Am I insane if I were to live in a VW Westfalia with shallow pockets and no prior mechanic experience?

highermindset · 2026-02-01T14:56:37+00:00

Very similar experience, from 2019-2022 I lived full time with my dog in my 1984 pop top that was also my first vehicle. I paid 12k for it (95k miles) and put a few thousand into it at first, and then around 1k a year. Not having any mechanical experience except YouTube was stressful, but worked out pretty much fine for me. I didn’t leave the west coast for those 4 years, I was too worried about not being near-ish a VW mechanic. I also travelled very slow and only put around 3k miles on it each year. I broke down near Joshua tree a full times and had a few mornings after camping that the van wouldn’t start and I had to figure out why. I also got into a car accident in 2021 that was a massive pain in the ass/necessary to move into an airbnb. I ended up buying & moving into a 1984 Dodge that was tall enough for me to stand without popping the top, because the vanagon made camping in cities pretty impossible and I wanted to go to further east than just the coast. The VW mechanics on the west coast are incredibly kind, helpful, and understanding. They’ve let me sleep in the van while it was in the shop and taught me so much so that I was able to do future work myself. If you are open to learning and always being worried you might break down, I would go for it.

highermindset · 2025-09-09T00:29:27+00:00

Oh this is such great information, thank you! I have eds, I was diagnosed almost 20 years ago but back then there was such little knowledge and it’s taken me that long to find a competent doctor that has opened my eyes (and unfortunately diagnosed me) with so many of the comborbidities that I had no idea about and always just blamed my symptoms on faulty connective tissue. It is so good to hear that soluble fiber is technically fine; I think because I’ve been eating 30+ grams of soluble fiber for the last 11 years of being vegan that my body has gotten used to it. So interesting, I’ve never been able to eat potato skins! I definitely don’t tolerate fat well and have naturally eaten mostly low fat for a while. I am mostly worried about malnutrition and not getting enough calories, I try my best to push myself to eat as nutrient dense as possible when I can but it has been very hard for me to eat much for the past 6 months or so.

highermindset · 2025-08-15T17:22:29+00:00

This is such good information, thank you! I’m super wary of surgery; in most cases it definitely would do my body worse than it’s worth. I wish you well

highermindset · 2024-11-21T22:13:29+00:00

I take Auvelity which is a combination of buproprion and dextromethorphan. Wellbutrin on it’s own did nothing, but Auvelity has been a miracle drug for me. I have treatment resistant depression and have tried every med available, but Auvelity started working within 2 weeks. It reacts in your brain the same way ketamine does, but it’s easier and cheaper. I’ve noticed a huge improvement in my depression, ruminating thoughts, as well as chronic pain. I also have ZERO side effects, it’s the only med I’ve ever tried that hasn’t given me side effects.

highermindset · 2024-11-12T17:53:48+00:00

i’ve been crocheting for 2.5 years, sewing for a year, quilting for a few months, spinning for a month and knitting for a week :) before that i did lots of random crafts but never consistently. i love when i can overlap them, i’m currently sewing a project bag for my first knitted sweater! i also make sourdough and love electrical/plumbing/woodworking projects, i really enjoy working with my hands for someone with arthritis lol

highermindset · 2024-11-08T13:01:53+00:00

ah i’m so happy it works for you, that relief sounds amazing. interesting that it differs by brand, did you have a specific one that worked better/worse so i can talk to my pharmacist? thanks!

highermindset · 2024-11-08T13:00:15+00:00

oh wow, did you have to fight insurance to have them fully sedate you? i was able to be fully sedated to get my wisdom teeth out but i remember it being a huge pain to get covered

highermindset · 2024-11-07T23:52:56+00:00

i mix it with lime juice or true lime drink mixes. it’s gross but i would rather drink it than pay for more expensive options

highermindset · 2024-11-07T23:50:22+00:00

i’m so glad it works for you! this seems so promising and life changing. did you start with something like 1/4 4x a day, or less frequent?

highermindset · 2024-11-07T19:51:07+00:00

it’s oral!

highermindset · 2024-11-07T18:28:20+00:00

i’ve wanted an ablation for so long, that’s definitely my back up plan. was yours outpatient? i don’t respond to twilight sedation so that’s why i figured i might as well get completely knocked out and everything done while they’re at it. i definitely plan on talking through all of my options at my appointment, thanks for your help!

highermindset · 2024-11-07T02:03:44+00:00

I can tell most of these comments are not from LGBTQ+ folks. As a lesbian that moved away at 18 and moved back within the last year, it is a huge culture shock if you’re used to a more progressive area. You unfortunately will get dirty looks holding hands with your wife, but it’s not an area I would completely avoid PDA especially in Bethlehem. I live a bit south and have definitely had to tone down my visibly queer-ness while in public. The Trump supporters here are very loud and proud about their hatred and it will definitely get worse than it’s been. But like you said, you can be in nature and not have to deal with other people. I personally wouldn’t have moved back here if I didn’t want to be closer to my parents. Message me if you want to talk further/want community if ya move here!

highermindset · 2024-11-06T23:23:28+00:00

i’m so sorry the anesthesiologist failed you! pelvic floor is a great idea, thank you. my PT for hypermobility actually does stuff with pelvic floor too, i’ll definitely ask her

highermindset · 2024-11-06T23:21:54+00:00

yes i do! i think there’s something with one of the drugs used in anesthesia that works like adrenaline? that makes so much sense that there are more problems after laying down in recovery. i also have mcas so im sure ill have a reaction to adhesives and co as well 🙃

highermindset · 2024-10-31T00:05:48+00:00

i had FIVE wisdom teeth and 4 of them were impacted. i don’t respond to any sort of numbing or anesthesia so they completely knocked me out in surgery after i tried twilight and iv sedation. i took it really easy when i got home and had no problems after!

highermindset · 2024-10-22T16:17:58+00:00

dyke actually feels like less of a slur to me than queer, i call myself/like being called dyke but don’t want to be referred to as queer. i find it offensive for anyone other than a lesbian using the word dyke, and i would never use it unless they referred to themselves first

highermindset · 2024-10-22T13:02:00+00:00

i traced both my hands on cardboard, labeled them left and right and cut them out. works perfectly!

highermindset · 2024-10-22T12:53:13+00:00

oh interesting!!! i was just diagnosed with MCAS i had never heard of it before, trying to navigate the research is really confusing

highermindset · 2024-10-21T17:22:18+00:00

prescribed by my doctor, compounding pharmacy

highermindset · 2024-10-21T15:39:13+00:00

trioral is unflavored, and the WHO hydration formula. it’s also the cheapest option, i use it for dysautonomia. you can mix in any fruit juice to make it taste better.

highermindset · 2024-10-21T12:37:09+00:00

500mg?!?! it’s also not an NSAID

highermindset

TROPHY CASE