Getting a new Engine 

We've got the power!    

Brain Aware's chairman of public relations, Clinton lee, will be traveling and living in the Vanagon.  We need to prepare this beast for a very long journey and ensure that Clinton is able to travel several thousand miles over the course of many years in order to fulfill his life-long dream.  The Vanagon needs power to climb steep hills, durability to drive across several countries and reliability to create a comfortable living space.  

   After several weeks of building, the     Vanagon finally starts!  It is ready     for a test drive and fine tuning.      Over the next month, Clinton will be     working on the interior to construct     a comfortable living space.   

From Midlife Crisis to Awakening: My Journey to Give Back

 

      At 50, you could call it a midlife crisis, but I see it as an awakening. It was as if a curtain had been pulled back, and all I could see was the pain in the world—displaced families, unimaginable suffering, widespread poverty. The     question that haunted me was, "What have I done in my first 50 years to help those in need?" And the answer was devastating: nothing. For half a century, I had been focused on consuming, gaining, and accumulating more and  more, and it made me sick. I couldn’t keep doing it.

         My kids were grown, no longer needing me like they once did. My job had become so stagnant it made me want to   vomit every day. I lived with an amazing fiancée, but we just weren’t compatible anymore. I was lost in a world that  didn’t feel like mine anymore.   So, at 51, I told her I was done. I was going to retire from technology, build a camper van on the cheap, start a   nonprofit, and drive it to Guatemala. My next 50 years would be dedicated to giving back to the impoverished   peoples of Central America. Unsurprisingly, this didn’t go over well with my fiancée. But surprisingly, my kids were   supportive of the idea.

       I  had saved enough from my job to live simply in a third-world country, as long as I slept in the van and cooked  every meal myself. My meals now mostly consist of rice, beans, vegetables, and fresh tortillas. And you know what?   I  love it. I don’t think I could ever get tired of it.

        To make this dream possible, I sold everything—two houses, my Jeep Gladiator, my pool table, all my triathlon   gear, some collectibles. Now, everything I own fits in my van. I’m all in.

        Building the van was an incredible experience. My sister had recently married an amazing man, Kevan Matheson,  who knows everything from mechanics to welding. He and his father, a retired GM engineer, volunteered their time and their garage to help me with the project. Together, we swapped out the VW engine for a Subaru engine,   welded racks and braces, and installed a 300-watt solar panel. It was tough but incredibly rewarding.

  My son even helped with the project and learned how to weld. This van became a symbol of our bond. We tested it  together, taking camping trips every chance we got in Arizona. It was a time we’ll never forget.

      My sister and I also founded a nonprofit organization, securing tax-exempt status so donations could be written  off.  She’s a powerhouse—helping me launch a website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and a blog. Once the van   was ready, I gave my company six months’ notice and spent that time training the owner's son-in-law to take over   my role. It was hard work, but he rose to the challenge.

         After saying goodbye to Arizona, I embarked on my journey. I visited family along the way—siblings, my mom,  grandma, aunts, uncles. These stops were full of love and bonding, memories I’ll carry with me always. From  Portland, Oregon, I hit the road to Guatemala, and that’s where the next chapter began.

  You can follow the rest of my journey on social media. I’m just getting started.

                                                    Adelante!