Every summer there’s a point in time I call Peak Summer. This year for Peak Summer I feel like sharing some sounds and memories in Peak-Summer-Bob Davis Podcast 1105.

With this in mind I’d like to say this is something one can only do in the Podcast format.

To enumerate these days I have reactivated my YouTube Channel available here.

I’d like to point out I could not do a video feature like this in the video format.

Or a video form of this podcast that would do the topic justice.

All things considered I started with sound.

For example every year at the peak of winter I do a Summer Sounds podcast.

When I produce these summer sounds podcasts they are constructed with several tracks of ambient audio from peak summer.

Secondly I love sound.

And sound generally evokes emotions and memories.

Therefore this podcast features some great summer sounds…

And memories.

It’s important to realize most of the time summer sounds dredge up childhood memories.

Hoping To Trigger Your Childhood Summer Memories

So I’ll relate a few in the hopes your own halcyon memories will be triggered.

In the same fashion I should recommend headphones.

But only if you can’t fully hear the sound behind the voice in Peak-Summer-Bob Davis Podcast 1105.

Above all in childhood we had six or seven weeks of pure freedom every summer.

In spite of whatever else was going on these were the only moments of pure freedom many of us have experienced in our lives since.

All in all we can be sad about that…

Or accept the responsibilities of adult life.

However there’s nothing like sound and memories to take a brief vacation from adult life.

For a brief moment in any event.

In truth so far the summer of 2023 has been one of the best.

Even more in a few weeks the adventure will continue as I head to New England.

And then back to the South West in September.

I summary of course I love summer.

And I love sharing it with listeners.

Sponsored by Garden Gurus Mn

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Nomads getting restless. It’s said restlessness is caused by anxiety. When nomads are getting restless it’s wanderlust. Details in Nomads-Getting-Restless-Bob Davis Podcast 1104.

Certainly the pace of my travel has changed since my first year as a nomad.

Indeed this year I spent 8 months in the desert.

And due to family stuff I have now spent almost four months lakeside in Western Wisconsin.

On the positive side I have been able to experience winter to spring…

And now Spring to summer…

Here on the shore.

But now I am getting restless.

That is to say I am ready to travel.

Therefore it’s a great opportunity to talk about how my travel has changed over the years.

For example in the first year of full time nomad life I barrelled back and forth across the country.

To say nothing of my trips to the Northern and Southern US Borders.

These days I am thinking I want my travel to be a little more experiential.

Comparatively many travelers hit all the national parks.

Or every major league baseball field.

By comparison I’d like to find different places and people.

For instance a town I visited in Colorado last summer with people trying to live a different way.

At the present time though I’m planning a trip to New England from Western Wisconsin.

Leaving in about a month.

All in all I still have some time left.

Finally I talk a lot about travel and the travel experience.

And I love to drive.

To explain a little further, one of the reasons I do this to learn more about America.

By the same token one of the things I’ve learned is to avoid categorization and judgement when it comes to the places I’ve been and the people I’ve met.

To sum up we nomads know there is a whole world out there.

Hence our restlessness is the opposite of anxiety.

We can’t wait to get out there.

As much as we love hanging out lakeside.

Sponsored by 36LYN The Independently Owned And Operated Refueling Station in South Minneapolis

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Give it up to have it all. Some people see how rich and free nomad life can be and wonder how it can be. I’ll tell you in Give-It-Up-Have-It-All-Bob Davis Podcast 1103.

Certainly these days the life coaches and self help gurus like to tell us how to live our best lives.

As much as they tell us how to have it all…

In contrast they don’t tell us what we have to give up…

To have it all.

Presently I’m staying lakeside.

That is to say I get to experience the summer’s arrival in a way that all the other cabin owners up here might not be able to.

One of the things it’s important to realize is how complex and overwhelming life ‘back in the world can be’.

Such as lists and shopping trips.

And worries about money and jobs.

On the other hand nomad life can be surprisingly ascetic.

Certainly nomad life isn’t luxurious.

In other words what we give up to have this freedom is often overlooked.

Therefore I’m taking this placid late spring early morning in front of the fire to count my blessings.

And to share what I gave up…

To gain it all.

Although long time listeners will think of some of this as a review I think it’s worth thinking about regardless of what kind of change you’re contemplating.

Nevertheless you may be hesitating.

Firstly remember what the self help gurus say about having it all.

Secondly close your eyes and jump!

In the final analysis I wanted to live an unorthodox lifestyle.

To sum up in order to achieve that…

I had to let it all go.

All things considered I never expected people to say wow…

You have it all.

But I kind of do.

With this in mind I didn’t really understand what I was giving up when I jumped.

But I do now.

And it was worth it.

In fact every now and then I might have a little bit of regret.

Balanced against what my life would have been like.

I’m glad I chose a new dimension.

Sponsored by GardenGurusMn.com

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Firstly to focus on nomad dollars and sense in Part2 we’re going to be talking about leading economic indicators. Details in Nomad-Dollars-Sense-Part2-Bob Davis Podcast 1102. For references to details in this podcast listen to Part1 of this series and Bob Davis Podcast 1069.

Secondly I use a few numbers.

Therefore I’ll be posting a series of links to the data and charts for that data here.

Because we all know charts often make raw numbers a little clearer.

However listeners and subscribers should know I’ve worked very hard to keep from just reciting numbers.

That is to say that where ever time permits in Nomad-Dollars-Sense-Part2-Bob Davis Podcast 1102 I’ll explain the context and relevance of an indicator.

Most importantly these leading economic indicators do not suggest a healthy economy.

Certainly things could change to the better…

But for the time being we would all be better served to look beyond the mainstream and main street story.

To begin with here’s a link to the conference board’s leading indicators.

And hours worked by Americans nationally.

Here’s the GDP numbers for the United States.

And the Consumer Price Index.

More importantly when it comes to rents, take a look at the Zillow Rent Index.

Especially relevant here is the fact that thousands of apartments are being built or coming on line at this time.

Moreover while that’s better for renters it’s not good news if you just bought an apartment building.

In addition this is a number which speaks to inflation overall which still shows shelter elevated.

Even more when it comes to inflation the PPI is a better forward indicator of economic growth than the CPI.

To sum up these are just some of the data that suggests we’re moving pretty quickly through the inflation, disinflation and deflation sequence.

Again on consumer and commercial real estate here’s the commercial real estate loan application chart.

As an aside commercial real estate defaults are at a fourteen year high.

And mortgage loan applications are down significantly.

Finally the Case Schiller Home Price Index has been contracting for while and is now dropping. This is the first decline in several years.

Equally important are the manufacturing numbers.

Correspondingly the commodity of oil is not following the rosy predictions of the International Oil Agency.

As an illustration the American Consumer is also not cooperating …corporate profits are in a recession.

Another bell weather is total consumer credit.

And average consumer credit rates are more than 23 percent these days.

Furthermore when it comes to transportation costs the Baltic Dry index for the far east has deteriorated significantly.

Another indicator is Real GDP.

By all means the most important indicator and noteworthy metric is the actual money supply.

Again this is not a robustly healthy economy.

To be sure if it was I wouldn’t have to do this podcast series.

All things considered Doctor Lacy Hunt’s views on the economic cycle are salient. Watch this video.

In conclusion there’s a lot of data to unpack.

But looking closer might be the best thing we can do for ourselves right now.

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul

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To begin with I am going to do a series of podcasts discussing dollars and sense for the nomad. Nomad-Dollars-Sense-Part1-Bob Davis Podcast 1101 is the first in that series.

Most importantly Part1 deals exclusively with our preconceptions about what exactly “The Economy” actually is.

And this podcast series updates earlier comprehensive podcasts about the economy and the nomad.

In fact this is necessary because I want to deal with specific metrics in the second podcast in this series.

Most importantly the reality of business news coverage these days is mostly political.

Or it is alarmist.

That is to say if you overlay a political or religious template on economic information you lose the ability to analyze what is going on.

Certainly the overall world economy is a force of nature.

In other words a force similar to waves on the ocean.

Therefore making predictions about outcomes is extraordinarily difficult.

And our modern information channels are filled with misinformation.

In addition there are many charlatans spreading misinformation for their own purposes.

I have also learned it takes a long time to get comfortable with terms and context when it comes to financial markets and economic discussions.

Firstly I’ll tell you a little about my story as a nomad and how I became intensely interested in this subject.

Secondly I’ll tell you why I think the economy in general is at an inflection point.

And what that all means.

Nomad-Dollars-Sense-Part1-Bob Davis Podcast 1101 sets up the next podcast which will deal with the key data in the economy I have learned to look at.

Finally it comes down to whether you are Pollyanna or a Cassandra.

Moreover why so many main street business owners are in fact Pollyanna.

And why they’re missing the latest economic data which could signal what is just head.

To sum up the nomad wonders when fuel prices will collapse.

And when food prices will come down.

Even more the one hundred and eighty million Americans who aren’t millionaires and billionaires wonder when they will get a break.

The answers to those questions begin with a baseline for a dollars and sense evaluation of conditions as they are.

Sponsored by Garden Gurus MN

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Most importantly it’s hard to believe I’m celebrating 1100 podcasts. Time to reach for the highest ground in Celebrating-1100-Podcasts-Bob Davis Podcast 1100.

And it’s even more fun to do this podcast in front of a campfire very late at night.

On the other hand I usually save these celebrations for podcasts in the five hundred increment.

But there’s something about the number eleven hundred.

Firstly the last one hundred podcasts have covered a pivotal time in history.

Secondly these last one hundred podcasts have spanned a similar period in my own life.

So the content in Celebrating-1100-Podcasts-Bob Davis Podcast 1100 has some depth.

For example going back to the first podcasts I did back in 2009.

In addition the changes in travel style triggered by the inflation which started back at the end of 2021.

Finally eleven hundred podcasts comprise a great deal of content.

That is to say in addition to a radio career now podcasting for more than ten years.

Makes me a veteran content creator too.

Above all there’s been a lot of changes in the world of podcasting.

Even more with the restart of my own YouTube channel there have been quite a few changes with me too.

Certainly it’s been an opportunity to follow the twists and turns driven by the podcast.

And the personal development that’s come with those twists and turns.

For example most of the early podcasts were a continuation of my radio show.

But very quickly evolved into deeper topics.

Consequently moving out of the political social content toward travel and adventure.

And as a result much happier as a person.

In the same vein it was the actress Bette Davis who famously said she never sought money but experience.

Similarly this has been a labor of love for me since the beginning.

Moreover I have learned more about people in the United States on the road and on back roads than I ever could have in a radio or podcast studio back home.

To sum up the nomad experience has been sublime for many reasons.

And here’s hoping the next 1100 podcasts reflect the joy of the two lane experience.

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul

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Firstly you might want to save changing nomad travel plans again to listen in the dark night of winter. You’ll hear why in Changing-Nomad-Travel-Plans-Again-Bob Davis Podcast 1099.

Secondly from the shore of one of those famous fishing lakes in Western Wisconsin comes the sounds of early spring up here.

That is to say the bugs really haven’t gotten started yet.

And between early spring thunderstorms there’s the full moon and mist on a mirror smooth lake.

Certainly audio captures this experience in a way video could not.

Furthermore since I have moved down to the lake shore I have realized something.

That is to say I am surprised how much better I feel with a campfire than inside even a lux North woods cabin.

Or the confined of a well used work shed.

In fact I feel better these days outside and camping than I do inside.

On the other hand there is the difference between the still spring night in the upper Midwest…

And the steady breeze of the West.

Finally we’ll get to travel plans.

Most importantly heading East to pick up a power station from the Campulance Man in New York State.

And to see friends in New Hampshire.

Then heading to the coast for a wedding.

In addition I’ll discuss plans for returning to the American South West.

After that I’ll return to my usual theme of the back roads experience.

To sum up I guess no plan is a plan.

Most importantly I find myself very grateful for the opportunity to get back outside to a fire.

With unlimited firewood and black coffee.

Moreover steak and eggs or eggs and bacon in a iron skillet is pretty hard to beat.

In conclusion I can’t believe I am closing in on eleven hundred podcasts.

Many now focused on travel and the nomad experience.

Sponsored by 36 LYN The Independently Owned and Operated Refueling Station In South Minneapolis

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Firstly I am an audio guy so reactivating my YouTube channel is a big step for me. Details in Reactivating-My-YouTube-Channel-Bob Davis Podcast 1098.

Secondly this is all due to appearing in Peter Santenello’s Off The Grid video from Quartzsite Arizona.

Certainly all the nomads featured in the video received a lot of messages and encouragement from Peter’s viewers.

And we really appreciate it.

Above all it convinced me again of the power of the YouTube platform.

However over the years I avoided YouTube except for very specific uses.

Because I felt if I was going to do video I would have to invest in equipment and editors.

But I’m not going to worry about all of that now.

Most importantly I’ll explain in this podcast how I intend to use the channel in the future.

In addition it’s a good opportunity to provide some background on The Bob Davis Podcasts for new subscribers and listeners.

Even more an opportunity to introduce long time listeners to my YouTube effort.

Finally I’ll do some clarifications and explanations of what we were talking about in the Off The Grid video.

And another video Peter put up about living in an ambulance.

For example there are different kinds of nomads.

Some in cars and tents.

Still others in  home built RV’s and the expensive big rigs.

Not to mention Bus Life!

In addition there are different philosophies about nomad life.

That is to say we do not all agree about what nomad life is and what it means.

Consequently it makes for a vibrant community.

For example what if you have little or no camping experience?

Should you come out in a car long term?

And what kind of people will you encounter?

In short it’s not for everyone.

But if you have the bug to wander deep down inside it is probably for you.

Sponsored by GardrenGurusMN

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Above all no matter what you do it feels like we have reached a creative turning point. Details in Creative-Turning-Point-Bob Davis Podcast 1097.

Firstly I have been catching up on all the shows I missed when I was traveling.

And for me that means watching a lot of TV for the past thirty days.

Secondly my readers and listeners know my feelings about the horror show social media has become.

But this time around something feels off.

Even more ‘stale’.

That is to say there is a sort of ‘sameness’ in what I am seeing and experiencing as a viewer and user.

More importantly those feelings cause me to ask questions about creative inspiration in my own efforts.

For example where are we when it comes to truly ground breaking creative ideas brought into the world?

Certainly the so called streamers and the socials are having issues.

The number of shows are being cut back.

In addition the social media sites are struggling.

Finally the whole thing just doesn’t feel the same to me as it did a few years a go when all this stuff was new.

In addition perhaps that is one of the reasons I decided to go on the road.

After that I found more compelling content.

For instance I found travel and nomad life to be a wellspring of new ideas.

To sum up how do you ‘re-pot’ yourself?

Further what is your source of inspiration and creative ideas when preparing to take your next step?

In conclusion it does feel like we’re at a creative turning point across the board in this land.

Most importantly the question of what’s next?

Sponsored by 36LYN The Independently Owned Refueling Station In South Minneapolis

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Firstly there are an infinite number of ideas and plans for the vehicles we nomads drive and camp with. Details in Nomad-Rig-Dreams-Plans-Bob Davis Podcast 1096.

Secondly any discussion of getting a new rig has to include some analysis of current and future oil prices.

Moreover I have done more than a few podcasts getting into the economic question over the last few months.

However I think the best thing to do is to take a wait and see approach rather than make predictions.

That being said I have my fingers crossed for a recession because it would probably herald cheaper fuel prices.

Certainly we’ll have to wait and see.

In the meantime I classify rigs according to use.

For example RV enthusiasts have different needs than nomads.

Moreover it has been my experience the systems in some of the more expensive RV’s done always do well under the constant pressure of nomad travel and living full time.

So this is why we look for more robust rigs.

And why you see so many creative and sometimes crazy conversions of almost any kind of truck made.

That is to say ambulances, buses, airport buses, Utility and Box trucks.

But a great deal of the so called nomad experience depends on being able to range free.

To wander.

Unfortunately wandering is more difficult when fuel is expensive.

Even more there is a lot of noise out there when it comes to analysis of the markets.

As well as the predictions of the talking heads.

As a result I’ll give you some metrics to watch as you decide what your next rig will be.

Finally our choice also depends on how long we’ve been doing this and what we feel we’ll need going forward.

In fact I am under no illusions or needs for luxury.

Even more we nomads are used to roughing it.

But creature comforts and a little more space aren’t such bad things.

In conclusion the rig for you depends on whether you’ll be on back roads, climbing mountains.

Or city and Interstate driving.

To sum up some of the terms I use in this podcast definitions for Deflation here. For inflation here. Disinflation here. And Demand Destruction here.

Sponsored by GardenGurusMN.

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