Prepare you kids

One thing about doing things a bit different in life is that you kids might want to do something different with their lives too.

A friend's son is graduating from college and plans to live in his van. He hopes to be able to practice his trade while traveling on the road. While his dad is concerned as any one would be, there's not much he can say. After all, my friend used to live in a pop up trailer. Actually, I think my friend kinda wishes he could hit the road too.

My lovely wife and I are in the same position. If our girls are adventuresome we've only got ourselves to blame. I guess all those wilderness canoe trips and mountain camping trips had an influence on them. My kids grew up in a solar powered dome, so they are used to the non conventional.

Actually, I don't really worry too much about my kids. They are smart people who can figure things out. I suspect my kids might worry about my lovely wife and I more than we worry about them.

It's a tough time to be a young adult. Good paying jobs are few and far between. Job security is a joke. Maybe the worse thing young people can do today is to try and live “normal” lives. Maybe it worked for their parents, but conditions have changed. Doing the normal and safe thing is probably anything but safe.

Living in a van is a lot better option than paying too much for a rent in a bad neighborhood. Being mobile allows someone to quickly take advantage of opportunities, even if they are across the country.

Parents want to prepare their kids for life in the great big world. Pushing them to take college prep courses isn't enough anymore. They should know their way around a tool kit: know how to repair cars, and boats, how to set up an alternative energy, grow and gather food, and how to make their own electric power. Self reliance is the new job security.

-Sixbears