Can We Score a Free Van?

Can We Score a Free Van?

We’ve been brainstorming vehicles for a while.  First, we thought we’d do a truck or SUV, then a minivan, now we’re thinking Dodge Sprinter.  We have four criteria — MPG, space, handling, and cost.  We don’t want a car that gets 11 MPG, we need 

7 Week Countdown to the New Kitchen

7 Week Countdown to the New Kitchen

Funny — I almost typed ‘Our New Kitchen’ as the headline.  It ain’t ours.  It’s the buyer’s kitchen, and it’s going to take 6-8 weeks to be ready.  The cabinets are ordered.  The remaining details are TBD, but the cabinets are the long pole in 

Frequently Asked Questions (And Our Answers)

Frequently Asked Questions (And Our Answers)

As we share our plans with more and more people, a few questions keep popping up.  In no particular order, here they are (with answers): © Lisa McNamara Will you work / will you quit your jobs? We’ll leave our jobs.  This is about detaching 

What’s Scarier Than Leaving Our Life?  Not Leaving.

What’s Scarier Than Leaving Our Life? Not Leaving.

We have things figured out, more-or-less, financially. We know basically what we want to do, what we’ll pack, what we’ll drive, where we’ll go. We know how we’ll sleep, find bathrooms, crash with friends, and eat. We still don’t know IF we’ll be able to 

There’s Still Stuff

There’s Still Stuff

This week my buddy, Coulter, asked, “How is the life liquidation going?”  Well … it’s … going. Yeah, we got rid of our kitchen table on craigslist, and Lisa sold her Leica, and I’m selling our Merit 25 sailboat, but there’s still stuff.  There’s so 

Our Merit 25 Sailboat Is For Sale

Our Merit 25 Sailboat Is For Sale

Sad, sad day.  Our Merit 25 sailboat is for sale.  But it’s time for other things.  The details: Waterloo is a 1981 Merit 25 sailboat. Merit modeled the boat after the popular and fast J/24, and ended up with what’s probably a faster boat (slightly 

The Best Checking Account For Travelers, Vagabonds, and Dirtbags

The Best Checking Account For Travelers, Vagabonds, and Dirtbags

If you travel a lot, you probably have a checking account with a large, national bank. And if you have a mortgage, chances are you have a checking account with the same bank – it is, after all, quite easy. These accounts sound like such 

Ice vs. Inverter, Marine Battery, Solar Panel, and Charge Monitor

Ice vs. Inverter, Marine Battery, Solar Panel, and Charge Monitor

As we sell all our worldly possessions on craigslist and embrace the boondocker lifestyle, I find myself thinking about one thing: electricity. A few weeks ago, we bought a 12V electric cooler.  It can keep things cool for, well, forever — if you have the 

I love craigslist.

I love craigslist.

Tonight we sold our dining table on craigslist. It was a special table – upon it we had our first Thanksgiving in our first condo – three leaves straining under twelve loaded plates and glasses. We bought that table on craigslist from a woman who 

The Boondock RV Culture

The Boondock RV Culture

As we wind-down our possessions and continue to plan for our temporary retirement, we’re discovering a lot of interesting things.  Most notably, the RV “boondockers” — RVers that camp off the grid.  Seems like a great idea! If you’re new to the concept, start with 

I sold my Leica today.

I sold my Leica today.

Or, I should say, my husband sold my Leica today. I only have the patience for one go at eBay. Paul persisted until an enterprising Russian bought it and lined up a friend in CA to whom to have it shipped (I once made the 

Choose Your Own Adventure With Mini-Retirement

Choose Your Own Adventure With Mini-Retirement

I heard about the mini-retirement idea from Tim Ferriss.  It’s smart.  The core premise is that you don’t need to be rich to live a rich life and you don’t need to be old to retire.  Instead of focusing on money, bank accounts, and IRAs,