"Sleeping comes natural to me. It's so easy, I could do it with my eyes closed."
A true knee slapper right there, dad.
At the end of part 2 of this week's mini-series, I alluded to the fact that I am frequently asked where I plan to sleep. Although SNL's 'Van Down by the River' skit can give us a good laugh, I'm opting for a less creepy approach to sleep.
Below I've listed the less creepy options I'm planning to take advantage of:
Planet Fitness
Being "on brand" is critical to marketing success in the digital age and I have tried to cut no corners in my appearance for The Dad Book. To put things lightly, old Nate here has got a bad case of the dad bod lately and although I love being on brand, I figured it would be a good idea to get some (a lot of) exercise in.
Thankfully, with my Planet Fitness Black Card, for just $21.99/mo I have unlimited access to over 1,600 locations throughout the US, including Hawaii and Alaska. Most of their locations are 24/7, meaning I also have quick access to bathrooms and most importantly, SHOWERS! The last thing we would want is for me to line up all these interviews with dads, only to be turned away because of smelling like I live in a 30 year old van.
VanAlert App
Of the many reasons for choosing the Dadillac as my choice of transportation for this endeavor, the community of people around Volkswagen Vanagons/buses is unparalleled.
There's even an app for that!
Of the many great features of the VanAlert App, one is Driveway Camp Hosts. Essentially, Vanagon owners that aren't actively on the road offer their driveways for free to other Vanagon owners that are passing by. WiFi, tools for quick repairs, and a place to do laundry are often included. Who said humanity was no good?!
Walmart
One of the more common places for #VanLifers to stay is in Walmart parking lots. With over 3,500 locations in the United States, it's safe to say I'll never far from a Walmart. After all, 90% of Americans live within 15 minutes of one!
An added benefit of being within walking distance to a Walmart is that I'll be able to grab snacks as I'm going to bed, or a cup of coffee in the AM.
Friends and Family Along the Way
If you're still reading this far, I consider you a friend and supporter of The Dad Book. From the first day I announced my plan, you and everyone else reading this blog have supported me in a multitude of ways.
One of the greatest forms of support I've received is people opening up their homes to me as I travel through the states. I've even got a place to stay and a warm meal lined up for me in Canada as I travel to Alaska! One could say The Dad Book is an international sensation ;)
Now you may be sitting there asking yourself, "Nate, this all sounds fine and dandy, but what are you doing to protect yourself from robbers?"
Although I have never taken a taekwondo class, let alone been in a fight, I trust that pepper spray and a bat will be ample protection should I need it. I looked into the possibility of a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) and after speaking with a handful of individuals, although it sounds like the safest form of protection, the laws surrounding concealed weapons vary state-to-state. It also doesn't help that I'll be traveling through Canada on my way to Alaska and the laws surrounding carrying a weapon into another country could result in me sitting next to El Chapo.
The final thing I wanted to mention before wrapping up this post is that for privacy while sleeping, my mom and I made curtains for the Dadillac. Although this is The Dad Book, my mom is an angel from above and has been the most supportive of this whole trip. Here's a glimpse of said curtains:
Know a good place that I should stop along the way? Or willing to let me park in your driveway overnight? Shoot me an email with your name and contact information, nate@therealdadbook.com.
See you tomorrow for part 4 of the mini-series: