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Frequently Asked Questions
(click the questions for answers)

* Where are you from?
* When did you start your journey?
* Are you doing this trip because of September 11th?
* How long is your trip going to be?
* Where are you planning to go?
* Do you have a motor home you travel in?
* What's your real name? Is Jip short for something?
* Are you married? Do you have a family?
* How do you make a living on the road?
* Can I hire you?
* How do you get by with no phone?
* How do you keep in touch with family and friends?
* What do you do about your mail?
* How do you get online while traveling?
* You are a teacher? What do you teach?
* Can I send you my writing to get your opinion?
* Will you be giving writing or poetry workshops?
* Have you read Blue Highways?
* Are you available to do a talk about your travels?
* Can you help me with, or fix, my computer?
* Wow, aren't you afraid to be alone on the road?
* Doesn't it get lonely?
* Will you settle down somewhere if you find a good place?
* What's your dog's name? How old is she?
* Does your dog bite?
* Is she a purebred German Shepherd? How old is she?
* Did you design your own website?
* Can you help me with my website or design a site for me?
* When are you coming to my part of the country?
* I know of something interesting you may want to write about. How can I get in touch with you?
* I'm sorry you lost your business and home, but . . . can I come with you?



Answers

Where are you from?
I really don't claim any one place as my hometown. Although very close to being born in Tokyo, Japan, I was born at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma in 1953. My family soon moved to Selfridge Air Force Base in Michigan and then to Germany for several years, moving back to the states when I was seven. While growing up, I never lived in one place for more than four years. My last place of residence was among the villages and towns of mid-coast Maine, where I lived for over twenty years.

When did you start your journey?
In the beginning of October, 2001 when I had to give up my home. I stayed in Maine for the next two and a half months, staying here and there while I finished up some projects, found a suitable travel vehicle, and started outfitting it for the road.

Are you doing this trip because of September 11th?
No, not at all, although I think the new mood in America will certainly be interesting to see first hand. I starting making serious plans to hit the road and look for work back in August, when it became apparent I was going to lose my home and I'd already had to close my business.

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How long is your trip going to be?
Well, I have no end plan in mind, and hope to stay on the road and traveling around the country--working, writing and making pictures, etc.--as long as I find interesting people, places, and events. As long as I am making a living and paying off my obligations, it would suit me fine if this journey lasted for years.

Where are you planning to go?
Anywhere and everywhere in North America, literally. At the time of this writing (mid Nov. 2001), I have over 45 confirmed invitations to visit various individuals and places around the United States and Canada; many of them involving work.

Do you have a motor home you travel in?
Well, sort of. It is not exactly what most people may think of as a motor home. I bought an old Ford Econoline extended body van and am slowly retrofitting it for travel. I hope to eventually have a fairly comfortable mobile dwelling from which I can work and write.

What's your real name? Is Jip short for something?
No, Jip is not short for anything and is my full given first name. Birth certificate and all. Really.     More information on the name Jip.

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Are you married? Do you have a family?
I have not been married since 1983. I have been a single father from the time my daughter was around six months old. I played a major part in raising her and was a full-time single parent for many of her school years. She's a real peach, an "old soul" someone once said, and being her father has taught me many things, as well as being the single best thing that has happened in my life. Now that she is old enough and is on her own, I am more at liberty to ramble and roam.

How do you make a living on the road?
In a number of ways. In addition to developing a weekly "On the Road in America" column for local newspapers and creating e-books and hard copy booklets on various topics, I've brought along my carpentry, painting, and lettering tools, and will be picking up the occasional odd job as I wander. I may try to get a few gigs with my singing and songwriting as I resharpen my playing skills. I am also thinking about selling prints of my photography and taking digital pictures for tourists. My goal is to be as self-sufficient and have as few expenses as possible so I can better repay loans and previous obligations and to ensure my daughter has enough money for continuing her education. Reducing my overall monthly living expenses such as normal utilities and monthly lease and mortgage will hopefully make that more possible.

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Can I hire you?
Hire me? Well, of course you can! I would love it. I am well versed in, and available for, carpentry & small renovation projects, fine interior painting & faux finish work, signpainting & lettering, individual computer training, and writing & poetry workshops.

I am willing to entertain any sort of work and have skills in many areas, having worked in many trades and professions over the years. I'll even stock shelves or work crops. Please feel free to write to me so we can discuss what you have in mind and when I might be in your part of the country.

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How do you get by with no phone?
Umm, I secretly enjoy not having a regular phone number now, after years of being in home-based businesses. Most of my communication is via the Internet. To do that I use available phone lines at campgrounds and Internet cafés, etc.

How do you keep in touch with family and friends?
Almost exclusively via my computer and the Internet and e-mail, often using Internet telephony to make voice calls. I also enjoy writing the traditional letter.

What do you do about your mail?
Snail mail? Mostly let it pile up. No . . . I have a good friend and associate who sorts it and occasionally forwards the important stuff to wherever I may be.

How do you get online while traveling?
I use an old laptop computer which I hook up to the Internet via modem at modem friendly campgrounds, Internet cafés, friend's homes, and the occasional motel room.

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You are a teacher? What do you teach?
I've taught all sorts of things; for the school system in Maine, on my own in private workshops and business, and for a few non-profit organizations. My favorite thing to teach is writing and poetry. I've led dozens of workshops and multi-week classes over the years for adults and teens entitled "Freeing the Writer Within", "Active Writer's Workshop", and "Poetry Today".     Participant's comments.

I have also taught numerous courses on computing, including everything from Understanding Windows and Microsoft Office to HTML & Web Design. At one time I had a small business called Creative Workshops for Kids, in which I led workshops on Cartooning, Drawing, and Storytelling, among other things like calligraphy and graphic design. I've also been a trainer of neutral facilitators and have led workshops in which people learned how to speak out against discrimination.     Computer class participant's comments.

Can I send you my writing to get your opinion?
I am happy to read and talk about the occasional short poem or idea for fiction or essays. Due to travelling and limited time online, I am unable to offer free critiques or help for longer pieces, whether they are works in progress or finished pieces. I hope to develop a page with links about writing and publishing that will be helpful to writers.

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Will you be giving writing or poetry workshops?
I would love to give writing and poetry workshops here and there as I move about the country and as people seem interested. I have curriculum all ready to go for workshops of varying lengths. If you would like to explore the possibility of sponsoring a writing or poetry workshop, please feel free to write me.     Participants comments.

Have you read Blue Highways?
No. Though I have heard William Least Heat-Moon talk on tape and television about his wonderful books, I have not read Blue Highways. As a writer starting on my own American travel adventure and journey, I am resisting being influenced by his writing or subconsciously duplicating some of his travels. Although I plan on not restricting myself to the blue highways on the map and will be going into the cities more than I understand Heat-Moon did, I imagine it is inevitable that I will end up on many of the same roads writing about similar things.

Are you available to do a talk about your travels?
Definitely. As time goes on and I am able to purchase a projector I can hook up to my laptop, I will be giving talks and showing photographs of my travels and experiences. I love being a tour guide and have considerable experience being in front of audiences of all sorts.

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Can you help me with, or fix, my computer?
Yes, most likely I can help you with most typical problems you may be having with your computer system, or steer you in the right direction if it is something I cannot solve. Much easier to do in person, however, than it is to try and do via e-mail, so please do not expect to write me and have your problem solved. I've been known, at times, to trade computer work for a fresh-peach cobbler or homemade dinner and fine company. At times, though, not always; I am trying to make a living. Write to me and let me know what you have in mind.

Wow, aren't you afraid to be alone on the road?
No, not at all. I've travelled alone quite a bit. You might be surprised at just how friendly and helpful people on the road can be, given the chance.

Doesn't it get lonely?
Sometimes, yes, of course. It really is not much different though, than living alone in a house, and lord knows I've done my share of that in the recent past. On the road, one finds many more new and interesting things to keep the mind occupied than might happen when staying in the same town for ages. I've always been pretty good at meeting people, getting to know them, and getting them to tell their stories.

Besides, there's not much I enjoy more than sitting and reading and learning something new, whether it be from a book or the Internet. I just can't feel lonely if immersed in reading and learning. Sooner or later I end up sharing it with someone, and that is a wonderful thing.

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Will you settle down somewhere if you find a good place?
I suspect that from time to time I will stay in a general area to complete a project, be it writing or other work related, but I have no plans at this time to permanently relocate. I would not mind, at some point, having a small place somewhere in which I can keep a few things and to which I could go every once in a great while to stretch out. Right now, even a motel room is luxurious. I've grown quite used to living in a small space with very little, getting by on not much.

Do you have a small place that is not being used, or that you'd be willing to exchange for something I can offer? Let me know via email. I'd love to talk to you about it.

What's your dog's name? How old is she?
Akena. Her name is Passamaquoddy, or Penobscot, for "Honored Mother" or similar, according to an Indian man we once met. She was born in 1992.

Does your dog bite?
Only if I want her to.

Is she a purebred German Shepherd?
Yes, Akena is a purebred German Shepherd. She has been through extensive obedience training with me and my daughter and Search & Rescue Training with the Maine Warden Service, though she is not an active search dog.    More about Akena.

Did you design your own website?
Yes. I thoroughly enjoy designing websites and have done quite a few, both for myself and others over the years. I've always enjoyed playing with color and shape and lettering. The relation of positive and negative space. Creating a mood or feeling while making it easy to view and use, whether it be a sign, website, or room in a home. I hope you find this site welcoming and informative.

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Can you tell me what is wrong with my site or design a site for me?
Due to the volume of email I receive, I am unable to offer free critiques or suggestions to random inquiries asking for help. I may develop a page with links to helpful information about designing websites. If you are interested in hiring me to design or work on a site, I'd be glad to. I've failed miserably in the past at completing jobs for others, from taking on far too much work and thinking I could do it all while trying to establish other business and dealing with personal difficulties. I'm still paying them back. I will only do a few certain jobs. Feel free to write me if you are interested. I'll be honest about what I can and can't do for you.

When are you coming to my part of the country?
Soon, maybe tomorrow! No, it depends on the part of the country in which you live. I will eventually, I hope, make my way around the entire country and a good deal of Canada. Right now (mid-Nov, 2001) it looks like I'll be in the southeast U.S. for a good part of the winter, after stopping to see family and work on the van interior, and stopping in North Carolina to do some carpentry and painting work. After that, I hope to make my way back north and west. Plans have a way of changing, though, so keep on eye on the site to see where I might be headed.

I know of something interesting you may want to write about for AmericanWebLog. How can I get in touch with you?
The best way to contact me regarding content is via e-mail. Please, do not send unsolicited email trying to sell me insurance, low mortgage rates, CD's full of e-mail addresses, get-rich-quick schemes, or pheremones, etc. I did not subscribe to your list. Okay?

I'm sorry you lost your business and home, but . . . can I come with you?
Ha! Well sure . . . if you think you can put up with a man, his dog, and his dream all living in a tiny space, you're sure welcome to try.

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