet family on the road, 2) Meet new friends on the road, 3) Do welfare checks on my family and friends on the road, 4) See beautiful attractions on the road, and to 5) Hold my health and business seminars and workshops on the road.

The year 2020 altered many things in my life but many times it sent me in directions that brought even more happiness into my life.

Hopefully, starting in a few months when I get to Vegas and once my van is built out by the end of winter 2022, I can get back on track and continue to create a beautiful Nomadic life for myself — with my ‘face-to-face’ seminars and workshops.

There is nothing like seeing people’s eyes light up, especially young people when they realize they can change their own lives.

Other activities which are extremely important to me as I follow 70-degree weather and move in and out of areas around the country in my 2019 Dodge Ram Promaster 3500 Cargo Van — include understanding the culture of the areas that I am visiting by going to art galleries, libraries, museums and seeing other attractions, along with attending fitness gyms and classes, spas, hot springs, hotels with saunas, parks, going on walking and hiking trails especially up mountains, and close to oceans, lakes, and rivers — and once I get the van built out, I am even thinking about buying a bicycle.

For inspiration, I make it a point to do FREE disperse camping and stay on BLM.gov and National Forest land and wake up in nature surrounded by oceans, lakes, and rivers, and especially mountains. I am still trying to figure out if I am #TeamMountain or #TeamBeach, but I am having fun doing it.

The sky is the limit when you live an active Nomadic lifestyle. This lifestyle can help you be your healthiest self yet — whether you are traveling this life solo or with a partner. All you have to do is embrace your life and count your blessings.

 

 

 

 

July 1, 2021

If you are out traveling with RVers, Van Dwellers, or in Car Dwelling camping groups, I wrote this article to educate you on some of the dangers and to know when it’s time to move on.

When I first came out west in January 2020 to the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous (RTR) to learn this #NomadicLife, I hung out with 6 other women at the event.

Because me and another lady were the last to leave the area, the other lady thought that I was going to travel with her after the event.

However, I was more comfortable and had always traveled by myself. I did not know her so traveling with another person that you just met, whether a man or woman, can be quite dangerous — at least that is how I felt at that time.

I had an itinerary when I first came on the road and one of my main goals was to give my Health and Business Seminars and Workshops, which would have made it impossible for me to travel with others.

Later on, my reasons for coming on the road was –to meet family and friends and do welfare checks on them on the road, and just meet others and enjoy myself. 

When I did decide to travel with camping groups out here on the road in 2021, there were plenty of good times — but mostly lessons learned especially about how I will choose to travel in the future.

Will You Travel With Women, Men, or Just People You Know or Meet on the Road?

There are women who travel together, but many have said many of these groups of women are gossipers, so, therefore, many women rather travel with mixed groups of both men and women.

The group that I was with was men and women, which I prefer because I had met gossipy women on the road. In Flagstaff, AZ, there were 4 women and 4 men, but people came in and out of the group.

Beware of Caravan Leaders and Their Desperation to Grow a Traveling Group

The caravan leader had told us that he had recently left another group because of two gossipy women. And then he started another group but be wary of these caravan leaders that keep going from group to group. It might not always be others – it might be them. This is what I learned.

The caravan leader, which had only been in his van for 3 months, was so desperate to grow the traveling group as if this was going to be his claim to fame. 

Just remember that some people who hadn’t been fulfilled in their prior lives — will bring many issues out here on the road as a Nomad. Be careful — but sooner or later they will tell you what has happened to them – if you even care to know.

As an author I had left the group initially for several days because I needed my solitude as a writer and wanted to catch up with my youtube shows because most of the time the internet was spotty on BLM.gov and National Forest land – when I camped with them.

When I left the group for a few days, the caravan leader, who followed me on facebook messenger, urged me to come back to the group. He kept asking me — who pissed you off and why did I leave the group?

That should have been warning signs right there that there was something not right with him – but I did not pick up on it at that time.

That was the first time I had traveled with a Nomadic traveling and camping group in my 20 months on the road.

Basically, I left the group for a while because I just wanted some alone time. People can be quite nosy when you are traveling with groups. Sometimes they want to know all your business and I am a private person.

Look for Warning Signs Early On

Remember that in 2020 – everything changed. Many people got weirder and weirder. Many travelers in RVs, Vans, and Cars sat around isolating themselves because of COVID for an entire year and many became alcoholics because of that.

Others probably developed other mental health issues especially if they consumed mostly processed foods, GMOs, which can cause mental health issues because these foods are not real food.

Many people expressed how they had been alone for months, so again, be careful. Many men were ready to pounce on women so women especially need to be careful out there.

I have even had men come up to me at Walmarts, men that I had talked to briefly, and ask me if I knew any single traveling nomadic women — so men out here on the road can be desperate to find the opposite sex — especially after isolating for a year.

When you sit around the campfires at night, or just in a circle, or just meet people online or face to face that you are traveling with, try to pay attention to the backgrounds of these people.

Look out for the ones that always want to talk as if they have had the best experiences and they constantly repeat these experiences.

These people can potentially be some of the people who will turn mean or even violent in the future. And many of them will be the gossipers of the group so stay clear of them.

Don’t change any habits you had before coming out here and living or camping on the road. If you don’t like texting, talking on the phone or posting in facebook or meetup.com groups, drinking beer or alcohol — then by all means don’t change any habits you had before coming out on the road.

Especially if you had healthy habits because there are going to be so many people around you drinking a ton of alcohol and pouring garbage down their throats — 24/7. Just be yourself and continue with your good habits!

I have seen people start conversations and they will sit there all day talking without eating or going to the bathroom, so again, don’t form bad habits dealing with these people. You should be eating at least every 3 to 4 hours — keeping your blood sugar regulated.

If they make a text group or facebook messenger group, posts on facebook.com or meetup.com groups — follow the conversations on there without participating much yourself.

See who in the group tries to lead all the conversations on or offline and if the group wasn’t made by the caravan leader of the group, avoid the group all together especially if you have never met the person.

Sometimes these caravan leaders like delegating powers to people who were part of the group before, but if you have never met these people just keep down your conversations with them. Some can be gossipers.

Why I Ended Up Leaving My First Traveling Group

For the first time in my 21 months on the road in my van, I traveled from the state of Arizona to the state of Colorado with 3 other people.

I felt safe in Flagstaff, AZ because I had spent 6 months there last year in 2020 and I was waiting to start my buildout in a couple of weeks there.

The problem that started with me was when we had to move out of the area to Colorado because of the Arizona fires in 2021.

I only left because my female friend from Canada, 74, agreed also to go to Colorado. I had known her for 2 years and I would not have followed these two men to Colorado without other women being present.

In Flagstaff, there were about 8 of us — 4 women and 4 guys so I felt comfortable being around other women. However, I did park away from the group and kept to myself especially when I saw that one of the males was going to be problematic because he enjoyed doing all the talking and some women had started to complain about him also being sexist and verbally abusive.

He often talked about being homeless at one point and he often bragged about being highly educated. He and another guy, both in their 60s and both heavy drinkers, were almost fighting over my 74-year-old friend from Canada that I had brought to the group so I felt responsible for her.

It was very obvious from the time she arrived that they both wanted her attention. They convinced her to go to Colorado but after one night there, she was smart and turned around and came back to Flagstaff because she said she could no longer stand to be around the man — who refused to allow others to talk.

She also left because they made fun of her on the text platform because she enjoyed parking at Walmarts because they had good internet and she still had to work online.

Remember many people are going to be traveling differently than you and no one way is the right way. Some Nomads will still need to work or hold down a business so just learn to respect others and embrace their differences.

The 5-hour trip from Flagstaff to Colorado seemed like 12-hours to me because I never followed anyone out here on the road. I was so tired that I did not take the 5 hours trip back to Flagstaff with my friend.

I decided to stay and take pictures and videos of Colorado since it was my first time there. I did do as much as I could because something in the back of my mind told me to get it in because I too — might need to leave especially since I was the only female left in the camp. However, I was there with 2 men and I felt I could take them physically if I had to.

The problem was the caravan leader of the group told me several women were on their way back to the group and that the new person in a van across the road was a woman, but it turned out it was another male.

By then one of the guys had also arrived in his travel trailer from Flagstaff so when I arrived back at the camp one night at almost dark, I saw that there were 4 men there and me.

I had seen the women’s conversations online, who had actually been at the camp before, and they did not say they were coming back so I was very suspect of the leader of the group from the very beginning. He was actually on his facebook group begging the women to come back.

By the time I figured out he was lying about the women coming back, I was surrounded by 4 males, 2 that were heavy drinkers so I felt for safety reasons I needed to leave the camp two days after my friend left. 

Take These Steps and Monitor When It is Time for You to Leave a Group

–Don’t touch everyone: I do agree that we need to get back to hugging again, but I do not touch people because I have a very sensitive system and I can’t tolerate others that wear perfume, colognes, or other smells.  

–Be careful traveling with people who don’t have good grooming habits: When traveling with others, you quickly will learn who has good grooming habits and who does not. Especially stay away from people and their animals that don’t look clean. One guy’s fingernails were always dirty and his van was always unkempt too so I avoided him. He also had a nasty little dog too so I avoided the dog too. Listen to what people say. One lady, who was traveling with a cat, told me she had tons of flies in her van. Don’t park near these people and especially don’t accept anything from their vehicles — especially food. I have run into several people who complained that they had severe diarrhea for several days. This is usually a sign that they have worms and parasites and these people and their animals can be contagious. Doctors won’t test you for parasites unless they see them crawling under your skin, in your eyes, or witness them coming out of your anus area. 

–Park away from people initially and just observe people: You will see the ones that have alcohol and anger problems and the ones that are caring and loving. When a group becomes too controversial leave the group.

–Be careful of people joining your group just to beg for money: Be careful, however, of people begging for money. I am not talking about donating money to those that really need it and helping the homeless, but some will say “well I am down to my last $10” — expecting you to rally the entire group and give them your hard-earned money so they can travel off to some unknown place. Remember that many of these Nomads were scammers before they got out here and many are still scammers.

–Be careful of the places you camp: If you have been on the road longer than the leader of the group and if you are questioning some of the things he is doing — especially the places he picks for camping – it’s time to leave the group.

The caravan leader had only been out on the road for 3 months before starting the group so he barely knew what he was doing.

Many times I questioned his actions. For instance, one time in Flagstaff, he moved us next to a Gas Plant where we all could hear a bugging noise every night, which probably omitted some type of unhealthy EMF signal.

I believe it was just an unhealthy decision to pick a spot like this. At the other location, 4 out of 8 people at one time or another ended up going to the hospital.

So you have to take care of yourself out here on the road especially if you are going to be out here for a long time.

–Is the Caravan Leader a good leader? Remember that good leaders – lead. Especially pay attention to the caravan leader of the group. See if he tries to keep the group in line when their behavior becomes abusive or violent especially against women.

–Is the Carvan Leader protective of women? See if the caravan leader is protective of women or just trying to flirt with them himself.

–Is the Caravan Leader lying to you? Remember that women like to join groups where there are other women. See if what he is saying is true and other people, especially other women, arrive as he said. Otherwise, he might be lying to keep you there. Also, these men will pretend to know how to do something on your vehicle — just to keep you there. I eventually heard the caravan leader ask another guy about amps and wattage so I realized he had been lying to my friend — when he said he would help her with something.

–Check the Caravan Leaders’ messages: Again, view the caravan’s leader’s conversations in text groups, facebook groups including facebook messenger groups and at www.meetup.com groups. If he has favorites and openly demeans or degrades anyone in the group — on any of these public platforms — then it’s time to leave these groups. If they stay off the traveling topic too much and too long discussing absolutely non-sense, it’s time to leave the group.

–Is the Caravan Leaders begging people to join the group: If the caravan leader is begging people to join his camp or group, again, that is a sign for you to leave the traveling group. A good traveling group will gain a reputation without the caravan leader having to beg others to join them.

Stay Stocked Up and Be Ready To Move at the Drop of A Hat

Stay stocked up at all times and put your chair in your van every night so you will be ready to leave at the drop of a hat.

You might have to leave your rug, a table, or chair behind especially if you feel threatened or just can’t take their non-sense anymore — so be prepared to leave these items behind.

At the very beginning when you arrive at a new location and you are traveling with others — scout out other locations in your area.

Look for local Walmarts, Cracker Barrels, other BLM.gov, or National Forest land – in your area,  especially in the next towns over — in case you must leave the group and park somewhere else — especially for safety reasons.

Sign up on the ‘Life 360 App’ so family members and friends know your location at all times. Remember you don’t owe an explanation to anyone for leaving a group so be ready to block everyone on text, facebook messenger, meetup.com, and facebook.com groups because these people will keep bothering you to come back to a group that you have obviously outgrown.

Supposedly, Bob Wells, from CheapRVLiving.com, will start the caravans again this fall. So for now many of the traveling groups get together at his virtual platforms at www.Meetup.com/Caravans and on facebook at www.Facebook.com/groups/WeCampTogether. 

Remember ladies that many men could be using the above links as a dating app so be careful. But you as a traveling Nomad, whether you are traveling by RV, Van, or in a Car, need to make better decisions about who you are meeting on the road.

Again, if something does not seem right, it is probably not right — so be ready to leave a group at the drop of a hat.

 

 

 

 

 

Has 5G Been Made Safe?

This is How They Had Planned on Killing or Controlling Us in The Future with Depopulation and Mind Control

This is How They Were Going To Expose Everyone to Toxic 5G Radiation

They (aka “The Government”) were on a path to do this, to purposely expose us to more radiation, however, supposedly since we are going into a new era (aka “New World”) — everything has changed so we need to watch this carefully and #QuestionEverything.

I was told by workers at T-mobile and Verizon that all the cell towers are being upgraded and within 6 months to a year, ALL PHONES, no matter which carrier you have (Verizon, AT&T, T-mobile/Sprint) — you will need to upgrade so they can communicate with the new 5G cell towers being installed everywhere.

This means that these phones will be full of 5G radiation, which is a heavy metal so they (aka “The Government”) will probably be in a position to zap us at any time to make us sick or even kill us — especially if you get out of line (#FreeSpeech).

So your phone won’t work if you don’t upgrade it. The goal is to learn now how to reduce the amount of radiation (aka ‘Heavy Metals’) you currently receive in your body by eating certain foods, drinking certain water, and taking certain supplements. Special Report coming soon.

What You Should Know About Cell Phone Towers

Supposedly, all the new 5G towers have been weakened and set to heal us instead of zapping us with more radiation.

The widespread use of cell phones in recent decades has led to a large increase in the number of cell phone towers (also known as base stations) being placed in communities.

During the shut-down these were placed in and around many, many neighborhoods, children’s playgrounds, schools, hospitals, etc.

These towers have electronic equipment and antennas that receive and transmit cell phone signals using radiofrequency (RF) waves.

Cell phone towers are still relatively new, and many people are understandably concerned about whether the RF waves they give off might possibly have health effects.

At this time, there’s no strong evidence that exposure to RF waves from cell phone towers causes any noticeable health effects. However, this does not mean that the RF waves from cell phone towers have been proven to be absolutely safe.

Most expert organizations agree that more research is needed to help clarify this, especially for any possible long-term effects.

How Do Cell Phone Towers Expose People to Radio Frequencies

Cell phone base stations can be free-standing towers or mounted on existing structures, such as trees, water tanks, or tall buildings.

The antennas need to be high enough to adequately cover a certain area. Base stations are usually from 50 to 200 feet high.

Cell phones communicate with nearby cell towers mainly through RF waves, a form of energy in the electromagnetic spectrum between FM radio waves and microwaves.

Like FM radio waves, microwaves, visible light, and heat, they are forms of non-ionizing radiation.

This means they do not directly damage the DNA inside cells, which is how stronger (ionizing) types of radiation such as x-rays, gamma rays, and ultraviolet (UV) rays are thought to be able to cause cancer.

Cancer is the second largest killer across every community so look for cases of cancer to increase in the future.

My Phone Service

I am a Nomad. I travel around the country in my 2019 Promaster Cargo Van teaching from the road at www.YouTube.com/SimpleLifeRVing and www.Instagram.com/SimpleLifeRVing.

My topics are Health, Business, Minimalism, and Happiness. I am also a “Spiritual Intuitive,” and a “Dating” and Love Coach” at www.BlackMatchmakerClub.com.

Because many Nomads (RVers, Van and Car Dwellers) will be living and working in remote jobs, their phones and internet service will be key for them.

It’s extremely important that most Nomads and everyone else, be able to make a phone call, especially in case of an emergency.

I use T-mobile for my phone service and I have the Verizon Mi-fi to get on the internet. I had a big, big interest in what is happening with both carriers.

I always wanted to just deal specifically with Verizon because, for years, many of us heard it had the best service. However, for Nomads, many of us have figured out — that it depends on what part of the country you are located in.

Three (3) Phone Carriers

There are currently only 3 cell phone carriers, which are Verizon, AT&T, Sprint/T-Mobile. Sprint was acquired by T-mobile in 2018.

In 2018, T-Mobile and Sprint announced plans for a $26 billion merger combining the two companies into what would be a bigger No. 3 network — behind Verizon and AT&T.

Most Nomads seem to have Verizon cell service and everyone has discussed having good service with it.

Many use Verizon for their Data Plan and other companies such as ATT, T-mobile/Sprint, etc. for their cell service. 

All the cell phone providers also offer data access by cell phone signal. You can get a data plan for your cell phone, or you can get a data plan that works just on your laptop and doesn’t have a voice plan at all.

It has the advantage of being cheaper. You can get a friend and family plan for your cell phone, and a data-only plan for your laptop.

There are two ways to get the signal into your laptop:

• MIFI, this is a credit card-sized device that receives the cell data signal and rebroadcasts it as up to five WIFI signals. That means that up to five other devices can use that data signal. For example, your laptop, Kindle E-reader, Apple iPad, etc. can all be connected at the same time and you can still invite two family members or friends to use it as well. The cost is around $50 a month for 5 Gigs of data, but they also have an $80 a month plan for 10 Gigs. 
• Another device to get data into your laptop is a Data Stick. It is used for only one laptop at a time and most often connects by the USB port of your laptop, but you can also get them that slide into a slot in your laptop.

Both of these work well, but I think the MIFI (also called “Jetpack”) is a much better choice because it offers you a lot more flexibility. Try the above before going out and buying the expensive weBoost cell phone system that can cost more than $400. 

The reason weBoost is not as effective as an external antenna is the “Boosters” also add noise to the signal being boosted. This is not an issue with voice, but can severely slow down data transmissions. 

Remember that you can get better connections over “HOTSPOTS”. The weBoost is for sure better than nothing, but a very good MIMO antenna (cost is around $30), which most hotspots can handle, will typically yield BETTER RESULTS with your data needs.

Some Nomads have added MIMO antennas, which allows them to use multiple carriers such as Verizon and AT&T. Even though Verizon is good for overall coverage, most Nomads are reporting that Verizon and AT&T are better in the west and T-mobile and Sprint is better in the east, but many are using at least TWO cell and data services in order to be hooked up to cell and internet while traveling full-time. 

RV Parks Cell Service

Many of the RV parks or when boondocking, you will have a WEAK cell phone signal. Remember that cell phone bars don’t matter but speed does when it comes to making a call or using data.

Some of the campgrounds might charge you $8 a day for faster cell phone service, but it still might not work. 

When boondocking especially, if you don’t have a cell signal, go somewhere where you can hike out at night in case something happens. And always point your vehicle toward the exit in case you have to jump in the front seat and exit the area.

If You Have A Tight Budget

You can use FREE wifi hotspots all across the country. There are businesses that offer free WIFI in order to get customers to come to their place of business (coffee shops, malls, whole and health food stores, libraries, book stores, etc.). So if you have a TIGHT BUDGET, that’s the way to go.

Usually, it is a very fast internet connection but also remember that it is not completely secure and can be hacked and your data can be captured.

And there is not always FREE wifi nearby. You may have to drive some distance to find it and burn the extra gas or do without the internet. 

Read my 6 health books to learn more about what has happened to the food supply system and why it is imperative that you grow your own food.

Check out my two links and initiatives for growing foods:

www.VirtualOrganicGardenClubs.com and 

www.BrothersBuildingGardens.com. 

 

 

 

Feb. 22, 2021

After over a year in my van and after reaching another city, Orlando, FL, I realized that I might have picked up a mice in my van.

I had reflectix under my bed so a couple of times, I thought it was raining outside, but found out instead something was walking on the reflectix.

Shortly after buying the van when I was in Houston, one night after Stealth Camping and dosing off to sleep, I had heard a mice in the van then. However, because the Van was so new and clean, the mice jumped out after one night.

The goal is to keep the van clean and your food in an airtight container. I had made it a point not to park near dumpsters, where these critters hang out, but they had still made their way into my van for the second time.

The first thing I did was to stop and just clean out everything. I did find a couple of pieces of rotten fruit such as an apple and watermelon, which might have attracted them in the first place, so it is important to account for everything – every piece of food — that you bring in your van.

If something falls on the floor in your van – make sure you retrieve it and start looking throughout your van every week or two to take inventory of everything you have in there.

I had done this practice since buying the van, however, because I was passing into a cold city and area, Atlanta, I had stopped looking through everything.

Once I heard the mice walking on the reflectix, I had found droppings (urine) on a stack of toilet tissue and paper towels – that I had stacked on one side. So I believe I had made myself a target by carrying so many of these items in my van.

Once I threw everything out – I cleaned out everything and now I can see all the way under my queen-sized bed.

I took three (3) steps specifically to get rid of the mice in my van and ensure that it stays out:

-First of all, I put out a bowl of cotton balls containing peppermint essential oil. If mice can’t smell they feel they are in danger and that is also how they find food so they have to be able to smell.

-Secondly, I bought Irish Spring soap – cut it in half, and placed it in every corner of my van. Again, the soap will block their ability to smell.

-Thirdly, I bought the Mice/Rat Glue traps from Home Depot and put peanut butter instead of cheese in the middle of it.

So far, I believe all these methods have been working in my van after I heard a mice or two in my van one night. I believe they did the job and again, I have a ‘peace of mind’ as I travel with my #VanLife.

 

 

 

 

Feb. 23, 2021

Hello Everyone:

I grew up in rural Georgia so I had to deal with the cold early on as a child. I guess that is one of the reasons I have been okay out here on the road as a Van Dweller.

However, initially, when I started Van Life, I found myself unprepared a couple of times and had to endure the cold just like I did in the military, which back then was part of the training.

You want to take the following steps to keep warm out there in a Car, Van, RV, or in your home:

–Eat Chocolate: For some reason, chocolate will warm up your insides so it was recommended to me by other van lifers to eat chocolate. I did and it did work.

–Drink Hot Chocolate/Cocoa: I learned from a survival expert at the yearly event for RVers and Van Lifers to drink hot chocolate or hot cocoa instead of drinking hot coffee or hot tea. He said the effect of the coffee and tea would not last as long as the hot chocolate or hot cocoa. I believe he was right. I always keep hot chocolate in my van.

–Buy Sleeping Bag: Most people never think about just having a sleeping bag (or two or more) at home for emergency purposes, but this is a wonderful idea. I would even buy two of them and use the one on top like a tent to bring in instant heat when you get under there. Walmart sells them for $15. Make sure it is 20 or 30 degrees below. Even if the zipper breaks — if you buy a cheap sleeping bag, the sleeping bag will still serve its purpose.

–Wear Long Johns: There are plenty of long johns out there, but the best brand to really keep the cold out is ‘Cuddl Duds’. They are available at Walmart.

–Buy Electric Blanket: If you have any type of power source then Walmart has a $15 electric blanket, but again, you need some type of power source such as a power box, inverter, or generator to plug it up to. Most people prefer also not to go to sleep in an electric blanket because even on the low setting, they can get too hot. Many just use it to lounge around — before they go to sleep for the night.

–Wear Layers: Instead of putting on one big layer — wear layers of clothing so you can take items off if you get too hot. 

–Wear Socks/Gloves/Mittens: Wear socks to lounge around in. Many people can’t sleep in socks especially if they are in a sleeping bag. The goal is to keep your hands warm because if your hands freeze then you can be at risk for frostbite so keep them warm by wearing gloves or mittens or just put socks on your hands for warmth if you don’t have these.

–Wear Hats/Scarves: The goal is to keep your head warm because most of the time warmth exits your body through your head and feet. Make sure you wear hats and/or scarves, which cover your ears and neck. The goal especially is to cover your chest area. 

–Massage Your Shoulders: If your feet get extremely cold and you don’t have warm water to dip them into then try massaging your shoulders with some type of oil such as olive oil. It will warm up your feet.

–Snuggle Up: Make sure you snuggle up with your mate/spouse, children, or an animal. You can put a tent over the bed and create a wave of heat under the tent. An extra sleeping bag unzippered would work the same way as a tent over the bed.

–Check On Seniors: Make sure you check on Seniors especially elderly neighbors. Most Seniors die due to a lack of air conditioner in the summer and heat in the winter. Make sure the services in charge of checking on Seniors are actually doing their jobs.

The weather is an uncertain today so you need to have survival items at your place of residence at all times – whether you are living in a car, van, RV, or in a home such as:

-Extra water

-Extra food

-Extra clothing (coats, sweaters, hats, scarves, long johns, socks, etc.)

-Extra wood if you have a wood stove or fireplace.

-Power boxes (Jackery.com), inverters, generators, solar panels (small and large), etc. Remember any type of solar panel might not work if there is no sun out so be prepared.

-Sleeping bags 

-Electric blankets

Just because you made it out of this winter – not needing any of these items, it doesn’t mean that you won’t need these items in the near future. It could mean the difference between life and death – so be prepared and stock up. Good luck!

 

 

1. Will You Be Mobile or Stationary? Remember there are several types of Van Dwellers and RVers. Some move every 2 to 3 days, which can be costly (gas). Others move every 2 to 3 weeks, and others every month or two or every 6 months. However, a large portion of Van Dwellers and RVers are what you call stationary. Many times they are stationary due to their health, to be around family or they might have a job that doesn’t allow them to be mobile, so figure out early on what type of traveler you will be. Personally, I enjoy moving every 2 to 3 weeks. I like exploring and checking out one area at a time to see if I can come back to that area when I need to relax.

2. Have Some Type of Protection With You: It doesn’t matter what type of background you have. It is not safe to be out on the road with no protection. You might need a taser, pepper spray, bear spray, gun, pellet gun, knife, whistle, jogger’s alarm, take a self-defense course, etc. Read the article I wrote “Keep Safe When Camping.”

3. Get Regular Maintenance on Your Vehicle: You need to get regular maintenance on your vehicle especially if it is new. This might just take paying attention and keep a maintenance log. This way especially if you travel a lot, you will have your favorite places to get maintenance on your vehicle.

4. Carry Emergency Supplies With You: I believe some people just forget to carry the orange cones in case they break down on the freeway, fire extinguishers (at least 2), CO2 detectors, and plenty of batteries. Many new van dwellers and RVers end up getting on the road without these.

5.  Clean Your Van Everyday: Remember living in your van is just like a house so it is important that you clean up everyday so you don’t attract flies especially in the heat. Also, try not to park by a dumpster because this is where rats hang out at – which can also get into your van.

6. Park Your Van Level: Park your van level, otherwise, you will be rolling out of your bed at night. I did not invest yet in any type of levelers for my tires. I just make sure my emergency breaks are on every night and I try to park level on a flat surface.

7.  Download Weather Apps: Monitor at least 4 or 5 weather apps such as #Weather, #TheWeatherChannel, #WeatherNation, #MyRadar, #Windy, etc. You never know how the weather will change from day to day so take advantage of nice, breezy day — days where you can be comfortable especially if you only have a temporary build. At month number five (5), I made the statement that I finally feel like I am on vacation and the very next day, I literally almost blow away in my van. About 3 times I got up to go and find a building to park beside off that could block the wind off. So you have to be on your toes living in this lifestyle. You want to especially be careful on BLM.gov or National Forest land. It can be problematic if you fall asleep on this land and wake up in the rain in mud, so again, you have to pay attention. Also, one of the reasons I have not utilized it as much as I should is that I like being somewhere where I can get on the internet.

8. Birds Chirp All Night: I have been woken up all times of the night by the birds chirping. I do believe because of what has happened, we are moving back to nature and this is why you hear birds chirping at all times of the day and night.

9. Keep Changing Your Temporary Build-Out: I believe everyone who has a temporary setup will continue to make small or large changes to it. However, at this point, I don’t plan on spending any more money on my temporary setup. I did, however, go ahead and buy the portable solar panels (100 Watts) to charge up my Jackery 500 power box. That way I do not have to idle my car or drive just to charge up my box. 

10. Get Referrals for Your Permanent Build-Out: If you still have a temporary build-out and you do need others to help with your build then get around others that can give you referrals. Attend events such as the yearly Van Build in November in Parker, AZ, and the yearly Rubber Tramp Rendezvous (RTR) in Quartzsite, AZ. Also, join caravans at www.Meetup.com/Caravans. The good thing about caravans and when you find your tribe. When you want to be alone, it’s easy to just get up and leave.

Many people on the road especially those that live in cars and van are viewed to be homeless. As a former veteran and a person that loves traveling and who has traveled quite extensively in the U.S., I feel quite lucky as a #VanLifer to have several residences that I can go to if I need to get off the road. First of all, my family owns over 30 acres in Georgia so I can always go back there or with other family members or friends in other areas.

 

Being stationary as an RV Tech has its perks, but so does being mobile. Marketing will be key for both of these professions. Not only should you market your business on the side of your vehicle, but also in local newspapers, RV radio shows and podcasts, but don’t forget to form relationships with Campgrounds and RV Parks, who can send referrals your way.

Let me know if you have any other questions on business ownership and don’t forget to check out my two business books “How To Take Control of Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide To Starting Your Own Business’ (Series 2)  and “The New CEO: 185 Easy-To-Set Up Businesses for Youth and Adult Entrepreneurs.’