Sandro's Birthday Wishes
Here’s a list of 32 things I’d like to do since I’ve been around for 32 years.
If you can help. Thanks.
When You Go To The Finger Lakes...
When you go to the Finger Lakes you might see this stuff.
Well then, Earl said...
"Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use."
― Earl Nightingale
Our general route traveling East to West.
Coast 2 Coast Bicycle Adventure 2016
Day 295..
July 1st marks one year living rent free… On April 29th I’ll be downsizing from the van to a bicycle for about two months. Van Morissette will be missed. I find it a bit funny that the final weeks leading up to my one year anniversary of #VanLife, and I might be thousands of mile away from the van. No need to worry, the Dude In Van will still be posting even though I technically won’t be in a van. I have some plans for the future of this website, and I’ll be testing them out while I’m on the road. If it makes you feel better you can type www.onlysandro.com into your search engine, instead of www.dudeinvan.com.
Most of you know I don’t really talk to my parents that often. In fact, they don’t know I live in the van. I did tell my father about the bicycle trip, last week, because he emailed me inquiring about vacation time in April or May. His reaction was the same as Phil and Nick’s parents. Our parents in general are not pleased, to say the least.
I understand my father’s concern. I am his son, he reminds every time he emails me. (He starts off all his email with “Hi Son”) I just don’t agree with him implying that I’m ruining the rest of my life and career by taking a two month break to ride a bicycle across America. That’s a tad bit dramatic. Regardless, I’m excited for this trip, as you know. Quitting my job hasn’t really set in yet because I gave them a 6 week notice. I’ll give you an update in two weeks before I leave. Maybe by then I’ll be freaking out.
If you want to follow along with me and my friends, Nick and Phil, you can do so by clicking “Like” on our Facebook group Coast 2 Coast Bicycle Adventure 2016. We are planning on posting pictures and videos as we roll across the country.
Also, we have self-funded the trip. We bought touring bicycles, tents, all sorts of gear for the biking/camping, cameras, maps, and more. We are planning to camp and not using any hotels to keep our costs down. If you’d like to support the trip with more than just kind words, you can do so by visiting out GoFund Me page! www.gofundme.com/NJ2CA2016 Our plan is to use this money for food and bicycle maintenance.
Thanks for following along and all the support!
#NJ2CA2016
Day 168- One Day Trip
Today is day one hundred and sixty-eight.
My birthday is coming up. Cool, right? Well it wasn't so cool until... I BOOKED A ONE DAY TRIP TO DISNEY BY MYSELF! ...ummm yeah... kinda seems lame now that I typed it out.
I digress. This is the 10 step plan.
Friday: 1. My plane boards at 6am. 2. I arrive in Orlando at 8:30am. The parks are about 20 minutes from the airport. I'm still trying to figure out what park I want to go to, but they open at 9am (I think). 3. Either taxi or shuttle over to the park. 4. Spend all day at the park. 5. Take pictures with many Disney characters. 6. Head to Downtown Disney, fill my face with tons of food and beverages till 3am.
Saturday: 7. Head back to the airport after 3am. 8. Sleep in my terminal till 9:30am, when my flight boards. 9. Back in the van before noon. 10. Plan the rest of my birthday weekend.
Objectes I'd like to achieve.
1. Have fun. 2. Snapchat the experience (SC: onlysandro) 3. Find a woman visiting the same park, solo and marry her before the end of the day. 4. Don't get put on the "No Fly List". (I heard young males that travel alone without bags have been put on this list)
I'm in need of some help. Please give me suggestions on what park to visit and the best way to get from the airport to the park.
-on to the next stop!
Day 162
I want to take a moment to thank all the people who have visited my page because of the post I slapped on to a reddit feed. I've gotten some positive feedback from most of you. I hope in the next few weeks we become better acquainted over the air!
Rock on!
onto the next stop.
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was it just me or did yall hear what Ekeler said? -
RT @onlysandro: when your bet hits in the bottom of the 9th https://t.co/Trp2Bd5z41
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RT @Monkeyfist1313: @onlysandro Thanks for the info.
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Jack Ryan season 3… why are the Russians on the boat speaking English?
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when your bet hits in the bottom of the 9th https://t.co/Trp2Bd5z41
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I don’t have an option about the basketball game that I didn’t watch.
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some jon took this https://t.co/gBRHLl6rLK
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Here’s how to be a good bad person.. Buy someone flowers.. who is allergic to pollen. Take someone for a walk..… https://t.co/Zbz3tFGMZt
Day 114
It's my second day in Chicago.
This city is beautiful. I think I'm going to be a true tourist and do one of those segway tours. I kinda want to move here.
I've been leaving my Dude In Van business card at all the shops and resturants I stop at, and I think most people have been throwing them out. No worries. I'm still having a great time.
Yesterday I went to Smoque BBQ @ 3800 North Pulaski- The best BBQ I've ever had! Check them out. Twitter: @SmoqueBBQ IG: @smoquebbqchicago Website: www.smoquebbq.com
This morning I had breakfast at Yolk @ 1120 S Michigan Ave- Awesome service and food! Check them out too! Twitter: @EatYolk IG: @EatYolk Website: www.eatyolk.com
The "Art Gallery" place is actually not an art gallery, per se.. But it is super chill with awesome people. This weekend they are hosting an art show in the house. The owner of the house is currently hanging up all sorts of great art, prepping the house for the event. I think tomorrow is my last day here at the house.. Either way Chicago is great so far. I've been posting pictures on Instagram. You can click on the Social Media link above to check those out.
Thanks for stopping by and I'll talk to you soon!
If you happen to see one of my card at your shop LET ME KNOW, by tweeting or leaving a comment below.
Ju-lie Babbo Natale
This past weekend I ran into someone I haven't spoken to in a very long time. It was a very brief encounter; we exchanged a few words, shook hands and went on our merry (separate) way. It's funny how people change over the years. I remember spending hours as a child trying to figure out ways to hang out with him and I even wrote him a few letters, too. I would ask my parents to invite him to dinner, or at least let me go visit him. They would always explain to me that he lived very far away.
My friend and I never planned to meet up but he always seemed to be around in December, right around my birthday. The times we did meet up usually happened at the mall or he would come visit me at school. No matter how long we spent apart, it would be as if we were never seperated. I went back to telling him everything I wanted to tell him and his face would light up like a Christmas tree with excitement. As the years went on the conversations got shorter and shorter and our interactions would happen less and less, till they stopped taking place all together. I would still see him at the same places but neither of us would make an effort to start up a conversation.
Back then I didn't think anything of it but sadly, after this weekend, I realized we both lost that twinkle that used to shine in our eyes when we used to see each other. Don't get me wrong, it was great seeing him after all these years. It was just different and it got me thinking how over the years I've met so many people and some of those relationships have faded away, as well.
I've always thought of contacting someone randomly, via social media, to hang out, catch up, grab a bite to eat, maybe a drink or two.. something along those lines. But then a little voice in my head has always stopped me.
"oh, that's just creepy"
"don't be that guy"
"hmm.. let's do this another time"
(This is usually when I delete the text message I already typed into my mobile phone and proof read 5 times)
Today I realized I shouldn't let that little voice control my original intentions.
WOW.. I got off topic a bit. I just wanted to share with you that I saw an old friend the other day and we had good time catching up. I'm hoping I run into other old friends, in the near future, and get a chance to catch up with them too.
Thanks for stopping by.
PS. Here's a picture of my friend and I.
I was always under the assumption he lived at the North Pole.. He told me he lives in Toms River. Must be a summer home while he's on vacation. IDK. What is Christmas in July?
Day 28
Two Weeks
I spent almost a full year talking about it. I spent many months planning for it. Countless hours daydreaming and fantasizing if it was even a feasible idea. At times I would bring it up joking, and then other times I spent time defending my plan. It’s funny because looking back on my actions, I realize I did almost the same thing when I was contemplating a career in Broadcasting. Originally I was a Business major, but then one day I flipped a switch in my brain and I handed in a change of major request form. The rest is history. I’ve been working in the industry with various jobs since 2010.
So two weeks ago I finally did it. Did what? I donated most of my belongings, I traded in my car, bought a van and started a new, minimalistic chapter in my life. My goal is to still be successful working in the radio industry, and at the same time I don’t feel the need to be tied down to any given location. I believe the term is NOMAD. It sounds crazy, believe me, I know. But I’m happy. Keep in mind at any point I can go back to, living a conventional lifestyle and sign a lease at a fancy apartment complex. I’m not jobless, nor am I homeless. This machine on wheels, at least for the past two weeks, is my home. I’m just a dude in a van.
So why did I type this? Why am I posting this on a website? Why am I really living in a van? The most simple way I can answer all those questions is….. You’re going to have to stay tuned in to find out.
I’m going to use this website to document my journey, finally get my podcast off the ground, and hopefully one day land my dream job as a Radio Producer. In the meantime I’m learning to live a stress free life and enjoying the simple things in my life. Thanks for stopping by and please spread the word!
www.dudeinvan.com & www.onlysandro.com go to the same place.
Follow me on Twitter @onlysandro
I’m inviting anyone and everyone on my podcast!
“Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else” –Les Brown