Vamping....camping in a van.

It was uncomfortable for us at first, to tell people where we're staying, because it changes day to day. On our way back from Washington/Oregon we found out the place we had arranged to stay was no longer available....WTF?! Was our initial reaction. Where will we go, what will we do?

Two dogs made it very difficult to find a place we could afford that would also allow our four legged furries. We did luck out, a very nice student of James' offered us a very good deal on a room to rent, and loved the dogs.....but the commute was really long, not something James could do on a bike, and when we added the amount for gas to drive back and forth from Berkeley to Tiburon, it raised our monthly cost by another $300. After a long talk, we decided it wouldn't work. It was just to much money and our reason for staying so long in the states was to build our kitty back up. Solution?

We live in our van. We have a few places we're welcome to park. Friends have lent us keys for showers. When we have a few days off, we spend them with James' family, either in Portola Valley or Sacramento. We found inexpensive places to eat out. $5 little ceasars once a week, $2 tacos at Monte Cristos on Wednesdays. Indian lunches starting at $7 and Chevy's happy hour.

We debated on letting people know where we're staying, we don't want pity or anyone feeling sympathy for us. This was a choice we made. It sucks sometimes. It's not the most comfortable with only 4inch cushions to sleep on, but it's another adventure. And if you know James and I, you know we embrace adventure, weather it's fun and easy or challenging and difficult. This is how you get to know yourself and your partner. Tell me how many of you reading this could not only live in a 36ft boat for 2 years with two people and two dogs, but also in a 1982 Chevy van for two months with the same 2 people and 2 dogs? Our Van could fit inside our 36ft boat, but somehow it's made us as a couple stronger. I could talk to James for hours, and sometimes we do. No T.V. What else is there? We could read and ignore each other, but we actually like each other a lot, so conversation is much more entertaining than any book I could pick out......but I must admit, (this is Dominga confessing) that I miss my NFL games.