Looking for a bed out west...

[JamesV]

Hi. My name is Jim, and I've been a PC junky since I first picked up a 286 system so long ago my name should be dirt. I found AnandTech when I had questions, and have been here lurking or posting since.

I went to college for client/server in the 90's, but never finished my degree. I did work as both QA and programming (COBOL and C+). My great aunt needed me, so I was there, and for the past 15 years I have cared for her until she passed this May at 96 years old.

I have a bit of savings, and want to move west within 10 hours driving of national parks and maybe pick up a piece of land for myself. I love tech, but I love hiking and exploring more. My problem is that I can't visit and research these places without spending a lot of money on hotels, and trying to figure out if these places are somewhere I want live by myself is daunting.

I need a guide. I need a friend.

Looking for a bed for two weeks out west, and someone to show me around. Willing to trade my skills (I'm an incredible cook thanks to my great aunt), cash within reason, or any help you might need in return.

I'm fine with a beat up couch or even in my tent. Just looking for a place I could love; need some help finding it.

 

[Leros]

Do you have money saved up? Moving without savings is generally a bad idea.

What skills do you have? What kind of job are you going to be pursuing?

 

[cabri]

Consider looking at hostels.

Or bounce around KOA locations near where you might be interested in examining.

 

[skyking]

There is a site called boondockers welcome. I am a member. Check it out. Get your self contained trailer and stay at hundreds of locations for free, after paying the joining cost. Pm me for more details. I am happy to get you started. I don't need the reference as I am a founding member.

 

[Kaido]

Couch surfing might get you started, it's like a free AirBNB:

https://www.couchsurfing.org/

https://www.reddit.com/r/couchsurfing/

 

[John Connor]

Colorado west? Check out Loveland or Fort Collins. We are about an hour and a half 30 minutes drive down the 34 to Estes Park and then the Rockies.

I don't like visitors though.

 

[BoomerD]

Contact Oldsmoboat. He USUALLY has room for another in his basement...

 

[CoPhotoGuy]

Colorado west? Check out Loveland or Fort Collins. We are about an hour and a half drive down the 34 to Estes Park and then the Rockies.

I don't like visitors though.

No...not West enough. You wouldn't like it here....

 

[John Connor]

I lived in California too. LOL

 

[JamesV]

thx for replies; I'm sure I'll figure something out. Sorry, was a bit drunk when I posted.

 

[JamesV]

Do you have money saved up? Moving without savings is generally a bad idea.

What skills do you have? What kind of job are you going to be pursuing?

I have a large savings; nothing Trump would be impressed by, but enough that I could live for 10 years renting somewhere easily.

My skills include PC hardware, which every kid these days seems to have. I am a great cook (beef burgundy to fried anything, and I care when everyone else seems to say they do). So in essence, I have no *marketable* skills.

Sorry, drank a bit too much, and posted when in my head the voice said 'never post when you drink'. I'll figure something out. Got a couple of leads, and if worst comes to worst I'll come out west and wing it.

 

[K7SN]

if worst comes to worst I'll come out west and wing it

If you do I can give you lot's of advice but only have one bed in my house and I don't share. the southern 1/3 of Utah is do able but by one of them National park passes, mine is lifetime cause I'm such an Old Fart. can't get on till your 65. We have national recreation areas and such around Las Vegas (within 25 miles) with a park like experience, good hiking, exploring, and things like Hoover Dam as attractions. It is just a couple hours drive to Zion, Then Bryce Canyon or the North Rim of Grand Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Arches. Continuing in to Southwest Colorado you got great one day archaeological places run by the park service. Bring a bedroll in the summer or a sleeping bag in the spring or fall (When the aspen change color in Zion is the best time to visit) but there more aspen in places like Cedar Breaks and most National forests you can camp for free or a few bucks with facilities (McDonalds restrooms and sleeping for free works for me).

BTW: A good cook is a *marketable* skill.

 

[zinfamous]

Hi Jim,

Sorry to hear about your great aunt--I knew about this arrangement through our many late-night convos through GW2 some year+ ago, and hope you're doing well with things.


Well, I was in the Bay Area/NorCal, as you may recall, but I am now back on the east coast....so I can't help out there anymore.

I can say, though....that it wouldn't be a great option for what you are looking for. Well, if you don't have ~7 figures saved up by now, "buying a piece of land" isn't an option in the parts of CA that I know. All the other requirements are there, however (national parks, tech jobs for your skills). But if you are happy living a bit east of those hot areas and commuting, then it could be an option, assuming you can deal with the douchefactor 10 types of people that inhabit that part of the country.


Driving out from CA, I briefly traveled along I40 through Flagstaff and Arizona, and that's an area that I'd like to revisit for several days. Sedona, Grand Canyon, big ass meteor crater, old NA ruins, all within a day's visit; and would have to be rather affordable. Also that is all within a day's drive of Phoenix.

 

[OutHouse]

Buy a used popup camper and stay at rv parks and national park camp grounds for cheap and find a place you like to settle.

 

[OutHouse]

Colorado west? Check out Loveland or Fort Collins. We are about an hour and a half 30 minutes drive down the 34 to Estes Park and then the Rockies.

I don't like visitors though.

Did you go to the scott fest in estes this year?

 

[herm0016]

bad timing here, getting married and moving in the next few weeks, plus remodeling a house... have any remodeling experience? painting, installing wood floor, lifting boxes...?

Boulder does have a lot of airbnb, and I'm sure some couch surfing. I could probably work something out for a week or 2 in OCT for some labor in Lafayette CO, just east of Boulder.

 

[John Connor]

Did you go to the scott fest in estes this year?

No... Never heard of it actually. LOL I haven't been up there in years really.

 

[motodude]

I have a queen but do sleep in the nude.