Keyser, West "by God" Virginia
ABOUT ME
I’m a certified former Jersey boy, born and bred. I lived my first 22 years in part at Exit 153 and in part at 154 (if you know anything about New Jersey you’ll know what that means), 12 miles from NYC. I was an average kid, the oldest of three, from a typical New Jersey middle class working family. One of my youthful accomplishments was earning my amateur radio license at age 14 (I have continuously maintained that license to the present day). I'm a non-conforming, lifelong, serial entrepreneur. I'm single (divorced) and the father of an adult son who is a freelance graphic designer and world traveler.
I've lived in Syracuse, NY for 2 years, Washington, DC for 4 years, the Annapolis, MD area for 10 years and the northern Shenandoah Valley of VA for 27 years. My current base of operations (since October 2010) is the Box Elder, SD, but home is wherever I am at any moment.
EDUCATION
After graduating from Clifton High School, I attended Montclair State College (now a University) in Upper Montclair, NJ where I “majored” in Extracurricular Activities and “minored” in Industrial Arts, earning a BA in Education and Teaching Certification for K-12. I became a member of Epsilon Pi Tau, the Industrial Arts Honor Fraternity and selected as the “Outstanding Senior.” I was involved in many extracurricular activities. I started the campus amateur radio club. I founded The Voice of Montclair State, the campus radio station that has been operating continuously for 46+ years.
I had a work scholarship for the Audio/Visual Center during college. There I was introduced to the live concert sound and recording industries. That was a pivotal point that introduced me to my lifetime career.
After completing my undergraduate degree I attended graduate school at Syracuse University and earned an MS in Television & Radio. I had a graduate assistantship as the Chief Production Engineer for the Empire State FM School of the Air, a 17 FM station network. I also served as the Operations Manager for WAER, the Syracuse University FM station.
I began doing freelance concert sound work and audio recording while I was attending Montclair State College. I became a member of the Audio Engineering Society. My New Jersey business moved with me to Syracuse where I provided concert sound and recording services for a broad base of clients throughout central New York State.
MILITARY SERVICE
After two years in Syracuse, where I was also teaching TV & Radio part-time at the local community college, I became "draft bait." I flew to Washington, DC, interviewed and secured an enlisted radio production position with the Secretary of the Air Force Office of Information in Washington, DC. After Basic Training and a short tour of duty at Lackland Air Force Base I moved to Washington, DC where I produced hundreds of hours of syndicated radio programs and other productions for the Air Force and was involved with recording sessions in Nashville and Hollywood during the three years of my tour of duty from 1970 through 1973. Thus, I'm a Vietnam era veteran.
THE BUSINESS YEARS
AVCon (Audio-Video Concepts, Inc.) the continuation of my Syracuse business, grew rapidly and by 30 I had a small, but influential business with nearly 30 employees, cutting edge media technology and an impressive client list. Since I left the U.S. Air Force 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
and
a book publishing company
All this since starting out in 1963 and 1964 as a college freshman who entered college believing I was destined to become a Baptist minister. I also:
spent ten years as the 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.
designed and built recording studios and various kinds of recording and sound systems for various applications for a number of clients.
I’ve dabbled in several multi-level/network marketing businesses, provided a variety of consulting services and spoken professionally. I was a member of the National Speakers Association for a quarter century and a founding member of the Washington, DC Chapter of the NSA over 32 years ago. I currently coordinate an annual retreat for a large group of veteran professional speakers at which we recognize several speakers each year with the coveted “Legend of the Speaking Profession” designation.
THE 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" nomad." I travel in a ’94 Ford van I’m converting for full-time living. I carry computers, digital recorders, an HD camcorder, a digital still camera, peripherals and other necessities making me, also, 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. That pretty much brings it all up to the present.
MISSION STATEMENTS
My “Living Free” Mission: To see and learn everything I can, meet everyone I can and share how to live free, simply and happy with others on my Search for America.
My Life Mission: To leave this campsite (Earth) a little better then I found it.
ABOUT "MY McVANSION" (VAN)
Behold "My McVansion," a 1994 Ford, E150, Turtle Top, raised-roof, conversion van that is currently undergoing the conversion process to becoming a very basic Class B motor home or van dwelling. The vehicle, with low mileage, is very sound. It is my covered wagon for exploring the North American continent.
When I began researching and planning my nomadic lifestyle about four 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 the insurance, fuel and maintenance of such a behemoth, I began to scale back. So, 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 nomadic wanderings for at least a year and a half to two years. By that time, 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 will soon be 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 will include an adequate size bunk, a workstation, portable toilet, a simple galley and adequate storage. The onboard electrical system will provide 12 volt DC and 110 volt AC. It will also be 110 volt AC capable by connecting to an external shore power source. There will also be small heating source in the event of some chilly weather, though I plan to avoid that kind of weather at all costs. The fuel mileage will be between 50% and 100% better then with the behemoths I had been contemplating. But, I fully expect that fuel will very likely be my most costly expense. It gets about half the fuel mileage of the Ford Focus. OUCH!
