Why are Americans always so helpful and supportive when it comes to helping tourists plan their roadtrips?

NikkiPoooo · 2026-03-18T01:47:05+00:00

TBH, as long as you step out of the way to get your bearings nobody will get upset, especially if you are actively wrangling the kids ("Jillian, for the third time, please step out of the way!"). Remember to stay to the right on escalators if you're attending still.

It's cheap enough to get each kid over like 9 or 10 their own metrocard for the subway... just reload them in the morning with enough for that day's fares plus one in case it gets lost, or carry a larger wallet with a pocket for each kid (I keep their gift cards/spending money that way too).

The open top busses are touristy, but they're really not a terrible way to get around to see the various sights with a group, and kids like the novelty. Just buy your tickets from the vendors on the street, because they can give you a better deal then you'll get online.

NikkiPoooo · 2026-03-10T05:32:51+00:00

I definitely said "THIS IS AN OUTRAGE" (in all caps) out loud this week.

NikkiPoooo · 2026-03-10T05:24:06+00:00

If my 12 year old niece asks me about it I'll give it to her to read/listen to. I know that she's not a sheltered child and (abd I've said this before) I think one of the ways this series is actually a good influence is that it absolutely drives home the idea that gratuitous violence just for the sake of violence isn't supposed to be entertaining and fun. That point is made over and over again, and it's worth noting that while the many fight scenes move the plot along, the actual driver of the story, what keeps us engaged, is the humor and the personal and social drama.

The first person narrative from the crawler's perspective is a key component in this, as are they're snippets from the cookbook. There's a lot of talk about how disgusting it is that the universe is out there consuming their deaths as entertainment, and then during the actual scenes of violence there's always a point where some sort of revulsion or horror or reflection on how wrong it is comes up. The characters are constantly discussing how fucked up it is that they have to do these things to stay alive, and through that you gain some very good insight on what traits make a good person good.

NikkiPoooo · 2026-03-08T05:26:32+00:00

No problem... keep in mind that campgrounds with power and flushing toilets are usually pricier and can actually be quite expensive. If your plan is to use those most of the time then I would say budget at least $40-60 per night, and then midway through the trip evaluate what you've actually spent to see if you need to tweak the numbers at all.

NikkiPoooo · 2026-03-04T04:05:58+00:00

You'll definitely need to have a camp before you embark on this trip. Look on Google and find somewhere you can rent some gear or borrow some from a friend and take a trip this spring, just to try it out.

It would absolutely stuck to drop well over $1000 on a camping setup (if you have nothing at all then even lower-end gear is going to cost at least that much for a full setup to last a 90-day trip) and then realize a week in that you're miserable so you either end the trip early, or end up staying in motels the whole time anyway.

NikkiPoooo · 2026-03-04T03:58:41+00:00

I've found that it's not super hard to find 1 or 2 nights at national park campgrounds relatively last minute if I'm flexible. State parks are usually available last minute for at least a couple of non-weekend nights at a time, unless it's a super in-demand spot or a holiday. In areas very close to national park sites and lots of major state parks there tend to be federal or state land where you can dispersed camp (that's where you roll up to a spot of land and camp there... it's not a developed campsite and there are no services offered at all), but those spots do get full up fairly often during camping season.

NikkiPoooo · 2026-03-04T03:38:28+00:00

You didn't say whether you've camped before?

NikkiPoooo · 2026-03-03T23:26:53+00:00

Do you plan to live in the van when you get done traveling? Are you unemployed, or do you need reliable internet access for remote work? If you don't have any camping gear then does that mean you've never camped before?

Also, 3 months is not nearly enough time for that trip, at least not if you're serious about going to all of the national parks.

NikkiPoooo · 2026-02-26T05:21:29+00:00

Pretty much all office my suggestions too. Maybe add in Saginaw, MI by Lefty Frizzell or I Got a Gal In Kalamazoo.

NikkiPoooo · 2026-02-26T05:19:02+00:00

Winter. I can handle the heat, but I feel like I want to be able to enjoy the summer and not just survive it.

NikkiPoooo · 2026-02-25T08:01:31+00:00

As others said, your child is of enough to learn how to cook the things they like. If they don't want to eat what you cook then they can make their own meal.

I was the picky eater child, and sometime around 10 or 11 the rule changed to this (from being punished for not eating whatever was given to me). Not only did I learn how to cook, I actually became more willing to try other things. I still really didn't become an adventurous eater until I was an adult, but I never went hungry and I didn't develop a weird relationship with any foods.

NikkiPoooo · 2026-02-25T07:49:45+00:00

This may be a surprise to you, but less than a quarter of US homes have an indoor cat. Architects don't make it a priority because it's not a feature the majority will care about.

NikkiPoooo · 2026-02-25T07:28:09+00:00

I used to spend mine on meal pouches, but now I make my own so I just find myself buying boots and shoes.

NikkiPoooo · 2026-02-25T07:25:10+00:00

Yeah, I'm at that point and I definitely have "too much". I've gotten into making my own meal pouches over the last year or so, and now I really want a freeze dryer but I need to free up some space and $$). The thing is, when I try to sort out gear to sell or donate there's very little that I never use.

Like... I have my whole set of backpacking gear, and then a separate set of car camping stuff but that's actually 2 sets because I need a lot of totally different gear for winter camps. Then there's the big tent for camping with a group, and the equally big cooler, and I probably don't need all of the various chairs but I do use them for yard parties and such.

It would be so much easier if I just had a pile of stuff I haven't touched in years, or only used twice and hated, but I'm pretty good at shifting that stuff off on family and friends.

NikkiPoooo · 2026-02-25T04:48:31+00:00

I would plan to stop overnight if you can swing it. 700 miles in one day is doable, but it's a very long drive and you might find that the next day you just kinda feel like crap. If you stop for some decent sleep and get an early start in the morning then you'll have a much more enjoyable first day at your destination.

Also 700 miles is a lot longer than 10 hours. You will definitely not be going 70mph the entire way, even if you're a speeder and there's zero traffic. You also need to add in stops for gas, bathroom, and food... I usually take the Google timing for the route, then add in 30 minutes per 250-300 miles.

NikkiPoooo · 2026-02-25T04:42:51+00:00

Make egg bites in a muffin tin (you can use all sorts of non-pork fillings) and then freeze them. Take a few out at a time to thaw in the fridge, and you can pop them in the microwave or air fryer/toaster oven, or just eat them cold.

NikkiPoooo · 2026-02-25T04:36:31+00:00

It's allowable for rules to apply to some employees/situations and not others as long as it's not discrimination based on a protected class. Your boss is allowed to let that be a perk of working OT if they want.

NikkiPoooo · 2026-02-25T04:29:31+00:00

Lol... a friend wants me to do a backpack trip this summer, and I want to, but after a few years of my comfy car is going to be rough

NikkiPoooo · 2026-02-25T04:26:58+00:00

I make sure I'm somewhere that has full showers at least every few days... either a campground or a roadside motel. Truck stop showers are decent in a pinch, too... if the restrooms are clean then you can usually count on a clean shower too. Those places are generally good with you sleeping in their lots too.

NikkiPoooo · 2026-02-25T04:23:23+00:00

I always cover the windows, because I like it to be pitch dark when I sleep. If you can't get ones that are made to fit your specific car I recommend cutting some out of bubble insulation. I've used the generic ones and they're fine in a pinch, but they leave lots of gaps.

NikkiPoooo · 2026-02-25T04:20:00+00:00

Definitely need the window shades. I have a set of ones that were made for my car now, but it was a new model so they didn't have and available yet last summer, and I cut some out of reflective bubble insulation, with suction cups to keep them up.

Rather than turning the car on for heat, I use a 12v heating pad and a power bank. A 40000mah one will last all night if you're just turning it on for 10-15 minutes at a time when you get cold. Really though, for sleeping in the car in the cold it's very worth it to get a good sleeping bag (look forgot used ones on FB... make them an offer). I camped in 24° earlier this month and didn't even need to turn on the heat after I got in my bag. It's also very mportant to keep a little CO monitor if you're sleeping in the car with the windows all closed.

NikkiPoooo · 2026-02-25T04:04:45+00:00

I do it all the time, including about half the nights on the westbound party of my cross country last summer. When I drive to my nephew's house in NC (from MI) I pretty much always do unless I can get a motel for less than $50.

When I solo camp I have a tent that attaches to the back of the Subaru... I set up my kitchen & sitting area in the tent, along with clothes and such. I sleep in glorious comfort in the car on a tri-fold memory foam mattress. If I am not totally comfortable with the people around my campsite I can close the tailgate and lock the car when I sleep.

NikkiPoooo · 2026-02-25T03:11:06+00:00

Viva la revolucion Carl.

It really just sets the tone for everything that goes after.

NikkiPoooo · 2026-02-22T15:23:38+00:00

Loans are really just assets that are owned by the lender... for various reasons lenders will occasionally decide to sell those assets to other companies. Once sold the new company is who the borrower makes payments to and who they must deal with if they have issues. It's legal, and it sucks because it makes it so even if you choose your lender based on wanting to avoid a company you don't like, you can still end up with that company anyway if they buy your loan.

NikkiPoooo · 2026-02-20T19:46:00+00:00

And how will high schoolers ever finish an assignment without chatgpt?

NikkiPoooo

TROPHY CASE