It's been a long time since I've posted on this beloved Cruiser Forum and I finally feel it is time to pull my boots back up yet again to take on the passion that seemingly still lives within...
As some of the MUD OG's know I got involved with Cruisers back around 2006 when I began building what I had hoped would be my legacy for my family. A portfolio of truly unique cruiser builds that started off with a few hiccups but was finally starting to form into something truly special.
Fast Forward to 2018... The Campfire as it was later coined burned down our small town of Paradise, California and for the past four and a half years my family and I have done little more than fight our insurance, fight the Utility Company who was responsible for the fire, fight our neighbors with serious levels of paranoia and anxiety, fight our lawyers who jerked us around, and the list goes on. We spent nearly two years living in a travel trailer and more than 4 years repairing our home damages. Our insurance covered just the cost of materials and little else so my family and I have done little else but work on our property. Live and learn.
Needless to say I have been heavily disconnected and overwhelmed for quite some time.
A week ago we returned from a 5 week vacation to Costa Rica where we finally had a chance to separate our minds from our consuming reality. We laughed, played, took naps, drank a lot of rum, and most importantly connected with family. While on our visit I was reminded of so many memories my wife (a Costa Rican Tica) and I shared in the beginning days of our relationship. Nearly 18 years of growing family life can quickly make you forget so much of who you once were or are.
It was an amazing perspective to see so many land marks that still existed. All our land marks in the town I grew up in (Paradise) are gone. You don't realize how much a spot of dirt or a building truly means until it's gone.
Upon our return I felt compelled to prioritize our 1977 BJ40 Land Cruiser which was our first family vehicle and not only just a vehicle but it represented an idea and passion to pursue cruisers as my family's main source of livelihood. The Cruiser was torn down many years ago in hopes of restoring it but unfortunately it got lost to our family's immediate needs so it quickly became a back drop of parts and nothing more.
Over the years many parts were used for other needs so my cruiser is not only in a million pieces it is also missing a lot of parts...
Today I purchased a 1983 BJ60 I will be using to get my cruiser back in action. I have a lot more to share about all this but my wife is now waiting on me to watch our shows so I have to go...
I'll leave this message tonight by saying I look forward to sharing this build with my community of Cruiser Junkies. I have a lot of ideas and only hope I can see it all through
Good night Mudders!
As some of the MUD OG's know I got involved with Cruisers back around 2006 when I began building what I had hoped would be my legacy for my family. A portfolio of truly unique cruiser builds that started off with a few hiccups but was finally starting to form into something truly special.
Fast Forward to 2018... The Campfire as it was later coined burned down our small town of Paradise, California and for the past four and a half years my family and I have done little more than fight our insurance, fight the Utility Company who was responsible for the fire, fight our neighbors with serious levels of paranoia and anxiety, fight our lawyers who jerked us around, and the list goes on. We spent nearly two years living in a travel trailer and more than 4 years repairing our home damages. Our insurance covered just the cost of materials and little else so my family and I have done little else but work on our property. Live and learn.
Needless to say I have been heavily disconnected and overwhelmed for quite some time.
A week ago we returned from a 5 week vacation to Costa Rica where we finally had a chance to separate our minds from our consuming reality. We laughed, played, took naps, drank a lot of rum, and most importantly connected with family. While on our visit I was reminded of so many memories my wife (a Costa Rican Tica) and I shared in the beginning days of our relationship. Nearly 18 years of growing family life can quickly make you forget so much of who you once were or are.
It was an amazing perspective to see so many land marks that still existed. All our land marks in the town I grew up in (Paradise) are gone. You don't realize how much a spot of dirt or a building truly means until it's gone.
Upon our return I felt compelled to prioritize our 1977 BJ40 Land Cruiser which was our first family vehicle and not only just a vehicle but it represented an idea and passion to pursue cruisers as my family's main source of livelihood. The Cruiser was torn down many years ago in hopes of restoring it but unfortunately it got lost to our family's immediate needs so it quickly became a back drop of parts and nothing more.
Over the years many parts were used for other needs so my cruiser is not only in a million pieces it is also missing a lot of parts...
Today I purchased a 1983 BJ60 I will be using to get my cruiser back in action. I have a lot more to share about all this but my wife is now waiting on me to watch our shows so I have to go...
I'll leave this message tonight by saying I look forward to sharing this build with my community of Cruiser Junkies. I have a lot of ideas and only hope I can see it all through
Good night Mudders!