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Ask Melanie: How Do I Install a Permanent Toilet in an Airstream?

Permanent toilet in an Airstream

In today’s episode of “Ask Melanie” we’ve got a reader who wants to know how to install a permanent toilet in an Airstream. Take it away friendly reader!

Hi Melanie,

First, congratulations on your beautiful Airstream renovation!!!!!! I love the bookshelves and all of your pillows/quilting/cushion covers. 

I found your blog while I was searching the internet for converting an Airstream to permanent living. My boyfriend and I started our Airstreaming experiment in 2010, we have a 1969 25-foot Tradewind Landyacht which we use for traveling and a 1963 Bambi which up until this year we have also used for traveling. We are now planning to place our Bambi permanently and are in the process of doing all our research on utilities and anchoring. 

I’ve got most things squared away, just haven’t been able to find a reliable source on the toilet plumbing.  What did you guys do? Keep the blackwater tank and bypass it for a direct sewer hook up or go the macerator route and pull the valve when the tank is full OR something even better?

Any help/advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
-Anonymous 

Continue reading →

Ask Melanie: Is our family too big to live in an Airstream?

Bambi living large in the Airstream.

Bambi living large in the Airstream.

Happy “half-way through the week” day! (Hump day just sounds gross.) Anyway, I often receive emails from loyal readers and people who just randomly stumbled across my blog. Many times these people will have questions about the logistics of living in an Airstream, downsizing and how we live. I thought it might be helpful to others to share those emails so all my sage advice (ha!) can be shared with a wider audience. So, I’m starting a new column called “Ask Melanie.” Our first email is from Laurel, her dilemma boils down to this, “Is our family too big to live in an Airstream?” Continue reading →

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage."

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”

It doesn’t matter if your house, garage or list of accolades are expanding. What matters is that your courage, and in turn, your life are expanding.

Happy Tuesday!

love,
melanie

Spring Cleaning Our Airstream

Shiny again!

Shiny again!

George and I have been doing some major spring cleaning around the ol’ Airstream. We washed the Airstream, planted flowers, pulled weeds, and at 11:00 last night I decided I needed to recaulk our shower. Home improvement projects are like that. You start one and then realize you need to do five more.

The Before!

The Before!

It all started with our air conditioning system. It broke at the end of last summer. It was almost cool enough to where we didn’t need it, but not quite. So we bought a portable one instead of the rooftop unit. The portable one was less than half the price of the rooftop unit, but it did not work as well. The first one we had also had a piece fly off in the middle of the night. I woke up screaming. I’m pretty sure I lost a year off my life.

Since we have Bambi, we were really worried about it getting too hot in our tin can, so we shelled out the $600 dollars for a new rooftop unit. Or at least, George did. He’s been working a ton lately and that money went to a good cause.

Be careful!

Be careful!

Well, after we fixed the rooftop unit, we decided the Airstream needed a good wash. And it did. Lord, it did. The poor ol’ thing had endured some major weather since the last time we washed it and just rinsing the dirt off was an epic improvement.

My flowers!

My flowers!

George also surprised me with the flowers and I think they make our Airstream look much more homey.

Have done any sprucing up projects lately? Talk to me in the comments!

love,
melanie

 

Tuesday Thoughts: Ridiculous

ridiculous

“I end up not buying a lot of things, because I find them ridiculous.”

Most stuff we have isn’t stuff we need. It’s ridiculous stuff that we thought we wanted for a fleeting moment and then never used again. It’s ridiculous stuff that we got as a gift and didn’t want to throw away. It’s ridiculous new stuff that we thought we needed when the old would’ve done just fine. There’s enough ridiculous in our lives without buying more.

love,
melanie

Tuesday Thoughts: Success

successI often have trouble defining myself as “successful.” I see other people my own age traveling the world, scrambling up the corporate ladder, opening their own businesses and living their dreams. I know that I shouldn’t compare myself to them, but I do. It’s so easy to get caught up in the usual standard for success– big house, nice car, extravagant vacations, etc. Instead, I’m trying to focus on defining success in terms of happiness. I have a happy marriage, the sweetest dog and a family that loves me. I’m still working on wanting just what I have, but I know that I have everything I truly need.

love,
melanie

 

 

Airstream Organization

Airstream Spice Organization

This weekend was a rainy one, so if I had to stay inside for most of the weekend, I decided that I might as well be productive. I tried not to spend every last dime of my birthday money at the Container Store, but it organizational gizmos are better than candy to me. I may have had to stifle my urge to skip through the store.

I did spend most of my birthday money, but it was well worth it. I’ve been meaning to give some of the cabinets and drawers in the Airstream a little sprucing up for a while, but I just haven’t gotten around to it.

Airstream Cabinet Organization

Before and After

Looking at the drawers, cabinets and closets now, I feel so much better.

Airstream Pantry Organization

One problem with the Airstream is that it has super deep cabinets. This is great for storing a lot of stuff, but it’s not great for remembering that you have 15 cans of potatoes. I got these holders that are intended for canned drinks in the fridge, but I used them for canned goods in our “pantry.” Now I can see everything we have to eat.

Airstream Utensil Organization

Before and After

I had always wanted to organize our utensil drawer, but George balked at it every single time I mentioned it. Sorry, honey, you have to organize our utensils now when you put them away. It had to be done! My sanity was at stake.

Sometimes it’s the little things in a little space that make such a difference.

How was your weekend? Let me know in the comments!

love,
melanie

Tuesday Thoughts: Too Many People

"Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like."

“Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.”

Don’t keep up with the Joneses. You don’t even like them. It’s time to impress yourself.

love,
melanie

Houseless, not Homeless

Houseless not homelessLast week we had a funny thing happen. Someone that George had known from the church he went to when he was growing up dropped off a card full of cash at our house! Apparently they had heard that George was unemployed (he’s not) and that we were having a hard time (we’re not). But they also had driven by and saw the trailer, so they assumed all of that information was correct. It was a super sweet gesture and I was certainly happy to receive the gift, but we are not “in need.” We’ve returned the money and I thought it might be nice to share the letter that I attached to the money. The long of the short of it is: We consider ourselves to be houseless, not homeless.

Dear _______________,

Thank you so much for your generous gift. It is comforting to know that in a time of need, neighbors, friends and strangers will be there for you. I am writing to you today because this is not our time of need and we cannot accept your gift. Please let me explain.

Almost two years ago, George and I were at a crossroads. I had a new job opportunity in the area. Unfortunately, the job requires me to work evenings. I knew with both of us working “regular jobs,” we would rarely get to see each other. At the same time, George was working as a teacher by day and illustrating by night. Together we made the decision that George should quit his teaching job to pursue his art full-time. In order to get George’s business off the ground, we knew that we would have to make some sacrifices. I make a decent wage at my job, but we knew that it would be difficult to pay rent or buy a house and establish a small business at the same time. Therefore, we decided to live a simpler, smaller life. It is the best decision we have ever made. I know it may look strange to others, but our lifestyle was and is our choice. We consider ourselves very lucky. Neither George nor I have ever known hunger and this lifestyle has given us the ability to save money to pursue our dreams.

I cannot thank you enough for your concern and your gift. Knowing that people care about us is a gift in and of itself.

Thank you,
Melanie and George

Matthew 6:22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If, then, your eye is simple, your whole body will be bright.”

Have anyone ever thought you were in need due to your lifestyle choices? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

love,
melanie

Tuesday Thoughts: The Less I Needed

the less I neededWhen I gave up the majority of my possessions to live in an Airstream, I felt more free than I ever have. I gave up so much “stuff,” but I gained much more in return– I gained financial freedom and emotional freedom. I gained some peace of mind. I now know that I can live with less. I can thrive in 188 square feet. I can live without a hairdryer and dishwasher and a washing machine. I can live without a traditional house. I am a fighter. I can do hard things.  And that lesson, my friends, is priceless.

love,
melanie