Ali sold all of her jewelry. Wedding ring? Gone. Diamond earrings? Gone. Class rings? Gone. Miscellaneous bling? Gone. Gone. All gone. Not because we’re broke, but because she simply didn’t want it any longer. She can’t foresee herself ever wanting to wear expensive, flashy jewelry again. For thirteen years now that stuff has sat in a fireproof box in her parent’s closet, collecting dust. Thousands of dollars just sitting there because it was supposed to have some sort of sentimental value. But none of it did. Neither one of us cared about any of it. When we left to go sailing we bought a basic gold band for her to wear instead, and that’s been her wedding ring ever since.
There was a box full of baseball cards that were very important to me when I was twelve. By the time I was fourteen they were relegated to a big box in the basement. I’m forty-two now. We’ve just never known what to do with them. So we gave them to my teenage nephew, and told him he could sell them and keep the money. Like a summer job. Hopefully they’re still worth a few bucks. Then Ali found the nice watch she had given me when I graduated college. She gave that to him, too.
The two of us are so totally and completely over owning stuff—especially stuff that projects an air of status. Nothing but the stuff we are carrying with us at that moment is important, and nothing but our memories and photos elicit any emotion.
I can only imagine what was going through the jewelry store lady’s head when we pulled up out front of the store. Ali went inside to get the check while I sat outside in full mustachio, kids jumping around and climbing all over our 60s truck. A destitute couple cast out of the suburban shopping mecca of Woodbury, about to jump on 94 West, headed to Vegas with nothing but our ragamuffin kids, a couple garbage bags full of clothes, and this check—our last hope.
I mean, look at this poor kid’s legs.
We got the kids their new Mexican passports. It was incredible how easy it was to do it here in St. Paul versus in Puerto Vallarta. They didn’t need doctor’s paperwork, immunization paperwork, current year birth certificates, or any of the other mumbo jumbo that they wanted down there.
Obviously the kids don’t have to have these passports. They’ve got their American passports as well, but these will come in handy in South America where I know of at least two countries, Brazil and Bolivia, that are charging Americans huge fees for visas (reciprocity fees). They’re doing it in response to being charged exorbitant visa prices themselves for their visits to the U.S. This is a loophole of sorts for our kids.
And finally, the tent goes up.
The tent itself is fantastic. The quality feels really good. It was the documentation and the hardware (nuts and bolts) that caused me some dismay. The nuts for the mounting hardware were of such poor quality that the included 10mm wrench only fit about half of them. The other half required a 3/8″ wrench. And the instruction book looked like something a twelve year-old would have designed in an age before digital cameras and printing. For the price of the tent, it just felt like they could have put a little (lot) more effort into a couple of things.
The only way this was a two-person job was because of that come-along on the ceiling. The tent weighs 210 pounds, and the awkwardness of it would have made it tough even with four people.
The finished project. A new playhouse.
Room for four, and maybe Grandpa, too.
Ali found this the other day—0ur South America map from the VW trip. This was our sole means of navigating the continent.
53 Comments on “Downsizing”
I started Bumfuzzle the book back in February and also found your incredible blog – have just now finally caught up on your entire excellent adventure. You guys are my vicarious thrill. If you’re ever in our neck of the woods (Santa Marta, Colombia), we could enjoy some cold Aguilas together. Coconuts for the youngens? My invite, I’ll splurge.
Awesome. I was just looking at the Colombia map again the other day. We’ll definitely be coming through Santa Marta. Don’t let us sneak past you.
Don’t you just love to make people think and talk about stuff? Give them something to enhance their boring lives. I agree with you about the jewelry. Quiet awhile back I had heard (could be a myth) about a female pro golfer who was mugged and the mugger whipped out a knife and was going to cut her fingers off for her huge diamond rings. Well, I had no diamond rings but that gave me enough of a reason not to have any. That and after watching the movie Blood Diamond our daughter gave me a lot of grief.
The family truckster looks great with the tent.
For me, the death of the diamond, came from an article I read a while back about De Beers, and how completely, 100% manufactured the story of a diamond’s value was. The only reason diamonds are worth anywhere near what they are is because of a New York ad agency coming up with “diamonds are forever” back in the 1930s. If it had been rubies they were trying to sell we’d all be flashing those right now. Whatever.
Wow! That is an amazing tent. The weight must mostly be in the metal bottom part where it attaches to the roof rack. It looks very safari like…
Yes, very safari-ish. I imagine at some point I’ll likely shoot an elephant from inside that tent.
I love the sheer joy on Ouest and Lowe’s faces in the “playhouse”. Hope we see you guys somewhere South.
Thank you guys for the beautiful perspective and inspiration!
All 4 of us look like Lowe’s legs the last 10 days. We just took showers and washed it all off. Down the drain went Colorado, Utah and New Mexico and a bit of Route 66.
Love the tent. Will have to look into one for my truck. I put a Bakflip on it and with boards loaded it was a tight fit with tent and camping equipment.
We will be in southern California for a couple weeks surfing and visiting family so let us know if you head down this way. Mia would love to take Quest surfing.
Looks awesome and fun!
I thought there was a “bonus room” around the bottom — Just not set up for the picture?
We’re not planning on getting one. Can’t really see ourselves using that. But not totally ruling it out. We can always buy it later after we’ve said to ourselves three times, “Hmm. I sure wish we had that annex for the tent.”
Does that mean you’re selling the Porsche??? Noooooo!!!
No, the Porsche belongs as much to my family as it does to me. I’m just sort of in charge of it for the next few decades.
Are you sure those racks are up to the task?
99%. We’ll make it 100% when we get off-road.
Hola, great to see the next phase of your journey unfold. In many ways thanks to you (and a few others) I have gotten rid of 98% of my stuff and am living on my sailboat as I get ready to venture in the fall from the northeast. Live On The Margin in tow.. – for those of you who have not gotten this book, highly recommended. Thank you for all the ongoing perspective of true value….
Thanks, Don.
Nice, tidy tent set up! I am so impressed how well it all came together. Lowe, Ouest and Grandpa look mighty cozy in there. You and Ali are giving those kids such an awesome life and by the huge smiles on their faces-they know it!
This post made me laugh. This post made me cry. Wanderlust –it just IS. My mom still feels the need to explain to people that we are not destitute and didn’t loose everything. That it’s our choice to live in a 43 y/o van. We just tell people we are on an adventure. Can’t wait to follow along!
We have bike spokes for wedding rings! Ha! Since Mikey worked as a bike mechanic when we met and we were all about bicycling – and broke with a baby on the way – it made so much sense. He just wrapped a spoke around a loop and BOOM. We thought we would buy nicer rings later, but “later” has come and gone and we lost interest in anything other than our spokes.
Daile and I bought a sweet airstream… Home. Thought we were downsizing.. Guess not;-) love that ladder, is that one of those fold up kind? Really could use one if it was sturdy enough for my large-ness.
Love it, love it. Love all of it! Super exciting to be going through this planning phase with you.
Any thought to tinting the windows on the truck to help keep it a little cooler inside?
No. Those windows are too beautiful. I want to be able to see everything! We’ve got a more pleasant solution in mind. Maybe in the next couple weeks.
I’m sure you have read it, but I picked up my copy of “A Reasonable Life” by Ferenc Mate and began reading it over for the fifth or sixth time at least. The book was ahead of it’s time and is so in line with your way of thinking. Kudos to you. If you never read it, pick up a copy.
The tent looks fantastic, we have an Australian made one that we have had for 9 or 10 years, best investment we ever made.
Never sell the 356…
I’ve always wanted one. Personally restored a ’67 912 Targa Soft Rear Window mit Super 90 engine. One sweet machine. Sold it and thought I did well; now they sell for 6 times the price. 356’s are astronomically expensive now.
Soooo exciting!!! Do you know how many people live vicariously through your family’s adventures, Pat? You are brave and crazy and handy enough to pull it all off! LOL
I’ve always admired how laid-back and easy going Ali is with all these adventures. She seems to accept (or helps you dream up!) all these extreme trips. Good for her.
Will you do posts of how you outfit your South American tour? As in gear and supplies. Cooking. Tools. Clothes for all weather. Bathing/toilet set up. All that stuff. It may seem inconsequential to you but it’s so interesting and inspirational how little you need to have an adventure.
Keep sharing! We love it!!!
WOW! The new ride is looking great. The tent is so neat.
I found some good Utube vids of setting up the Tepui – really nice! Here is one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-3_9K88y1A
Did you have to let the air out of the tires so the tent would fit through the garage door?
It was very very close. After we get the springs on the rear end taken care of we won’t fit in there any more.
Congratulations on the next adventure. A belated thanks for the hand me down children books for Benjamin in Mazatlan. He is enjoying them now.
Cheers,
Max
SV Fluenta
Presently Fiji
It always makes us happy to pass on books. Glad you’ve reached the point that you can use them. 🙂
Will you all sleep in tent? Looks awesome!
We’ll get Lowe a hotel room, and the rest of us will sleep in the tent.
Pat and Ali:
I have been following your journey’s for a few years now, I have the almost exact same rooftop tent from my FJ Cruiser, and have spent many happy nights sleeping in it, you will love the cross-ventilation and the storm flaps, also the fine mesh mosquito netting they come with, Mine is a Mombasa, a true expedition tent. very comfortable and like yours you can make up your bed and fold it all up and be ready to camp in like 15 minutes. Great in the rain, it’s an experience when it’s storming out and you are warm and dry in the test. Suggestion: get a thin mattress topper for it, my mattress is a bit thin… read both your books, really enjoyed “Live on the Margin” along with Bumfuzzle around the world on the Cat. Best wishes I live vicariously through you both and the blog. Let me know how I can share a couple pix of the tent, no way to paste it here. –Andrew
Just a quick couple of questions: Are you going to be able to take bikes and surf boards along and what is the plan for cooking facility?
Nope no bikes or surfboards this trip – Razor scooters, yes. We will head out with no cooking set up and figure it out along the way. Might need a double burner cooktop and a few pans, but for the majority of our trip we plan on renting casas for weeks at a time and exploring the surrounding area with our truck, and of course camp out when we so choose. For the record, as of right now, the truck with rooftop tent will not be our primary living space. Of course this could change at any time. 😉
You’ll love the tent! I just got the Ayer (smallest one) for the top of my Jetta. Until we save up for a “real” travel rig. Either that or it becomes our plan B. Anyways… On our first night out there was a big thunderstorm! All 4 windows were open and we didn’t even get a drop of rain inside! And the fresh breeze kept us cool! I love it!
Bolivia and Argentina were 160 per person for us. For a family of five, that’s a serious expense. I’d take a Mexican passport for sure. Nice work, Bums.
Pat and Ali
A few years back I read a blog from a French family who set out on a similar adventure. Mom, Dad and five kids all packed in a 1997 Land Rover Defender 110 with a roof top tent. They did a circumnavigation of the world in eighteen months. You may already be familiar with them and they haven’t posted anything in the last four years but it’s a great read and I think you and Ali will really appreciate it. My kids really enjoyed the pictures and stories from their blog and I bet you kids would love it as well.
http://www.pasdansunfauteuil.fr/enaccueil.html
And what the elephant was doing inside your tent, you will never know…
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I am at the isthmus of Catalina Island with 21 Naval Sea Cadets aboard Schooner Bill of Rights. We’ll be setting sail today to reach the cadets the basics of crewing a tall ship.
I got a call from a telemarketer yesterday; he awakened me from a nap and:
TM: We have new lower rates and would like to work with you to refinance your house.
ME: I paid my house off 15 years,ago.
TM: Would you like to take out a reverse mortgage?
ME: Why in the world would I want to do that?
TM: I see you are 65 years old. It would help to finance your retirement.
ME: I am on a 137 foot yacht at Catalina Island right now. Believe me son, I don’t need the money.
TM: Oh my God!! I had no idea! I’m sorry, sir!
ME: No worries. Have a nice day.
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I fear he may have leaped to the conclusion that I am the owner of said yacht…
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Lol. Guess that means it’s a 4 person tent. Our kids are same age as yours with reversed gender, and we haven’t camped yet as we spend our free time cruising on our sailboat. So we’re spoiled shutting the door to kids vberth and sleeping in our aft cabin. I sort of wonder when we can pull off camping and actually sleep, especially since my son is a bit of a tornado while he sleeps.
Can you tell us what auto insurance you are going to use for South America. We are headed that way too. What city and shipping company are you using?
To answer your questions: don’t know, don’t know, and don’t know. 🙂
Haven’t even begun to look at insurance.
And we were going to ship out of Miami with hoeghautoliners.com, but they are RORO only, and I think we want to go the container route, so we’re up in the air. Haven’t really looked into it.
Once we hit the road we’ll start looking at that stuff again.
Hi Rita, We asked our friends that are down there right now what they are doing for insurance. Here is their response: “As for insurance we did get a policy for our rig since it was new. We insured for comprehensive with a company called Clements that covers us worldwide but only if we purchase the local liability insurance in each country. So we do get insurance at the border in each country when its offered and when its not we have to get it only if its required. Here in Argentina it was tough to find but we bought a liability policy that covers Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia and Paraguay. That was $25 per month and should take care of the rest of our trip.”
Hope this helps for your trip. For us we see nothing has changed since we were there in 2008/09.
We have been following you for years . Wonderful to watch your family grow.
We were going to meet you a few years ago in Mexico but you had family visiting.
So we might run into you in South America.
See you there!
How long does it take to set it up?
Five minutes. And just a little more to put away. It took me 12 minutes in the rain to put it away the very first time I did it. I’m sure I’ll improve on that time by quite a bit in the future.
Hey,
Years ago i read your blog. You just got that VW Bus. I followed your adventures and felt totally in love with this car. So ist bought an old VW Bus, too. Travelled a little bit and so on. Time flies, got a new job, Sold the Bus and so on….
Years later, some days ago i accidentally remembered this page and read this article. Youre so right! Owning stuff.. Yeah some things Arena cool to have but the most people are totally misleaded. Me, too…
So i read this article and realised the situation. Now there is something working in my head. Thanks for that!
Maybe i should sell all the stuff and buy a new old Bus…..
Greetings from germany 🙂
Buy a can of silicone spray. You will need to keep the sides of the ladder lived or they will start to stick when they collapse. Just spray about every 4th time you use it. Good job for Lowe.