Function?

Every step of the way I ask myself one simple question, "What's its function?"  What is it I want to achieve with this project?  The answer is simple.   I want to save money, eliminate the horrible Los Angeles commute and continue to live with all of the creature comforts of modern life.

I would think all of that sounds fine to just about anyone, but there are setbacks to every plan, no matter how well thought out.  In a motorhome, there will always be a finite supply of water available that must be replenished over time.  Waste must be contained and disposed of properly.  And, of course, one must take care when consuming energy, as the cycle of sustainability has its limitations.  But, isn't that okay?  Don't animals have to hunt every day for their survival?  Don't we have to tend our vegetable gardens often, in order to reap the bounty of wonderful produce?

But, what if the animal can't find food for a brief period?  What if a rain storm wipes out our crop?  It happens.  We adjust and we survive.  "Life is difficult," as quoted from page one of the best selling book, "The Road Less Travelled."  Modern society has given us so much in the way of freedom and comfort that if we have to work for any of it we just can't understand why.  It makes us mad when the electric company reports a "brown out," and especially mad when we're going to be penalized for water use during a drought.  But that's what we get when we rely on others to do things for us.  We become dependent.  My goal is to greatly reduce that dependency.  And, I'm not afraid to pick up the slack and do a little extra life work.

So, I've addressed how the vehicle should look on the outside, in order to disappear in the city.  Of course, there will be constant considerations with respect to parking, but that's fine.  The rabbit must operate on heightened awareness at all times to avoid peril.  Perhaps I'm being too dramatic, but you get the gist.  The Roving Home serves as a life tool with which I can live in the great outdoors, but in the heart of a civilized world.

My girl and I adore cities.  There, I said it.  I know that goes against everything generally associated with RV life, but don't get me wrong.  Spending a night at 8,000 FT above sea level, I will always gaze with awe into the remarkable expanse of a starry sky, fireside, inspired by the beauty of nature itself.  But I also enjoy a lovingly prepared, baked lasagna with a glass of red wine and the groove of a jazz tune, live from the band on stage.  I keep threatening to take my girl to the symphony - perhaps when I get back home.

So, I've got all of the basics handled, but what if I can't park close enough to where I'd like to ultimately crash for the night?  Well, I could walk.  But what if walking will take too long?  I could take public transpo -- not always available.  How 'bout a cab?  Good option for cities, but sometimes I want a little more freedom to head off the beaten path without feeling stranded and without having to call someone for every trip.

How 'bout a dingy?  Boats have them.  They're the little inflatable rafts with outboard motors that you'll see tied to the back.    

I need a dingy!

One thing I absolutely will not do is tow a car.  I already have a drivable vehicle, so I don't need two.  Then I thought about the scooter on some sort of rack on the back, but that just says, "Someone lives here!"  

Same with bicycles that are stored outside of the vehicle.  Kind of feels like the "Grapes of Wrath," packing up all of one's worldly possessions and moving to find a better life.  

Not to mention the vulnerability to thievery.

The package needs to be tight!

Since the inception of The Roving Home, the notion of storing my "dingy" inside of the vehicle, away from the elements and prying eyes, has proven to be quite the hurdle.  The dingy completes the "life tool" aspect of The Roving Home, and a place for it must be realized.  

Surfing the net for answers, I happened upon the website for a bicycle manufacturer, Dahon, an innovator of folding bikes.  "Hm, that's interesting."  I dug further - cost, $1,200.  Yikes!  Now, this was for the high and mighty "Urban Performance" line of folding bikes, models with full suspension and with names like "Jetstream" and "Speed."  Sexy!  Available only through catalog order, they weren't in the cards.

Cut To: 

A year later, I'm in Taiwan, bicycle capital of the world.  Now, this no joke.  Look at these things.

Yes, that SWISSBIKE is a folder.

And, how about that for your toddler?

And below, the ultimate folder.  But, not for The Ultimate Roving Home.  Seemed a bit cheap.

And, finally...

Serious business.  These are not your garden variety dime store souvenir "Made in Taiwan" trinkets.  This is the real deal and very high quality.  And the punchline to it all?  Many of them are roughly half the asking price for the same model in the U.S.  

So, now my "wheels were spinning."  Does Dahon sell in Taiwan?  After a little armchair legwork via the Internet I discovered half dozen outlets for Dahon bicycles in the capital city of Taipei.  Off I went, in search of the elusive Jetstream P8.   

Peggy Wu, my office assistant, set me up with a map full of stickies loaded with addresses and arrows, so any cab driver could get me to where I needed.

My first mission was to get to the Taipei main train station via the High Speed Rail.

The High Speed Rail Station

Good thing the sign switches from Mandarin to English!  Whew.

Not too shabby!

The Taiwan countryside at 290 KPH (180MPH)

Welcome to Taipei, a bustling metropolis...

...with cool side streets and avenues.  And, then, on to the local train for a trip way up north to the burbs.

And, there it was, right out of the box, a Dahon Jetstream P8, at a little neighborhood bike shop.  The owner lives behind the shop and his whole family is there with him on the weekends.  His 4 year old daughter asked me in flawless English, "Do you speak Chinese?"  I was floored.  He didn't speak that much and she didn't know very many phrases, but before I left she asked if I'd stay and play with her and her sister.  It was quite charming.  I was flattered!  Heck, I don't even speak her language!

And, voila!  Here's my new acquisition beside the riverfront bike path that stretches from the burbs,  heading south into town.  

So, it's a full suspension, 8 speed folder with a Shimano derailleur and a Sram trigger shift -- all quality components.

Break it down...

...bag it up and stick it on the train.  A couple of these will go nicely in a custom drawer beneath the bed of The Roving Home, accessible from the rear of the van.  

INDESTRUCTIBLE!  

Now, that's a Roving Home Exclusive.