My lifestyle experiment
Moderators: Bakhtosh, EvilHomer3k
- soup
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2005 4:04 pm
My lifestyle experiment
Hey y'all.
Been awhile since I posted anything but I still lurk quite a bit and I've been around since the old GG days. Thought you might want a strange (and unsolicited) update on my life.
Anyway, a few years ago my wife and I decided to try living a little differently. We just turned 40, had no kids and were basically bored with city life. So I ordered an empty cargo 4x4 Sprinter van from the dealership and planned a complete DIY conversion.
It took a year for the van to actually come in from Germany and then another year for me to finish the damn thing(my hair is now almost entirely grey from this project).
We then sold everything(harder than it sounds), rented out our house in Buffalo and hit the road.
That was over a year ago.
TLDR: Here's a video about our weird nomadic life and a look inside the van I made into our home:
https://thebigscout.com/scout/
(van nerds will find a longer video right underneath that goes into more details)
Been awhile since I posted anything but I still lurk quite a bit and I've been around since the old GG days. Thought you might want a strange (and unsolicited) update on my life.
Anyway, a few years ago my wife and I decided to try living a little differently. We just turned 40, had no kids and were basically bored with city life. So I ordered an empty cargo 4x4 Sprinter van from the dealership and planned a complete DIY conversion.
It took a year for the van to actually come in from Germany and then another year for me to finish the damn thing(my hair is now almost entirely grey from this project).
We then sold everything(harder than it sounds), rented out our house in Buffalo and hit the road.
That was over a year ago.
TLDR: Here's a video about our weird nomadic life and a look inside the van I made into our home:
https://thebigscout.com/scout/
(van nerds will find a longer video right underneath that goes into more details)
- TheMix
- Posts: 10948
- Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 5:19 pm
- Location: Broomfield, Colorado
Re: My lifestyle experiment
Wow.
That van looks really cool. Amazing job on it!
And the photos are fantastic.
That van looks really cool. Amazing job on it!
And the photos are fantastic.
Black Lives Matter
Isgrimnur - Facebook makes you hate your friends and family. LinkedIn makes you hate you co-workers. NextDoor makes you hate your neighbors.
- msduncan
- Posts: 14509
- Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 11:41 pm
- Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Re: My lifestyle experiment
Holy crap soup!
I'm having early 2000's flashbacks. Going off to watch your video now.....
I'm having early 2000's flashbacks. Going off to watch your video now.....
It's 109 first team All-Americans.
It's a college football record 61 bowl appearances.
It's 34 bowl victories.
It's 24 Southeastern Conference Championships.
It's 15 National Championships.
At some places they play football. At Alabama we live it.
It's a college football record 61 bowl appearances.
It's 34 bowl victories.
It's 24 Southeastern Conference Championships.
It's 15 National Championships.
At some places they play football. At Alabama we live it.
- msduncan
- Posts: 14509
- Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 11:41 pm
- Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Re: My lifestyle experiment
My initial impressions:
1. Quality of videos and photos: amazing
2. Van: Badass. Kind of like selling everything and sailing around the world on a boat -- only on land.
3. It appears you have lived more in the last couple years that I have my entire life. What an adventure!
1. Quality of videos and photos: amazing
2. Van: Badass. Kind of like selling everything and sailing around the world on a boat -- only on land.
3. It appears you have lived more in the last couple years that I have my entire life. What an adventure!
It's 109 first team All-Americans.
It's a college football record 61 bowl appearances.
It's 34 bowl victories.
It's 24 Southeastern Conference Championships.
It's 15 National Championships.
At some places they play football. At Alabama we live it.
It's a college football record 61 bowl appearances.
It's 34 bowl victories.
It's 24 Southeastern Conference Championships.
It's 15 National Championships.
At some places they play football. At Alabama we live it.
- geezer
- Posts: 7551
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 1:52 pm
- Location: Yeeha!
Re: My lifestyle experiment
Pretty damn impressive, and the video is crazy good. Did you have any issues flying the drone close to the drilling platform, or was that a contracted commercial shoot?
- Lassr
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Re: My lifestyle experiment
Wow, Awesome! How exciting, I'm a bit jealous.
The only reason people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.
Black Lives Matter
Black Lives Matter
- soup
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2005 4:04 pm
Re: My lifestyle experiment
Thanks!
Yep, the oil platform was a client and we had full permission to fly there. The window to actually get the footage was very short(4-5 mins) and I had to take off and land the drone from a rolling boat. With about 20 people watching...
- hepcat
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- McNutt
- Posts: 12377
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Re: My lifestyle experiment
Yeah, my videos look like that too.
Wow. That is really impressive.
Wow. That is really impressive.
- Holman
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- Kraken
- Posts: 43765
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Re: My lifestyle experiment
Really cool. Wife and I would mutually annihilate if we shared quarters that close all the time.
-
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Re: My lifestyle experiment
A year or so ago I pulled into a rest stop and parked with all doors open was a VW bus. I always thought that'd be an awesome way to travel, although 2 people are probably the spacial limit.
Black Lives Matter
- McNutt
- Posts: 12377
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- Location: What's the opposite of the Twittersphere
Re: My lifestyle experiment
I've never enjoyed anyone's company that much that I could stand being in such close quarters for that kind of time. I'm not knocking it, I just wasn't built that way.
- Kurth
- Posts: 5892
- Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 1:19 am
- Location: Portland
Re: My lifestyle experiment
Great video, and what an incredibly cool project! So different from my life, but, man, I can see the attraction to just shedding encumbrances and heading out to do what you love. Good for you!
Just 'cause you feel it, doesn't mean it's there -- Radiohead
Do you believe me? Do you trust me? Do you like me? 😳
Do you believe me? Do you trust me? Do you like me? 😳
- Xmann
- Posts: 3458
- Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:36 pm
Re: My lifestyle experiment
you are living millions of people's dream soup.
something along those lines is what we'd eventually like to do as well. my wife and I could definitely do that.
awesome!!
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
something along those lines is what we'd eventually like to do as well. my wife and I could definitely do that.
awesome!!
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
gf.me/u/zhnmhs
- Chrisoc13
- Posts: 3992
- Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2004 7:43 pm
- Location: Maine
Re: My lifestyle experiment
So awesome. Thanks for sharing!
- Paingod
- Posts: 13135
- Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2010 8:58 am
Re: My lifestyle experiment
That is a most impressive mobile home.
It reminds me of some of the boats I saw when I worked at a yacht manufacturer. Not an inch is wasted. Everything is tight, functional, and perfectly designed. I love your garage. Nicely done!
It reminds me of some of the boats I saw when I worked at a yacht manufacturer. Not an inch is wasted. Everything is tight, functional, and perfectly designed. I love your garage. Nicely done!
Black Lives Matter
2021-01-20: The first good night's sleep I had in 4 years.
2021-01-20: The first good night's sleep I had in 4 years.
- Archinerd
- Posts: 6854
- Joined: Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:18 am
- Location: Shikaakwa
Re: My lifestyle experiment
The photos are great and that van is awesome. Doesn't look like there is much in the way of board game storage though.
- Z-Corn
- Posts: 4894
- Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 4:16 pm
Re: My lifestyle experiment
Nice! Keep us posted, I've always enjoyed seeing your work.
- LordMortis
- Posts: 70186
- Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:26 pm
Re: My lifestyle experiment
Millions and one. I have the serious Soup envy right now. Only I'm a bit of a pessimist and I'd fear breakdown in the middle of nowhere.
We did month long road trip in my very early 20s and it was some of the best time in my life. Being able to make that a hiatus on "normal" life is just, well I'm having serious Soup envy right now.
- Carpet_pissr
- Posts: 20022
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 5:32 pm
- Location: Columbia, SC
Re: My lifestyle experiment
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing. Particularly loved the van pillows!
- Ralph-Wiggum
- Posts: 17449
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 8:51 am
Re: My lifestyle experiment
That's amazing. I'm tempted to get Instagram just to follow you now!
Black Lives Matter
- hentzau
- Posts: 15129
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- Location: Castle Zenda, Ruritania
Re: My lifestyle experiment
Forwarded this to a friend...her question was where do you put your clothes?
“We can never allow Murania to become desecrated by the presence of surface people. Our lives are serene, our minds are superior, our accomplishments greater. Gene Autry must be captured!!!” - Queen Tika, The Phantom Empire
- McNutt
- Posts: 12377
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- Location: What's the opposite of the Twittersphere
Re: My lifestyle experiment
"Clothes? Where we're going we don't need clothes."
- soup
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2005 4:04 pm
Re: My lifestyle experiment
It’s been a wild ride so far. Easy to show only the positives on social media but there are definite down moments or days. Honestly tho, it’s easy enough to stop and think your way out of any negative bullsht in your brain.
Wife and I have been together for almost 20 years and have cohabited some pretty tight quarters before so we were ready for this. That’s another thing; you can’t stay mad at each other for long. There’s no space to go sulk in another room and not talk out whatever started the fight. We actually remark that our relationship has gotten better since the van.
Clothes: above the bed there are full length cabinets. Those are our closets. I’m fine with this cuz I’m a scumbag that will just keep wearing clothes. Sarah wishes there was more space.
Thanks for all the replies.
We are in Sedona for just a few more days and then heading north up into the Rockies to do a bunch of skiing/snowboarding.
Wife and I have been together for almost 20 years and have cohabited some pretty tight quarters before so we were ready for this. That’s another thing; you can’t stay mad at each other for long. There’s no space to go sulk in another room and not talk out whatever started the fight. We actually remark that our relationship has gotten better since the van.
Clothes: above the bed there are full length cabinets. Those are our closets. I’m fine with this cuz I’m a scumbag that will just keep wearing clothes. Sarah wishes there was more space.
Thanks for all the replies.
We are in Sedona for just a few more days and then heading north up into the Rockies to do a bunch of skiing/snowboarding.
- TheMix
- Posts: 10948
- Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 5:19 pm
- Location: Broomfield, Colorado
Re: My lifestyle experiment
Feel free to stop by the CO crowd and say hello. I'll even offer up a shower and guest room.
Black Lives Matter
Isgrimnur - Facebook makes you hate your friends and family. LinkedIn makes you hate you co-workers. NextDoor makes you hate your neighbors.
- Xmann
- Posts: 3458
- Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:36 pm
Re: My lifestyle experiment
OMG yes! I'd love to meet up and see your setup.TheMix wrote:Feel free to stop by the CO crowd and say hello. I'll even offer up a shower and guest room.
I showed your wife your website last night and she's ready to do what you guys are doing now!
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gf.me/u/zhnmhs
- El Guapo
- Posts: 41301
- Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:01 pm
- Location: Boston
Re: My lifestyle experiment
Soup, I don't want to alarm you, but it appears that xmann is meeting up with your wife at night. Or maybe TheMix's wife, not totally sure.Xmann wrote: ↑Tue Jan 30, 2018 2:12 pmOMG yes! I'd love to meet up and see your setup.TheMix wrote:Feel free to stop by the CO crowd and say hello. I'll even offer up a shower and guest room.
I showed your wife your website last night and she's ready to do what you guys are doing now!
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Black Lives Matter.
- Archinerd
- Posts: 6854
- Joined: Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:18 am
- Location: Shikaakwa
Re: My lifestyle experiment
I just assumed that was part of the life style experiment.
- Xmann
- Posts: 3458
- Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:36 pm
Re: My lifestyle experiment
El Guapo wrote:Soup, I don't want to alarm you, but it appears that xmann is meeting up with your wife at night. Or maybe TheMix's wife, not totally sure.Xmann wrote: ↑Tue Jan 30, 2018 2:12 pmOMG yes! I'd love to meet up and see your setup.TheMix wrote:Feel free to stop by the CO crowd and say hello. I'll even offer up a shower and guest room.
I showed your wife your website last night and she's ready to do what you guys are doing now!
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
gf.me/u/zhnmhs
- Scuzz
- Posts: 10910
- Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2008 5:31 pm
- Location: The Arm Pit of California
Re: My lifestyle experiment
As someone who has spent 14 days in a trailer with two kids I think the one thing that makes living in a small space work is that when you stop, and set up "camp" you usually end up sitting outside and enjoying the day or evening. That outside space really relaxes you.
Black Lives Matter
- Smoove_B
- Posts: 54653
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:58 am
- Location: Kaer Morhen
Re: My lifestyle experiment
Whoa...pretty cool. I'm not sure I could mentally survive the close quarters with someone else (even my wife), but I can acknowledge it certainly opens up some impressive opportunities.
Maybe next year, maybe no go
- Rumpy
- Posts: 12680
- Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2005 6:52 pm
- Location: Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Re: My lifestyle experiment
That's totally awesome! So much persistence and dedication! The most I've ever done so far are month-long travels by car in 2013 and this past summer for the Eclipse in Oregon. We actually met a husband and wife while camping out in the badlands in 2013 that come over from England and rented an RV for a few years of travelling.
PC:
Ryzen 5 3600
32GB RAM
2x1TB NVMe Drives
GTX 1660 Ti
Ryzen 5 3600
32GB RAM
2x1TB NVMe Drives
GTX 1660 Ti
- WYBaugh
- Posts: 2650
- Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2004 8:53 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Re: My lifestyle experiment
Extremely talented!
Do you have heat and/or a/c?
Do you have heat and/or a/c?
- Moat_Man
- Posts: 1653
- Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2004 3:44 am
- Location: Burnaby, BC
Re: My lifestyle experiment
Which leads to the next question, what are your gas and vehicle maintenance costs on a monthly basis? You must be putting on a lot of mileage unless you park for weeks at time, but with your setup it looks like you are mostly mobile.
Feel free to tell me to buzz off if you don't want to answer. It feels borderline nosey but I'm interested.
End of line
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
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- Kurth
- Posts: 5892
- Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 1:19 am
- Location: Portland
Re: My lifestyle experiment
Soup, just curious if you looked into getting trademark protection on your logo/name/combination? Not sure if you're providing services or selling product using the BIG SCOUT name and logo, but if you are (or you're thinking about doing it in the future), you might want to spend a few dollars up front to get some protection from imitators. You've got a super cool thing going, and it would suck to see someone else try to leach of your name/logo.
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
Just 'cause you feel it, doesn't mean it's there -- Radiohead
Do you believe me? Do you trust me? Do you like me? 😳
Do you believe me? Do you trust me? Do you like me? 😳
- El Guapo
- Posts: 41301
- Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:01 pm
- Location: Boston
Re: My lifestyle experiment
That video is awesome.
I don't think my wife and I (to say nothing of our kids) are rugged enough for that kind of adventure, but it's pretty amazing.
I don't think my wife and I (to say nothing of our kids) are rugged enough for that kind of adventure, but it's pretty amazing.
Black Lives Matter.
- Ralph-Wiggum
- Posts: 17449
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 8:51 am
Re: My lifestyle experiment
The main opportunity being that the RV probably has a faster internet connection than your house.
Black Lives Matter
- Daehawk
- Posts: 63669
- Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:11 am
Re: My lifestyle experiment
Making fun of his wet string again?
--------------------------------------------
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
- Smoove_B
- Posts: 54653
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:58 am
- Location: Kaer Morhen
Re: My lifestyle experiment
At the risk of derailing this thread, I had a friend that was struggling to understand why it takes me 5 days to download games on STEAM, mainly because he was focused on the fact that (he thought) both of our STEAM clients were reporting a 5 MB pipe. I had to correct him that no, I am downloading at a 5 Mb (small) trickle. His only response was "How is that possible??"
I would be surprised if Soup didn't have better internet speeds in his vehicle. Then again, if I were operating drones, living in nature and wandering the Earth like Caine, I probably wouldn't be worried about gaming on STEAM. Hmm...
I would be surprised if Soup didn't have better internet speeds in his vehicle. Then again, if I were operating drones, living in nature and wandering the Earth like Caine, I probably wouldn't be worried about gaming on STEAM. Hmm...
Maybe next year, maybe no go