Jill:
Though my airstream is parked in my back yard, where I've run underground 30
amp power and 2 phone lines (my own, 1-trailer park), I make my living in
it, and LOVE it. Your thoughts about adding a workshop area to yours prompt
my writing. I have a 26' Argosy, and have found it wonderfully easy to
modify into a combination of living/office quarters. I've removed one of my
center twin beds, boxed in the water heater and wheel well that were covered
by the bed and storage under, and cut down a hollow core door (lightweight,
strong, and free for the asking--also matches the woodgrain finish on wall
panels nearly perfectly) and installed it there as a desk. It sits on a
couple of modular file drawer units and is fastened to the wall, forming a
wonderful, and quite large work station. I've also removed the front sofa,
and for now work on the dining table with my back to the front window. WHen
I have a chance, I've got another hollow-core door I've cut down to form a
desk that will match the contour of the coach, and extend forward from the
street side bulkhead that boxes in my fridge, swing the radius of the front
corner of the coach, and then extend as a narrow strip, just bookshelf-deep,
across the front at just-below window height. The watertank, which sits
under the window, makes for another shelf, and I might add a third shelf
surface midway between the tank top and the "return" of the desk. Then I'd
sit with my back to the door, my monitor in front of a blank spot in the
streetside wall where it doesn't obstruct the window. I have saved all the
parts, so I can put the whole rig back to stock, should I want to, with
about a day's work. Also, I should mention that I've put a work surface that
rests on the top of the backsplash, and on little feet on the front of the
surface (3/8 ply), that covers the stove and sink area. It's easily
removable (just lifts off) and I think might be useful for laying out stuff
for you, as well.
I'm a full-time freelance writer, and I've been working in this setup every
day since last May. All my cubicle-bound ex-colleages think I've got the
best office they can imagine. As I used to work for magazines side by side
with graphic designers, I can easily imagine you working well out of a
trailer. If I was going to full-time in one and office in it too, I wouldn't
want less than the 26' I have, and would probably go whole hog for a
Sovereign or Excella, 31 or 34', just so I had ample room for
life-sustaining stuff like groceries (my dometic 3-way fridge is currently
stuffed with reference magazines--food for thought, but not to eat!). But I
know a guy who full-times and does web production out of a 22-footer, but he
did have the thing gutted and a custom interior office-living suite built to
purpose. He tows with a Suburban, says he uses every bit of the space in the
truck, and wishes he had at least a couple more feet of trailer. I can
easily believe it.
I originally got my rig as a cheap alternative to buying a bigger house with
room for a home office. Or so I thought. Actually, I'm a long-time
backpacker and small-sailboat cruiser, and the compact feel of a trailer
fits my aesthetic, as does the fantasy that some day I will do as you plan
to--take the show on the road! Freelance writing, like design, can be done
from anywhere.
Thanks for sharing your dream with all of us. If I can be of any help re:
trailer mods, let me know. I have some thoughts on insulation, as well, that
may be useful to you if you're going to go into cool climates. I' currently
sitting in 3-degree Des Moines, Iowa, toasty in my A/S with just an electric
heater (Pelonis Flex-Furnace II--the best!) and a $15 electrically-warmed
automotive seatcover on my office chair, plugged into the power point next
to the dining table.
Dan Weeks
'75 Argosy 26
Des Moines, IA
> From: Randy & Cheyanne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2001 13:41:28 -0800
> To: Multiple recipients of VACList <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: [VAC] Re: Cheyanne - Camp Hosting
>
> Jill,
> Doesn't sound nuts to me...sounds like a good plan. As for parks, you need
> to contact the individual state park that you are interested in working and
> they will send you an application for camphosting. They ask that you make at
> least a one month commitment, and 3 months is the average. They will schedule
> you the months that you can work. So you would just pick the state you were
> interested in and do a search on state parks in that state to get the
> addresses. So far we have been campoground hosts, given museum tours,
> registered guests, and are scheduled in the late summer for lighthouse tours
> on the Washington coast:) It is a great way to travel around. Takes a little
> planning, but it sure beats $1,000/mo. for rental! Good luck and also good
> luck with your jewelry business:)
> Cheyanne
>
>
> Jill Hari wrote:
>>
>> Cheyanne, I had not realized that (camp hosting)
>> was an option and I LOVE the idea! Do you set
>> this up prior to arrival or what? How do you
>> arrange it?
>>
>> I bought Woodall's Campground Directory and see
>> that any RV parks within 45 miles of a big city
>> charge outragious rates. To stay within commute
>> distance to San Francisco (one of the highest
>> paying regions) will cost $35 to $45 per night -
>> that's about $1,000 per month which is still way
>> cheaper than rent in that city but MAN! I'm
>> hoping most of these places will offer monthly
>> rates.
>>
>> Someone's idea of looking for a small lot in a
>> mobile home park sort of interests me, though I
>> have a notion that the quality of neighbors may
>> not be as good in the type of mobile home park
>> that would take a travel trailer as in RV parks.
>> That comment doesn't sound very fair, but it's my
>> experience and I'm thinking of safety as well.
>>
>> I'm an artist - most of my earnings come from
>> print work... graphic design for logos, corporate
>> i.d., collateral, brochures, posters, etc. I've
>> just added Web site design to the mix. My office
>> & equipment is compact and moveable but I don't
>> expect to keep a financially sustainable
>> clientele while on the road, so I plan to have
>> long stayovers near major cities and work as an
>> administrative and graphic design temp employee.
>> I'm currently in the process of re-establishing
>> my skills metalsmithing and beading as a business
>> - my goal is to set up a compact corner workshop
>> (probably one which can sort of fold out or pop
>> out from under the couch) in my Airstream and
>> create a line of designer and custom jewelry to
>> sell to shops and at fairs around the country.
>>
>> Yes, I'm a bit eccentric with an untraditional
>> way of thinking. And maybe a little nuts to some
>> of you but this is my dream.
>>
>> -Jill
>>
>> --- Randy & Cheyanne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>> Jill,
>>>
>>> Have you considered doing any sort of
>>> work-camping while on the road? My
>>> husband and I have been fuulltiming for almost
>>> 2 years and we do camp hosting
>>> for state and national parks. No pay, but for
>>> 14 hours of volunteer work a
>>> week you get free space to park(in a state
>>> park), free utilities, free
>>> laundry, and it is lots of fun. May I ask what
>>> sort of work you will do? We
>>> are both nurses and work a couple days/week,
>>> but it is hard going state to
>>> state because of licensing.
>>>
>>> Cheyanne
>>
>> =====
>> Even after all this time
>> The Sun never says to the Earth,
>> "You owe me"
>> Look what happens with a love like that...
>> It lights the whole sky. ---Hafiz
>>
>> JillyWon Is Outie...
>>
>> __________________________________________________
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>> Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
>> http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
>>
>> To unsubscribe or to change to a daily Digest, please go to
>> http://www.airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html
>>
>> If replying back to this message, please delete all the unnecessary original
>> text from your reply.
>>
>>
>
>
> Jill Hari wrote:
>>
>> Cheyanne, I had not realized that (camp hosting)
>> was an option and I LOVE the idea! Do you set
>> this up prior to arrival or what? How do you
>> arrange it?
>>
>> I bought Woodall's Campground Directory and see
>> that any RV parks within 45 miles of a big city
>> charge outragious rates. To stay within commute
>> distance to San Francisco (one of the highest
>> paying regions) will cost $35 to $45 per night -
>> that's about $1,000 per month which is still way
>> cheaper than rent in that city but MAN! I'm
>> hoping most of these places will offer monthly
>> rates.
>>
>> Someone's idea of looking for a small lot in a
>> mobile home park sort of interests me, though I
>> have a notion that the quality of neighbors may
>> not be as good in the type of mobile home park
>> that would take a travel trailer as in RV parks.
>> That comment doesn't sound very fair, but it's my
>> experience and I'm thinking of safety as well.
>>
>> I'm an artist - most of my earnings come from
>> print work... graphic design for logos, corporate
>> i.d., collateral, brochures, posters, etc. I've
>> just added Web site design to the mix. My office
>> & equipment is compact and moveable but I don't
>> expect to keep a financially sustainable
>> clientele while on the road, so I plan to have
>> long stayovers near major cities and work as an
>> administrative and graphic design temp employee.
>> I'm currently in the process of re-establishing
>> my skills metalsmithing and beading as a business
>> - my goal is to set up a compact corner workshop
>> (probably one which can sort of fold out or pop
>> out from under the couch) in my Airstream and
>> create a line of designer and custom jewelry to
>> sell to shops and at fairs around the country.
>>
>> Yes, I'm a bit eccentric with an untraditional
>> way of thinking. And maybe a little nuts to some
>> of you but this is my dream.
>>
>> -Jill
>>
>> --- Randy & Cheyanne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>> Jill,
>>>
>>> Have you considered doing any sort of
>>> work-camping while on the road? My
>>> husband and I have been fuulltiming for almost
>>> 2 years and we do camp hosting
>>> for state and national parks. No pay, but for
>>> 14 hours of volunteer work a
>>> week you get free space to park(in a state
>>> park), free utilities, free
>>> laundry, and it is lots of fun. May I ask what
>>> sort of work you will do? We
>>> are both nurses and work a couple days/week,
>>> but it is hard going state to
>>> state because of licensing.
>>>
>>> Cheyanne
>>
>> =====
>> Even after all this time
>> The Sun never says to the Earth,
>> "You owe me"
>> Look what happens with a love like that...
>> It lights the whole sky. ---Hafiz
>>
>> JillyWon Is Outie...
>>
>> __________________________________________________
>> Do You Yahoo!?
>> Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
>> http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
>>
>> To unsubscribe or to change to a daily Digest, please go to
>> http://www.airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html
>>
>> If replying back to this message, please delete all the unnecessary original
>> text from your reply.
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
> Jill Hari wrote:
>>
>> Cheyanne, I had not realized that (camp hosting)
>> was an option and I LOVE the idea! Do you set
>> this up prior to arrival or what? How do you
>> arrange it?
>>
>> I bought Woodall's Campground Directory and see
>> that any RV parks within 45 miles of a big city
>> charge outragious rates. To stay within commute
>> distance to San Francisco (one of the highest
>> paying regions) will cost $35 to $45 per night -
>> that's about $1,000 per month which is still way
>> cheaper than rent in that city but MAN! I'm
>> hoping most of these places will offer monthly
>> rates.
>>
>> Someone's idea of looking for a small lot in a
>> mobile home park sort of interests me, though I
>> have a notion that the quality of neighbors may
>> not be as good in the type of mobile home park
>> that would take a travel trailer as in RV parks.
>> That comment doesn't sound very fair, but it's my
>> experience and I'm thinking of safety as well.
>>
>> I'm an artist - most of my earnings come from
>> print work... graphic design for logos, corporate
>> i.d., collateral, brochures, posters, etc. I've
>> just added Web site design to the mix. My office
>> & equipment is compact and moveable but I don't
>> expect to keep a financially sustainable
>> clientele while on the road, so I plan to have
>> long stayovers near major cities and work as an
>> administrative and graphic design temp employee.
>> I'm currently in the process of re-establishing
>> my skills metalsmithing and beading as a business
>> - my goal is to set up a compact corner workshop
>> (probably one which can sort of fold out or pop
>> out from under the couch) in my Airstream and
>> create a line of designer and custom jewelry to
>> sell to shops and at fairs around the country.
>>
>> Yes, I'm a bit eccentric with an untraditional
>> way of thinking. And maybe a little nuts to some
>> of you but this is my dream.
>>
>> -Jill
>>
>> --- Randy & Cheyanne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>> Jill,
>>>
>>> Have you considered doing any sort of
>>> work-camping while on the road? My
>>> husband and I have been fuulltiming for almost
>>> 2 years and we do camp hosting
>>> for state and national parks. No pay, but for
>>> 14 hours of volunteer work a
>>> week you get free space to park(in a state
>>> park), free utilities, free
>>> laundry, and it is lots of fun. May I ask what
>>> sort of work you will do? We
>>> are both nurses and work a couple days/week,
>>> but it is hard going state to
>>> state because of licensing.
>>>
>>> Cheyanne
>>
>> =====
>> Even after all this time
>> The Sun never says to the Earth,
>> "You owe me"
>> Look what happens with a love like that...
>> It lights the whole sky. ---Hafiz
>>
>> JillyWon Is Outie...
>>
>> __________________________________________________
>> Do You Yahoo!?
>> Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
>> http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
>>
>> To unsubscribe or to change to a daily Digest, please go to
>> http://www.airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html
>>
>> If replying back to this message, please delete all the unnecessary original
>> text from your reply.
>>
>>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe or to change to a daily Digest, please go to
> http://www.airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html
>
> If replying back to this message, please delete all the unnecessary original
> text from your reply.
>
>
>
>
To unsubscribe or to change to a daily Digest, please go to
http://www.airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html
If replying back to this message, please delete all the unnecessary original
text from your reply.
