One – Avoid information & thinking which may cause stress or detract from a lifestyle of bill paying and comfort/entertainment seeking. Make no significant changes to your life. Believe that positivity and good vibes will win the day.
Two – Practise Situational Awareness. If you love life, I think you will realize that this is a time of great Change & Readiness Making. The future is going to be significantly different. Develop an honest understanding of what HARD TIMES means and then take action to improve your odds of being better suited to survive and thrive in such environments.
It’s difficult for me to find a short way to explain to you how I see the world unfolding. I’ve come to my conclusions after years of reading and ingesting a vast amount of information. Not to mention what my direct experience has revealed to me.
But I will try.
Detrimental changes are increasing exponentially. In my lifetime (I’m 47), I think odds are very good that I’ll be faced with the breakdown of civilization as we’ve come to expect it.
At times, when I consider how to face this, I’m overwhelmed by the magnitude of it. My circumstances don’t generate a feeling that I’m prepared in the best way. But I try not to let this turn me apathetic. Instead, I’m doing whatever I can to be ready which mostly consists of being physically and mentally healthy. I wish there were more practical things I could do, but alas I find I’m restricted by both lack of resources and the level of government persecution I’m currently being influenced by.
If YOU are in a position to spend money on practical things that improve self-sufficiency and even better, be able to generate a surplus, then you should do so ASAP. If you have kids, make sure they are learning skills for real survival. If you can find a true community and build it up….do so.
I wish you the best. I think the world desperately needs more AWARE & PREPARED individuals. I hope you will be one. People are going to be better off for every person who takes option #2 above.
I was just thinking about Dave. How fortunate I am to have this man as my partner through life.
Not everyone is able to say that they live with another human who helps. By that I mean, to fully recognize how much a person in your life impacts you in positive ways. They assist in the work of living life. Provide inspiration and support. Give the comfort of companionship in both good and bad times.
So this is a post to express that I’m grateful for my husband.
If the hope of giving is to love the living, the giver risks madness in the act of giving.
Some such lesson I seemed to see in the faces that surrounded me.
Needy and blind, unhopeful, unlifted, what gift would give them the gift to be gifted? The giver is no less adrift than those who are clamouring for the gift.
If they cannot claim it, if it is not there, if their empty fingers beat the empty air and the giver goes down on his knees in prayer knows that all of his giving has been for naught and that nothing was ever what he thought and turns in his guilty bed to stare at the starving multitudes standing there and rises from bed to curse at heaven, he must yet understand that to whom much is given much will be taken, and justly so: I cannot tell how much I owe.
I enjoyed this look at what are referred to as “Cobra Gypsies” living in northern India. The visuals in this film are brilliant, vibrant, colorful. I found how they live fascinating. They seem like joyful folks.
(This post contains Amazon affiliate links – see bottom of the page for full details)
VIDEO at Adventures of Sandra and Dave YouTube Channel.
In this post, I’m sharing all the details regarding the parts, specifications, links, etc.
Our Camper & Truck
Our truck camper is a 1965 Red Dale. It was built for the trucks of the day which were generally smaller than today’s trucks. Our truck is a 2000 Ford F350. We discovered the original jack set-up was too short and almost too narrow for backing under the camper. So Dave removed the jacks and created a bracket to solve this problem.
Adding a 4th Jack
The camper originally had three manual jacks. You can see the side with ONE pictured below.
Our camper before we did any work on it.
We decided to add a fourth jack to improve the stability. I found it for sale on Amazon.
Freshly made brackets.Front View with Jack Attached. (all our hardware spec is listed…keep scrolling)
This allowed the camper to be raised 4″ higher. Also the Jacks were 4″ wider which made more room for our truck to back under without running over the feet of the jacks.
Simple Diagram without Jack
Hardware & Specs
2″ x 2″ x 1/8″ Steel Tube – cut into 8 1/4″ segments. 8 total – 2 for each jack. 4 – 5/8″ holes drilled in each piece.
9/16″ Hex Bolts – 4 bolts per bracket. 16 Total.
9/16″ Nuts – 4 per bracket. 16 Total.
3/8″ Threaded Steel Rod – cut into 6 3/8″ pieces. – 2 pieces for each bracket. 8 Total.
3/8″ Flange Nuts for the threaded rod – 4 for each bracket. 16 Total.
3/8″ ID Pipe – SPACER -Dave used something we had lying around. This was going the extra mile for strength.
3/8″ Hex bolts 5″ long – Going from the bracket through to the inside of the camper. 4 at each jack. 16 Total.
Fender Washers for the above bolts – 32 Total. (inside & out – 8 at each jack)
3/8″ Nuts for the 5″ bolts. 16 Total.
Also used some 1/2″ Plywood at the corners where the Jacks attach. Cut to fit and drilled with holes for the 5″ long bolts to pass through. Plus, we used wood screws and glue when we put everything together.
Source for Bracket Materials:
Some of the materials we used were in our collection. What we didn’t have we purchased locally.
The pipe from which Dave made the “Spacer” was something we had on hand. I haven’t found a close example to link to yet.
Additional Comments
If you haven’t already seen it, there’s a video that supplements this info. The link is below.
This is how WE did the jacks on our camper. It has worked great for us. Obviously, the design of the camper had to be worked around. If you are tackling a similar “fix”, this information might be useful as you develop your plan and implement it.
I participate in Amazon’s Associate’s Program. When you follow my links to Amazon, any purchases you complete within 24hrs of using the link will result in me earning a small commission on the purchase amount. It costs you nothing extra. I appreciate your support! It helps keep the fires burning and wheels turning.
Support Me
Thanks for visiting this site. I hope you found value here. If you’re so inclined, you can support me in the following ways.
Use my Amazon links when you buy anything on that site.
Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue.
from The Analects of Confucius
I’ve come to the conclusion that most people in the highest levels of government are traitors to the Constitution. The government is populated with minions. They don’t work for citizens in the way I was taught in school. Instead, they do the bidding of a secret governing body comprised of members of powerful families. Our government is in their control. The USA was sold out. It’s done. I don’t know if we can ever have it back. Everything has changed.
The “war in Ukraine”. The unrest of the peoples of these regions has a long history. Of course, the corrupt minions and their masters are highly invested and involved. My own government is not the good guy in the white hat.
In this world, corruption is incentivized and life is raped and pillaged at any and all levels. I no longer find myself devout to any particular religion, but Satan and a Fallen World make a lot of sense. Or entities who see us as little more than most people consider the life of their Thanksgiving turkey? What explains such disregard for the betterment of ALL mankind? Our methods are only logical if logic is to manifest deficiency, illness, and death. “Do as thou wilt” seems to be the concept that wins the day. History seems to demonstrate we remain the same as we ever were.
If you want any modicum of understanding the situation, you won’t get it from the corporate or government data. You have to make gathering information a priority. Then gather data from a multitude of places and your own experience. Focusing on these kinds of things can be super challenging. I mean, you’re going to encounter a lot of NOT “feel-good – hopeful” data. I guess it boils down to what your choice is about the sort of life you want to lead. As for me, I prefer enlightenment over ignorance.
My heart goes out to regular folk who are suffering as a result of these things. People all over are suffering. Most of it you won’t ever hear about. It seems so strange when I think of how I see so much beauty simply being alive. And yet, our civilization cultivates dissatisfaction with life. Is it any surprise our economic system is driven by us consuming more than we need? These are greedy times and so many of us have partaken of this marvelous free for all.
I’m watching and gathering information from many places. I’m keeping myself able to take care of myself. This is beneficial no matter what. I want to be as brave and as grateful as I can be.
Everything I’m aware of that is happening has added to my reality check. I want a world with conscious people.
I assess myself:
Am I gaining strength from how I’m spending my time?
Do I have what I need to take care of myself?
Am I prepared to help others?
Does my manner of living create peace?
Where can I improve?
Diving deep into these questions.
Information to ingest, study, cross-reference, etc.
“The bigger you build the bonfire, the more darkness is revealed” – Terrence Mckenna
I existed a long time before I encountered the SORT/TYPE of info found at the following links. After becoming aware of it, my life changed in ways I would not have imagined.
Winter in Baja is chilly. Many windy days are interspersed with warmth and sunshine. One minute I’m doubling up on socks, the next I’m sweating. I spend time loving, noticing, and studying the details of this place. It’s a beautifully rugged landscape of many colors and contrasts. I take it ALL in. The humanity here…daily life. The good and bad. My interaction with all of it.
Sometimes I pinch myself. Am I really here? It’s a joy to live on this fascinating planet.
We usually get up early and go to bed the same. We watch old movies at night. (new movies seem a waste of time). We’re eating well. Fruits, vegetables, and meat taste like they did when I was a child. We shop in small, local stores. We say “Hola” a lot. And “Gracias”. Learning Spanish is happening, but so slowly. It’s helpful to hear it spoken daily, but listening to native speakers is often a blur of sound. I think to myself, how will I ever understand? I can’t even tell where one word starts or ends. Estoy aprendiendo lentamente. I need to study more. At the moment, I must be honest, my time invested is pitiful and no one else but me can solve that.
Dave and I are outside a lot. We have a nice porch and yard. There are fruit trees and squash. I go outside and walk in my bare feet, looking up at lemons, guavas, bananas, and papaya. There are two doves and a covey of quail that come to drink from the drip irrigation. I stand very still and watch them. I can hear the neighbor’s chickens and osprey that nest nearby.
Usually, in the afternoons we either walk or bike for an hour give or take. Much depends on how Dave feels. We’re both grateful for every moment he has that is better rather than worse.
The most human thing in the world is this: Our life is a mixed bag of both good and bad. We work to make the most of the good and do our best with the rest. Never give up.
I think life is interesting full of possibilities. The way of the world these last few years has brought this home to me like never before. It’s not easy, but it’s amazing to be alive.
I document parts of my life in videoHERE. And in photosHERE.
Clothing & Minimalism
Four months of living in Mexico and I’ve been using the fewest clothes I ever have. It’s an experiment to see how it affects life.
Here are my observations so far:
I DIE HARD wear a few kinds of clothes. Anything outside my parameters in this regard is a waste of time.
What works for me is this: Basics that never go out of style in colors I like, that all mix and match simplifying what to wear. My life is active and outdoorsy. Practical clothes that hold up to rugged use make sense. I don’t like obvious logos or loud prints. I prefer natural fibers.
To Mexico, I didn’t bring anything fancy or feminine for dressing up. I don’t often “dress up”, but I would like to have a few nice things that fit this category.
While the number of things I have is doable, it feels a bit restricted. I’d be happier with more clothing than the amount I brought with me on this trip.
Laundry: I’m currently washing my clothes by hand and a low number of things make this easier. I need to wash more often, but it takes less time due to small piles instead of BIG piles of laundry. (Even with a machine washer, I think laundry is easier with fewer items.)
Other Thoughts:
I admire the fashion sense of others. I’m a creative person and visual arts appeal to me. Some people get tremendous joy out of playing with fashion. But, if I’m honest with myself, I prefer clothing to be less time-consuming and easy as possible. I do value looking good and presenting an image I’m comfortable with.
Having fewer clothes, if well thought out, makes this part of my existing a more positive thing. Figuring out how to do the “clothing” better is taking effort but it feels good to sort it out for myself.
Legacy Media – Joe Rogan podcast – links
Legacy media isn’t a sufficient information source. If you’re Listening to only one or two of these sources for most of your information, you’re missing out.
I’ve learned more than I ever thought I’d know about what media is. The history. How it’s set up and how it works. The role of psychology. If you’ve never heard of Edward Bernays, he’s a good place to start your research. Read his book PROPAGANDA. Then check out his uncle, Sigmund Freud.
It’s a lot of work to figure out where and how to attain better data. It’s crucial to get information from varied sources. If a person refuses to take advantage of the plethora of data the internet brings to your fingertips….then I can’t think you’re sincerely interested in gaining advantages.
I get valued data from Joe Rogan’s podcast. Some episodes are solid gold.
I’ve linked two recent important Rogan episodes below.
I’m not liking watching censorship increase. It’s nefarious and scary. Censorship should be very high on the “Things to Avoid” list. We can’t have Big Entities ruling over what we can say. That’s a tool for tyrannical thought control. Our chances for improvement require freedom of ideas.
It’s getting tense for humanity. I expect volatility to continue to grow exponentially. Think wars, plagues, famines. Fear, desperation, and tyranny. Maybe it had to come to this. Does our potential to do better arise from the pain of consequences of our actions? Are we learning from our mistakes? Is this a chance to be better?
I have hope that in hard times, better qualities can and do also emerge.
“The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: now is the time of monsters.”
I’m interested in politics. By that I mean I seek knowledge and understanding about what is going on so I can make sense of how I’m being affected. Hopefully, I can make better choices. I read. I keep up with who is in the government. I keep up with legislation. I watch speeches. I get my info from many sources. I want a realistic view…for better or worse. My life has been impacted in big ways by things happening in politics and so has yours.
The state of the politics? Not good. Not good at all.
Many years ago I read this book: The Politics of Experience by R.D. Laing. It got me thinking about politics in interesting ways. How intrinsic it is to life. It doesn’t matter how much you are or aren’t aware of this. There are those people who benefit from a population apathetic towards politics. Our lives take place in a sea of politics. Knowing about these things is situational awareness and I am interested in that. It matters to me. I see a lot of people saying they are “not interested in politics”…..or they “don’t like politics”. I think the world needs less of that attitude.
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave – links to Book 7 of Plato’s Republic – this allegory. The link is through Yale University.
MY THOUGHTS
I appreciate how this story explains the nature of ignorance and the power of belief. How it’s incredibly easy to assume we are not as ignorant as we surely are. How our reality is dramatically affected by the quality of our information. And finally, the strong reactions when our assumptions of reality are threatened.
Literally, there’s a variety of perceived realities that people are living in. This can be subtle or intense depending on the circumstances.
I also have this to say:
I think we’re born and raised in a cave of ignorance. This system of civilization is invested in and reliant on keeping us chained in the dark our entire life. There are forces working diligently to keep people in the dark. They do it because they benefit from us being that way.
Continue to seek knowledge. Remain curious and seek the truth. Never forget that there is always more to learn. Stay open to the possibility that what you think you know may not be the truth. Realize there are forces in the world that prefer to keep you ignorant. Don’t give them what they want.
Nothing happens until the pain of remaining the same outweighs the pain of change.
