After nearly two years of unemployment and no clients, I have a dream.

[Better Today]

I've recently been facing a great deal of despair and despondency because I don't see a way out of my upcoming financial dilemma. I've never been a day late or a dollar short before, though I've a few times been just squeaking by. Fortunately, I'm beginning to bore with being desperate and despondent. So I asked myself, if you could do anything right now what would it be.

My answer is that I would like to take my unique photography equipment, travel around the states, and document what's going on; homelessness, teaparty stupidity, peace rallies and marches, protests, and so much more. So I'm pondering this when another idea comes to me.

Wouldn't it be great if I could team up with a journalist or author or blogger to travel with me. That way our talents will support each other, keep each other motivated, keep each other safer, and the end results might end up something that will bring us some considerations. Perhaps a book, perhaps guest blogger spots, perhaps, perhaps....

As I let this new aspect wander around my brain, giving me some excitement for the first time in months, I realize that perhaps someone on DU would be interested in such an excursion. Ah, and that also means that perhaps, if we are both from/on DU, then we could meet up with DUers along the way for perhaps a meal and the use of a washer and dryer. You see I plan on traveling frugally. Buying real food and cooking it on a propane stove or campfire as opportunity presents. The only things we will need are gas, which I can provide for quite a while, and electricity to charge up the equipment which the car will do while traveling, and again, if DUers along the route are agreeable to sometimes just plugging in at their house for an evening. I'll be pulling a trailer big enough to be fitted with a sleeping pad like a futon pad. It won't be glamorous travel by any stretch, but I'm hoping we won't be really uncomfortable either. It will be close quarters though...hmmm, actually weather permitting one of us could sleep either in the car, or in a tent.

Furthermore by being part of the DU community, even if we don't currently know each other, we will have some safety in having the DU community to sort of help keep track of us on our journey. And of course DU is a fabulous resource for determining where and when we should be for events, both good and bad.

I've just been hired for Census work, so I'm thinking of starting this immediately after that is done, six weeks or so, roughly first of June, and going until the stories are told and circumstances documented.

So I wonder, is anyone to the point they are ready to just jump into something like this? I'd be interested in hearing from you by PM. Once I can determine genuine interest I'll share who I am, and what makes my equipment relatively unique, what other supporting skills I bring to the table. And of course anyone who has suggestions, criticisms, or whatever, please chime in.

Oh, and I try never to ask for kicks or recs, but if you wouldn't mind just this once, so it will stay visible for a while to anyone who may find themselves interested.

[The Straight Story]

1. K&R (nt)

[DontTreadOnMe]

pm sent

contact me back

[Better Today]

11. PM and email replied. Let's see where our conversations take us.

[ShamelessHussy]

2. k&r

Sounds like an excellent idea, best of luck, looking forward to seeing your work online :toast:

[liberal N proud]

3. 2 years unemployment - Been there

It was 1982 - 1984. Thank you Ronald Reagan

Sounds like you are being creative, keep it up.

[Omaha Steve]

7. Me too!

K&R!

[Biker13]

4. K&R

Good luck.

[tilsammans]

5. K & R!!!

I'm in the same boat -- jobless, with few prospects. I'd love to join you, but can't right now. Please keep us posted on your adventures. Good luck!

:dem:

[Hannah Bell]

6. kik

[Raster]

8. I'll kick and I'll recommend. What is happening to this country and its people should be thoroughly

documented. We cannot depend on the corporate media to tell these stories.

[Better Today]

13. Exactly my thoughts! I'm feeling pretty pumped right now. I hope

it isn't just a case of the simples after a sleepless night. :)

[lunatica]

9. I say you've thought it out pretty well. Go for it

It doesn't matter if it last a few months or a lot longer. You will be documenting history in the making and the world will be a better place for it. You will be making excellent use of your time and talent because you're free to go where the problems are.

I love it when people actually take steps to do what they have the talent to do and start thinking outside of the box. This seems to be a perfect opportunity because it's not like you're having to give up a job!!

[Better Today]

12. And if I'm going to be going walkabout, one way or another, I may as

well do something worthwhile, right?

Thanks for the encouragement!

[lunatica]

14. While you're on the road you might apply for grants

The National Endowment for the Arts http://www.neh.gov/

What the hell, no? You might actually get a grant! You might even get a DUer who knows how to write applications for grants to contribute

[Better Today]

15. Thank you, good idea. I don't know how, but I can learn anything.

[DontTreadOnMe]

20. good idea

looking into that now

[lunatica]

25. Send some good photographs and writing with the applications

Visual aids always help in presentations

[leveymg]

10. KNR. This too shall pass.

[ChicagoSuz219]

16. When you get to Chicago, give me a holler! n/t

[Better Today]

17. Will do, thank you!

[ChicagoSuz219]

23. I'm a writer...

...too bad I'm not up for roughing it, otherwise I'd volunteer to go with you.

Ask me again when the trip involves hotels & restaurants... ;-)

[Better Today]

30. I'm thinking the only way I'll keep my sanity is to do the whole

camping and ruffing it routine. I find nature to be very refreshing and mood lightening.

[druidity33]

18. you've got a place to crash

in Western Massachusetts, if you make it out this way. I have done a similar journey as what you are proposing (stopped at 18 Communes across the country during 1999) hitching and bumming rides along the way. I spent a lot of time camping and sleeping on couches, but it was an awesome and enlightening year!

I am a photog as well, some of the pics from that journey are at the eclecticspecialist link in my tagline... if you're interested. All film work.

Best of luck to you, and PM me if you think you'll be headed this way...


:)

[Better Today]

26. Will do thank you!

[malaise]

19. K & R

Good luck
You may actually want to think about documenting the sustainable redevelopment of Haiti and I'm sure there will be pockets of that kind of redevelopment. I'm sure you can find an NGO willing to support that venture.

[a la izquierda]

21. K & R

[raccoon]

22. You might be another Studs Terkel. Good idea. nt

[RT Atlanta]

24. PM me if coming through Atlanta

or if your travels should take you to Columbia SC

[Better Today]

27. Will do. I have no doubt our route will emcompass those places we've

been invited to, whomever "we" end up being.

[csziggy]

28. If you come through Tallahassee, Florida, contact me

PM on the way.

[Better Today]

29. Excellent, Thank you. I'm bookmarking this page so I can find you all when

it's time to set our routes.

[csziggy]

34. This kind of trek is quite doable

Years ago a couple who wrote a syndicated column came through town and stayed overnight on the farm. They had a pop-up travel trailer that they usually stayed in and were traveling to gain material for their column. They also visited local newspapers in each town to try to sell their column to more venues.

When they were here they had been on the road for nearly a year and had paid for camping spots for less than seven nights. We let them stay here for several nights, they cooked us a meal and did some projects around the farm in payment, though we did not ask them to - they offered.

You might want to set up a blog and sign up for Google ads. You can use the blog to gain more contacts and generate interest. Once things get going, you should be able to make a few bucks from the Google ads. Places like Blogspot and Wordpress make it very easy to have the blogs, and you do not need a domain name, web space or knowledge of how to create a web page to set them up. Even if you take the next step of your own web site, the blog can link to it for continuity.

Of course, if you get a lot of interest or want to upload a lot of pictures, you will need your own domain name and web space. But I am sure you can meet DUers who could help with that. Aside from creation of the web pages, a site is cheap - I pay about $9 a year for my domain name and $100 for more web space and bandwidth than I am likely to ever use. Tools such as Jalbum make it very easy to create photo albums for web pages - that is another free resource!

[Fumesucker]

31. Recced and PM sent.

Sounds like an interesting project/trip..

[Better Today]

32. I've got to get ready and go to the first day of Census training,

I won't be back till evening, so please anyone who PMs me today, I'll get back to you tonight or tomorrow. The next training day isn't till next week, so I'll be more responsive to the end of the week and weekend.

Thank you all for Kicking and Rec'ing. You guys ROCK!

[Blue_Tires]

33. ttt

[Berry Cool]

35. K&R

Sounds like a cool idea. If I were more into roughing it, and I didn't already have some plans despite my job situation, I'd join you.

But PM me if you are coming through Cleveland. I can give you a roof and a room, plus a meal and laundry facilities.

[tonysam]

36. Two years unemployment today for me. Nothing remotely in sight. n/t

[cui bono]

37. PM me if you come through Los Angeles.

I can put you up, feed you, and you can charge your stuff and do your laundry.

Good luck!

[Better Today]

50. Will do, thank you!

[glitch]

38. Fine idea!

You're not a bad writer either, you could pair up with a film or audio person and bring more than words and images to the story. Musician or artist as well. I love the photojournalism of the 1930-70s but now multi-media expression is pretty inexpensive.
Anyway, if you don't mind VERY rustic you stop in here on your travels. :hi:

[truedelphi]

39. good luck to you. this is

An amazing idea. I am hoping that you find the resources that you need to make it happen.

PM sent.

[vlas]

40. couch surfing

Recently heard about this, it sounds neat:
http://www.couchsurfing.org/

[CabalPowered]

43. I'm a CS member

It's a great community and definitely worth a look if you're the rambling type.

[Better Today]

57. That's a cool site, I'll definitely keep it in mind.

[Liberal_in_LA]

41. K&R, hope you get some good responses

[Love Bug]

42. Maybe you can be the Dorothea Lange of this recession

[Better Today]

49. Certainly a strong part of my motivation come from those photos.

[onestepforward]

44. K&R!

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

45. I did census work in 2000. Good luck with the job and your new adventure.

[Hannah Bell]

46. k

[mistertrickster]

47. You can also stay at my house, heh. email me. nt

[Better Today]

48. Thank you I look forward to it.

[Arctic Dave]

51. Will you come to Alaska?

[Better Today]

55. We might, I don't think anything is set in stone yet.

[scorpiogirl]

52. I feel your pain.

My husband has been out of work for two years this July. We've also reached the end of our rope financially. I'm now trying to sell my car and trying to get some public assistance. Everything we worked for is gone (401k and savings) and we have two small children who've already had to change schools twice. I'm still trying to understand how one comprehends reaching the point where they can no longer afford to exist, literally. Oh, and the credit cards we were living off of had their limits reduced last week, one drastically, essentially cutting our line of credit and our method of surviving right now. My husband's on his third tier of EDD, but let's face it who can survive on that especially with kids.

I commend you for finding a way to sort of get out of from under it all. I know the weight of it is overwhelming. Good luck!

[proteus_lives]

53. I get it dude.

I'm a freelance writer so I'm always looking for work and I just got a Census job too!

If I had the money and time, I'd travel the country taking pictures of comic book shops and interview the owners. I'd make the ultimate nerd coffee-table book.

Part of me would love to just take off but I got people and responsibilities I can't walk away from.

Take it easy, who knows what tomorrow may bring?

[Subdivisions]

54. I've thought of doing this myself, though your camera equipment

probably blows mine away. But for me it was more traveling and writing and blogging about the places and people I meet along the way I dreamt of doing.

If you're ever in the DFW area (I'm outside the Metroplex, south of Ft Worth), contact me for a couch, food, and bath.

Sending PM with contact info.

[Better Today]

56. Thank you everyone for keeping this visible.

I did get a few PMs and will be trying to figure out which is the best fit over the next few days. I imagine whomever I partner up with will be agreeable to an announcement here and as I said before it is my intent to utilize you all for safety on our route, just by letting you all know where we will be, y'all will also be directors of our trip to an extent telling us what you think we should see and when if its an event, and of course thank you all for you warm welcomes when we get to your area, I'm sure we will appreciate it so much!

Have a GREAT THURSDAY! It's one of the first one's I've actually wakened mostly happy in months.

You guys ROCK!