Ch-ch-ch-changes!

Hello my friends,

Well. Wow, where to start?!? With the bus trip for sure.

So much has been happening in my life recently. One of the goals of my trip was to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I'd been steadily waking up to the fact that my position was not the best fit, at least in terms of providing the challenges that keep me excited and eager to head in to work. As I wasn't meeting those needs for challenge in my job, I began volunteering.

Volunteering is fantastic! It's the best way I've found to give back to my community, which I have loved a looooooong time. That's right Bellingham, I'd sleep with you every night if I could... it's just sometimes I want to spend the night some place else. Sue me.

Anyway, volunteering has opened my eyes up. So much, that I'm afraid to sneeze for fear my eyes will fly out of my head! What all this means - in terms of the road trip - is that I feel good working for non-profits.

One non-profit in particular I find so completely inspiring. I want to learn all that I can about them! They've inadvertantly also set me on a path I'd like to explore... developing a non-profit for neighboring Skagit County that can help increase awareness of Skagit farmers, while facilitating many of the connections that will maintain a sustainable community.

I love bringing people together. My head is this great filing cabinet that stores away information that often proves useful. "Oh Jackson, you're intereted in starting a downhill inner-tubing club? My friend Bertha is an avid downhill inner-tuber, and she could help you get that started! At the very least, you two might want to have dinner together, I think she's your type." Okay, no, I've never set anyone up romantically... but when I somebody says they're looking for a painter, I give them the number of a painter I know. I like giving him business, and I know that he'll do a great job at a reasonable price. My parents, whenever they mention a major home project, I burst with ideas, many of which they'd appreciate, and many of which can also be completed with the help of people I've met since moving back to town three years ago.

Yeah, Skagit, it ain't exactly Bellingham. But it's beautiful down there, and it sounds like there's a need. I'm applying for some AmeriCorps positions to learn more about the operations of non-profits, and I'm interested to see if positions are flexible enough to allow me a regular time each week in which I can volunteer within the community.

Soooo, bus trip temporarily on hold. With gas becoming such a hot commodity, I don't mind that. Leaving my current employment 5 months ahead of schedule throws a wrench in the finances, and when I'm only earning about 35% of my current income, I'm not inclined to spend money on something that isn't doing the world a whole lotta good anyway.

On top of these directional changes, my car got a death sentence from the mechanic. It's still running, but I feel as though it's on borrowed time. Soooo... what do I do? I've contemplated selling the bus. If I can get what I paid, then combined with my current savings I can do a savings-secured loan and pick up a used subaru. I'd still be able to live out of that for the trip... or if I postpone the trip a few years I can keep my eyes peeled for a diesel and use biodiesel on my trip, which would make me very happy indeed.

When I tell people that the trip plans are changing, I get the sense that they think it's not going to happen. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Cause let's face it, when I set my mind on doing something, I'll do it, unless it compromises the safety and happiness of myself and others.

So... as my heart is urging me to discover what I can do within the bounds of my community, that's what I'm going to do.

More later, gentle readers, I promise. (Later meaning a few days, so please keep your panties untwisted if you're obsessively checking for updates this evening.)

;-) s.

A lot has been happening...

...too much to write at this moment, and there are some changes afoot. I'll write more, soon, and explain. I promise!

Shaping the trip

Hello everyone,

I've started volunteering with some organizations I admire in the area, and it's helping to further shape the direction of my trip. It appears I haven't been writing about some of the things I'm thinking about... so let me bring you up to speed!

I'm hoping to network with similar non-profits in communities that are comparable to Bellingham... and perhaps even a few that aren't, but from whom I can learn more that will benefit our community. This will help to bring a greater purpose to my trip, and does mean I'll need to do some planning for a route. I'll still allow myself some chunks of time to just explore, and I'll still come back to Bellingham periodically to visit with friends and family (and just to visit Bellingham in general, I love it so much!).

I do find myself wishing that I'd found a diesel van though. I went to the Chuckanut Radio Hour's taping on Earth Day that featured Doug Fine, and he mentioned how he'd converted his diesel truck to run off of used cooking oil... without even having to convert it into biodiesel! Think about how wonderful that would be. I would be travelling, but would be reusing other resources, rather than consuming gas. Makes me wonder what would be involved in switching out my engine and making the conversion? Perhaps too much work and money, but it only costs time to look into it... so we'll see!

Anyway, my to-do list is growing as I come up with more ideas of what I'd like to get from this trip. I'll need to record a list of the things I hope to accomplish... and I still need to write down my list of things needed for the trip. One of my best friends (Kira) offered to keep her eyes peeled for items as garage sale season hits; and as I'd prefer to get everything second-hand, time is of the essence. :-)

Alrighty, enough for this morning.

Cheers,
Sasha

Transportation purchases abound...

Another planned joy of my journey... I'd like to stay some places for a few days or more at a time, and I don't really want to drive when I'm staying in plalces like national parks.

So I got a bike! It's used, and I spent the weekend cruising around town in it, and I am so excited! Besides, there's the added benefit that I'll be better to the environment, and better to myself using it in the meantime. And the money that I'd be spending on gas? I can save it for the trip!

Anyway. Had to share my excitement! Gotta go eat lunch, I am hungry!

Geek Alert!

Okay. It's true.

On my break, I started looking around on google maps as part of a facebook application (was tracking where I've been, as well as some places I want to go to) and started zooming in to find more places I've visited in England. Anyway, I've discovered I frickin' adore maps.

When I was young, I would entertain myself looking at fictional maps (such as those in the Redwall series and Sweet Pickle books). And I've always wanted a classy second-hand globe from a flea market. But I realize too that maps will help me tremendously when I'm on my road trip. Cause duh. It's good to not be lost.

Some people have suggested having GPS in my bus... but I don't really want to go that route. Far easier to accidentally get lost using a paper map than when using something that knows your location. It's only when we get lost that we're given an easy opportunity to find ourselves. Everyone takes a few wrong turns on the way to getting somewhere, but that presents an excellent time to appreciate when we arrive at our destination! If it was an easy route, what do we learn? Sometimes easy is just, well, a little boring.

Besides, as long as I have my sense of direction, I'll always be able to find my way home. That's what matters the most, isn't it? That I get where I'm going and that I make it home?

Anyway. I'm excited to track where I go, and to keep this more updated than it has been. I've been driving my bus around, mainly to go and watch sunsets. I need to learn more about the engine, cause I think there are definitely some things that need fixing. I'd like to get the urgent matters attended to before I start doing weekend excursions with friends, and I think I'll begin those in May, so I want to get on this.

Dad offered some muffler wraps which should buy me some time before replacing the muffler, I'll apply that this weekend. That will make my ride quieter at least! I'm also going to need to get some new seals for the rear, and fix the back hatch (which doesn't open, the latch is broken)... with all the rain and snow and bizarreness weather-wise, I've discovered that water leaks in and soaks my pillows. Not good, I say, not good at all. I still love the bus though. It's a beauty, it's stinky, it's loud, it's me.

Anyway, should grab a bite before lunch is up! Let me leave you with a picture!

Pictures of the Bus!

Here's the beauty!



Daphne wanted the first spin... but she couldn't reach the pedals or see over the wheel. Unless she finds the Alice In Wonderland pill that makes her big, she'll just have to settle for hanging out.








Does it look like I'm groping the bus? Cause that's certainly what it seems like I was doing.










Yup, I'm stoked!

The first day of spriiiing...

..I got a bus!

Only have pics on my cell phone, and appear to be having difficulties with the posting, even with the "mobile blogging" tips page. Oh sigh!

But believe me, as *soon* as I get it figured out... you can see the pictures. I promise!

Much love and happiness, on this, the first day of spring,
(well, it was until twenty-four minutes ago)

Sasha
Proud owner of an Aqua 1973 Westfalia
It's a sweet ride.