PROTECTING YOUR ASSETS-SUPPLEMENTS AND SELF-CARE ON THE ROAD

PROTECTING YOUR ASSETS-SUPPLEMENTS AND SELF-CARE ON THE ROAD

Improvized sunscreen for the car

I have played many a gig where I am exposed to the elements. I get lost in what I am playing, and hours later I am sick as a dog from sun exposure. I have freckles (even on my lips) and a sun allergy. Not only do I get a burn, I get a rash under that and spike a fever. Buskers and musicians that play outside also have to tackle dehydration. So, I had to come up with a game plan and an emergency kit. We will cover some areas one needs to look out for and I will also include some products I cannot live without.

I notice when I am dehydrated, I have horrible leg cramps if we have to sleep over in the car on the road. I mean really bad. No matter how I stretch out (and I can with these short little legs) I cannot stop my legs from cramping and spazzing. I make sure my magnesium intake is up to par. I do not like red dyes and sugar so I found this mix to be awesome. It uses stevia as a sweetener. One packet makes a liter. It is like Gatorade without all the calories, sugar and dye. It is easy to carry. This box was on sale for a really good price. I have paid up to 8 dollars for a box before. 

This stuff also has magnesium but I do not use it as I do the mix above. I know a guy that takes it in the a.m and swears by it, but I take it at night to calm me. I find it makes me sleepy and kills the spazdic leg syndrome. It is not very sweet, I would not drink it for fun. It is pretty cheap. I got 5 in a box for the price which was less than a few bucks. It also comes in a huge canister. This can be used as a daily supplement or as needed (PRN).

These were new to me, I bought them just for this post. They have aloe and probiotics in them. The taste was good (mix well). I tried the yerba mate for a kick. I did not really get a kick but being a caffeine head, it would have to pack quite a punch for my tolerance level. I think with the aloe (an anti-inflammatory plant) and probiotics, I will be adding it to my arsenal.

I love green powders. Spirulina, chlorophyll, and grasses are so important on the road to keep your acidity level down ( there are so many fried and processed temptations). I know I find myself getting cranky and constipated (yup we talk poop on this blog) if my green intake slacks off. This stuff, you can keep it in your pocket. That packet is small enough to fit in the palm of my hand. The price was good. In bulk, though I always go with Garden of Life.

These shakers were so cheap I had to add them. It makes it so easy to use packets when you have a shaker and a metal ball.

Every time I go to a Natural Grocers, WholeFoods or Drug Emporium, I check out the reduced items cabinet before I shop. You can find all kinds of supplements you did not even knooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww you needed.








There are some other items I have to make sure I have before we hit the road. They are,

1. Sunblock 100+ in a spray and lotion
2. Insect repellent in a spray and also the insect repellent fan (Walmart)
3. A sun hat
4. Water in a bottle

For heavy wind, I make sure we have,

1. Giant magnetic clips for my sheet music
2. Glasses to keep grit out of my eyes (busking in Austin, Texas for SXSW 2018, I thought I was gonna dieeee!!!)
3. One foot on my music stand, if I have one out.
4. A tip jar that has slots to take in the wind and not blow over.
5. Huge rocks at the bottom of the tip jar.

In conclusion, I have had birds poop on me ( I said poop..hehheh), rain comes out of nowhere and sticky-fingered toddlers try to touch my cello. I have been burned by the sun and had my fingers so cold it felt like the strings were going to slice them open.  I learned being prepared is the key. I have a "gig bag" I am always adding new stuff. During those cold months in the house before the season for going on the road comes, I plan and I experiment. Enjoy the journey :0) Viva la Musica!

(always do your own research in regards to your own health, tolerance, and allergies before taking any supplement or starting a protocol)

Going Solo

I have played music from the age of 12 but I had not written a song. Why? Because I am accustomed to being an accompanist. I deeply enjoy being lost in sheets of music, hiding behind a stand, a part of the whole. Being in a band gives a sense of being in a family. Like any other family, there is comfort in being able to hide in it. I find playing and singing alone in front of people daunting which is cray-cray because as a counselor, I taught 4-hour groups in front of 56 people. Five days a week. No sweat. But, like many artists, I write from pain and tribulations so I think that is what is the difference for me. The transparency.

I already leave it on the stage as a performer. I get lost and dig for every performance...can't help it. To an empty cafe, or to a packed listening audience...I bring it. I guess I felt like I wanted to keep something for me, my work, my poetry, my voice.... While busking all over the country I started to see the bravery of people. Putting it out there. Beautiful. If you are in a band, you are not betraying the band by growing as a solo artist. Plus it adds to the band. When you can let your vocalist rest, it's a win-win.

Art From Betrayal

I love Lisa Hannigan, not just for her beautiful voice. She is a fighter. After leaving (getting kicked out really) the of the band with Damien Rice (Here is the link to her interview with the Irish Times), She went solo and she killed it. In a good way. She found her voice and went song by song until she had an album.  Undertow really showcases her style. It is on her album At Swim.  Here are some steps she has taken and I am currently taking, going from an accompaniment to having a full solo set.

1. GO FROM BACK UP VOCALS TO DUET STYLE SINGING
2. GO FROM DUET SINGING TO HAVING A FEW SONGS A SET
3. HAVE HALF A SET PREPARED OF THE BANDS SONG WITH A FEW OF YOUR OWN
4. HAVE A WHOLE SET PREPARED OF YOUR OWN

Not only is it doable and not betraying your band, it is nothing but beneficial for a person to grow.

                        

The Great Pruning

        

CLEARING THE CLUTTER

As you can see, I like books. I really like books. This picture was taken 02/12/2018. I have out some knick knacks I like and even piles of books on the floor. It was necessary to break this down before I could get to my ultimate goal, less than 20 books to keep in the A-frame camper. 20 books may seem like a lot to keep in a camper...and it is, but then I love books. I will keep 10 in the car for riding and 10 in the camper. If I get a book, I give a book (Free Little Libraries will get a post and a place in heaven of their own).  

BABY STEPS

1) Give away duplicate books.

2) Make categories of the rest.

 3) Think about what you need.

  
Be brave. It is hard to get rid of stuff. We attach so much to things, worth. My son gave me a stuffed animal I call Mochachino. It's a little anime cat. I am taking her. My stuffed Spock? He can be given to a kid to bring them joy. Do not be hard on yourself if you want to keep that useless item, but don't be a wuss and say you need it all. If it is really hard, let people sit your stuff. I gave my mom some china back. She is holding on to it for me one day. I felt like I needed that china. I don't, but it means a lot to me. I accept that. Do not try to force a feeling. You will regret it. It would hurt my mother deeply if I gave it away. She sees the value I see in it by giving it back to her and I feel like I still have it. 




I removed all the knick-knack. After putting my plants in the plant room, I gave away some of my knick-knacks and packed some away for the base house.







My books are already in categories for the most part but I refined this process after the duplicates and live without (although are there realllllly books one could live without? Not sure...) were gone. 









So what I have left is like a clean slate library. I know where to find what I want. Now I can make choices according to my needs on the road

For step 3, I had to do some thinking and planning. What do I want to do when not playing gigs. Many of our gigs are in smokey bars....in crowded festivals and parties. Being a lover of dancing and fun this suits me fine...yet being an introvert it takes so much out of me. So I have to give back, rejuvenate. I do this in nature. So my most important books help me do that. I have my tiny bible in my purse. I am taking Texas Wildflowers, Coastal Wildflowers of the Northwest, Trees of North America, An Instant Guide to Stars and Planets and The Way of Herbs.  I am very interested (and a credentialed substance abuse counselor I) in the decriminalization of substance abuse so I will be bringing Drugs With Out All the Hot Air, to study. I am only up to 13 books giving me 7 more to pick before I go, or to buy on the road.

Notice the C.S Lewis has 4 books in it! Still I count it as 1. I wanted to bring Anna Karenina by Tolstoy but it is just so big :( I might bring a kindle for those. I am an old-fashioned chica. I like paper, ink, and dust.

The Time is Now! (But not just yet)

Working as a caregiver, I see many a deep epiphany at a bedside of the ill and dying. I have heard over an over" You know, you get old, work hard all your life and its a shame you don't get to enjoy it" or, I thought we had more time. I find moments like these a confirmation to pack up my home and hit the road with my hubby. As for now, as a traveling musician (and already a minimalist gypsy at heart), we are downsizing so as to travel more. So that all sounds fine and dandy, but there are some practical measures that need to be addressed before you take on a minstrel type life and do not want to have to sleep at bus stops ( I need my a.m java, p.m essential oil diffuser and my air purifying salt rock..or someone will get hurt). So let's break down some dow and look at some areas that must be addressed for you to be able to maintain what you deem comfortable (and so you do not hit any snags down the road). Some people busk full time and live full time on the road and some maintain a home and busk seasonally. We will look at both options.

• BE SURE TO PREPARE TO TRAVEL BEFORE YOUR LEASE IS UP: If you are renting, do not create a mess by being impulsive and breaking a lease. We have begun packing and organizing and have a full 2 months before our departure to a smaller home. You can obtain storage for furniture or give things away. Just be sure to tie up all loose ends if you are leaving a dwelling. If you will not have a forwarding address, a p.o box option may be good for you. If you want to stick with the USPS service, click here. USPS even gives options for getting a mailbox online. Visit virtualpostmail.com for more information. If USPS is not what you're looking for,  Fed EX or UPS also has mailbox services. Your landlord may even be able to deposit your security deposit in your bank with a money transfer if you do not have a p.o box. Family, blood and or soul, are good for this. Think of someone who you will keep in contact with and can trust. Keeping a small place (we will be going from a house with 4 giant rooms to one with 2 or less) on family land or next to the family as a home base, is a good idea also. If you can have a team of people who love you check on your base often, that is even better.

• IMPULSIVE DOES NOT MEAN UNEDUCATED (RESEARCH): I have found many helpful sites online. RVing for beginners on Facebook has so much information when it comes to starting the RV lifestyle. The Frugal Minimalist is a great group for getting information on how to go far on a little. Their before and after pictures on decluttering taste like organized eye candy. Yummy. I know for me, the most important question when I decided I was ready to let go of stuff to grab experiences was, how do I tell people to stop giving me crap. These groups even address how to tell grandma to keep the flamingo figurine. You can begin to see what your motivation is for being a minimalist means to you, as you learn what it means to others. For many, it is a look, for some, a mindset. That brings us to the next point.

• BE REALISTIC ABOUT YOUR MINIMALIST GOALS AND RV GOALS: Throwing your things in storage and hitting the road may not be feasible for you. Not everyone is 4 feet 9 inches and fits amazingly well in an A-frame trailer on wheels (and has adorable freckles to boot). I love exploring what other people are doing to live their best possible life. Rock what you got and be you. I love the mega-weekend camper. I cannot afford (or maneuver)  a giant glam- glam camper. I think anything less than 2 weeks at a campsite is a waste, yet the glam-glam camper brings a mansion, a car lot load of ATVs, boats, and scooters and stays for 3 days like a boss. Diversity is not only the spice of life, it provides a place to plug in your salt rock and take a shower because of your awesome family/friends who enjoy the pride of ownership and staying put. I can not stress enough this is about you finding the depths of who you are and garnering experience you desire to have in your life. DO NOT NOT COMPARE YOURSELF TO ANOTHER PERSON OR CHASE THEIR DREAM! Sorry, but not sorry, about having to scream at you but this is of the utmost importance.

• BANKING APPS AND AUTO DRAFT BILL PAYING:  There are so many ways you can earn on the road (we will really get into this in a future post, yet you still need to get that money in a bank or at least have access to one if needed. DO NOT RUN AROUND STASHING MONEY ON YOU.  We find banking apps lifesavers. Technology has made this so crazy easy. We can take a pic of a check from a gig and have it uploaded to an account. We will get deep into electronic ways to boss your gypsy life in a future post.

So start to brainstorm what this type of life would look like for you. Begin to troubleshoot possible problems that may arise (for us we learned to reserve our camp spots online). Remember just like buying a house and sitting in one spot may drive some crazy, being stuck in the woods, living in a tree covered in moss and fairy dust may suck for others. Look into your motivations and make a list of why you want to take on or live deeper in this kind of lifestyle. Make a list of things you want to do. One of mine was to steep tea in a hot spring...done.