After reading the articles around the various newspapers and especially hearing, listening to and reading the comments about this atrocity, it seems quite clear that this shocking attack on a couple minding their own business has turned into a debate about freedom campers toilet habits. That is another thing altogether. Lets get back on track here. This particular story is about some loose canon who took offence to someone parking in the way of his view of the ocean and thought it would be a good idea to try and kill them move them on by burning them alive in their campervan.

I can’t condone this type of activity but it seems he was on the rampage the night before when another camper was parked in the same spot with them. They left fearing their safety.

“The other campervan left when he threatened to shoot them”.

Did they contact the police and tell them about the “Angry Dad” and his alleged threat to kill with a firearm? No it seems not…

“Police wish to speak to the occupants of the second campervan, which left the site before the alleged attack.”

Now, only one person can be held to account for this attack, but it seems that the couple in the campervan that remained had other options and could have got themselves out of harms way a lot sooner, and called the police.

Enough of this nonsense of people who have no idea about camping, using this apalling attack on people who choose an alternative lifestyle as an excuse to ‘dump’ on them for their alleged toilet habits…

Heres a link to the video

Makes me wannabe a housetrucker…

<RANT>
You only have to look at our governments to realise that home truth. There are definitely only a few of them, yet they strut around bullying us that they know best, are never held accountable for raping our wallets or for hairbrained schemes that have been proven to be based on false assumptions by the rest of the developed world. Yes, that jibe was directed fair and square at the munter called Nick Smith. A country run by bigger fools than the last lot who make laws just so they can say they actually did something while troughing it up at our expense. We gave up one nanny for another. So much for taking personal responsibility. But then again why would you when there is all manner of lovely gravy trains to feast on. The current government do not represent the principles the party was founded on. Just another bunch of tosspot politicians rorting the taxpayer, puffing themselves up and feathering their own nests.
</RANT>

I have been remiss lately in posting to this blog. I have plenty of material, it’s just finding the time to actually get the information posted. Nah really, it’s just me being bone lazy. I can make loads of excuses about how busy I am in all other aspects of my life, community, friends, work, sport, family, home etc etc, but it only takes 5 minutes a day to put something up.

I guess it’s because I don’t see many housetrucks out and about anymore. This last summer was a bit sad actually. There are loads of campervans floating around and more modern bus conversions, but we are just missing that old gypsy look on the road. I guess they are still out there, I just don’t see them anymore. Keeping them on the road is getting tougher and tougher too. Excessive fuel prices and complex Transport regulations.

If you are still looking at this site, I will try to get on here more often. I heard Mikes bus is all legit now, and I plan on getting around soon to take some photos. It sure is a beauty and Mike has done some great work on it. I wonder if he kept a build diary?

And just to recap: feel free to post articles about your vehicles or travels, but leave requests for information, buying and selling in the forum

Wade Thompson, a Wellington-raised and educated motorhome tycoon, has died of cancer in the United States, aged 69.

One of the most successful New Zealanders in business overseas, Mr Thompson was an old boy of Rongotai College and graduated from Victoria University in Wellington in 1962.

He came close to billionaire status as founder and part owner of Thor Industries, the world’s biggest recreational vehicle maker, based in the US.

Thor never lost money in all its 30 years and turned sales of more than US$1.5 billion (NZ$2b) in the past financial year.

In 2004, Mr Thompson appeared on the cover of prestigious Forbes business magazine in the US as “Lord of the Rigs”, a subtle play on his Kiwi background when Lord of the Rings movies were all the rage.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/3068512/Kiwi-motorhome-tycoon-dies-in-US

I am living in Big Tujunga Canyon. Bright sunlight and fresh air stream into my home. A hundred yards away rushes the creek. Beyond rise rugged hills, green with winter grass and budding shrubs. A few days more I will live here – writing, installing some equipment; then move on to Los Angeles for a short, intense contract job. Next summer, when Tujunga Canyon is no longer very green and Los Angeles may be that hot in more ways then one, I will be living somewhere in Canada. My home is a house-truck.

I chose this way to freedom because it offers me the best of two worlds. I can live most-of-the-time away from regimented, congested, indefensible cities; yet still profit by “exporting” my labor into those cities. I have the freedom and security offered by mobility; yet I possess what is in most respects a permanent residence. I can fully enjoy life right now, yet live economically and accumulate capital for further ventures. Finally, I can “opt out” alone; while I look forward to trade with others who may choose similar or complementary ways of life, my liberty does not depend on their decisions.

I am also delighted with unforeseen “fringe benefits”; ease of washing or resting after a journey; no worry about what to take with me, no time spent idle while waiting on something or someone, no commuting to work. All travel is more efficient, I move only from destination to destination without intervening trips to a stationary home.

This guy sums it up quite nicely about the “why” of going to the housetrucker lifestyle. The rest of the article is good, and the site also has a lot of “survivalist” information, including other posts on Living in a Travel Trailer and Living in a Schoolbus. It is based overseas, but the info is relevant for the lifestyle here. (Unless you  live in Invercargill)