Category: Ideas (page 14 of 21)

Inside a Nomad’s Monkey Mind – What’s Next?

Today, I invite you into my mind. If you accept, you might regret it. So much is going on in there, you might get overwhelmed, or mad, or jealous. This chaotic brain activity even has a name: Monkey Mind. Although, its description appears a bit harsh to define my condition. Thank you for supplying me with the correct term, Peta, when I mentioned this busy-bee thought syndrome in my last writing update. Luckily, those mulled-over and constantly-sprouting concepts aren’t all writing-related. That being said, the idea for this post formed while I was in the shower, head-writing it. ????

Pensive position

Some background information to help understand our conundrums in regards to… our future:

Mark and I met the end of 2004 and have been nomads ever since (me 1.5 years prior to that).
With two big dogs, we attempted a sailing adventure, which failed after nine months of prep.
The four of us traveled throughout Mexico and Central America in an RV for one year instead.
This was followed by three months in-limbo at a friend’s place in Texas, contemplating a move to Belize, a country that pleased and attracted us.
But, Mark’s dream to go sailing persisted: we lived in a tent and Toyota Tacoma with our two dogs for two months, in search of the perfect catamaran. We found Irie in Annapolis, Maryland.
An eight-year sailing journey brought us from the US to the Caribbean to the South Pacific.
After selling Irie in Tahiti, we didn’t want to settle but needed a break from our travels. The solution: house and pet sitting; frequent changes of scenery and the conveniences of a house.
Until we got itchy feet again and bought our current campervan, Zesty. Overland adventures continued, in combination with welcome breaks, house sitting.
We adopted Maya in June 2019 and house sitting was not an option anymore. We preferred our life on the road by then, so it all made sense to travel full-time again.
Then, Covid happened and we got stuck in a room above the garage in a city for many months.

Our first sailboat, a monohull, before departure from the San Francisco Bay area, California

Our truck camper (2005 – 2006) parked on a beach in Costa Rica

Ready to leave Texas in our Toyota Tacoma, spring 2007

Before leaving on our sailing adventure, Annapolis, Maryland

Irie under sail in the Society Islands, French Polynesia

Darwin on the bow of Irie in Martinique

Zesty boondocked at a lake in Southern California

Clearwater, Florida – Global Headquarters of Scientology

July 11, 2020 / Liesbet / 44 Comments

A walk through Clearwater, FL reveals fancy signs, magnificent buildings, and a certain amount of secrecy. If you wouldn’t know better, the reason for these appearances stays forever hidden. Take a stroll through town with us and read the captions by hovering over or clicking on the images of this photo story.

We had no idea when we parked Zesty along the street, next to this imposing white building in Clearwater.

Until we saw this sign…

… and video cameras everywhere.

People dressed like bellboys all around…

… asking us provocatively, “What are you looking at?” and “Why are you taking photos?”

IWSG Writing Update July 2020 – The Idle Co-host

June 30, 2020 / Liesbet / 110 Comments

Every first Wednesday of the month, the IWSG (Insecure Writer’s Support Group) engages writers to share their fears, thoughts, progress, struggles, excitement, encouragement, or anything really, about their writing. A different question is posed each month as a writing prompt. Answering it is optional. For July, the question is: “There have been many industry changes in the last decade, so what are some changes you would like to see happen in the next decade?”

This amazing, supportive group of writers was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Today, the awesome co-hosts are Jenni Enzor, Beth Camp, Tyrean Martinson, Sandra Cox, and yours truly (Liesbet @ Roaming About). If you click on their names, a link will bring you to their websites.

My answer to the question about industry changes

I’m a relatively new (book) writer, so the changes in the last decade did not affect me. Being unexperienced, I can’t suggest positive changes, but on a personal level I wish that every agent and publisher would have the decency, respect, and time to acknowledge or reply to queries, even if it’s with a “thanks but no thanks”. In an ideal world, constructive criticism would accompany the rejections. ????

A different question: Do writers ever relax?

Does your mind ever stop spinning, spewing ideas, suggesting outlines, demanding attention? Minds must always be busy. At least, mine is. The only time I don’t think about writing is when I hang out with friends and have a good time. Unless we talk about my travel memoir. There must be a name for this condition. Overthinking? Thought Disorder? Mind Mush? Author’s Obsession? Please enlighten me.

View during a two-week stay in Lincolnville, Maine to help out with home renovations (photo courtesy of Dave Stuhlbarg)

A Killer Logging Machine – #WordlessWednesday

June 24, 2020 / Liesbet / 52 Comments

When camping in Northern Florida, we saw this Tigercat in action.

This is my contribution to this week’s Wordless Wednesday link-up.

What are your thoughts on logging forests?

IWSG Writing Update June 2020 – Hiring an Editor

June 3, 2020 / Liesbet / 75 Comments

Every first Wednesday of the month, the IWSG (Insecure Writer’s Support Group) engages writers to share their fears, thoughts, progress, struggles, excitement, encouragement, or anything really, about their writing. A different question is posed each month as a writing prompt. Answering it is optional. For June, the question is: “Writers have secrets! What are one or two of yours, something readers would never know from your work?”

This amazing, supportive group of writers was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Today, the co-hosts are Pat Garcia, J.Q. Rose, and Natalie Aguirre!

My answer to the question (What are your secrets?)

I had to think long and hard about this month’s question. Since I’m so “brutally honest” and transparent about what I do, think, and write, I feel there are no secrets… I can be blunt and it’s difficult for me to hide my emotions or opinions. But the truth is that I hate confrontations, offending people, being unlikeable, and injustice. Another secret: I’m sometimes totally fed up with writing, English, and language in general. Luckily, those moments never last long.

We temporarily “moved” to Maine for a change of scenery and focus.

My book progress

After finishing several drafts, involving beta readers, spending a year contacting agents, and adding another five months looking for a traditional publisher (in vain), my travel memoir has reached the next step: the involvement of a professional editor. An editor is someone who improves your book, which can happen on several levels.

An Ode to Hiking Shoes – #WordlessWednesday

May 27, 2020 / Liesbet / 44 Comments

Time to go, after five years!

A sad goodbye…

There was a garbage can next to the car. 🙂

IWSG Writing Update May 2020 – Approaching Editors

May 6, 2020 / Liesbet / 71 Comments

Every first Wednesday of the month, the IWSG (Insecure Writer’s Support Group) engages writers to share their fears, thoughts, progress, struggles, excitement, encouragement, or anything really, about their writing. A different question is posed each month as a writing prompt. Answering it is optional. For May, the question is: “Do you have any rituals that you use when you need help getting into the ZONE?”

This amazing, supportive group of writers was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Today, the co-hosts are Feather Stone, Beverly Stowe McClure, Mary Aalgaard, Kim Lajevardi, and Chemist Ken!

My answer to the question (Do you have any rituals when you need help getting into the ZONE?)

Nope. Being a writer and full-time traveler (aka nomad) can be tricky. I don’t have a writing schedule and I don’t have a writing space. No desk for inspirational quotes, a scented candle, or a favorite pen and notebook. No planned writing, as our days vary from sitting an extra day at a campsite to the urge to fix an issue or run errands to driving hundreds of miles to ultimate chaos (aka everything goes wrong).

Home is where the van’s parked

Human Encounters in Florida – Meeting Friends before COVID-19

April 16, 2020 / Liesbet / 70 Comments

Karmen and Tom in Marineland

I’ve mentioned it before, 2020 couldn’t have been off to a better start for us – at which point, it did cross my mind that it could only go downhill from there. But the first week of January comprised good times with our old boating friends Tom and Karmen, who finished renovating a new-to-them catamaran. We met many years ago sailing in the Bahamas and stayed in touch, crossing paths throughout the country. They swung by twice in their converted camper van while we house sat (in Santa Fe, NM and San Diego, CA) and we visited them in Monmouth, Oregon to learn first-hand – and with all our senses – how they created the successful and innovative pizza restaurant, Yeasty Beasty. Don’t you love that name?

Beach walk in the town of Marineland

Mark hauls Tom up the mast of his catamaran – reminiscing old times.

Our friend Karmen is creative, and not only with her camera.

Game night on SV Sauvage

Giving Karmen and Tom a ride into St. Augustine – Maya happily shares her space

Happy hour with the pizza girls!

Sailing friends reunited!

We also met up with communal sailing friends Dan and Jaye.

Going out for drinks and tacos with sailing friends Dan and Jaye

Marian and Cliff in Jacksonville

Also in January, I finally met blogging and memoirist friend Marian Beaman. She and her husband Cliff graciously invited us into their home for a yummy chili lunch and hours of conversation. Marian, a Mennonite until age 24, blogs at Plain and Fancy and recently published her heartfelt, well-written memoir Mennonite Daughter – The Story of a Plain Girl, which offers a glimpse into 20th century Mennonite life and documents her experiences and life-altering decisions as Marian Longenecker.

Cliff and Marian in front of their comfortable home

Marian and I honoring the hibiscus flowers in her yard

IWSG Writing Update April 2020 – Coronavirus Status

April 1, 2020 / Liesbet / 62 Comments

Every first Wednesday of the month, the IWSG (Insecure Writer’s Support Group) engages writers to share their fears, thoughts, progress, struggles, excitement, encouragement, or anything really, about their writing. A different question is posed each month as a writing prompt. Answering it is optional.

For April, the question is: “The IWSG’s focus is on our writers. Each month, from all over the globe, we are a united group sharing our insecurities, our troubles, and our pain. So, in this time when our world is in crisis with the COVID-19 pandemic, our question is: how are things in your world?”

This amazing, supportive group of writers was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Today, the co-hosts are Diane Burton,JH Moncrieff,Anna @ Emaginette,Karen @ Reprobate Typewriter,Erika Beebe, and Lisa Buie-Collard.

((After the park ranger told us Wood Lake Campground would close (see last photo of my previous post), she recommended another spot in the forest where we would be able to boondock (primitive camp for free), showing it on her map, from a safe distance. Based on the amount of bugs and the lack of cell service in Apalachicola National Forest, FL we decided to move on.))

My answer to the question (How are things in your COVID-19 world?)