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Today (November 13th) marks one year since I lost my dear lifelong friend, Rand. His laughter, kindness, and unwavering support profoundly impacted my life. Though time may pass, the memories we created together remain etched in my heart, reminding me every day of the beautiful person he was.
Rand and Ace hanging out on his deck in New Mexico
This year has been filled with ups and downs, but I've learned to cherish my connections. Rand's passing has reminded me to express my love and appreciation for those around me. Each day is a gift, and I carry Rand's spirit with me as I nurture my friendships with my two dear friends, Jeff and Doug, as well as with others.
Rand taught me the importance of community. Soon, I want to honor him by gathering with my friends Jeff and Doug. We will share experiences and stories while enjoying a meal together to celebrate Rand's life.
Jeff - Dan - Doug
Although Jeff and Doug never met Rand, they’ve often heard me speak of him
I would also like to recognize Rand's, Jeff's, and Doug's spouses: Colleen, Carol, and Janette. They have all been incredible friends. Perhaps we can find a way for everyone to get together someday!
This morning, I was listening to the radio when one of my favorite songs played, perfectly describing my friendships with Rand, Jeff, and Doug: "Find out who your friends are." ENJOY!
I Love and miss you Rand!
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I've been enjoying the cost savings that come with living car-free.
 I've lived in the Boise, Idaho area for many years and have been car-free since July 2021. Boise and the greater Treasure Valley have challenges regarding the cycling infrastructure. The Boise greenbelt and Hill Road are wonderful cycling areas, but other parts of the valley are less than adequate (In my opinion). A long-time cycling advocate in the Boise area is the Boise Bicycle Project. This weekend they are hosting “Open Streets Boise”. They will be transforming a part of Boise into a car-free event where participants can interact with other cyclists and pedestrians while enjoying all the festivities! There will be local art, food, music and more!
The date is September 22nd from 12-5 PM on Latah street on the Boise Bench. For more information, visit the Boise Bicycle Project Website. You may have heard the expression, SHTF which stands for when the "Sh*t hits the fan". Often when watching "prepper" videos or reading their blogs they can be referring to world war or a nuclear disaster. While events like this would certainly qualify for the SHTF definition, we can all have our, unique SHTF event that we must deal with. Without having the necessary tools and community support system, these events can have a devastating impact on our lives. My SHTF event happened a couple days ago when my power went out. At first I thought it may be an outage that was affecting my local area. However, it was only my place. For those that may not know my living arrangements, I live full-time in an RV (in an RV park) and have for over 9 years. Back to the event, I confirmed with my immediate neighbors as well as the park office that the power was on throughout the park. So, I contacted a Mobile RV Repair service that I had used in the past. Mike from Local's Mobile RV Repair responded immediately to my request and arrived to inspect my RV to discover what the issue was. The news was not good. The wiring going into the junction box had gotten so hot that it burned the surface underneath it. Mike said that the junction box, battery and converter would all need to be replaced. He would need to locate the items which meant I would continue without power through the night and into the next day. With the temperature in the mid 90s I knew it was going to be a long night.
As you can see by the photos, I'm lucky it wasn't worse. As a friend told me "You have Angels". An important lesson I learned from the prepper channels I've watched is to have certain items available to sustain yourself in situations such as this. Have an AM/FM radio with battery backup. Have flashlights and the necessary batteries on hand for all the different devices. Of course having bottled water and food that can be prepared in these circumstances is essential. Fortunately, I heeded their advice and was able to get through the night as comfortably as I could. In addition, they recommend having back up power such as a portable solar generator which I do have. So I was able to power a fan throughout the night which made it much more comfortable. Additionally, I was able to keep my phone charged. One thing I didn't have readily available was a cooler to put my food in. My neighbor generously offered to let me borrow his. This is part of the "community support" I referenced earlier. Mike returned early the next morning to begin making the needed repairs which he completed that afternoon. Plus, he determined that I didn't need to replace the converter which saved me some money. Thanks Mike! This was certainly not what I was wanting to deal with over the weekend or anytime for that matter. But with some preparation beforehand and having the contacts (Mike) to remedy the situation that I wouldn't have been able to do on my own, I was able to get past my SHTF day and move forward. Below is Mike's contact information. If you are in the Treasure Valley Idaho area and need RV Repair, I highly recommend Local's Mobile RV Repair Service!
Below are some of the products I referenced as well as some I utilize every day. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases  Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Solar Generator  AC/Battery Operated AM/FM Radio  Plugin Lights that come on automatically during power failures and double as flashlights!  Outdoor solar lights to keep my place illuminated  As I've shared on my website, I've been car-free for three years this month! I was flattered when I was recently contacted by a USA Today reporter that was doing a story about American's going car-free. In the article, they also share the stories of other American's making the decision to live without a car. They share the challenges and rewards they've had while living a car-free lifestyle. Click below to read the article. Is it possible to live without a car? Why some Americans are going car-free My son Nick and Ace playing as they often did Two years ago, I had to say goodbye to my faithful friend, Ace, and the void left by his absence is still palpable. The bond between a pet and their human is a special one, and the passage of time does little to diminish the fond memories and profound sense of loss. Two years have passed, yet it feels like just yesterday that Ace would welcome me home after a hard day's work. Look at me with those eyes and rest his head on my leg. The day I thought was so hard suddenly wasn't hard at all. I'm grateful I took so many photos of Ace and look at the them often. A friend gave me this beautiful gift that is on a shelf and I look at it many times each day.  Every pet leaves an indelible mark on our hearts, and Ace was no exception. His playful antics, unwavering loyalty, and comforting presence are memories that I cherish. While the pain of losing Ace is still present, I find solace in the knowledge that he lived a happy life filled with love and care. I read a quote by Anatole France: "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." Ace awakened a part of my soul, and his memory will continue to live on in my heart. Thank you Ace, for coming into my life!  With the forecast calling for highs between 105 and 110 this weekend, I took an early morning bike ride to take care of some errands before it got too hot. My first stop was the Post Office to check my mailbox. While there, I had a lovely conversation with a gentleman cleaning the lobby. From there, I went to the bank to get some cash. After the worldwide IT issues a couple of days earlier, I want a backup should something similar occur again. Then, it was on to the grocery store. I came across a family standing outside their vehicle that had broken down. They were trying to push it out of the roadway, and I stopped to help them. I jokingly told one of them that I would keep my bike. She noticed my panniers and asked if I use my bike to get groceries. I told her I was going to the grocery store and mentioned that this month marks three years since I've owned a car. She had a puzzled look on her face and replied, "Really?" We talked for 5 minutes, wished each other well, and I continued to the store. After getting a few things, I headed back home. All along my ride, I was saying good morning to people out for a walk and waiving to several other cyclists out to get a ride in before the heat set in. What a fantastic way to begin my day and all before 7:00 AM! As you'll see by ride map, I only went slightly over 7 miles. This goes to prove that even a short ride can have an amazing impact on your day, life and perhaps someone else too!  Spring fever has definitely hit me! It's been around 70 for the past 3 days and riding my e-bike has been such a blast! Having conversations with people along the Greenbelt...pedestrians, cyclists and people outside spending time with their pups! Idaho and Cycling - A Great Match!
I sold my truck in July 2021 and have been car-free since. I used my bicycle for transportation until I injured my foot in June 2023, and I purchased an e-bike in September 2023. I love my e-bike, and it's made my life much easier. Still, I've always been an adventurer, and I've been missing taking drives to other areas away from my home. I've been researching vehicles and have even applied for financing got approved, and ordered a new car.
Before I accepted delivery of the car, I had second thoughts and canceled the order. I continued looking at vehicles, watching reviews on YouTube, and contacting local dealers when a car caught my attention. The number of emails and phone calls I've received from the dealerships tells me it must be really tough in the car market right now.
Several articles I read and videos I watched indicated uncertain times ahead for the auto industry and the economy in general.
Further research on the costs of car ownership opened my eyes even more.
As I mentioned above, I always enjoyed taking trips to areas away from my home which is challenging on a bicycle though not impossible, I rode across the USA in 2017. Still, to take a long trip to visit family or friends would be difficult. I can always rent a car or fly. Plus, I came across a car sharing website called TURO that looks like it may be a great option. If you've used TURO please leave your thoughts in the comments.
During my time being car-free, I've managed through various resources that can deliver anything I've needed.
I've also utilized ride-share services from Uber and Lyft when needed. Culdesac Tempe - "Life at your front door"
Image Courtesy of Culdesac Tempe
You may have heard on the news that there is a new, totally car-free community in Tempe, Arizona. It looks pretty interesting and they have partnered with bike companies, ride-share businesses and more. The community includes apartments for rent, with transportation, shopping, restaurants and more all within walking or cycling distance.
Learn more about Culdesac Tempe
If you are a car owner or are just doing research, I recommend checking out the website Caredge.com. The site is run by a 43 year car sales professional and his son. There is a wealth of research resources and they also have an informative and entertaining YouTube channel. The video below I found especially interesting:
IT'S OFFICIALLY THE WORST TIME EVER TO OWN A CAR!
Full Disclosure: I'm in my mid 60's, work from home and live full-time in an RV park.
With so many convenient options to get what I need and get where I want to go, I plan to continue my car-free lifestyle utilizing my e-bike for the bulk of my transportation needs. 
 Rand and Ace from my visit in 2013 Rand, my childhood friend of 50-plus years, died on November 13 after his battle with cancer. I was already planning on visiting him over the Thanksgiving holiday when his wife called me and suggested I change my flight because his condition was not improving. Unfortunately, he passed almost precisely 24 hours before I arrived. This is another reminder never to take a single day for granted. His wife graciously invited me to stay in their home while I was there. We’ve shared many memories and shed some tears, too. We visited with their family and friends, who were a large part of Rand's life. 10 years ago this very month, they invited me to stay with them as I was working through some personal things. I look around their beautiful home, walk on their property, enjoy the Southwest culture, and reminisce about playing with my Golden Retriever, Ace. He loved exploring on their property and chasing bunnies.  Ace with Salsa Rand sold at his business Rand's wife, Colleen took me into the neighborhood that we grew up in. The vivid and incredible memories of the times we spent together all those many years ago. The memories of Rand and our friendship will be part of me forever.
Thank you, Rand, for coming into my life and being such a fantastic friend. I Love and miss you! |
