Keyser, West Virginia
ABOUT
(expanded details, for anyone interested, are included at the end of this page)
ABOUT
THE BLOG
How to live free in an increasingly unfree world is becoming
a quest for more people everyday. Too much has finally become too much. Many
are simply seeking a simpler, downsized and economical lifestyle. They're also
looking for ways to live with the least number of laws, rules, regulations,
ordinances, covenants, codes, limitations and restrictions controlling and impacting
their lives. We are born free and it's natural to desire to live our lives
realizing the most personal freedom and happiness we can, as we individually
define these qualities and values.
I've lived well. I've had lots of nice vehicles. I've lived
in many nice homes in nice places. I've had lots of clothes, traveled widely
and realized some success in business. Ultimately, I reached a point where I
realized I just had too much and it was controlling me rather than me
controlling it. To that end, I began this blog in February 2008. It is, on the
one hand, a journal of my life journey to gain as much personal freedom and
happiness as I can. While, on the other hand, it's a series of essays, reviews
and quotes encompassing thoughts, ideas, philosophies, questions, observations,
tips, techniques and resources written with the intention of assisting you in
your own pursuit of personal freedom and happiness.
I hope you gain some insights, are a bit entertained and,
perhaps, find some answers and/or solve some perplexing issues. Please
subscribe to the blog, become a regular reader and share it with others.
(continued below)
ABOUT
ME
I’m a certified former Jersey boy - born and bred,
lived and educated in Clifton, New Jersey for the first 22 years of my life.
-I was an average kid, the oldest of three, from a typical
New Jersey middle class working family.
-I earned my amateur radio license at age 14 and still
maintain my license - WA2FMT.
-I'm a non-conforming, lifelong, serial entrepreneur.
-I'm single and the father of an adult son, a freelance
graphic designer and world traveler.
-I'm a what you see is what you get (WYSIWYG) kind of guy,
no pretenses and ego very under control.
I've lived in:
-Clifton, New Jersey (mainly) - 22 years
-Syracuse, New York - 2 years
-Washington, DC - 4 years
-Annapolis, Maryland area -10 years
-Winchester, Virginia area - 27 years.
-Box Elder, South Dakota is my current "home base"
- October 2010 until ?
-Home is actually wherever I am at any particular moment.
ABOUT
MY EDUCATION
-Clifton High School, Clifton, New Jersey, college
preparatory course, average student '63
-Montclair State College (now a University), Upper
Montclair, NJ, BA, Education '67
-Syracuse University, Newhouse School of Communications,
Syracuse, NY, MS, Television & Radio '70
(continued below)
ABOUT
MY MILITARY SERVICE
U.S. Air Force, enlisted/NCO, radio program writer,
producer, production engineer, voice talent for Secretary of the Air Force in
Washington, DC; produced hundreds of hours of syndicated radio programs and
other productions for the Air Force; involved with recording sessions in
Nashville, Hollywood and Washington, DC during my tour of duty, 1970 - 1973.
I'm a Vietnam era veteran.
ABOUT
MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER
As a serial, lifelong entrepreneur (beginning at age 12)
I've owned and operated numerous businesses before, during and after military
service. Audio-Video Concepts, Inc. (AVCon) was the continuation and expansion
of my early New Jersey and Syracuse business in Washington, DC during the
1970's. It grew rapidly and by age 30 I had a small, influential business with
nearly 30 employees, cutting edge media technology and an impressive client
list. Since military service I’ve owned and operated:
-recording studios
-location recording businesses
-high-speed tape duplication businesses
-video production operations
-professional audio equipment distributorships
-a professional video equipment brokering businesses
-a custom record label
-conference recording businesses
-trade book publishing company
(continued below)
ABOUT
MY POLITICAL POSITION
My political stance is very simple - I'm apolitical. On some
issues I tend to lean conservatively. On other issues I lean a bit more
liberally. In general I'm more conservative than liberal. I am not now and have
never been affiliated with either of the two controlling political parties. By
some, I'm considered a Libertarian, although that's probably stretching it and
I don't like labels.
(continued below)
ABOUT
MY NEW LIFE
On November 1, 2008 I left the horse ranch I’d lived on for
6 years to begin my life as a "location independent" vagabond."
I travel and live in a ’94 high-top Ford conversion van, always a work in
progress. I carry computers, digital recorders, various still cameras and camcorders, peripherals
and other necessities making me a “tech-nomad.” I devote my time to
writing/blogging and creating books and information products. I provide some
freelance audio production services, publishing consulting and conduct seminars/workshops
and retreats.
MY
MISSION STATEMENTS
My “Living Free” Mission: To live as freely and
happily as possible, seeing and learning everything I can, meeting everyone I
can and sharing how to live freer, simpler and happier lives with others
through my traveling lifestyle.
My Life Mission: To leave this campsite (Earth) a
little better then I found it.
ABOUT
MY VAN aka "MY McVANSION"
Behold "My McVansion," a 1994 Ford,
E150, Turtle Top, raised-roof, conversion van continually undergoing
improvements and renovation as a very basic Class B motor home or van dwelling.
The vehicle, with relatively low mileage, is very sound. It is my
"motorized magic carpet" and my "tin can tent" for
exploring the North American continent.
(continued below)
(continued below)
________________________ Additional "ABOUT"
Information ________________________
ABOUT
THE BLOG - continued
The blog is not, by intent, meant to be political in nature.
However, unless we live in a small, untouched by civilization, primitive tribe
in some outlying undeveloped part of the planet, we are all impacted by
politics. So, from time to time there will be some political undertones or
overtones in some of the articles.
Political correctness, by its very nature, is a suppression
of free speech, thoughts, feelings and freedom typically imposed by some
governmental entity at some level. This blog does not adhere to political
correctness. I'll say what I mean and mean what I say. I will never say
anything to intentionally offend or denigrate any individual or group. If you
interpret it that way, it's because of where your thinking is and you have that
right. I don't apologize for being who I am or how I think and feel.
I love Harry Truman's very simple and clear definition of
political correctness when he was writing to General Douglas MacArthur at the
end of World War II, "Political Correctness is a doctrine, recently
fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and promoted by a sick mainstream
media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick
up a piece of shit by the clean end!" Old Harry didn't mind saying what he
really meant.
It's not my manner to use foul language, innuendos or slurs
that might be considered racist by the politically correct, but like Harry
Truman, sometimes you simply have to call a spade a spade and an idiot an idiot. Again, I will not apologize for exercising my freedom of speech, but
know that I use the language not for shock value, but because it best expresses
my feelings and emotions at that moment.
I write this blog for you, the reader. I know what's in my
head, so I'm not writing it so I know what I'm thinking. I'm writing it so YOU
know what I'm thinking. I don't profess to be a great guru, possessor of some
"gift" or be all, know all savior or messiah. I'm simply another
human attempting to make the best of this gift of life I've been blessed with
and, maybe, help a few other people realize how to do the same, ultimately
making this a tiny bit better world. Please feel free to opine. I want,
appreciate and respect your comments and feedback. I'd like this blog to be a
dialog and an exchange of thoughts and ideas. I hope you gain some insights,
are a bit entertained and, perhaps, find some answers and/or solve some
perplexing issues. Please subscribe to the blog, become a regular reader and
share it with others.
ABOUT
MY EDUCATION - continued
Highlights of College & Graduate Education:
Undergraduate - “majored” in Extracurricular Activities and
“minored” in Industrial Arts, teaching certification, K-12; member, Epsilon Pi
Tau, Industrial Arts Honor Fraternity; selected as “Outstanding Senior” of my
class; started the campus amateur radio club; founded The Voice of Montclair State, the campus radio
station now operating continuously for 48+ years in the New York City metro
area; work scholarship for the Audio/Visual Center where I was introduced to
the live concert sound and recording industries that became my lifetime career;
assistant to Director of Student Activities and managed all campus events for
all groups and organizations.
Graduate - graduate assistantship as Chief Production
Engineer for the Empire State FM School of the Air, a 17 FM station network;
served as Operations Manager for WAER, Syracuse University FM station.
Ancillary experience during college and graduate years -
freelance concert sound work and audio recording; became member of the Audio
Engineering Society; moved business to
Syracuse and provided concert sound and recording services for clients
throughout central New York State; taught Television & Radio part-time at
Onondaga Community College, Syracuse.
ABOUT
MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER - continued
I also:
-spent ten years as principal sound designer for a highly
regarded community theater.
-provided voice-overs for many information and educational
audio programs, audio books and other audio and video productions.
-created, produced and distributed SuccessTrax®, an
internationally distributed audio magazine on personal and professional
development
-designed and built recording studios and various kinds of
recording and sound systems for various applications for a number of
clients.
-dabbled in several multi-level/network marketing
businesses.
-provided a variety of consulting services.
-spoken professionally.
-was a member of the National Speakers Association for a
quarter century.
-founding member of the Washington, DC Chapter of the NSA
over 35 years ago.
-coordinated an annual retreat for 12 years for a group of
veteran professional speakers at which we recognized several speakers each year
with the coveted “Legend of the Speaking Profession” designation.
ABOUT
MY POLITICAL POSITION - continued
I do not like and have little respect for politics or
politicians. I do not consider them, at any level, including the presidency, to
be superior to me or me to be subject or subservient to them. While I have
always voted, I've come to a point where I don't believe voting really matters
to me because I have been so little served by any elected official during my
lifetime. Whoever is elected is pretty much the evil of two lessers.
I am not an anarchist, as that word is popularly defined. I
simply do my best to live as simply, free and happy as I possibly can without
breaking any significant laws of the land. However, I firmly believe that's
impossible because no one, including the government, who regularly breaks their
own laws, can possibly know all the laws.
And, as I've already stated, I do not adhere to political
correctness. I simply do my best to treat everyone fairly, with respect and the
best I can and hope to be treated the same. It's my way of living the old
fashioned "Golden Rule."
ABOUT
MY VAN aka "MY McVANSION" - continued
When I began researching and planning my nomadic lifestyle
about eight years ago, a dream I’d had since I was in college, I was planning
on a 38’ to 40’ diesel pusher motor coach to accommodate myself, my gear, work
space and the capability of having an occasional “ride along” companion. As I
became familiar with the costs, not only for the initial acquisition, but also
for the insurance, fuel and maintenance of such a behemoth, I began to scale
back. I decided I needed something I could own outright with low insurance
costs, relatively low maintenance costs, somewhat reasonable fuel costs and the
capability of sustaining my vagabond wanderings for at least a year and a half
to two years. By that time, I figured I'd be able to determine if I wanted to
upgrade to something a bit larger with more creature features . . . or not.
So, this van is my micro motor home. I've reduced my requirements from about 300 sq ft. to about 50 sq ft of rolling living space. The van includes an adequate size bunk, a workstation, portable toilet, a simple galley and adequate storage. The onboard electrical system provides 12 volt DC and 110 volt AC. It is also 110 volt AC capable from external shore power sources. There are both electric and propane gas heating sources for chilly weather, though I avoid that kind of weather as much as possible. Fuel mileage is between 50% and 100% better then with the behemoths I had originally been contemplating. Fuel is my most costly single expense.
So, this van is my micro motor home. I've reduced my requirements from about 300 sq ft. to about 50 sq ft of rolling living space. The van includes an adequate size bunk, a workstation, portable toilet, a simple galley and adequate storage. The onboard electrical system provides 12 volt DC and 110 volt AC. It is also 110 volt AC capable from external shore power sources. There are both electric and propane gas heating sources for chilly weather, though I avoid that kind of weather as much as possible. Fuel mileage is between 50% and 100% better then with the behemoths I had originally been contemplating. Fuel is my most costly single expense.
