Hello friends,

Welcome to the mind behind the Gigs! Tonight is the third part of the preparation aspects that I’ve been discussing the last three days.  I wrote about the mental and physical concerns, and or obstacles that I expect to encounter on this crazy, exciting journey. I keep selling it as a unique, never been done before, a once in a life time adventure,  with any and every one willing to listen to me rant and rave about it!

My good friend Mildred Horn told me she and her friend, had a friendly competition for years, to see who had visited more states in their life time! I think she was at thirty eight or so, last count. Now these are older, retired ladies who have spent many decades adding to that number. And here I stand poised to attempt to knock out all fifty in the next 6-8 months!

That being said, no greater challenge do I face than the single most common denominator, in most endeavors, than the all mighty dollar!  That’s right, after all, this is the ultimate working tour. And it will come down to dollars and cents! This project is totally self-funded, of which I have more cents than dollars!  My grand idea of course, is that I will be able to generate income as I move along state by state. And that is the point of this whole project! That remains to be seen friends.

Some have suggested a ‘YouFundMe’, or a ‘Kickstarter’ account to help me launch this journey. However I my eyes, that would not only defeat the purpose of  proving any SURVIVING abilities, but it would also seems a bit hypocritical for me to go that route. Im sure those accounts are fine for some, I prefer to earn my way to the other side of this mountain. Then the satisfaction will be oh so much sweeter for my soul and conscience. But to be honest, I am however seeking donations and supplies from various entities.  Not cash, simply survival items like a tent, camping gear, some tools and attire. I can’t fit too much stuff in my truck, so it is a minimal wish list of items.  

So now that I am but a mere four weeks away from leaving, my budget, along with my diet/weight loss plans are not coming to fruition. Work has slowed as of late, just the normal feast or famines of contracting, but after a very busy February and March, I don’t have much on the books for April. Something I was hoping would carry me all the way until the last week here. I didn’t plan on filling my bank account with a gazillion dollars, but I did have a number in mind. Two weeks’ worth of pay in my pocket, and an emergency fund here with my sister, in case a real emergency would require me to return home. (Death, illness, crime) God forbid.

I did however have a backup plan, just in case this happened. No not the jar in the picture! I painfully put my beloved 67’ ford truck for sale today! Something I didn’t really want to do, but it was either that or the other love of my life, my B.M.W. Im not getting rid of my BigMexcanWoman!  Ha-ha, get it!

Keep in mind also that fuel will be my biggest expense. When I first thought of this daring foray, gas was a dollar or so less than what it is now, and climbing as we chat. I won’t have to pay the $1,400 in living expenses it cost me to stay in my house, but I also leave almost that much behind in monthly maintenance accounts that I won’t be earning. I still have the normal phone, insurance, truck, cards, and food expenses, like everyone else. I will have to cover those things with these planned Gigs! That’s why folks I’m packing a tent. In case I have to rough it in patches!

So there it is. Im really going on a shoe string budget, and short of an expensive break down with my vehicle, or me getting robbed, I should be able to survive on my skills, talents, and charm! After all, that is what Im trying to prove to the world, right? I might end up working just for gas money or food, just to be able to move on to the next destination! So if you see some tall, dark, obnoxious Latino on your intersection with a sign and a cup, please donate!

Thanks for dropping by and hanging out with the Johnny man! I posted some new pics of my three grandsons in my photo album page, and a new short video of me you might enjoy. Check them out if you get a chance!

Hasta luego, Muchachos y Damas!

Greeting friends,

I hope everyone had a good day! I worked all day installing a putting green down the street here in my home, Oro Valley. Yesterday I began talking about the needed preparations for my trip. I wrote a bit about the mental aspects of the journey, and tonight the physical.

I for the most part of my adult life, I have kept in decent shape. Now that I’m 54, the dividends have paid off, I believe. Still the desire and effort needed to maintain a solid physical disposition comes at a greater sacrifice as one ages. My body now takes longer to recover from those long, hard days doing what I do. I can’t seem to bounce back the way I used to, even from just a few years back.

The fact is I’ve only slowed down the aging process, not stopped it! Hence, my desire to fulfill this journey while I’m still in one piece! I don’t and haven’t always ate the correct way. Like most people I suppose, I try to balance the good with the bad. But oh, the bad can be sooo good!

I don’t have an addicted personality, so being hooked on something has never been a problem for me. I’ve been able to keep the excessive weight off, never passing the 205lb mark with my 5’11” frame.

So now with this journey in the works, I vowed to lose twenty or so pounds for the trip. I wanted to get down to 180 or less before I departed. I started a high protein diet back in March, and have lost about 8lbs to date. With four weeks to go, I doubt I will hit my goal. I plateaued, and I can’t seem to shake off the rest. I believe with the stress and fatigue the road will provide, being in the best physical shape possible will be an asset for me, as the weeks and miles on the road accumulate. After all, I expect to be on the road driving more hours than working, at some points. I decided to drive only daylight hours, if possible. And NEVER, when I’m exhausted from a day’s work or play.  So once again, being fit will do me good down the road. No pun intended!

I love to work out at the gym, but lately I’ve been so busy working 10 or more hours a day, and six or seven days a week. When you’re self-employed, you have get when it comes. Plus the ‘Juanjohn’ is always in high demand in these parts! So I haven’t had much time or energy left for the workouts, after working out all day in the sun.

But really when it come to my diet and exercise plan, fatigue is not my biggest obstacle in my path to obtaining a better physical condition, its eating!

I could, and I have in the past controlled what I consume, but it’s a challenge. And many of you can relate to suppose. I revamped my fridge and pantry when I started this diet, but after a month of eating Salmon, chicken, oatmeal, veggies, and coconut milk every day, I miss my Lucky charms and doughnuts!

I have a huge appetite, and I just plain like to eat! I have no problems eating whats on the diet, just not the portion size. Im always hungry and that growling in my tummy is always roaring when I’m out and about! So I suppose I’ll just have to settle for lower expectations, when it come to my weight goals. And then there’s this issue I have to consider.

I always been healthy over all, meaning no high sugar, heart or lung issues. I never smoked, ok one joint back in the day! And drink only socially.  I never had any major illnesses throughout my adult life, except for getting stoned!

By that I mean Kidney stones! I suffer from those dreaded pebbles using the space between my kidney and bladder as a super highway! Doing cartwheels all the way to the exit point, if you know what I mean! And if you’ve never experienced, or are not familiar with this chronic condition, you have no idea the pain and discomfort those calcium stars wreak on a person’s body!  I just spent a night last week in the hospital, recovering from a bout!

THAT, my friends is one of my greatest worries with this this adventure! I’ve gone two or more years without an episode, but have had three the last 18 months, and let me tell you, there is no worst pain a person can physically experience. I just prone to them, the doctor said, and will have to endure them the rest of my life. I just pray and keep my fingers crossed I don’t have an episode on the road.

So I believe these are the major physical aspects of my trip. God forbid, I break a bone or two, fall sick, throw out my back, or get the cooties from some Cajun queen, Georgia peach, or Texas tornado along the way! I wish! ;).  Tomorrow we talk about da money!

Good night yah all!

Juanjohn

Hello Friends, Juanjohn again!

Although I’ve been looking forward to this adventure since November, the time has now arrived for me to make some serious preparations.  I have a huge list in my head of all the things I need to do before I hit the asphalt for the next few months. Without boring you with logistical details, I broke them up in three main categories.

To begin with, I need to be prepared mentally, physically, and financially. To be able to sustain myself through the anticipated grind of this trip. I catch myself thinking of all the great fun and excitement this journey will bring me, forgetting at times that it’s a WORKING tour! So lest begin with the mental aspects of this voyage.

For the most part, I consider myself pretty level headed and even tempered. Although some might disagree! We won’t mention who! I handle stress, I believe, better than most.  Hence the lack of grey hairs! Just kidding! I do have to admit I get easily frustrated when Im over worked.

 Still, a lot of emotions make up our mental state. This is a highly emotional endeavor that Im taking on, and I’ve been walking on the clouds for months, waiting for the time to come for me to leave. Just ask my close friends and family! I don’t shut up when someone ask me about my trip. They’re probably sick and tired of hearing about ‘Gigs’, and want me just to leave already! But seriously, being away from my circle of loved ones here in Tucson, especially my youngest son, Jonathan, and my sister Angela, will be rough. They are my biggest supporter in this adventure. I will also miss my companion of the last eleven months, Kalani. My beloved toy puddle!

Then there is the road. I’ve always loved to travel, but I’m not very fond of being on the road for too long. That doesn’t make sense? You might wonder. Fact of the matter is, I prefer to fly, when I go places. But since this is a ROAD trip, I have to be ready for the twelve or so thousand miles I plan to cover in my truck. Also, I love to sleep in my own bed, with my own pillows and sheets.  That going to be hard to adjust to. I plan to pack a tent and camping gear, but believe me folks, if I have a choice, Im staying at the Embassy suites! Im too old to rough it, if I don’t have to. Also think about this.

Imagine having to get up every day, like I plan to do, and not know what kind of job Im going to be doing! Or if any. Not earning money can be a stress. I could be a thousand miles from home, with no money. Although Im not the depressed type, that might wear on me, if things get rough. I also tend to be a bit over confident at times, trusting that my multiple skills, charm, and talents will land me a gig whenever I roll into any given city or state. But the reality might be different. There may be some close-knit communities perhaps, which might not take a liking to strangers showing up unannounced in their area, seeking to take their jobs. Especially a loud mouth, conceded Mexican like me! Just saying. I have to be realistic. I might end up at the local Home depot parking lot with Pedro and Pablo, settling for a day labor opportunity.

Then not all jobs pay well either. Some people who post these gigs tend to be cheap and frugal, not appreciating the value of hard work.  Some folks can’t afford some high priced service company, or contractor, like ‘Angieslist’. So they use Craigslist or other sites to find a more affordable tradesman, like me, looking to make an extra buck. They often shop for the lowest bidder, then many times get what they paid for. So mentally, I have to ready myself for anything that comes my way. That’s par for this course amigos!

Im signing off now my friends. Tomorrow I’ll chat about the physical aspects. I have to get up early and go to the gym!   Good night, Juanjohn

 Hello folks,

Now that you know my idea, Im officially launching this site with my first posting!

Well, the time is now getting closer with each passing day.  The excitement I feel as I prepare myself to embark on this journey of a life time is also building. The days are flying by, and there is still so much I want and need to do before I hit the road in early May!

Just so you know, or in case you’ve wandered how this idea was born, I first thought about it as I laid in bed last October. Like many of the things that I often imagine in my head when I can’t fall asleep, some outlandish and some more reserved, I thought about being able to say that working in every state in the union would be a noble accomplishment.  However, I thought, that is not that farfetched anymore, with the facility of being able to travel long distances in our day. I’m sure, I pondered, many could lay claim to such an endeavor.  How then could I add twist to this idea? And make it my own?

Well I figured many have worked in all fifty states, but probably doing the same line of work. Sales, maintenance, travel based jobs, and such. Also working for the same company or preforming the same trade, a person could accomplish this task relatively easily. Pre-determined jobs, contracted, or lined up days, weeks or months in advance, is the way most people earn money on the road.

But what if I were too just hit the states, one at a time and simply survive on the internet with daily posting from Craigslist sites, I thought. Just on a wing and a prayer, and using all my skills to acquire any work available that day, on any given city or community! Just enough to eat, sleep, and fill my tank with fuel, sufficient enough to get me to the next stop. Of course, when I got up to drink my coffee, I took it as just another crazy idea, like so many I’ve had in my life time, including moving to Hawaii a couple years back!

But the more I thought about it, the more unique it seemed. The allure of being on the road, meeting new people, visiting friends, family and destination points excited me. The more I pondered the trip, the more I convinced myself of the possibility of taking it on. What prevented me from such an adventure, I reasoned. The kids are grown and gone, I thought, and the wife is too! So here I am! Ready to sail away on the sea of black top waves. The decision was made last November, so now the timeline had to be arranged. Weather of course being the primary factor.

So I announced the trip idea to my kids, family and my two trusted employees. Im sure it sounded like a nutty fieldtrip to them, back in the fall, but I was dead serious about the whole thing! As always, they humored me, and probably blew it off as a passing thrill of a middle aged Mexican dreamer!

But my firm belief is anyone can accomplish almost anything, if the approach it whole heartedly, with faith and determination!

Truth be told however, I have had my moments of doubt and anxiety. Some sleepless nights and the thoughts of “what the hell am I getting myself into”, have shaken me at times. After all, the tour is totally unscripted and spontaneous, for the most part. Success is not guaranteed, and the possibility of failure is high, I think.

For one, I still have bills to pay while I’m on the road. Not all gigs pay well, nor am I guaranteed to score them when I need to. I could break down, since my truck is not new. I could crash, get robbed, get sick or even wear out from the 12,000 miles I plan to travel. It could take a toll on me physically, and emotionally. All these are the things that I have considered the past few month, as I prepare for my journey! But have no fear friends, nothing worth accomplishing comes without some risk ,and certainly some, if not a lot of hard work and personal sacrifice. The payoff is well worth the effort, I believe!

So now my focus is to finish up some current jobs, get in better shape for the road, and try to entice some sponsors for some supplies for my trip!

Until my next posting, my friends! Have a good night!

Juanjohn