Regrets! #1

When I woke up this morning, early, actually well before sunrise, I scanned my email, as I regularly do. I deleted those that held little interest this morning and then went back and opened those from friends or blogs I usually read or news feeds to scan the headlines. There I found an email from a friend and reader of this blog, Richard Rosen. He forwarded a link to a newsletter article, suggesting it was something I could have written.

Long story short, Richard was on the right trajectory. I've touched on some of the topics in some of my blog articles in the past. So, I thought I'd share some of the points made in the article with you with the hope of stimulating some open discussion. Remember, everyone has their own perspectives on these kinds of topics. There are no right or wrong ideas.

The title of the article was "What You Can Learn From Other People's Regrets." The author, one Dr. Joseph Mercola, who publishes the Mercola Health Newsletter. But, more specifically Dr. Mercola expounded on the regrets people have as they approach death. He gathered his information from a book titled, "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying," by Bronnie Ware, a former palliative care nurse who interviewed many dying patients during her career.

I'm not opening this up from a negative, we're all dying, approach. Rather, as a way to do something NOW to avoid these regrets when we reach our "user expiration date," someday.

So, here is the #1 Regret people have:

Information Overload, Brain Drain & Writers Block

As regular readers of this blog, I'm sure you have noticed that I haven't been publishing much in the way of new articles for the past few months. I regret that. I have actually written several posts, however, after spending considerable time writing and contemplating each article, I just wasn't satisfied that I was delivering thoughts and ideas I felt would be useful for you. So, they sit in my draft file and may surface sometime in the future after I look them over again and possibly edit or rewrite them.

So, What Is My Problem?

I am back at my base camp in West Virginia. I arrived here about 9:30 PM this past Tuesday evening, July 22^nd after six weeks of travel. I realized that I just haven't been producing the way I normally do or the way I like to. Since I returned I actually wrote, yet, another article the other day. I wasn't happy with it either.

So, I realize that I'm in some kind of funk, phase or mode that I'm not very pleased with, after all, my life and philosophy are all about living free, yet, I don't seem to be able to write anything about it. Am I actually living free? Is my mind and creativity free? Or, am I trapped in some kind of black hole of my own creation.

I believe I've identified three causes for my writing malaise. The first is “Information Overload” or as some call it, “TMI” or “too much information.” It's basically mental clutter. The second is “Brain Drain.” The third is “Writer's Block.” Let me explore each of these a bit with the intent of helping emerge from my personal state of the literary doldrums and, perhaps, assisting you in climbing out of some kind of personal “black hole” you may be dealing with.

I might also mention that this kind of lethargy or mild despondency may actually be the manifestation of some (hopefully) mild form of depression. I'm not sure what specifically triggers various manifestations of depression, but I know that I have a genetic predisposition. So, while I don't feel particularly depressed, it may have nothing to do with how I'm actually reacting.

Information Overload

Let me first examine the idea of “TMI.” I am, by my very nature and as a 50 year veteran of the recording industry, an information “sponge.” While I was drawn into the recording industry by the music part of the business, I actually spent the vast majority of my life creating thousands of hours of information content. I guess I could almost say my middle name is Information. People often comment to me that I'm a fount of information. This can be very good, but it can also be a curse.

I am a voracious reader (though I really never classified myself as such), but not so much in book form as in articles, blog posts, newsletters and a variety of other forms. There has been so much going on in our country and our world, both recently and currently. My mind seems to never quit grabbing at and attempting to comprehend and order continuous sound bites both aural and printed. I have also shared time with an amazing array of very interesting people over the past six weeks on my just completed trek to New Jersey, Connecticut, New York (state) and Pennsylvania. By the way, if you aren't aware, I find just about everyone amazing and interesting since each person is so unique.

I learned so much on the trek. I took more than a thousand photos. I have about 150 hours (maybe more) of video I've captured with my dash cam. I explored old “stomping grounds” and witnessed the changes. I met, spoke with and learned from the numerous people I interacted with along the way. All this while traveling about 3,300 miles mainly in just one of the four states I visited. My mind may be having some issues with sorting, categorizing and analyzing this “data” to put to some tangible use. So, as I said, TMI!

Brain Drain

What I mean by “Brain Drain” might be considered by some to be numb or “brain dead” (not in the clinical sense, but psychologically and, maybe, emotionally). There is so much going on inside my head that I simply have needed to shut down for a while to take some time to sort, analyze and categorize all the accumulated new data. I need to discern that which is useful and valuable enough to to relate it to you and which is the chaff that I simply need to discard.

There is a blog I read by Randy, titled Mobile Kodgers. Randy seems to have his act together, but he uses pictures to speak thousands of words. He has found his voice. I haven't met Randy, yet, but intend to when I get out west later this year. Another interesting blog is Waterfall Road by TJ Worthington. I've met TJ down in his territory in the mountains of northwestern North Carolina. I was down there this past New Years Eve and passed a brief pleasantry with TJ, but it was at a celebration of one of my closest and longest friend's wedding (on New Year's Eve – that's a way to start a new year). So, I didn't have the opportunity to get aside with TJ and really chat about – well, lots of things. TJ also seems to have his thoughts in order.

So, not only am I dealing with Information Overload, but I've allowed this overload condition to drain my brain, leading to . . .

Writer's Block

I'm sure, if you've been reading my blog for any length of time, being at a loss for words has not been a problem for me. Actually, if anything, I need to get a copy of the AP Style Guide used by journalists and learn how to curb my words to make my posts faster, easier to read and comprehend and more interesting. (Maybe I'll order a copy for my Kindle library after I complete this post.).

Writer's Block is a real psychological problem, first described by a psychoanalyst in 1947. Many, if not all, writers including best selling, award winning authors have suffered the malady at some level at one or more times during their careers. So, while not exactly reassuring, at least I know I'm in good company and I can “recover.” I also read another article that enumerated ten types of writer's block and I can identify with at least four, if not five, of those.

I am going to post this article because it may assist you in overcoming some form of writer's block or even just some other challenge or even procrastination you may be dealing with. I know there are numerous other bloggers and writers who read this blog and, perhaps, you may also be going through some periods when writer's block sets you back a bit.

Ready! Set! Write!

I have a lot of things I want to write about. And, actually, writing this article has been educational and motivating for me. It has helped me focus my attention on the issue and recognize the things that may be blocking my creativity and productivity. So, be ready for some new articles with, what I hope will be, valuable and useful information. It's welled up inside this living free, location independent, nomadic blogger. It's about time, isn't it?

Commencement Day for My McVansion’s Metamorphosis

The day finally arrived! Yesterday, September 11^th 2012, I officially began the construction of the interior of my Ford van, now know affectionately as “My McVansion” after a van naming contest I began right here on this blog.

Now, yesterday holds some national and even worldwide significance as the date of the worst attack by foreign individuals on U.S. soil. It was the anniversary of the unforgettable attacks taking nearly 3,000 lives in the collapse of the two World Trade Center Towers in New York City (along with the loss of other smaller buildings), the Pentagon in Washington, DC and the lives of airline passengers on the four U.S. passenger airliners hijacked and used as missiles in the attacks. The heroic passengers of the fourth plane saving either the Capitol or the White House from nearly certain attack by crashing that plane in a field near Somerset, Pennsylvania.

Additionally, as the day rolled out and while I was working on my personal construction project other events and attacks against the United States were taking place in Cairo, Egypt and Benghazi, Libya that ultimately cost the lives of four American diplomats including the U.S. ambassador to Libya. We live in troubling and dangerous times. The events of this day in 2001 and again in 2012 should make us all stop and not only take a moment to remember those who have perished, but also how important freedom is, both politically and personally.

So, while I certainly remembered the negative significance of the date, yesterday, I was also feeling some exhilaration and fulfillment as I took the next step towards my own progress in achieving more personal freedom. In light of the events that were unknowingly unfolding, I was enjoying the beautiful day, comfortable temperatures and doing something I hadn’t done in a long time. I was working with my hands and creating something that was designed to propel me forward towards my personal objective of living free(r). I feel it was all very fitting. I certainly decry and condemn the dastardly actions in the Middle East, yesterday. However, there is little I, as one individual, can do to change the course of events in the world. The only thing I do have any power over is the course of events in my own life. I must remain responsible for my actions and myself.

This past Saturday, I ventured to the nearest “Harry McVansion Owner’s” DIY emporium and selected a batch of materials that would allow me to begin molding my Ford van into my McVansion. You have seen photos of the van posted on the blog before. Here is the basic van as I purchased it.

The Exterior of  My McVansion as purchsed
(Fiberglass running boards and flares in place)

Interior as purchased with seats and couch in place

Space wasting and useless "atmosphere" lighting panels just above the windows

I removed the rear seats right after I obtained the van. 

Van interior with all rear passenger seating removed but seat belts still in place

Finally, two weekends ago, I found a local man here in Keyser, West Virginia, about a block away from my “Eastern Base Camp” who had a garage, a lift that could handle the van and we removed the aging and badly deteriorated fiberglass running boards and wheel well flares.

Some of the damage and deterioration to the fiberglass running boards and wheel well flares

That instantly eliminated several problems including the terrible squeaking and screeching noises those fiberglass parts made as the road and vehicle motion flexed them. We also removed the spare seatbelt anchors for all the rear seats and removed some excess trim that was of no value for my purposes and will make the build in somewhat easier.

After removal of fiberglass running boards and wheel well flares - right side

Interior with seat belts and useless wood trim/atmosphere lighting removed

The left side useless wood trim & atmosphere lighting removed (the 12 volt truck wiring remains)
One of the included shades was damaged when I bought the vehicles, but I have plans for that

So, I loaded my purchases at the DIY place in the van and took them back to Base Camp. My bank account was a little lighter and there sure doesn’t appear to be very much there. But, everything is carefully calculated to serve a specific purpose. When one decides to take approximately 50 square feet of floor space (the space between the back of the driver’s and right passenger’s seats and the back doors of a van like this and turn it into a habitable environment, it doesn’t take much to fill. Every inch needs to be as efficiently utilized as possible. Additionally, weight must be taken into account, especially in these times of high fuel costs. The more weight, the lower the gas mileage will ultimately be.

So, I’ve designed and redesigned the floor plan of the McVansion several times. I’ve continued to find ways of utilizing as much of the space as possible for multiple purposes. I’ve attempted to build in as much useable storage (in addition to some limited storage in the original van conversion as I bought it) as possible, with full recognition that, again, I need to be very cognizant of the weight factor and that less is more in this kind of living environment. Here are just two of several floor plans I've developed. The plan I'm pursuing is not here and is still evolving as I build in.

Rear Bunk Floor Plan

Side Bunk Floor Plan

So, yesterday, I built the frame for what will ultimately be the bunk that I’ll sleep on at night and the couch like seating area I’ll relax on during the day, especially on days when the weather is inclement and I will need to remain inside My McVansion and either work (at writing or some audio production) or catch up on some reading or find some other way of occupying my time when the great outdoors is inhospitable. The frame will be raised high enough to provide for various kinds of storage underneath. A plywood sheet will be on top of the platform to support a memory foam mattress. I am not building this for beauty, but for functionality. As pragmatic thinker, my mantra has pretty much always been “form follows function” and that’s true for My McVansion.

Doesn't seem like much, but my checking account groaned as I paid for it

From humble beginnings a "tiny house" on wheels begins to take shape

So, 9/11 in 2001 changed the world forever. Politically, 9/11 2012 made another statement on the condition of the world we live in and on freedom. And, 9/11 2012 is the day I took the next step towards my own personal freedom and the ability to live free as I define it for myself. Follow along as I document my project and get My McVansion ready for a “shakedown cruise” and then to be exploring America.

There is one final note I want to make about this project. Procrastination is a terrible thing! I just looked back at the records on the van and I acquired it on September 16, 2011. That's just about one year ago minus four days. If I had been on the ball, I would have had My McVansion on the road by last winter and spent a good part of this past year traveling the country and meeting up with all the folks who have offered me a place to park and visit, many are already friends I've known for years and other are friends I haven't met in person, yet. There are too many little obstacles and, more often then not, excuses we allow to slow up our progress. I urge you, if you have a dream, a purpose, a passion or an objective - DON'T PROCRASTINATE! Like the Nike slogan says, "Just Do It!"