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Showing posts with label Trailer/Campers/Simple Living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trailer/Campers/Simple Living. Show all posts

Simple Life: 23 Feet Movie Trailer

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This is how it all started for me... I don't remember who, when or even why somebody recommended me this movie trailer. I was nothing like any of those people: I didn't really have any passion for anything, I loved comfort, I didn't want to sacrifice it for anything else, and I'd never considered myself to be a dirtbag ( I always thought it was just another name for "homeless" ) ...

A simple life has a different meaning and a different value for every person. Living a simple life is nothing new.The practice of voluntary simplicity is advocated in the teachings of Jesus, it also has its roots in the teachings of other world religions, the teachings of Gandhi, and the writings of Thoreau. The American Friends Service Committee (The Quakers) define simple living as a "non-consumerist lifestyle based on being and becoming, not having."

For me, it means spending my time doing what’s important to me, getting rid of many of the things I do so I can spend time with people I love and do the things I love.

The "23 Feet" movie trailer is a film about a community of people who make the conscious choice to live simply to do what they love in the great outdoors. Three women set out across the west in their 23 foot, 1970 Airstream to search for the stories of people who have turned their backs on the creature comforts of society to live in school buses, vans, and other small spaces. From an inspiring campfire chat with legendary Yosemite climber Ron Kauk, to hearing the powerful story of a woman who changed her whole life for surfing, 23 Feet gives an intimate look at the ups and downs of dedicating your life to your outdoor passion.

Living In Your Car Like A Bohemian ( Or A Bum )

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For me, the word "adventure" has always been associated with something that presents a challenge, something that offers an unbelievable, firsthand experience,   and creates unforgettable, vivid, self-defining memories.

Since I started this blog I've been blessed with meeting, reading and writing about people who push their physical, mental and spiritual limits, who challenge orthodox social viewpoints, who possess a burning desire to expand their knowledge through firsthand experiences to test the limits of their own strength and endurance, and in doing so, discover their true self.

There are many names for people like this :  adventurers, wanderers, vagabonders, nomads, minimalists, bohemians... One thing they have in common - living the life on their own terms.

The choice to live an adventurous lifestyle is not an easy one. It is very difficult to break free of the monotonous routine of daily life when you have been repeating it for years on end. There is only one way to break the routine, and that is to just do it. And that's exactly what I did...

Living off-grid in a trailer/RV/van like a traveling nomad enjoying life, going on adventures, and writing inspiring stories has been on my Bucket List for quite a while. I talked to people who lived "RV life style" full time, read and followed the blogs of those who went off-grid in tiny houses , wrote about fellow adventurers who perused their passion full time while living in vans and camp sites, and even created a visual aid to help me try this new exciting way of living. Until one day, I just decided to go for it....

Since I'd been traveling for quite some time, at that time I didn't have too many possessions. Everything I had fitted in  a  5x10 storage. It just took me a matter of two days to rig up my faithful Subaru, and "hit the road".  Because of my family circumstances I didn't go too far, and spent the next 3 months living in my car.

Unlike many unfortunate folks out there, my experience wasn't created by a financial situation. It was a pure adventurous and social experiment. Inspired by people I read and write about, I wanted to see if I had the guts to walk away from the convenience of every day life, challenge a few social norms, and to see what I'd be capable of physically and emotionally. 

As you might know, many stories that I write about I experience myself firsthand.  Surviving and off-grid living haven't been the topics of this blog... not till now.

Today I'm starting a new category " Survival/Off-Grid Living ".

Looking back at my adventures living in a car, traveling cross country, spending majority of my time playing in the backcountry, and coming from former USSR with nothing but $50 in my pocket ( and surviving the first 7 years as an "undocumented alien" ), I think I've deserved the right to share my knowledge and experience to help people prepare for times when SHTF or/if they fall into harsh financial times.


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Would 2014 Toyota 4Runner And Tundra Be Ideal For Active, Upscale, Rustic Lifestyle ?

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A few months ago, I wrote a short post about the role of a vehicle in the life of an adventurer. For many of us, our cars are more than just transportation to get us from home to our favorite trail-head or surf break.

Whether you live in your van while climbing full time in Yosemite ( like Alex Honnold ), travel around US and Canada with your house-trailer in search of fresh powder, or living the good life for two months, cruising the Pacific coast catching waves, making friends, and living in a van ( like Cyrus Sutton ), you are very serious  ( and picky ) about what you drive.

The more rugged and demanding your adventures, the longer your trips, and the more gear you need to haul, the more requirements you have when it comes to choosing your adventure-mobile.

Is is 4WD or AWD ? How does it handle demanding outdoor conditions like snow, dirt, mud, dunes ? Is it specious enough to keep all your gear and live in ( for at least a weekend ) ? Will it tow my additional toys like a dirt-bike/snowmobile/jet ski trailer ?

Most "outdoorsy cars" brag about off-road ability, durability and their towing capacity, but few have the heritage and durability of the new Toyota Tundra and 4Runner.



 If you've been following this blog, you know that I'm not big into off-roading, but when I got a chance to test drive both  Toyota Tundra and 4Runner in beautiful and remote Cle Elum, WA, I was very excited !


Both cars proved to be real adventurous, go-anywhere, hard-core workhorses ! Not to mention their rugged exterior design, and interior refinements that add comfort and convenience without sacrificing their hallmark performance capability and excellent value.

While I enjoyed driving both cars on paved and gravel roads, unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to be behind the wheel to truly experience their off-road capabilities. I left it up to the professionals.

Piloted by off road  racer Joe Bacal ( the winner of 2012 Baja 1000 ), and co-piloted by yours truly, we took Toyota 4Runner on off-road trails in the heart of the Cascade Mountains.



 The 2014 Toyota 4Runner has kept its body-on-frame, pickup truck based characteristics. Meaning, that when you take the new Toyota 4Runner off-road, you will absolutely know it can perform.

What impressed me the most was Toyota’s Crawl Control (CRAWL) feature on its Trail model. The system helps maintain an appropriate speed to keep the vehicle under control and minimizes the load on drivetrain and suspension components. With the transfer case shifted into low range, CRAWL regulates engine speed and output (along with braking force), to propel the vehicle forward or in reverse at one of the five driver-selectable low-speed settings. This allows the driver to maintain focus on steering over rough level ground or steep grades without having to also modulate the throttle or brake pedal.


The Trail grade also features a Multi-Terrain Select system that dials in wheel- slip control to match the terrain. In loose terrain such as mud and sand, more-than- normal wheel slip is permitted, allowing wheel-spin to work in the vehicle’s favor. On bumpy moguls, or solid rock, wheel slip is minimized and the system acts more like a limited slip differential. The Mogul setting is for any extremely uneven terrain, such as V-ditches, slopes, and ridges, uphill or down. All models come standard with Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), which provides additional control for off-road driving by helping to hold the vehicle stationary before starting on a steep incline or slippery surface. All 4Runner 4x4 models feature standard Downhill Assist Control (DAC). This feature augments the low-speed ascending ability of low-range by helping to hold the vehicle, allowing time for the driver to a target speed with no driver intervention. 

But the most exciting  part of my trip was taking these cars on a beautiful and relaxing rafting trip with a gourmet dinner and introduction to fly fishing in the end !

To be  continued....


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Living In The FUTURIA

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... the idea of living in RV or a trailer still seems to be exciting to me ! But why live in an old, beat up camper, when you can live in the FUTURIA !!!
The FUTURIA sports+spa is the first show truck worldwide with an integrated whirlpool on the nearly 11 m sun deck with yacht flooring. The lifestyle trailer truck also houses a roadster garage, a luxurious lounge, a berth, a powerful sound system, a fog machine and under floor illumination.


The best thing about this luxurious caravan ? It's only $ 840,000 !!!
I'm just $839,000 short :(
Can you spare some change ?


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Sometimes I wish I Was A Ski Bum

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For the past 4 years I've been reading and following many people who decided to dedicate their lives to pursue their dreams. Their stories are a true inspiration for me. Every time I read or watch such a story, I wish I could find that courage, passion, and dedication in me.

 Recently, I came across a beautiful video about a group of friends traveling in tiny RV-style hand built home visiting the great ski areas across North America. They took the house all over the western United States and into Canada, over 9000 miles. Below is an amazing video that shows how the project started and how the timy house was built.



Last year, on my Bucket List I added " Buy a trailer and live for at least 2 months as a "digital nomad". This video inspired me to start a new category "Trailer/Campers/Simple Living" where I will post stories and pictures of people who decided to challenge norms, do what they love in the outdoors, and enjoy life !

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