The USPS does not deliver to Beavers

My address is The Beaver. Since the USPS doesn't deliver mail to Beaver RV's so I got a p.o. box #14728. My first p.o. box ever. I can already tell what a giant pain in the ass this is going to be to check this regularly.

Night 4

The Beaver 39th & Pine

This isn't the first night I've stayed in the Beaver, but it's technically the first since I started the blog. Last night I was exhausted and wanted to park before it got dark. Not all of my lights work. Another thing on my list. Now that the fuel injector was replaced, my new concern is lights. I wanted to be near Laurelhurst Park. I nestled into a spot facing the park on 39th and Pine. When picking a spot to land the Beaver, a few things come to mind. I don't look for dark and quiet homes because people just aren't home yet and I don't know if I'm taking up their spot or not. I look for driveways with cars already in them and if there is street parking nearby, I go there. I assume that they are parking in their driveway and don't need the street. That gives me a better chance of not making someone mad. I can imagine them pulling up to their house and going 'Oh Jesus now whose big green RV is that?.' While inside last night I was overly conscious of the noises outside. I was anticipating someone to knock on my door. I haven't parked this early before so it was leaving plenty of time for someone to grow curious or irritable. But as the night went on, no one knocked. The only sounds I heard the whole time was a neighbor cutting wood on his front lawn, a couple neighbors taking their recycling out and two very annoying barking dogs for a couple minutes, followed by an extremely annoyed dog owner bitching about them to himself. My biggest issue was not parking on a level spot. My bed angle was off kilter, creating a slant. I had to sleep nearly perpendicular to how you'd normally lay in a bed, trying to keep my head above my body at this slight angle. It was like sleeping on a little hill.

I woke up before 6a, and decided to go to the park like I planned, before I start my day.

How to fortify the Beaver Dam

When someone wishes to live in an RV in the city the issue of safety inevitably comes up. When you take away the padding of normal neighborhoods with normal people, eliminate the physical layer of sidewalks, stairs, bushes, porch lights, and neighbors dogs you have a rather exposed situation.

So during my week working on photo shoot for one of the most respected tactical companies, I took this perfect opportunity to ask a very qualified person about a simple and realistic strategy regarding fortifying the beaver.

Nate's having fun here illustrating that this gun is too big for the Beaver.

If anything, he gestures at a much smaller size.

Nate, is ex-military. He's been on nearly a hundred photo shoots with us, and I always like having a reason to talk to him. He's done and seen some things, so he's a perfect person to ask his advice on beaver security.

When he asked what was new with me I said "I got this RV called a Beaver and as an experiment I'm going to live in it, and I started a Beaver Blog." He blinked two blinks in one beat and in military flatness he says "Your Beaver has a Blog?" I nodded yes, totally glad he didn't act shocked I was going to live in an RV. Relieved he didn't think I was crazy.

First he mentioned to always park in a well lit spot. When I started to roll my eyes as if to express duh, he reminded me that most people don't think about that. He also mentioned to not leave anything in sight that was slightly appealing. "Maybe put something that would belong to a guy in plain sight." He wasn't trying to be particularly protective (and I liked that because it reinforced my confidence that he wasn't even the slightest 'unsure' or felt like he needed to dissuade me) but of course anyone would address the fact that I'm alone in there. He suggested I put a mag on the dash. Although somehow I'm not sure someone breaking into an RV would be that discerning. Maybe loose ammo though? "Make them wonder who is in there, and be discouraged." He says.

I was curious what he'd say about what weapons I should have.

"Baseball bat?" I suggest, liking the idea of having a metal bat (because they are so much lighter than wood ones) just leaning against my front door, all tough like.

"Mm no, not enough room to swing it."

"Mace?" I threw it out there.

"Too confined of space."

"Hmm. Knife." I say already settling on it.

"Yeah, a knife. That way you can get someone off you." He nods. Then he made a joke about a flashlight first to see what the person looked like and then a knife if I didn't like what I saw. Again, I was glad that there was not much concern and could make a light hearted comment like that.

We came to the conclusion that a fog horn type dealio would also be a good idea. Something to instantly create a loud attention getting noise that didn't require contact. It actually may be preventive. That, and a knife would be realistic.

All of this reminds of what an old friend who was very into Martial arts once explained to me: to not allow your enemy to see the range of your weapon. He described having a big stick at your side but holding it in such a way that doesn't allow your opponent to see the full length of it. Your opponent shouldn't know what you have or won't you don't have. They should not be able to sum you up.

Part of me is like oh my god I don't want to have to think about this! However, considering that I'm sleeping on the streets basically, it doesn't hurt to have a plan.

Getting Experteched

The beaver is at Expertec in Hood River while I'm working in North Carolina this week. It's been running well around town and back and forth from Portland to the Gorge, but it has died on hills three seperate times (on the Fremont Bridge once) and so this issue is being looked at now. Finally!

I'm waiting to hear what they think the issue is. 

Beaver Bush

What RV? I don't see an RV. 

Beaver goes green

It starts with a very thorough taping off job.

This weekend I drove the Beaver to the Gorge so I can work on it. I want to paint the whole thing green, eventually painting a variety of Doug Fir, Fern and general leaf patterns. A sort of urban/nature camo. I'd like it to look like a beaver's bush. The idea is to look nice in a neighborhood. I think it'll go over better if it looks more charming and artful, than just a big brown RV.

Yes, I'm using a combo of spray paint and exterior latex paint for the job. I imagine it will be amazing when I done.

Back from the dust

I'm back from Burning Man and SO ready to live in The Beaver!

While on the Playa, a man came up to us and asked us to select a tarot card. How strange that the card I pull, was about a stable home. When I look at this card, I think, a stable home- WEIRD. Places of dwelling have always been temporary for me, and I'm OK with that.