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What To Know When Buying A Cabin In The Woods To Get Away From It All

Here are several ways to help you find the perfect cabin retreat to enjoy your vacation time without worrying about the outside world for a while…
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The pandemic has changed life for millions of people in ways that would have been hard to imagine a couple of years ago. Besides the obvious health risk, it changed habits in a way that may take a long time to get over. Between how and where we work, to how we deal with society as a whole.

Travel was hugely impacted and restrictions are only now beginning to lift. Those that needed a break had a hard time finding a remedy. There has been a trend to buy a second home these days so you can get away from it all. Cabins in the woods are suddenly being snapped up.

When you find the right place, you can have a refuge to relax and enjoy nature while social distancing. Instead of dealing with long lines at the airport and many restrictions when it comes to flying, you can take a vacation and do things your way.

In this article, we will go over several ways that you can find the perfect cabin retreat to enjoy your vacation time without worrying about the outside world for a while.

Grid or off grid?

This question used to be a lot more of an issue years ago. Having a cabin in the woods not connected to the local services like sewer and electrical often meant really roughing it. Off grid was very spartan and rough and you had to have a certain tolerance for being uncomfortable.

These days, an off grid cabin can give you all the modern conveniences of being connected to the grid. Which opens up the possibilities of where you want to put your cabin.

Your choices are to be somewhat close to civilization and be connected but maybe have some neighbors closer than you really want. Or, you can get far from the outside world and hook up solar grids and drill a well. Of course, you can still go bare bones and just rely on a fuelless generator solar for your small gadgets and things if you really want to.

The best way to start out is to look for the area where you prefer to set up your cabin or buy an existing one. Then, research what your options are as far as how to connect to the conveniences you are hoping for. If your preferred area is not served by the local services, then make sure to budget for adding solar panels, a well and propane tanks.

Tiny house

One option for your idyllic place in the middle of nowhere is to go for a tiny house. You can save a lot of money in construction costs if you go small. Many people are able to set up an off grid tiny house for just a few thousand dollars. You have a lot of budget options for the building. Shipping containers are very popular for how cheap and durable they are and can be made into a place as rustic or modern as you like. Likewise, mobile homes can often be made into a very cosy tiny home that doesn’t resemble what you often think of for a mobile home.

With so many resources available due to the popularity of the tiny home movement, you can find the ideal solution for your needs. Storage and organization is easier than you think when you take some tips from people that have already set theirs up. If you are on a budget then this is a good way to not take on any debt to be able to have a second home in the woods.

How do you plan to use it?

Finding the right cabin will also depend on how you plan to use it. For instance, are you only planning to go there during the summer and warm months? Or, do you plan to go there all throughout the year?

The reason this is important is that many cabins are not built for four seasons. If you are buying one that is already built, you will need to consider when you plan to use it most. When you are constructing one from scratch then you must factor in the temperatures that you will face and choose the appropriate materials.

You should also consider how long you plan to spend there. If you want to be there on weekends only then you have to have a system that allows you to close it up quickly so you aren’t spending your entire weekend getting it ready to live in and then shut down for when you aren’t there.

Having guests over will also change your search criteria when looking for the right cabin. Maybe you want to get away from people and just spend time alone with your family in which case a small cabin is suitable. If you plan on some social time then make sure it is comfortable enough to have people over.

Be aware of the maintenance

Your cabin may be out of sight for most of the year, but its presence will always be in the back of your mind. That’s because having a second home of any kind requires maintenance. A cabin in a rustic setting can mean even more than usual since there are elements to be mindful of.

For instance, if you have a log cabin then you will need to make sure the logs are being stained every few years to keep the bugs and moisture from damaging them. The roof of your cabin will also need to be patched up occasionally as well as changed every 10 to 15 years depending on the material and weather conditions.

Landscaping is important as well. Make sure to take down any trees which could pose a threat to your cabin in the event of a storm. Old trees can fall and go right through your cabin if you don’t prune them or take them down entirely.

We are happy to present this collaborative post to offer valuable information to our readers.

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Why Thailand is One of the Top Tourist Destinations in the World?

Cost-Efficient

Once your airline tickets are purchased, additional expenses will be minimal. Thailand is one of the most affordable tourist destinations in Asia. The country has a host of motels, resorts, and guesthouses, offering affordable accommodations to all international tourists. In addition to the cost-efficient motel accommodations, restaurants and other food vendors have affordable menus. Choose from mouth-watering Tom Yum Goong “spicy shrimp soup,” Gaeng Keow Wan Gai “green chicken curry,” Khao Phat “fried rice,” and Som Tam “green papaya salad.” These recipes are made fresh to please your taste buds, without breaking the bank.

Beautiful Weather (December Through May)

Experts recommend visiting Thailand between December and May, or when the weather is almost always favorable for outdoor activities. During this time frame, the weather is warm, not too hot, and the rain is minimal. The country reports temperatures at least 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer season. Unless you like extremely hot, muggy weather, avoid visiting Thailand in the summer.

Thailand also has what locals call a “rainy season,” which begins in May and runs through October. The rainy season mostly pertains to Southern Thailand’s east coast. There is no doubt, this part of the country has a lot to offer international tourists. But, unless you are willing to endure a rainy vacation, avoid the rainy season.

Complete Your Itinerary In Advance

To ensure you get the most out of your vacation, experts highly recommend a Thailand itinerary. This very important travel document will guide you through your vacation, ensuring you do not miss out on what Thailand has to offer.

Sandy Not-So-Crowded Beaches

It is not unusual for international tourists to be drawn to Thailand’s beaches. The country has more than 2,000 miles of vast coastline. And, another 8,000 miles of tropical islands. If you are accustomed to overcrowded beaches, you will be pleasantly surprised to discover Thailand’s beaches are remote. Unless your plans are to visit a resort on one of the more popular islands, you will find your pick remote.

Thailand beach resorts offer ample outdoor activities. Spend a day snorkeling and another scuba diving just off the coastline. Even if you are looking for peace, quiet, and a bit of sun, you will find it at one of Thailand’s beaches.

Shopping Galore

A Thailand vacation would not be complete without a shopping trip. Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, has some of the most extraordinary malls in the world. The Siam Paragon, Icon Siam, Terminal 21, and NARA Place are just to name a few.

Aerospace Cowboys

New Mexico has been on the cutting edge of the space age ever since there was such a thing as the space age. Here is a look back at our visit to New Mexico’s Spaceport America ten years ago….
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Here is a look back at our visit to New Mexico’s Spaceport America ten years ago. 

New Mexico has been on the cutting edge of the space age ever since there was such a thing as the space age.

Because of the wide open spaces, experimental rocket launches, missile testing and the world’s first atomic explosion have taken place out among the cacti and roadrunners.

We saw the questionable side of science, with a dash of real rocketry, in Roswell, but the real heavy lifting of scientific discovery has been elsewhere in The Land of Enchantment.

To hit these hot spots we made a base camp in the town of Truth or Consequences and, like any normal people, we asked about the name.

Back in 1950 the town was called Hot Springs. When the radio show “Truth or Consequences” offered to air the show from any town willing to change their name, this little burg jumped at the chance.

Next thing they knew the show’s host, Ralph Edwards, is in town and the whole world, or at least the American radio listening public,
is aware of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.

Edwards took to the place like a duck to water and visited during Fiesta for the next fifty years. The townfolk named a park after him, where they still hold Fiesta every May.

A short drive over the mountains took us to White Sands, which is famous for two things — The White Sands Missile Range and White Sands National Monument.

The missile range is top secret. There is a museum open to the public but the rest is off limits, no matter how gypsy a GypsyNester has gone.

White Sands National Monument

Back in 1945 the army started bringing captured German V-2 rocket parts to this forty-mile-wide and one hundred-mile-long facility. By later that year missiles were flying.

That same summer, just north of White Sands, the world’s first atomic explosion was detonated at the Trinity test site. Needless to say, that radioactive landmark is also off limits to the public.

The space between these two super secret scientific spots is filled with white sand. Hence the name. White Sands National Monument is a blinding alien landscape with giant shifting dunes of pure white gypsum sand.

Upwind of the site a unique dry lake bed forms a never ending supply of the snowy mineral that blows across the barren landscape.
Normally the gypsum would dissolve in the rain, but rain nearly never falls in this desert, so the giant sandbox continues to grow and grow.

See more photos from White Sands National Monument

Most of the wildlife — lizards, mice, rabbits and foxes — that inhabit this peculiar environment have adapted, becoming white to blend in with the surrounding sand for protection.

However, according to one of the park signs, these little guys still end up as tasty little dishes of fast food. Call us wacky, but that seems like the sign might be just a tad disturbing to the kiddies.

Good thing ours are all grown up.

The last of the high tech sites in the area was the one we made the trip to see. Spaceport America is the world’s first spaceport built specifically for commercial use.

The brainchild of Stanford University’s Dr. Burton Lee, the project became a reality after Congress and New Mexico State University got involved.

Soon after that, Governor Bill Richardson and Sir Richard Branson announced that Virgin Galactic would make New Mexico its world headquarters. In 2006 the state formed the New Mexico Space Authority and passed the necessary laws to open the world’s first commercial spaceport.

We contacted Dr. Jerry D. Brown of Spaceport Tours to set up a visit to this real life slice of the future. The good doctor, a NASA veteran, has secured exclusive rights to show people around the facility.

A dusty van ride across the desert brought us to the gate where we were issued our visitor passes and hardhats. It was all very official and highly secured.

A little farther and we found ourselves standing in the middle of a huge windswept stretch of blacktop. Enormous earthmovers, dump trucks, bulldozers and cement mixers line the edges and roared around us as they labored away.

It is still just a construction site, but work is nearly complete on the ginormous two mile long runway, hangers and terminal that Virgin Galactic will be using for their sub-orbital tourist space flight excursions.

This is no regular airport runway. It must be perfectly smooth, so specifications are meticulously met down to the tiniest fraction of an inch.

The mothership “Eve” will take off from here, carrying the VSS Enterprise with six passengers to nearly 50,000 feet where it will disconnect and fly into space.

After a few weightless minutes, Enterprise will return to Earth and land on this same strip. All for a paltry ticket price of $200,000.

While it will be at least a year before any of Virgin’s over three hundred prepaid customers get their rides into space, there have already been numerous launches from the spaceport.

These take place at several nearby
vertical launch sites, where Up Aerospace uses traditional rockets to blast satellites out into space.

So this visit was ten years ago and even though in the years since then things have not always gone according to plans, the spaceport has become an active and important launchsite for America’s growing private space flight industry.

Here’s hoping that continues…

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

What to Do if Zwicker and Associates Calls You

Being in the right state of mind, with the resources you need, can help you work through any issues you’re having with debt collections…
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It’s annoying to get calls from random numbers on your phone. You never know whether to pick it up or to just hit ignore. But that annoyance can change to confusion or fear when you starting getting calls from companies saying you owe them money. There are few people who wouldn’t be intimidated by that. Here’s what to do if Zwicker and Associates calls you.

What Is Zwicker and Associates?

Before diving into specific things you should do when they call, it’s important to understand more about Zwicker and Associates. What is this organization that keeps calling? Zwicker and Associates is a law firm that specializes in debt collection. They’re based around the Boston area, but have several offices around the country.

If you’ve never dealt with debt in collections before, buckle up, because it’s not the most pleasant experience. Zwicker and Associates works largely with American Express, but also with some of the other major credit card companies. They purchase delinquent accounts from lenders for pennies on the dollar. Then, in order to make money, they use more aggressive collection techniques in order to get consumers to pay up.

Why Is Zwicker and Associates Calling You?

There are really only a couple of reasons why Zwicker and associates might be calling you. The first is because they’ve purchased some debt that they believe belongs to you, and want you to pay it. The other reason is because they think you might know someone who owes them money, and want you to help locate them.

Put simply, you’re probably not going to be getting any happy phone calls from Zwicker and Associates. While you can request for them to stop calling you, ceasing contact doesn’t absolve you of what you might still owe. If you’re getting calls from Zwicker and Associates, you need to understand what needs to be done in order to get through the situation.

What to Do if Zwicker and Associates Calls You

There are a few things you need to do if you’re contacted by Zwicker and Associates, or any debt collections agency. While there’s no easy guide on how to beat Zwicker and Associates, things aren’t completely hopeless when they’re calling you. Here are the most important thing you need to know:

      • You should request verification or validation of the debt as soon as possible. This is where you send a written letter for the debt collections agency to prove the debt they say you owe them. There are constantly errors and missing pieces of information in the debt collections world, so it’s possible you can get out of paying the collections agency even if you really do owe the money. They need to provide documentation that shows a paper trail to you and the amount you owe. If they can’t do this, you might be off the hook.
      • Document as much as possible. It’s smart to take notes and save everything you can from your communications with debt collectors. It’s possible you might end up having to go to court over the debt, so being prepared for this can help you come out on top.
      • Do not say you owe the debt. As already mentioned, it’s pretty standard for information to go missing in the world of debt collection, especially if it’s an older debt. This means the onus of proof is on the collectors, not you. Don’t admit to anything, as you’re not liable to pay anything unless the collectors can prove you actually owe money.
  • It’s wise to give up as little information as necessary to debt collectors. You can also get off the phone with them at any time if you feel like you’re not prepared for the call. Being in the right state of mind, with the resources you need, can help you work through any issues you’re having with debt collections.

We are happy to present this collaborative post to offer valuable information to our readers.

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How to Find Take Out While Traveling

Many people plan trips to new locales in order to take in the sights and learn about different ways of life. Others view traveling as a way of sampling the cuisines offered by different cities around the world. No matter what your purpose is for world travel, you’ve always gotta eat!

Vacations often include packed itineraries, which leave little time for a full sit-down dining experience. This means that you’ll have to explore local cuisines via take out orders. How do you find the best places to get take out, though?

Read on to find out!

Plan Ahead

Long before you step foot on the plane, it’s important for you to do some research on your destination. We’re not just talking about finding out which sights to see, you’ll want to do your research on the local restaurant scene, too.

Food is an essential part of cultural identity, and that means that every city around the world will have its own spin on food. For example, Central Texas is famous for its delicious BBQ, and Chicago is famous for its deep-dish pizza and hot dogs. Doing research on the favored cuisines ahead of time will help you understand what a particular city does well.

With this knowledge in mind, you’ll be ready to narrow down your restaurant search when you arrive. You can even check out menus online to get a feel for what you’d want to order. For example, if you were heading to Idaho, you could check out the Wiseguy Pizza Pie Hailey-Ketchum menu to see what they offer.

Check Local Newspapers

New restaurants are opening all of the time, and what better place to cover new restaurants than the local newspaper? Almost all big-city newspapers have a section dedicated to exploring the local restaurant scene. Since these restaurants are new, you might not be able to find a lot of reviews about them on your standard review sites.

If you can’t get your hands on a physical copy of the paper, check their website to see if they’ve published restaurant reviews online.

Ask for Recommendations

No matter the reason for your trip, you’re bound to be busy. Sometimes you just don’t have enough time to do a ton of research yourself. Thankfully, that’s what locals are for.

If you’re staying at a hotel, call down to the reception desk to ask the staff for recommendations nearby. If you have a concierge, they’re well-prepared to answer all of your culinary questions. They can even book your reservations if you want to dine in.

Take Note of Lines

These days, when a restaurant gets popular, it really gets popular, thanks to social media. Hot restaurants will frequently have a line out the door. Those lines are hard to miss, especially when you’re out exploring the city.

If you happen to notice a restaurant with a long line, that’s a good indicator that the food is awesome. Write their name down for consideration later in your trip.

Skip the Chains

There’s no greater sin when you’re traveling than eating at a generic chain restaurant. Would you dare eat a Big Mac when you’re on vacation in Venice, Italy? Of course not!

When you’re short on time during your trip, it can be tempting to go for a known entity when it comes to food. If you do this, then you’ll be missing out on an opportunity to learn more about your destination. Instead, pick a random restaurant that you’ve never heard of when you’re traveling.

It might be a dud, but it might also rock your world.

Nix Tourist Traps

Any city that brings in a lot of tourists is going to have a certain amount of restaurants that cater to those tourists. The food is alright, but they’re overpriced and not necessarily a reflection of the local culinary scene.

For example, Midtown Manhattan features a number of restaurant chains that are available throughout the country. Unless you don’t have one of those restaurants near you, it’s a good idea to skip them.

Instead, look for restaurants that are off the beaten path. You’re far more likely to enjoy the food you get there!

Download Apps

The most powerful tool to have in your culinary arsenal is a smartphone loaded with all of the right apps. When you’re traveling, you definitely want to be sure to have the Yelp! app on your phone so you can scroll through local restaurants and their reviews. Yelp! can also give you critical information about a restaurant, like if they offer take out or operate on a cash-only basis.

One of the best ways to get take out while traveling is to download a food delivery app like DoorDash or GrubHub. They partner with local restaurants to enable people to get food delivered directly to their door. You won’t even have to go outside to enjoy take out this way.

Call Ahead

One thing to keep in mind when you’ve got take out on the brain is that many restaurants don’t offer take out. This is especially true of restaurants that offer a dining experience like Chicago’s Alinea. Avoid surprises by calling ahead to the restaurant to verify that they offer take out.

There are Tons of Great Take Out Restaurants Around the World!

There’s nothing better than ordering a fabulous take out meal from a local restaurant at the end of a busy travel day. Don’t be tempted by the familiarity of chain restaurants you can order from at home! Use your trip as an opportunity to expand your palate learn about local cultures through their cuisines!

If food is your life, then you’re probably looking for more great ways to explore all of the culinary delights this world offers. We can help you with that! Check out the rest of our blog for tons of tips and secrets about the world of food!

Picture This: The Badlands of South Dakota

The Badlands of South Dakota
Out of nowhere, the South Dakota plains give way to The Badlands – layers of soft shale, clay and limestone that wear away at a rate of about an inch a year leaving stunning silhouettes and fanciful formations…
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Badlands National Monument in South Dakota

After a seemingly endless trek across the windswept northern prairie on our way to Mount Rushmore, the landscape suddenly changed.

On second thought, “suddenly” hardly describes it. Abruptly, immediately, instantaneously the topography dramatically went from flat grassland besieged with billboards to the spectacularly gnarled Badlands.

Wild formations in The Badlands of South Dakota

The Badlands of South Dakota

Out of nowhere the South Dakota plains gave way to layers of soft shale, clay and limestone that wear away at a rate of about an inch a year. The wind blown process leaves behind stunning silhouettes and fanciful formations.

Find out more about the spectacular sites near The Badlands! Click here!

The Badlands of South Dakota

The Lakota Sioux dubbed the region “Mako Sica” or “Bad Land” and early French Trappers concurred, calling it “les mauvaises terres a traverser” meaning “a bad land to cross.”

Wild formations in The Badlands of South Dakota

No one said anything about it being a bad land to LOOK at, so America recognized it as a uniquely beautiful spot and proclaimed it Badlands National Monument in 1929.

The Badlands of South Dakota

However inhospitable or difficult to traverse this place may be, the Badlands certainly provide a most unique spot where one feels
utterly removed from the rest of the planet. We are certain that we weren’t the first to express the thought that this looks like the moon.

The Badlands Loop Road in Badlands National Monument, South Dakota

While most of the park is wilderness and inaccessible by vehicle, The Badlands Loop Road passes through the most mind bending of the formations.

The Badlands Loop Road in Badlands National Monument, South Dakota

Absolutely remarkable — we’d go so far as to describe it as “out of this world.”

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

Find out more about the spectacular sites near The Badlands! Click here!

The Journey of Top Hats – the common man’s hat is now a favorite among women too

Nowadays, hats are essential for styling and fashion for both men and women as they had been for many centuries. The most exciting aspect of hat styles is that it has transgressed genders, as hats that were once looked upon as women’s accessory have found a place in the men’s wardrobe and vice versa. The most classic example of the blurring of gender lines is the transition of Fedora hats that made their appearance a women’s accessory, and today it is a must-have for men. Similarly, do not be surprised to see womens top hat, which at one time was the exclusive headgear for men. Today, hats have become gender-neutral as almost all styles suits both men and women.

The commoner’s hat

Top hats were the symbol of male fashion and made their appearance during the early nineteenth century. The hat was a universal headgear for men across the society by overcoming the class barrier. Top hats were for all occasions, and men could wear them at any time of the day.  The top hat has a typically tall flat crown that stands erect against a narrow brim and is usually made from silk. The top hat not only creates an impressive look but adds considerable sophistication to the style that dominated hat fashion for many centuries.

Top hats epitomized the spirit of the early nineteenth century, although the trend began in the fading years of the eighteenth century.  Dramatic, imposing, and formal are the usual attributes of top hats that were highly popular in those days as people across the classes, from the middle class to the wealthy Europeans, stressed the formal dress codes accompanied by proper manners and etiquette.

The most dramatic moment

The picture of a magician flashes across our minds whenever we discuss top hats. And there is a reason for it. Some people relate top hats to the magician’s hat because way back in 1814, the French magician Louis Conte wore the hat when performing on stage. He also surprised audiences with the famous trick of pulling out a rabbit from the inside of the hat. At that time, it was the first of its kind trick. Since then, many other magicians replicated the act, although the items that emerged from the hat kept changing.

An unforgettable first appearance

Not only do we remember the names of famous people for their deeds but also for the fashion that they introduced. It happened with the top hat, which John Hetherington wore for the first time in public way back in 1797.  The incident was historic, to say the least because so much shocked were the passersby on sighting the man wearing a tall hat that many of them, mainly women and children, fainted. The crowd went into a frenzy, unable to control their emotions. Reports about the mob trampling some people also made the rounds.

Adding a curve to the brim

Styles and fashion keep evolving fast, and it was no different for top hats as the design kept changing with the times. The hat became a part of the European culture and a symbol of flamboyance during the nineteenth century across England, America, France, and Germany. It established a romantic style in art, literature, and clothing. As time passed, the height and shape of the hat underwent some changes, and hats with very tall crowns often tapering off at the bottom or widening at the top complemented by dashingly curved brims became a rage. The trend of increasing the crown height became so much infatuating that there came a time in 1823 when a Frenchman named Antoine Gibus invented the folding top hat that many called a collapsible hat.  The extra length of the crown led to a new naming of the hat as many people started calling it stovepipes.

A President’s hat

Top hats have a special place in the history of America as many of its presidents, including Abraham Lincoln, wore the hat on many occasions. Top hats have been part of the dress code for presidential inaugurations for many years until President Dwight D. Eisenhower bucked the trend for the first time, only to be brought back by President John F. Kennedy. However, the trend ended with President Richard Nixon donning it for the last time during the presidential inauguration.

Since the mid-twentieth century, the perception of fashion underwent drastic changes as the concept of formal dresses started taking a backseat and paved the way for casual dresses that were fashionable in their way by meeting the demands of the times.   When other types of hats like bowlers and derbies, which were much short in stature, started gaining popularity.

However, women found a new interest in top hats, and once again, the vintage hat that seemed to have been buried in history made reappearance and is now a notable headgear for women.