#but i can also acknowledge that $40 is in no way overpriced

[grunge-mermaid]

the absolute level of disconnect between "fast fashion is only cheap bc child labour!!" and "$40 for jeans is SO EXPENSIVE" is mind boggling to me like

do you want your clothes to be ethically made & the people who make them to be fairly compensated with safe working conditions?

or do you want your clothes to cost less than your phone bill?

pick one

is fast fashion cheap or is it expensive? which is it?

[owlhead650]

Could I ask for something of choice for Ace, if you’d like?

Thank you for the ask, yes you can have more Ace content. I've written a short story that's 505 words in length about Ace and Ciel Featherstone. Check it out below.

Ace tied their hair into a ponytail and tied their hoodless collar cloak around their neck. Ace was sitting in front of a linea unica mirror and preparing for another long day of performing magic tricks. Their makeup had already been done, all that’s left is to put on their dark fancy clothes. The checker pattern, the playing card symbols, purple, blue, grey, black. It gave Ace an aesthetic that was both mysterious yet approachable.

Just as they had secured the headband for their tiny tophat the door opened behind them. “Ace dear? There you are!” It was their cousin Ciel.

“Ah, little Starlet. Have you come hoping to sneak a peek at the magician’s secrets?~” Ace liked putting some unnecessary flair into their words. It helped with readying themself for the audience.

“No, Ace. I missed the better half of your first week just because of some league business. I’m sorry.” Ciel wore a feather in her short navy coloured hair. She is the circus aerial dancer and as such her dress had to be light and sleeveless to maximise mobility. Ace wouldn’t mind wearing that kind of dress sometimes, only they’d rather not copy her.

“Don’t be sorry at all, I’ve had a great time. Your Ringmaster has been very welcoming. And Terra was there too.”

“Oh right, I suppose you and Terra have some shared history. I hope that doesn't make things awkward.” Ciel knew that Terra’s eccentric behaviour was a lot to deal with. She would most often be exasperated, exhausted or enamoured by it, sometimes all three in that order.

“If anything our dark ‘shared history’ makes things easier. Terra actually gave me a genuine apology for putting me out of commission that time. When she’s loud and disruptive I can deal with it because I know mostly what to expect. Also according to the Ringmaster about 40% of resignees at the circus cite Terra as a chief reason for why they left. How does she keep her job?” Ace tried to ask the question in a way that sounded more humorous than demeaning, instead their tone found a middle ground between the two.

“Well the kids love her and the parents hate her. Terra’s unique flavour of chaos adds a thrill to Agate Circus that has become a core part of its reputation.” Ciel explained. “Alistasia couldn’t possibly fire her, begrudgingly we’ve acknowledged her as indispensable.” 

“I see. That’s practically the same reason she wasn’t kicked out of Team Meteor. Maybe my new job isn’t that different to the previous one after all.”

“Well there’s much less terrorism involved when you work for the Circus.”

“Maybe, but isn’t cornering the market with overpriced food just a different kind of terrorism?” They were only ninety five percent joking. Ace forgot to pack their own lunch one day and had to pay a ridiculous price for some crappy fast food.

“Well you’ve got me there. Ready for our show?” Ciel asked.

“I am! Your new fool has prepared all their tools.”

______________________________________________________________

So what did you think? Just now I came up with the headcannon that Ace joined Agate Circus after the events of Reborn's postgame. When everything is said and done Ace needs employment. Team Meteor isn't paying them anymore. The next best option for them is to put their magician skills to use at Agate and reconnect with their cousin Ciel now that they don't need to commit themselves to the Alcantra dynasty.

[purgatoryandme]

Saw that tfatws antagonists were called “flag smashers” lmfao and was apprehensive about watching the show. But how do you think they’re handling it ? Like, what are they doing with the show so far ? If you’re comfortable talking about spoilers, that is. 👀

Take my thoughts with a tablespoon of salt because, despite reading summaries, I won’t actually watch the eps because I hate Disney+ as a concept and Disney’s entire push to essentially kill cinema for overpriced streaming. Spoilers below the cut:

TFATWS keeps with the trend of Disney+ shows being more self-aware and less hamfisted than their movie predecessors - it focuses on the fact that Sam is a black man in a position of care + in poor finances and how that’s relevant to the mantle of Captain America. It acknowledges police brutality, American nationalism, anti-blackness, inequality and protest movements, and (in tiny little pieces) how all of those things frame Sam being gifted the shield by contrasting him with a new State-sponsored Cap. John Walker is a decorated soldier who gets the serum, but feels his power deserves respect and can’t quite place himself in other people’s shoes...and has an oppression complex. Sam was trusted with the shield originally, gave it up, and now doesn’t know if he should take it back because of all that it represents - the good and the bad. The whole show is...good and bad itself. One of the central framing points for Sam’s character is his empathy. He can see the perspectives of all the villains and, while he understands them, he doesn’t agree with them. It’s an excellent callback to him being a counsellor and really places him as a whole new Cap. Beyond this, he prioritizes his family over being a hero and taking up the shield! He is someone who cares about issues that aren’t just physical! This is a good thing! Mostly!  Sam’s empathy often just turns his character into a sounding board for the rest of the cast. It’s frustrating that it took 4 episodes for Sam to really have a role in events that isn’t just trailing after Bucky or responding to Bucky’s feelings. It’s even more frustrating that all of Sam’s dialogue that is his OWN is so subtly framed in a show that otherwise smacks you over the head with it’s themes - “I wonder if I should’ve destroyed it” about the shield is a KILLER line, but surrounded by the deluge of other exposition and one liners, it doesn’t get to shine at all.  Another central point of Sam Cap is that it’s difficult to proudly represent a country that has such a long history of anti blackness that continues to this day. It’s excellent that Sam feels this conflict, if a little confusing considering his previous placement in the army that gets tapdanced around, and I love that this remains a sticking point for him despite his empathy. He doesn’t just get over racism as an institution just because he understands the feelings of the white characters around him.  The show is mostly tasteful about this conflict, though it’s somewhat frustrating that Sam rarely gets to express it himself - the show constantly has the surrounding world or characters express it instead. A cop demanding Sam’s ID when he’s arguing with Bucky and asking Bucky if Sam is bothering him was...hm. Extra annoying to have Bucky interfere with the situation by stating the obvious “do you know who this is?” because I mean yeah the guy should know? But also it doesn’t let the situation further develop with Sam’s actions and places Bucky in a position of protecting him that is just a bit sour when the show doesn’t want to dip into Bucky being a man from the 40s. The whole “there was a black supersoldier in the 40s” thing falls into the same category - it’s a great storyline in the comics, but having the guy show up just to highlight the way black people have been dehumanized in the US and drive a wedge between Bucky and Sam was ????? It wasn’t a moment for Sam’s own conflict or for the character himself or even for lore building - it was just to draw attention to Bucky and Sam’s differences in a way that seemed mostly meant for Bucky’s development. This also goes for Lamar’s death, however the show chooses to play it - the irony is too on the nose. Finalish positive thoughts: the symbolism is mostly pretty good, nice shots, everyone is much more fleshed out than in the MCU, Zemo made me laugh, Bucky development, less Sam development but what we have is pretty good. Final negative thoughts: I don’t really love that the shows main protest movement has to be one that’s “gone too far” because it feels super played out and like it’s taking advantage of current political climates in an annoying “we should all be in the middle :)” kind of way. Their name is also rock fucking stupid. The way the show awkwardly brought in Wakanda was lacklustre - I really wish we could forget Bucky was there entirely, and the tongue in cheek reference to him being “White Wolf” wasn’t really funny so much as it was depressing. Bucky should really be more of a side character than he is, and this is coming from someone who loves the potential of the character - I really feel like he’s gonna turn into “white dude with all black friends, proving he’s not racist and also a really good guy!” at this rate.  TLDR: too much Bucky, not enough Sam, addresses relevant and interesting issues but isn’t entirely sure where it wants to go with it, ultimately trying a bit too hard for mass appeal by taking a pretty centrist approach to its messaging for my taste. Better than the movies though? 

[lovemesomesurveys]

1. have you ever gotten soap in your mouth for cursing? do you think that’s right to do to kids who curse?: Nope. I didn’t say any curse words as a kid for one, but also I’m pretty sure my parents wouldn’t have done that if I did. They would have just talked to me about it and tell me not to say them. I personally don’t like the soap punishment, I think it’s dumb. I’ve heard of some parents who use hot sauce instead, which is just horrible. I understand if you don’t want your kid to curse, but you don’t have to torture them. Just talk with them and explain why it’s not nice to say and that kids shouldn’t speak that way or whatever. Don’t make too big a deal about it. Try not to curse around them either, that’s where they likely hear it and you can be an example for them. If talking doesn’t work then take something away like a toy or some computer time or whatever. I think it’s also important to reward kids when they’re behaving, even just acknowledging it. That can go a long way.

2. what age do you think is appropriate for kids to start watching horror movies with lots of gore?: Well, I personally don’t think kids should watch that at all. I’d say wait until they’re in high school. 

3. do you know what the word “polyamorous” means? and did you ever hear that song by breaking benjamin?: Yes I know what it means, no I haven’t heard that particular song by them.

4. how many bug bites do you currently have?:  Zero.

5. what’s one word you always have trouble spelling and can’t remember the correct spelling of?: Whenever a question like this comes up, “onomatopoeia” always comes to mind. That’s a word I never use except for these questions haha, but yeah I can never seem to remember the spelling, I have to Google it each time.

6. what’s one band that really sucks live?: I’ve never seen a bad live performance, but I’ve heard things about some bands that I haven’t seen, such as Maroon 5. I’ve heard they’re pretty bad. :X

7. do you go to warped tour? why or why not?:  I’ve never been.

8. do you have any wind chimes outside your house? how many?: Yes, a couple. 

9. do you know someone who actually had someone give them a bouquet of real roses and one fake one, and tell them they’ll love them until the last one dies?:  I’ve never heard of that lol but awww how corny and sweet.

10. which do you like better, firefox or internet explorer?: Firefox out of the two, but I use Chrome.

11. who is the most attractive person on your street?: I haven’t seen all my neighbors, but I don’t find the few I have seen attractive. 

12. do you have a flat stomach? would you ever wear a belly shirt to show it off?:  I have a flat stomach, but noooo you’ll never see me in a crop top. I’m waaaaay too self-conscious for that.

13. which do you prefer on yourself, long or short hair?: Long, which is what I have, but it takes more energy and maintenance than I can give right now and I should just cut it short again. :/ I just can’t bring myself to do it for some reason, though.

14. what about on your preferred sex? long or short?:  Short.

15. with eyebrow piercings, do you prefer the ring or the curved barbell?:  I don’t care for eyebrow piercings, personally.

16. have you ever pierced something yourself? why and what was it?: Nooooo. I would never. I’m terrified of needles and don’t do well at all when getting blood work done, and that’s by professionals. I could never attempt to pierce myself with no experience at all. I’d also be scared of doing something wrong or causing an infection.

17. would you date someone who was five years older than you?:  Maybe. I think that’s the oldest I would go.

18. i heard of a girl whose boyfriend cheated on her with a 13yearold (he’s 18) and got her pregnant, so she left him. what would you have done if you were in her situation?:  Omg. I’d have left him, too, but I also would have reported him.

19. how old was the youngest person you ever found attractive? and how old were you?:  Just a year younger than me.

20. isn’t it annoying when you’re trying to start conversation with someone and all they say is “yup” or “really now” or something like that?: Ugh, yes. If they’re clearly not into it or they’e distracted then forget it, what’s the point? I can’t keep a conversation going if the other person isn’t putting anything into it nor would I want to even try.

21. if you have aim, do you have any linked screen names? how many?: AIM died.

22. which of your favorite bands released a new album last?: Hmm. I’m blanking at the moment.

23. are you waiting for any bands to release new albums? which ones?:  Not in particular, but I’m always down for new music.

24. what’s your favorite store for buying cds and such at?:  I haven’t bought a CD since like 2011. I usually just went to like Walmart or Target. I also bought a few CDs from a place that sold old records/albums/cassettes, though. That’s also the place I sold all my CDs to.

25. what’s the point in buying dvds like “girls gone wild” and other porn if you can get tons more online for free?: I don’t know, ask someone who watches porn. 26. if you had to have one drug (illegal ones, like marijuana and cocaine and all of them) right now, what would it be?: Marijuana is legal here, but that’s the only drug I would do.

27. would you ever get a sleeve or a half sleeve on your arm (we’re talking about tattoos)?:  No. I only want one little one.

28. do you have a wireless mouse and/or keyboard?: I have a laptop, so it has a built-in trackpad and keyboard. 

29. do you think your biological parents love each other?: Yes.

30. do you have callouses on your feet?:  No.

31. did you see the commercial for that “foot grater” on tv that basically shaves the callouses off of your feet? isn’t that nasty to think about?: Gahhh, yes. 🤢 It was so gross.

31. what’s your favorite color combination (ex. pink and purple)?: I love pastel colors together.

32. ever been to watchmovies.net? what do you think of the quality of the movies there?:  Yeah, back in the day. I totally forgot about that. The quality wasn’t too, too bad on the ones I saw.

33. what’s one movie you’re dying to see but haven’t had the chance to see yet?: There’s a few movies that were supposed to come out this year that I wanted to see, but that’s obviously not going to happen. 34. would you rather live alone in a huge mansion or alone in a small studio apartment?: I don’t want to live alone at all, but if I had to choose I’d definitely choose the small studio apartment. I wouldn’t want to live in some huge house by myself. That would make me a lot more anxious and uncomfortable. I don’t even want a big house like that for my family and I, it’s just so unnecessary. We’d only need a house big enough for 4 adults and a doggo to live in. 

35. if you came across child porn on your computer, what would you do?:  Omg, that would mean I was hacked somehow. I’d be disgusted and horrified and try to get rid of it as quickly as possible. Are you supposed to report that kind of thing? I would think so, so that it could be taken down and hopefully catch whoever distributed it.

36. what’s the last computer game you played?: The Sims 4. It’s been a couple years, though. I get urges to play, but I’m too lazy.

37. what’s the name of the street you live on?: I’m definitely not sharing that.

38. would you ever dye your entire head blonde?:  No.

39. what’s the randomest thing you ever heard of someone collecting?:  *shrug* I have a rock collection, so who am I to judge. lol.

40. how often do you use “<3” or “:]”?: I don’t use :], I use :) Anyway, I don’t use emojis or smiley faces super often, but sometimes when I feel they’re fitting. I know some people who get a little carried with them.

41. isn’t it annoying how people walk around thinking hollister logo tshirts and ripped jeans are preppy, even though those things would never be allowed in a prepatory school because of the dress code?: >> *stares blankly in “I don’t care”* <<< Hahaha, for real. 

42. how do you feel about abortion?:

43. what’s one thing your grandmother does that you can’t stand?:  She doesn’t do anything that I can’t stand. My grandmothers were/are (my maternal grandmother sadly passed away 15 years ago) sweet, loving, and adorable. haha.

44. did you ever notice how it’s more tragic if a younger person dies than an older person, even if they both died of the same cause?:  Loss of my grandparents was heartbreaking for me, I had a really hard time with their loss. Them being older didn’t make it any easier. I think why people find it even more devastating when a child dies is because they were so young and hadn’t even had a chance, yet, like their life had just begun. There was so much still to experience. They should have had a lot more time. Even a young adult because it’s like their life is also kind of just beginning in a way, perhaps they just started or finished college, were about to start a new job, or were about to get married and start a family. They, too, have so much still to experience and should have had more time. But still, losing someone who is older is still just as sad. I think some people just can sometimes find a little comfort in the fact that they had lived a long life and got to experience a lot. 

45. when’s the last time you snuck around, and where did you go?: I don’t have to sneak around. Never have.

46. how often do you wash your hair?: Every couple days.

47. do you think the price for a movie ticket is too high these days?: Well, these days movie theaters aren’t even open. However, I don’t think it’s the movie ticket price that’s too high, it’s getting stuff at the concession stand that racks it up. The food and drinks are ridiculously overpriced. I just have to get some popcorn, though. I miss movie theater popcorn with salt and lots of butter.  48. have you ever been to a drive-in movie theater?:  Yeah, a few times as a kid. Actually, the last time I went was to see the Willy Wonka movie with Johnny Depp when it came out. I wish they still had drive in theaters where I live. I think they should make a big comeback, I mean that’s perfect for social distancing. We can stay in our own cars, closed off from others, but still enjoy movies on the big screen.

49. what’s your favorite musical?:  Sweeney Todd (the one with Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter). 

50. what do you think of dr. seuss?: I was a fan as a kid, I loved his books. They’re classics. I actually have a Star-belly Sneetch stuffed animal, which is a character from his book, The Sneetches. 

[anabantoid]

Are you really getting what you pay for?

Petco, Petsmart, Pet Supplies Plus, Petland, and other chain shops are notorious for the amount of poorly cared for bettas that are sold for pretty cheap. You can get dragon scale bettas, halfmoons, plakats, rose petals and dumbos for less than the cost of a full tank of gas. Of course, there is a stigma associated with buying this mass produced bettas. They’re unhealthy, they feed a market that needs heavy regulation from consumers, and over all are treated in poor conditions, inhumane conditions. 

We don’t feel good buying these bettas sometimes, but we love the animal, so we seek other options. We go onto aquabid or ebay and see gorgeous bettas, and expensive ones too. You can find some nice looking fish for about the4 same cost in the store, not counting the exorbitant fee for transhipping, or you can find some that seem outrageously expensive. But you get what you pay for, right? If you’re investing so much into a fish, you’re going to be getting a healthier fish than the ones you’d find in the store, isn’t that right?

Not necessarily.

Now I need to preface this by saying I do like bettas, they are charming fish with a lot of personality that are also incredibly accessible and relatively affordable to care for. I have four bettas of my own, they’re important to me, but I acknowledge the pitfalls that come with the domestic betta we all drool over. I am speaking from my own examples, as well as the many collected examples I can recall from the three or so years I’ve been around fishblr and seen the rise and fall of everyone’s bettas.

The goal of this isn’t to call anyone out. The goal of this is for you, the consumer, to be aware of where you might wanna be spending a lot of money, and what you’re ultimately getting in return. I do feel like it is predatory for a seller to market a fish they know is unhealthy, critically inbred and overpriced without much remorse. I do feel that the onus is on the seller and the breeders for pushing these fish that look stunning but are genetic train wrecks that will die within two or three years, especially when you may be spending well over a hundred dollars on a fish in the end. The sellers know this, they are well aware of how unhealthy a betta is, but are more than willing to hype up a fish and charge the consumer a ridiculous price for a fish that is no different than a fish bought from Petco. I am using Glee Bettas, the breeder that Space City Fish uses for the bettas they sell, as the example for this post specifically because Space City Fish markets to tumblr heavily and they know that fishblr is into bettas. They target fishblr specifically because bettas are the most popular fish here. 

I’d like to start with a fish we know a lot about, the dragon scale betta. What is a dragon scale betta though, other than a betta with pretty, metallic or opalescent scales? Dragon scale bettas are bettas who have essentially had the genes that go into making metallic scales turned on into overdrive. All bettas have the potential to develop iridescent or metallic looking tissues and scales, it comes right from the wild betta splendens.

As you can see, the betta above has very light hints of metallic iridescence to it.

These bettas, all from Glee Bettas and all used by Space City Fish as the transhipper/proxy seller, are extreme forms of dragon scale bettas who are “full mask”, meaning their scales are thickened all the way to their face, and in the last one, are starting to over take the fish’s eyes, rendering them blind. A betta that is already blind is being sold to the consumer for a luxury price. An already unhealthy fish is being sold to you for more than what you’d pay for a fish from Petco.

Aside from being blind, dragon scales are notorious for developing tumors. Why does this happen? It is most likely because the proteins that are supposed to tell the other proteins to stop producing so much tissue simply don’t exist or are so low in number that the tissue simply continues to grow. Without an ‘on/off’ switch for this gene, it simply keeps happening. We simply wouldn’t have a dragon scale betta unless they were bred for this trait, a trait that ultimately kills the fish or decreases their quality of life drastically. 

I had a dragon scale girl I bought from an LFS who imported bettas, Zelda. Zelda started developing a tumor near her pectoral fin and I was concerned, but figured it wouldn’t effect her. About a month later, she began forming another tumor behind her gill, which was getting large enough to start pushing her gill into a permanently open position. Soon, I noticed one side of her body bulged more than the other and figured she had internal tumors developing too. I had her for six months before her organs failed and she exhibited some of the worst dropsy I ever saw in a betta and ultimately euthanized her. 

Let’s start off with koi bettas next, which will be relatively short. Kois are simply marble plakats sold to you under deceptive pricing. The koi sold to you is young, under 6 months, and hasn’t had any changes to its coloring yet. Above is a young koi female who has yet to undergo any color change.

Here’s Tony when I first got him.

Here’s Tony now.

Totally different fish, right? Nope! Same exact betta, he simply lost all of his unique coloring and it all blended into one ugly mass of blacks, blues and red. All the yellow vanished. 

He’s bright, he’s perky, but would you pay $20 for him now? How about $30? Or $40? $50? Because you’re ultimately paying a luxury fee for a betta that looks how it does in photos as a 3 month old and will never look like that again for the rest of its life.

And do I really need to mention the struggles bettas with huge fins have? We’re all aware of what fin biting is, an unnatural behavior that bettas exhibit when they are stressed and unable to move the way they think they should. Go back to that wild betta video and see how small those fins are. Bettas are ambush micropredators, they are capable of immense bursts of speed very suddenly. A domestic betta hasn’t lost that drive to move in that manner, the bettas above are just as likely to want to move in quick bursts of speed as a smaller finned betta, but they can’t. They don’t understand why their bettas are weighed down by these incredible amounts of finnage. The rays to their fins may be broken, they may have torn tissue, and they fall to fin rot because of the torn tissue that’s exposed to bacteria found in their water. Or they bite. They bite off their fins because it’s the only way to lessen the amount of fins they have so that they can move.

This behavior should be held in the same regard as feather plucking in parrots. No animal willingly harms itself without encountering incredible stress from either its environment or something affecting their way of life. A betta with heavy fins that ultimately will fin bite should not be regarded with awe or the need to buy it, but be seen as an animal that is unable to preform the natural behaviors a betta is wired to do.

Again, you’ll be spending a lot of money on a fish that can’t do what it wants to do, which is move around and be a fish. 

We all know that bettas are unhealthy, pet store bettas are as sickly as bettas bred by Thai importers. There is no difference between these bettas but their price tags. 

What you do with your money is ultimately up to you, however if you feel the need to buy a betta, there is little difference between going out and getting one from a chain store than from a seller like Space City Fish.

[melinaariane]

I hope I’m doing the right thing...

In everything that I put my mind to, I work my ass off. This last year I’ve devoted my time to my husband, my family, my house and my life. I’m one to see the positives of things, but that wasn’t always the case. I use to dwell only on the negatives and see things only my way. Thank God for the earth shattering process towards becoming an understanding human being. This year I’ve sacrificed, but I’ve also gained a lot. So in this rant I will state things that I feel could be negatives, but have turned to be positives and green lights.

(-)I stopped working- gave up having my own money (which for an independent woman that is your world). I love having my own. I dislike depending on others. I hate asking for anything. When I speak, I’m putting my heart out there and boy do I hate putting my heart on the line. (+) I’ve been able to give my husband unconditional attention. When I was working 40+ hour weeks I pushed his feelings to the side because I had to make that money , work mode never turned off. I’ve focused on being more money conscious- how to save, how to coupon and find items on sale, not making frivolous purchases new clothes, makeup necessities, eating out, adventures. I found that I can depend on my husband. He gives me everything that I need and a whole lot more. It’s taught us how to share and be selfless. In the past I’ve been called “an ungrateful bitch” which if anyone knows me is untrue, but that phrase still replays in my head. I understand the time, effort and care of money, gifts and time. I know how hard my husband works to support us, I understand what he puts up with at his work place, I know he’s tired and exhausted, I know some days he doesn’t want to get out of bed. Which leads me to trying to stay positive and ensure my moods not are in check, telling him “I love him” during the day, remembering items he can forget, making sure I’m not the one lagging in the morning, cooking his breakfast, lunches and dinners, preparing a menu, trying to figure out his favorite foods,making sure the windows are open so the house isn’t hot, taking out the trash, having the gate open for him befor he gets home, washing dishes, washing clothes and the list goes on and on. I try my best to make sure his days at home aren’t as stress as his days at work. I try my best to make sure our home is place he wants to be. We could be out and partying it up: raging spending our money on overpriced alcohol, arcade games, packed concerts, & everything for social media’s sake. But this year has brought us quality time, conversation, deep appreciation for our circumstances, intimacy and true happiness.

(-)I’ve given the leadership role to my husband. I hate people telling me what to do. I like the control of leadership. I like to know what’s happening and have the details laid out on everything. (+) him being the leader allows him to make smart choices for the both of us. Not saying I’m not giving my input or my opinion, but he makes most of the calls. If I feel like it’s too much for his plate- I’ll call it off. Giving Him the leadership means more spontaneity and less anxiety (which I use to call “control”). He’s not telling me what to do, but encourages me to be more adventurous in hobbies, recipes and life choices. We’ve come up with boundaries and ensuring safety in our family. I know he’ll be able to make the right choices for himself, for me and my family.

(-)communication on topics that are uncomfortable suck. It’s not always easy to speak up. It’s hard to keep my cool in a heated conversation. I want to scream and make the other person feel how I feel. (+) talking about uncomfortable topics help you avoid dealing with those issues in the future. Preventative measures. I’m one for blowing up and exploding because I feel unheard. I swear I ask in normal ways 3-4 times, but after being unheard it will get rough. Normally I turn into an irrational crying mess(I still have my days), but recently I tried to skip to the solution seeking aspect of it all. Save the exhaustion of crying and feeling like shit for some one who has time for it. As women we get the question “what do you want?” and we don’t always know what we want, but throwing the emotions aside to figure it out gets the problem solved. Do you acknowledge how you feel? Fuck yeah you do. Feel that shit man! Save the crying bullshit part for yourself and come up with a plan and ask for input.There is nothing more gratifying than having your partner help you solve your problem. To come up with an implemented plan that actually works is success!

(-)I’m married=same penis forever. What if’s, might have beens, am I making the right decision? (+) getting married was the best decision I’ve ever made: security, love, direction and hope for a better future. I never had any doubts about my marriage, only the possible outcomes of how it would change my family life. It was difficult adjusting at first, but we’re getting there. You think about your ex’s, your possible flings or what could’ve been and know that nothing could be better than what you have now. I look at my husband and see how much he’s grown, how hard he works, his self control, his persistence, his drive and dedication and I know I can’t find it anywhere else. Why would I want anybody else? I’ve seen my peers and thank god I am where I am. As for same penis forever, I’m glad I got the best of the best. He’s mine. Sex is incredible being married. No worries, understanding one another’s bodies, loud sex, knowing that your body is not only yours, but his as well, the most intimate you’ll ever get, and the excitement of wanting eachother more and more each day. Call it “old fashioned” I’m seeking to grow old in this orderly fashion full of passion.

Am I doing the right thing? Yes, I am. I know I am because I feel good about myself. Am I working my ass off? Fuck yeah, but boy is it worth it. I am proud to see my husband the most successful he’s ever been and I know new paths are just around the corner. I know that I’m working towards a greater purpose. It’s not just about me anymore, it’s about US. And I love who we’re becoming and what we’re representing. A Healthy, efficient relationship constantly seeking to improve towards future endeavors.

[gobigorgohome2016]

The Allure of High Mileage Running

The 100 Mile Week. For as long as I can remember, high mileage has intrigued me.  Of course, this probably partly stems from spending high school glued to message boards like letsrun, dyestat, and indianarunner, where a person’s worth was strongly tied to his (rarely her) running ability.  I’m sure that growing up reading stories about Deena Kastor’s monster mileage didn’t help with my fascinaton, either.

In high school I was a fairly high mileage runner, topping out around 45 or 50 miles per week.  I think a lot of high schoolers do that now, but at the time we only trained for a 4k race.  I have always enjoyed mileage, and my body seems to respond better the more that I run.  

In college, I was a low mileage runner because I was always injured.  I remember the first time I ran a 60 mile week.  I was pretty proud of that moment.  Also in college my fascination with 100 mile weeks grew after hearing legends of former (male) teammates that pursued 100 mile / 100 beer challenges. I’m pretty sure I couldn’t even do a 100 mile / 10 beer challenge in a week (the beer being the limiting factor), but nevertheless my interest was piqued.  Would I be able to run 100 miles someday?  At that point, I figured likely not since I could barely make it past 40 miles without injuries.

When I got to grad school I realized it didn’t really matter how much I ran, since I wasn’t planning to take running seriously anymore.  What if I just pushed my limits instead?  I distinctly remember my first 70 mile week in January 2012.  Dave and I went to The Rail (now defunct) to celebrate.  Well, Dave didn’t need a reason to celebrate, but 70 miles in 7 days without getting hurt seemed as good a reason as any to have overpriced hipster drinks.  That night we also realized that I never picked up my car from a trail head I had parked at during the week, since I ultimately just ran home one day to add on miles.  (it’s easy to forget about your car when you live in a college town!)

My first 80 mile week was when I was training for Chicago, the time I didn’t finish the race, in 2012. I felt badass, especially because I completed the mileage during one of the hottest weeks in July, and in 5.5 days (I had taken a day off and had a 4 mile day that week as well).  I felt strong and badass.  I knew the mileage was working for me.

I didn’t hit 90 for the first time until I was training for Chicago the second time, in 2014, when I did finish the race.  6 weeks out I did an over distance training run of 32 miles, and easily got 90 in 5 days of running that week.  If I wasn’t so dead from 32 miles on horse trails, I would have surely gone out and gotten in the extra mileage to hit 100, but I fortunately realized that would have been dumb.  

My first 100 mile week came when I was training for the trials.  I have never been as simultaneously exhausted and satisfied.

For me, my satisfaction with running has always been intrinsically tied to two things:  doing new things I’ve never done before, like highest mileage ever or longest streak of 100+ mile weeks, and my success as a runner. I guess for me I have seen the most success when my mileage is high, so I’m hooked.  Of course that begs the question:  am I successful at running simply because I am satisfied with my training, or is the training making me a better runner?  I have always strongly believed that the foundation of success is simply believing that the way you are training is the best, and never doubting.  

But, why is 100 miles a seemingly magic number for me?  

No matter where you look, it appears that 100 mile weeks is what separates the elite runner from the super serious runner – at least if you read online message boards, running magazines, or talk to old school coaches.  

Yet, the pursuit of the 100 mile week is ultimately the undoing of many runners.  Where did this arbitrary number come from, and are we so wedded to the idea of 100-or-bust?  

From my research, Jack Daniels suggests that aerobic benefit ceases around 70 – 75 miles per week. Beyond that number, runners simply improve their running economy as they add more mileage.  What I have yet to find, however, is any research on how a runner feels after hitting certain barriers in training, and how that mentality ultimately affects training.  

For instance, I take a shit-ton (that’s a scientific unit, right) of pride in being able to sustain 100 mile weeks sans injury.  Assuming I finish out this week as planned, I will have three 100 mile weeks under my belt in a row.  (kind of. One was a 98 mile week and the other a 97 – close enough).

As an aside, that’s another funny thing about 100 mile weeks – 98 miles is pretty damn near 100 miles, so why didn’t I round up?  For whatever reason, that 2% difference feels more significant than the difference between, say, 45 miles and 50 miles.  2% versus 10%.  This fact doesn’t make a whole lot of logical sense.

Also, this is where runners tend to run into problems.  You may be asking, if you were 3 miles from a 100 mile week, why didn’t you just go out and run an extra 3 miles?  Well, because that would be stupid.  It seems like high mileage would be filled with a lot of junk runs, but it really isn’t (at least not for me).  At a certain point, you realize there are weeks where you really shouldn’t run extra mileage for the sake of extra mileage, no matter what your log looks like at the end of the week.  I think that reaching this level of maturity is important, but it took me being a complete idiot to grasp that concept (i.e. the time I ran 115 miles the week I got food poisoning.  Not my best life decision).

So, again, why is 100 mile weeks considered this magic training number?  As far as I can tell, this started with Arthur Lydiard, who advocated high mileage running, but I can’t find anything that specifically says 100 miles is the magic number.  I’m curious if anyone has an idea why runners seem to feel that 100 mile weeks separate the women from the girls?

Frankly, I think that high mileage – at least when run consistently – is probably beneficial because it forces you to take care of all the little things that runners neglect if you want to continue to sustain this type of training.  For instance, there are certain rules one must abide by when hitting mega mileage, and those include:

Sleep:  my first few weeks of hundreds will require 10 – 12 hours of sleep (including naps). I hear stories occasionally of runners attempting 100 mile weeks off of 6 – 7 hours of sleep.  I think adrenaline can get you through maybe 2 weeks of that before your body crashes.

running lots of miles makes you tired.  coffee is important.

Self Care:  Even though my body feels best during big mileage, I acknowledge that it requires more care.  You can injure yourself in the dumbest ways when you’re running a lot (ask my massage therapist, she could probably write a book on the stupid ways I have tweaked muscles).  At the same time, a little bit of self care goes a long way at this mileage because your immune system is on high alert.  The other day I tweaked my calf muscle, and 6 hours of icing, recovery yoga, legs up the wall, foam rolling, stretching, compression sleeves, and having Dave dig his fingers into my calf resulted in a pain free run the next morning.  

Nutrition:  This is the trickiest part.  When you’re averaging 14.3 miles per day, you’re bound to run through a meal.  If you’re like me, you’re also not at all hungry after a hot and humid longer run.  Kefir, cheese, crackers, whole-fat foods, yogurt, protein shakes, and high-carb / high – calorie / high-protein foods are your best friend.  Also, all the popsicles.  

There is a conundrum at this mileage when it comes to nutrition.  You want to eat as healthy as possible, but healthy foods aren’t always calorie dense.  Sometimes your stomach fills up before you reach your caloric or macronutrient needs. It is so important at this mileage to remember that quantity (of calories) is sometimes more important than quality.  If all that is available to me in the foreseeable future is a big mac and fries, you better believe that is what I’m going to eat.  

sugar = glycogen = necessary

Singles vs. Doubles:  At 70 – 80 miles per week, doubles seem easier.  But, when I am 90+ mpw, I would much rather run singles.  I’m not sure why this is, but going for a 14 mile run sure as hell beats a lot of 8 and 6 mile days.  

Weight lifting:  I used to attempt high mileage weeks without lifting.  It was fine, for like 3 weeks.  Then I started noticing my imbalances and lack of lifting is probably what contributed to a lot of the problems I had in my right leg last year. My biggest takeaway from that experience:  if you can’t sustain your mileage + lifting, drop your mileage to the highest level you can sustain while getting in the extra work.  

Flexibility:  My massage therapist does range of motion and flexibility work.  Without seeing her every two weeks, there is no way I could ever sustain this mileage.  I also go to yoga once per week, and try to incorporate as much recovery into my weekly routine as possible.

Speed:  I was talking to someone recently who asked me what my three pieces of advice would be for a marathoner.  He was surprised when I said speed work, like strides, were one of the most important components.  There is a misconception that running a lot of mileage results in slowness.  That’s only true if you only run all of your mileage slowly.  I do speedwork and strides every week, and I know that when I am in peak marathon shape I could also PR in nearly every other distance.  

Pace:  I think another misconception is that “slow” miles are junk miles at high mileage - but I also think this idea is perpetuated by people who believe that all mileage must be fast.  There are times when I am in the best shape of my life that I do 10 mile runs in 90 minutes, or 20 mile runs in 2:40:00.  Some days you just have to meet your body where it’s at, and respect that when you’re running mega mileage there will be more opportunities for bad days. When that happens I just throw on some extra strides at the end and call it even.  Slow days (for you) don’t mean you aren’t in shape or that you’re losing fitness, it’s just important to remember that effort is more important than speed sometimes.

What Does a 100 Mile Week Look Like?

Here is what my most recent 100 mile week looked like:

Monday:  10 miles (double, 6 and 4) + yoga – I always do super easy 10 on Mondays, whether that means 10 in 90 minutes, or a little bit quicker but in doubles.  Recovery yoga is also an every Monday occurrence.

Tuesday:  2 mile warm up, strides, 8 mile tempo in 48:27, 2.5 mile cool down + weight lifting.  My plan was to hit 5:55 – 6:00 pace for this run, but with 14 mph winds and most of the route affected by the wind, I was very happy with this run.  Overall average was 6:03 pace, which is faster than my marathon PR and the effort felt great.

Wednesday:  8 miles easy AM, 3 miles easy PM, + massage.  Normally I would do 10 and 4 on Wednesday, but my sister was in town so things got changed to accommodate for all the walking we were going to do (4 miles of walking).

Thursday:  14 miles w/ last 400 m of each mile hard + weight lifting I love this workout.  Makes the miles go quickly and has great aerobic and anaerobic benefits.  I forgot my watch and nutrition, so I had to make an adjustment and run it as an out-and-back on a path that is marked every 400 m.  Not my favorite way to do this workout, but it’s always good to practice things going wrong for when crazy things happen on race day.

Friday:  4 miles AM, 12 miles PM + strides having friends to run with is nice!

Saturday:  21 miles, I have been running 20+ milers since early July, so now I am focusing more on quality than just time on my feet

Sunday:  15 miles, I like to join friends during their 20+ milers on Sunday so that I can get in a relaxed semi-long run.  Back to back long runs have been good for me!

So there it is.  I don’t know why I’m obsessed with high mileage – especially when I don’t really love running for the sake of running – but it does make me feel badass and powerful.  Do I think everyone should run 100 mile weeks?  No – especially if you are unable to recover from them or are unable to take care of the little things.  I do think there is something to be said for running the highest mileage that you can sustain individually if you are going after a goal, but much of that comes from the extra vigilance people use when chasing a new benchmark as well as the satisfaction they feel when new achievements have been reached!    

[personalcoachingcenter]

Isagenix.

What is it?

Isagenix Isaleanis a meal substitution shake stated to be clinically revealed to help lean muscle development and bodyweight decline. There are a total of 23 natural vitamins and minerals, and 24 grams of protein additional.

It claims to be the superior meal replacement shake because of to its large nutrition and minimal sodium, body fat, and cholesterol. You can blend this shake with h2o as properly as milk to make an instant drink.  They also insert that their protein is produced without hormones or antibiotics. So is this truly a bodyweight loss resolution? What kinds of effects are attainable from this shake? This Isagenix Isalean review has all the data necessary to make an educated determination. In examining numerous food replacements our evaluation authorities concluded the very best all round is 18Shake. Learn far more about the most effective excess weight reduction food replacement  acknowledged as18Shake by clicking listed here.

Do You Know the Greatest Diet program Shakes of 2018?

Isagenix Substances and Side Outcomes

Milk Protein Focus:A 40 to ninety% protein by bodyweight milk extract that is spray dried and processed.

It is a low cost way to provide protein, and it is often included to numerous processed meals to increase the protein produce.

The Meals and H2o Observe group has issued considerations in excess of the basic safety of this ingredient. Considering that it is commonly imported in from nations around the world with various safety requirements, the team provides that there is a danger for poisonous results:

“food safety difficulties like melamine adulteration���

Melamine can potentially result in organ damage and a collection of well being troubles. According to the Meals and H2o View firm, pasteurization does not eliminate melamine, and it has been demonstrated in other milk protein concentrate blends in large quantities.

Fructose:Fruit sugar that is added to provide a sweet taste, but it has no dietary price. This is considered 1 of the worst sweeteners, because of to its potential to lead to numerous overall health troubles. The Louisiana University Program ran a review on fructose and showed that it:

no artificial flavors

helps with starvation**

soy totally free

e-book

reduced sugar*

cost*

energy*

protein

carbs*

sodium*

style**

Isagenix

$three.80

240

24

24

240

$ one.95

eighty

15

fourteen

100

Vega 1

$two.eighty

123

15

twelve

130mg

GNC Lean

$one.ninety

two hundred

twenty five

seventeen

one hundred twenty

Shakeology

$4.00

one hundred sixty

18

twenty

70

“may have detrimental effects…  (could have a) future threat of cardiovascular disease”

This review confirmed an enhance of cholesterol which can trigger several complications. Yet another study outlined by the team pointed out there was:

“reduced 24-h plasma insulin and leptin concentrations”

Leptin is the satiety hormone which lets the human body know it’s no for a longer time hungry. By altering this, it can trigger increased starvation and an elevated risk for being overweight.

Fructose is saved in the liver where it can potentially trigger negative health effects. Numerous scientific studies have concluded that this ingredient should not be eaten, as it can be substituted with more wholesome sweeteners.

Simply click on the url presented to see our specialist reviewed listing of the leading rated meal substitution shakes.

Xanthan Gum:Thickener discovered in many processed food items, it’s manufactured from a combination of fermented sugar and micro organism.

It is possible for it to market facet effects that consist of:

 Bloating and flatulence.

 Stomach issues, loose stools, and diarrhea.

This is a cheap component that gives fiber and thickening properties.

EDITOR’S Idea:Blend this health supplement with a proven food substitution this sort of as 18Shake for much better outcomes.

Isagenix Good quality of Elements

There’s a large sum of energy at 240, and a overall of 11 grams of sugar which arrives from sweeteners like fructose. This is regarded the worst sweetener for weight decline, given that it does not minimize hunger, and it can trigger cardiovascular injury.

The large sum of energy implies you have to burn up much more in get to get rid of bodyweight. It’s essential to limit energy as much as attainable in order to promote fat obtain. two shakes offer 480 calories, which is significantly greater than other meal replacements.

There’s also a good deal of protein at 24 grams, but not all of it is high quality whey. Some of it comes from low-cost non-unwanted fat milk and milk protein concentrate. The two of these can be obtained for significantly less expensive in other places.

General, the ingredients in this quantity to as well considerably energy and sugar to advertise healthy fat reduction. Some of these additives are inexpensive and may actually guide to fat obtain. The top 10 list functions the ideal shakes out now, click on below for far more info.

Whey Protein Concentrate Milk Protein FocusthirteenLow-warmth nonfat dry milk Isomaltooligosaccharide powder,thirteenFructose, Sunflower Oil PowderthirteenOrganic Flavors Olive oil powder Flax Seed Powder Xanthan GumthirteenTapioca MaltodextrinthirteenMedium Chain Triglyceride Oil PowderthirteenCinnamon PowderthirteenIonic Alfalfa Magnesium OxidethirteenTricalcium PhosphatethirteenPotassium Citrate Magnesium Citrate Apple Juice PowderthirteenSea Salt Enzyme MixthirteenCellulasethirteenInvertase ProteasethirteenAmylase Bromelain, Papain Acid Steady Protease Silicon Dioxide Yucca Vitamin CthirteenMagnesium StearatethirteenPsyllium Seed Powder Biotin Selenium Amino Acid Chelate Lactobacillus AcidophilusthirteenVitamin E Succinate Copper Amino Acid ChelatethirteenBeta Carotene Zinc OxidethirteenManganese Amino Acid Chelate Iodine Amino Acid ChelatethirteenNiacinamidethirteend-Calcium Pantothenate CholecalciferolthirteenChromium Amino Acid Chelate Niacin Molybdenum Amino Acid Chelate Pyridoxine HydrochloridethirteenCyanocobalaminthirteenRiboflavin Thiamin Hydrochloride Folic Acid  

EDITOR’S Tip:Blend this dietary supplement with a established food substitution these kinds of as 18Shake for far better outcomes.

The Value and High quality of Isagenix

Afourteen serving canister sells for $fifty one.ninety five.So if you were to do two shakes a day for a overall of28 days’ really worth, the price would be $207.80.

This is exceptionally increased than the typical food alternative shake. Although this shake does have a lot of protein at 24 grams, not all of it is from a top quality source. two of the 3 protein substances are low-cost and commonly identified.

There is also an alarming quantity of sugar at 11 grams. If you drink 2 shakes this amounts to 22 grams of sugar.

To put that in point of view, the American Heart Association advises for guys and girls to established a restrict as the pursuing optimum:

Guys:37.5 grams of sugar.

Women:twenty five grams of sugar.

Ladies would satisfy this restrict with just two additional grams of sugar. Worst of all, the kind of sugar employed is fructose a number of scientific studies have demonstrated it can direct to weight problems and metabolic issues. It is a low-cost sweetener that could in fact make it more challenging to drop weight even with diet and exercising.

For the varieties of elements extra to this shake, it’s drastically overpriced. Significantly of this shake is a blend of unneeded substances as effectively this kind of as digestive enzymes. A lot of of these elements are not necessary for folks who are healthful.

Digestive enzymes are normally only offered to folks who have malfunctioning bodies. This raises the general expense of this shake unnecessarily.

There’s basically not adequate high quality components included to justify the high expense. Comply with this url to see a checklist of the top ranked meal alternative shakes.

Business of Isagenix

The creators of this model are Isagenix Global, they are a multilevel marketing and advertising firm and the y can be arrived at below:

Telephone Variety:(480) 889-5777

Address:2225 S. Prince Street

                   Chandler, Arizona 85286

The firm has 43 complaints on their Greater Business Bureau page. Here’s what some have had to say:

“company has revenue agent committing in fraudulent revenue practices”

“set up an unauthorized auto-payment”

“I in no way need to have gotten involved with this company”

“I have been fully ripped off out of money”

Auto shipment was a main problem for buyers, since they could not escape these month to month contracts. This form of revenue can make it so your credit score card is routinely charged each and every month.

Numerous experimented with escaping this but consumers usually complained that the buyer provider employees was unresponsive and unhelpful. Several ongoing to be charged even soon after repeat e-mail and phone phone calls.

It’s unknown if this situation can be set, or if the organization actually doesn’t react to client complaints. Supplied right here is a comprehensive list showcasing the most efficient food substitution shakes for bodyweight loss.

EDITOR’S Tip:For the greatest results with food substitution shakes diet regime our professionals recommend to use it at the very least five months. Conserve your money acquiring a handful of luggage of food substitute merchandise.

Client Opinions of Isagenix

There are many testimonials obtainable online. Here’s what a number of consumers have experienced to say about Isagenix Isalean:

“didn’t have a bodyweight loss good results sand it wasn’t satisfying to my appetite”

“taste was terrible”

“would stop up with a undesirable head ache each and every afternoon”

“Too thick with a chalky texture. Not straightforward to consume and minor flavor”

Several had problems with the style. Folks explained it was synthetic tasting, that it does not mix nicely, and that it has a chalky and odd texture.

A absence of fat decline benefits and side effects ended up also shown. Some skilled nausea, upset belly, head aches, and diarrhea. Men and women also failed to lose any weight even with diet and exercising. This may be because of to the high 240 energy.

Consumers ended up also let down to find out they couldn’t get a return on this product. People have tried out to get in touch with the client assist workers, but they ended up frequently informed that they couldn’t get their income back. To uncover the quite ideal ten meal replacement shakes, you can click on right here.

Conclusion - Does Isagenix Work?

Isagenix Isalean’s shake is promoted nicely, but it’s loaded with sugar and energy. There is also a lot of protein included, but after you study what sorts of components are incorporated, you recognize it is not a good quality food substitute. The protein included is cheap and can be found for a decreased value elsewhere. Many buyers have also complained about the flavor, absence of bodyweight loss, and the difficult to consume consistency.

Read more here

[aowanders-blog]

New Post has been published on https://aowanders.com/free-camping/

Free Camping & How to find it anywhere in America

FREE CAMPING 

Finding free camping in America is becoming an endangered species.  In fact there is an entire industry evolved around fee-based camping, and for three months out of the year it is a booming business.  One that I have looked into quite thoroughly, and at some point I will pull the trigger on my own campground.  Until then let me show you how to find free camping anywhere in the United States.

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As a kid I can count on one hand the number of times my parents brought us to a campground.  Where sites are numbered, groomed, and have a check in/check out time.  At the time I never really gave it any thought, but why would I?  It was just weekend camping time with the family.  Roasting marshmallows, building fires, fishing from the dock, playing night tag or cooking hot dogs on a stick were my responsibilities.  Sometimes I even got to cook on the little green stove, but to pay the lady in the booth so we could sleep on the ground.  That wasn’t an 8 year olds job.  Nor acknowledging quiet hours.  I had more adventures than Indiana Jones, and no rule or sign was going to stop me.

  FEE CAMPING

Trying to find the number of camgprounds that exist in an America is such a daunting task not even google or bing can find the answer.  Every single state in the U.S. has atleast one state park showcasing their remarkable landscapes.  From remote beaches to towering mountains.  Some even have rugged canyons to explore with a kayak, or slot canyons to explore on foot.  Lake Havasupai is a 10 mile hike, and impossible permit before you can pitch a tent next to this secret waterfall. 

In the U.S. all campgrounds can be found on either government lands such as: national, state and county parks or forests, or they are privately owned & operated.  Depending on your style of camping daily rates range on average from zero to $55, and some places with a vast amount of amenities (game room, activities director, etc) will charge even more.  Usually the National Forest is free.  State parks are between $15-$25, and private campgrounds slide all over the scale.  RV sites are typically $45-$55 a night, but most RV parks also have a weekly or monthly rate that is drastically cheaper than the per night fee.

All daily maintained or staff employed campgrounds in America usually have a 10am checkout time.  Majority of these campgrounds operate a “quiet time” rule from 9pm-6am.  These hours differ from campground to campground, but most campsites have some type of quiet time rule.  Were loud behavior is not tolerated.  The layout of campgrounds also vary from campground to campground.

Majority of the campgrounds found in America are developed & improved.  This simply means there is a compacted ground area for tents, RVs and vehicles.  As well as a fire ring and picnic table.  Improved campgrounds means there is access to drinkable water, toilets, trash bins, showers and/or staff.  Just because it is developed and improved doesn’t mean its a desirable campsite.  Something I learned years ago in Loveland, Colorado.  This place charged me an $80 deposit & $45/night to sleep in a specified corner of the 2 acre dirt parking lot they called a campground.  No trees. No secret water falls, and surrounded by businesses.  Instead of a river there was an active train track.  It was an RV park that occasionally accommodated tenters.

Fee-based camping is restrictive, intrusive and excessive.  Some places require an application with your social security number to sleep on the ground in a tent!  Like I found out in Colorado some places charge you a security deposit to sleep in their dirt parking lot.  Your neighbors are a hockey stick away, and you can hear their conversations.  Watch their TV.  Get a stearn lecture for driving too fast.  Evicted for talking to loud or playing music after quiet hours.  There is nothing about fee based camping that I enjoy.  However, free camping with a 40 foot travel trailer is next to impossible and sometimes you just have to bite the bullet.

  FREE CAMPING VS FEE CAMPING

Free camping is a bit more elusive in America than fee camping campgrounds.  Most free camping in the U.S. is considered dispersed camping.  This simply means camping anywhere outside of a designated campground, and dispersed camping usually means no services.  Free camping will not have a designated compacted ground area for tents, RVs or vehicles.  Most free camping will not have access to showers, drinkable water, fire rings or picnic tables, toilets.  No trash bins or staff.  Some popular dispersed/free camping areas may have toilets.  Free camping unless in the BLM or National Forest is most compatible with short term stays (1-2 nights).

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BLM stands for Bureau of Land Management and is an agency within the US government that supervises 247 million public acres of land within the US.  The National Forest is 188 million public acres divided up into 154 designated National Forests throughout the US.  Some BLM & Nat’l Forest campgrounds will have a host and even some basic facilities, but this isn’t standard operating procedure for majority of the campgrounds.  If you do decide to camp out in the BLM or National Forest there are 6 rules you have to follow.

Dispersed Camping in Undeveloped Areas Rules for BLM & NAT’L Forest • Whether in a developed campground or at a dispersed site, you may usually camp in an area for up to 14 days before having to move at least 25 miles from your original spot. You may not return to that area for 28 consecutive days. • Choose sites that are already establish. • Camp at least 200 feet away from water sources. • Use existing fire rings or camp stoves. • Check current fire conditions. • Dispose of human waste properly (away from water and in a 6” or deeper hole).

The level of strictness these rules are enforced are based on two variables: Time of the year and popularity of the destination.  Most authority figures will enforce these rules with education, but fines court appearances are an option.  The most common violation of these rules are duration, and the consequence is you will be asked to move.  Depending on the infraction fines can range from $5-$300 & a mandatory court appearance.  Violating rules in a fee campground usually don’t come with tickets or court dates.  More common approach is you will be asked to leave.

Besides the minor rules that are rarely enforced the BLM & National Forests are a free-for-all.  Set up camp wherever you like, and stay for as long as you like.   There are no check in/check out times.  No quiet hours.  Your neighbors aren’t a hockey stick away, and theres no melodramtic city slickers bragging about their overpriced rig & unneccessary gear.  You don’t even have to worry about the old couple hiding in their RV using their secret radar gun ready to report any trivial speeders.   The deeper you go the less likely anyone will be around.  The BLM & National Forest are evolutionarily better for the stereotypical camping experience.  When they’re close by they are a great option, but unfortunatley they are not always the most accessible.

  ONE NIGHT STANDS

One night stand camping is what I like to call Stealth Camping or Ninja Camping.  I usually get in this mode when traveling solo from one destination to the next.  On all my solo travels since 1998 I have never paid for a hotel room, and have travelled over a million miles.  When I am Ninja Camping anything is fair game whether it is legal or illegal.  My favorite spots are found along a dirt road.  Along the edge of a river.  There is always a road the locals have made into the woods to some exotic place, it can’t be found on any map or any guide book.

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Best way to find these perfect spots is open your maps app and find the nearest water.  All locals have a secret spot.  Its always near water, and theres always a trail.  3-7 foot wide year round rivers always have hundreds of “locals only” campsites.  Its not because they are only for locals, its because only locals know about them.  They discovered them as a kid, or a friend showed them one afternoon.  The high schoolers party there one weekend a year, or the fisherman use it as base camp for a long weekend.  Whatever the reason may be they exist, and they are only hidden from the untrained eye.

If its on private property I recommend setting up camp after dark and leaving at first light, but to each their own.  I’ve broken this guideline many of times and have never had a problem.  If your trying to set up shop for a couple of weeks Im sure someone is going to come talk to you at somepoint about your activities.  Obviously this completely depends on the area & location of your campsite.  If its just for a night most likely you will come and go without any one noticiing.  Nobody cares.  This is the assumption I have made since 1998, and have never ran into any problems.  I even camped in a residential suburban vacant lot once.  I’m sure the neighbors just thought it was some neighborhood kids having a weekend adventure, but no one bothered me.  I’ve never done long term Stealth Camping, but thats about to change this spring when I embark on the AC LOOP.

  FAVORITE ONE NIGHT STANDS

BOAT RAMPS

PULL OUTS ALONG THE ROAD NEXT TO A RIVER

ANYWHERE DOWN A DIRT ROAD

BEACH

REST AREAS

TRUCK STOPS

ANY PARKING LOT

HOTEL PARKING LOT (COMES WITH FREE BREAKFAST)

CAMPGROUNDS AFTER OFFICE HOURS

FOOTBALL,SOCCER, BASEBALL FIELDS

CITY PARKS

ANY SCHOOL DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS

COMMUTER PARKING LOTS

SEASONAL RESORTS DURING OFFSEASON

VACANT LAND (GET LISTINGS FROM LOCAL REAL ESTATE AGENT OR TRY  CRAIGSLIST)

CHURCHES

FARMS

CHECK LOCAL FACEBOOK GROUPS (YARD SALE, GARAGE SALE, RANT & RAVE)

HOSPITAL PARKING LOT (COMES WITH FREE SECURITY)

CRAIGSLIST ~ROOMAMTE WANTED SECTION

CASINO PARKING LOT (COMES WITH FREE ALCOHOL)

RV DEALERSHIP (BLEND RIGHT IN)

HIKING TRAIL TRAIL HEADS

ABANDONED ROADS

DOG PARK

COUCHSURFING (ASK TO CAMP IN THEIR YARD)

ANYWHERE IN THE DESERT (OCTOBER 1ST-MAY 1ST THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CHOOSE THIS OPTION)

SKI RESORTS

**GOT MORE IDEAS LEAVE THEM IN THE COMMENTS BELOW**

SKI RESORTS

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Ski resorts are one of my favorite free camping destinations.  Had I not worked at a ski resort I would have never uncovered this little secret.  Ski resorts have a name for their community, and its called ski bums.  Ski bums live in the parking lot of a ski resort during the winter season for months at a time.  They live in their cars, shacks, RVs, busses you name it they live in it.  Some resorts manage this by restricitng overnight parking to no more than 3 nights.  Others encourage this lifestyle, and set aside a portion of the parking lot just for these folks.  Some resorts even sell RV parking season passes.  Each resort is different in regards to its parking lot camping rules, but all of them are free to camp at for as long as you like to any hike in destination.   Outside of the BLM or National Forest you wont find this any where else.  Plus ski resorts provide some of the most iconic terrain in the world to call your campsite.

The best time to camp at a ski resort is in the summer or fall months.  The height of their operations are during winter, and only the big resorts have any summer operations.  During the fall months its what they call “shoulder season”~ September, October & first of November.  Chairs don’t start spinning until Thanksgiving, and all the kids are back in school so family vacations are pretty much non-existent.  The only people that will be there will be HR doing hiring & interviewing for the upcoming season, and department heads trying to guage staff & department needs for the upcoming season.    You will have the whole place to yourself.

Most likely you won’t have any hook ups for your RV, but its free camping in a beautiful setting.  If your at one of the bigger resorts that holds summer operations you can explore all sorts of activities sucah as: mountain biking, ziplining, alpine slides, mountain scooters and all kinds of weekend festivals or shows.  Ski resorts are their own little community, and they have all sorts of amentititeis.   Restaurants, shops, showers, pools, activity rooms, chair lifts, dog parks and some even have free wifi.  Its like living at a high end RV park with no fee.  Its the ultimate free camping destination for RVers or tenters.  You can thank the ski bums of the 70s for that.  There are roughly 500 ski resorts spread out over 40 states within the US.  Trying to find free camping at a ski resort is relatively easy, and I highly recommend it.

MISC FREE CAMPING

Depending on your comfort level & length of stay free camping is relatively easy to find though.   Free camping is a host of comprimises versus fee camping is a host of ammenities.  If you can’t live without internet or cable TV…..well free camping isn’t for everyone.  There are sites like www.freecampsites.net & www.campendium.com, but depending on the area they have outdated information or unappealing options.  This is a travel series called Kombi Life that utilized Free Camping in 23 countries for 7 years and is one fo the my favorite travel documentaries, and you can support Ben by subscribing to his Patreon Page 

Highway 14 in Northern Colorado just west of Fort Collins is one of my favorite roads to find free camping spots along the Cache La Poudre River.  The PCH (pacific coast highway) also known as highway 1 is another one of my favorite roads to find free camping on the beach.  The 486 also known as the North Fork road out of Columbia Falls Montana is one of my all time favorite free camping site roads.  Here you will find towering mountains, rivers in every direction & no one for miles.  The 61 in Northern Minnesota is unbelievably beautiful, and full of free camping spots along Lake Superior.  Check out Artist point in Grand Marais when you get there.  And my favorite on the east coast is Highway 12 in the Outter Banks of North Carolina where the beaches are vacant of businesses and free of clutter.  As far as the eye can see is nothing but sand and waves free to use at any time of day or season.   What are your favorite places to find camping leave it in the comments below.

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Before kids my father worked at the forest service surveying land plots, wild life mangement, timber sales and even working with youth groups.  He was quite familar with free camping or what my brother likes to call “Backroads Camping.”  Our free camping spots were always down some random dirt road meandering through the country side.  No idea where it leads or what we were about to find, but it always paid off.  Because our free camping was always  next to our own private waterfall, gorgeous lake or peaceful river.  As a teenager free summer camping was extended into hunting season.  Which is my favorite time of the year.  City slickers call this “patio season”.  The weather is perfect.  You can wear anything you want, and all the outdoor options are still available.  Growing up in the land of 10,000 lakes (which is closer to 30,000) the state bird is the mosquito.  The most appealing benefit of this time of the year is its bug free in the northern part of America.

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Free camping is always a gamble.  Your not in your own backyard or hometown.  You don’t get to enjoy the comforts of knowing the area culture, atmosphere, mentality or even how authorities respond to “free camping”.  Be proactive, and use common sense.  Don’t put yourself in a position that could drastically become negative in a hurry.  Ask for permission. People are nice they like to help.  Pack out what you packed in, and camp more! Hotel less, and it will save you a bunch of money.  And the best tool to find free camping is Trover There are tons of ways to find free camping.  Be sure to  share your ideas below so the whole community can benefit from what I have missed.  Thanks for reading, and look forward to reading your comments.