Tale of Two Dreamers

Christmas at the Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC 2017

I met Pamela Ziemann (or as she likes to be called, "pam ELLE a")  in a Natural Vision Coach Training in Redondo Beach, CA in January 2016. We spent a week trying to shed our glasses with six other people. I found the work compelling because it so closely mirrored what I do to help people move through back pain. So I decided to become a certified vision coach.

She had an enthusiasm and vivaciousness that made me want to sit next to her. One day I said "I think we're birds of a feather" and she nodded in agreement.

I also said to her at the end of the program, "Wouldn't it be cool to be able to hop in my camper vehicle and travel up the coast to visit you in Oregon for a bit after this is done." Again, she nodded in agreement with a wide grin.

 Pamela in "If I Were Me I'd Know What I Want"

Pamela shared that she grew up on a dairy farm and this was the reason she was now a vegan. The suffering of the animals was torture for her as a child but was just the culture that everyone simply accepted in Minnesota. 

She is now a professional speaker and play write and wrote a one woman show called "If I Were Me I'd Know What I Want" in which she tackles the topic of dairy farming, in part, by recalling being forced to try out for the "Dairy Princess" contest on the night she wanted desperately to go see Alice Cooper.

And she's hitting the road.

In a car.

Like me.  At the same time this year. To take her show out there and spread her talent and the important message of how dairy is produced. It's not the Ben and Jerry happy cow story that you wish it were.  She's already performed around the west, in Manhattan and is heading soon to Tucson.

Which is very cool because sooooooo many folks dream of doing this, and she's doing it!

She bought herself and INCREDIBLE Chrysler Pacifica hybrid mini-van that gets (you ready for this?) 85 MPG.... She's used one tank of gas since August. She plugs in at night otherwise. That thing you see in there is her bed and storage.

Pam and I are sharing the sisterhood of small space living and of  cooking in our "Roadpro" luchbox 12 volt cooker (I've begged her to share her cooking experiences as a vegan, most of the videos on Youtube using the Roadpro  are very meat and potatoes).

This is what is very, very fun and cool about this community. We all want each other to succeed and we share our secrets gladly and effortlessly.

Some very funny moments below...... here's Pam ELLE a and "'If I Were Me I'd Know What I Want."

Watch Trailer of Pamela here

I'm heading to Fernadina Beach/Amelia Island on Dec 29th hopefully to watch the "Shrimp Drop" on New Year's Eve.

LOVE YOU ALL! and thank you for your readership.... and support. 

OH and BTW, Pamela has a sweet little French Bulldog named Ruby who is also going along!

Ruby

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Why Am I Doing This?

Why am I doing this?

I've always wanted to repeat the two month car camping trip I took in 1990 with my then boyfriend David. We had a pop up camper and a little Volkswagon Golf. And I had a small Cairn Terrier also. It was an amazing experience and I've dreamed about doing it again for two and a half decades.

Why alone?

Because I waited around for someone to show up for a long time to do it with and they never showed up.

Why only the car?

This is the question that I get most often. Last year, I almost bought a beautiful van camper. One with a kitchen, stove, bathroom, microwave, and so on. I had a deposit on it, then decided to back out.  Something inside just said no.

I wanted it simpler. As someone who is very concerned about over consumption, this was just another thing that I was adding to my already fairly large pile of things. And I don't want to have to care for another "thing".  So I bought the tiniest, ittiest bittiest pop up trailer my Honda could tow. And I have even decided that's too much and am going to sell it.

You camp in your car?

Yes. For most, sleeping in their car denotes the lowest possible place you can fall in this society. Not for others who choose to live a mobile lifestyle and totally get it! 

For me,
*it promotes the greatest amount of freedom and spontaneity, no booking ahead and showing up on time. Indulging in reverie is a top priority and not looking at the clock essential,

*the best possible gas mileage and best bang for my buck,

*the greatest ability to travel freely with my beloved pup,

*the highest level of safety as a woman alone (I can lock doors, blast the horn and just hop into the driver's seat and away I go),

*the most profound simplicity and minimal use of water and electricity (use solar lights and 12 volt chargers) and when I need a little heat, fire up the engine,

*the best way to get me outside of my comfort zone and talk to people and be in nature, because, let's face it, who wants to hang out in their car for too long,

*and actually, a fellow FULL TIME car dweller (see David in his Prius here) prefers sleeping in his car and refused a bedroom when offered because it's actually harder to move everything from one place to the other,

*it forces me to only  take what I actually need and will use. An extra sweater sometimes isn't even possible,

*it affords the greatest flexibility and stealth factor when I visit someplace. As a matter of fact, "stealth" camping is an art and it requires fortitude and guts and is part of the adventure and thrill of "not knowing" exactly what, where, and when.

*And you get million dollar views almost every day!

Is it safe?

That's the second most asked question and the one that I was most concerned about. 

I've camped in big box store parking lots like Walmart, at gatherings of hundreds of mobile dwellers in the desert of Arizona on BLM land and in the forests of Sedona, I've done Couchsurfing and boondocked in people's driveways, casino parking lots and stayed with friends. And it's all free.  I've rarely paid to sleep, and in a two month period, used a motel only three times when I was so beat I couldn't manage anything else. 




And YES, it is  all very safe. If you are thinking of doing this, learn how and learn how to be safe. Mostly common sense guides you. If it feels creepy, leave. And I can travel for longer periods BECAUSE I don't pay to sleep. Which I think personally is a waste of a good $100 bucks when you could have a whole lot more fun with $100 being conscious.

What's the downside?

The sleeping part is awesome! I've never had better sleep. I usually went to bed not long after the sun went down. Again, what are you going to do in your car for hours when it's cold outside? And the desert gets cold.  I was usually in bed by 9 pm. That's almost impossible at home. I'd wake up at 4-5 am and put in three hours of music practice first thing before I "got up." 

The worst thing is really the bathroom thing. Us "nomadics" aren't shy about talking about the how-to's of that, but I'll spare you. Gym memberships like Planet Fitness are really terrific for this reason, you can use it anywhere in the country. And when you fill up your gas tank, even if it's two dollars, you get to use the (hopefully not gross) facilities. But sometimes........ it's prreeettttyyy gross!

AND you can get busted for stealth camping. I got busted once in a casino parking lot and it's a horrible experience  (ok not HORRIBLE, but being in your pj's with security rapping on you window isn't that great). I dragged myself to a Motel 6 at 2 am and got three hours of sleep. Most mobile dwellers usually count this as the worst thing that happens. And it happens to everyone, hopefully only once! (fingers crossed).

This isn't just tiny living, this is "micro" living. And it has it's challenges. Dropping something in the middle of the night is usually irretrievable until morning. There are moments when you want to scream or cry, but those moments happen in a house too.

Are you going to keep doing the car?

For now, yes. I've wired "house batteries" to my car so that when I drive I can charge two large 75 amp AGM batteries that will power computers and even a 12 volt oven! I'm always looking though. If a larger vehicle comes along that gets decent gas mileage, then maybe someday. But I'm getting 30 MPG and most vans get half that.

What is your hope and purpose ultimately?

I want to move more into doing service work and teaching.  I'd like to write, compose, take pictures. I love playing my guitar and singing  and want to explore offering this also. I want to travel with my dog and do these things in places that I've never seen or been before and love. And I have always wanted to escape New England in the winter months. Living and traveling this way allows me to do this a couple of months a year now. And I'm very, very grateful! 

I'll be heading off sometime soon after Christmas!

Thank you for your interest, love and support of this project! xo Laura and Choochi

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Wish list

Greetings! And hope your holidays are/were wonderful. 

Getting my agenda in order for the trip.

A top priority this winter is to swim with these lovely beings. 

Definitely a bucket list item!

5 Great Places to See Florida Manatees

Manatees roam the waters of southeast Florida from April through October—but when things get a bit chilly, they head to places like freshwater Florida springs, where the temperatures remain constant throughout the year.

It may not seem warm when you jump into a freshwater spring, but the water temperatures remain around 70 degrees, which is perfect for manatees in Florida who need that kind of warmth to survive.

Seeing a large number of Florida manatees in one place is an amazing experience, but just remember these gentle sea cows are there for survival. Whether you're on a solo kayaking trip or a manatee swim tour, always mind your "Manatee Manners"— look, but don't touch.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has produced several videos on interacting with manatees, whether it's by swimming/snorkeling, boating or kayaking. There's even information that's specifically for photographers and videographers.

Ready to see some manatees in Florida? Here are five places to check out:

1. Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River

If you haven't been to Three Sisters Springs, you're missing out. It's a year-round favorite of mine and in the winter manatees come in huge numbers. Kayak or take a boat tour to the springs. I've counted more than 100 manatees in the area at one time. With a concentration of Florida manatees like this, you can imagine that there's also a large concentration of people. Remember, be respectful and observe from a distance. 

2. Blue Spring State Park, Orange City

Blue Spring State Park gets my vote for the best "no boat needed" manatee viewing location. During manatee season, the spring run is closed -- but there are several overlooks and boardwalks along the way. Make a day of exploring the park and watching the manatees. Bring your camera because there are great pictures to be taken and memories to be made.

3. TECO Manatee Viewing Center, Apollo Beach 

Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center is a designated manatee sanctuary to which large numbers of manatees in Florida return annually to the warm discharge waters of the Big Bend Power Station. Viewing platforms, tidal walkways, and an environmental education center are located at this 50-acre facility.

4. Lee County Manatee Park, Fort Myers

Located across from Florida Power and Light and directly on the warm water discharge canal, Manatee Park is another wintertime haven where large concentrations of Florida manatees can be seen. Several viewing areas, a butterfly garden, and picnic shelters are available.

5. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville

The Haulover Canal connects Mosquito Lagoon and the Indian River, and on the east side of the bridge is a manatee observation area. Viewing platforms, interpretive signs, a boat ramp, and a polarized viewer are located at the