meet the escape artist
Who am I?
Let’s start with who I once was. I was the vast majority of Americans. I worked hard for a paycheck, and lived for the weekends. A fine existence for some, but I couldn’t imagine going on that way for the next 30-40 years. I needed a way out if I had any chance of retaining my sanity.
After some research, I found all kinds of options. Fat FIRE, lean FIRE, vanlife, expatriation, stocks, bonds, REITs, etc. I decided the answer, for me, would include some combination of Real Estate investing, lean FIRE, and van (or Bus) life.
Being in my thirties, I was a little late to the party, but I’ve been learning and working towards my dreams, and I can just see the light at the end of the tunnel.
dana
Hello, humans! My name is Dana Graepel (that’s where the Grae in “The Grae Escape” comes from).
I’m a philomath (someone who loves to learn). I like to get my hands dirty figuring out how things work, building things, and learning how to grow food (would love to build a homestead someday). I’m also on a constant quest to learn how to better invest my money and live the life of freedom that I’ve always wanted. Currently, I’m learning how to build a website and edit videos, and I learn something new with each day that I spend building out my Shuttle Bus. Today, I learned how to wire a trans-air a/c evaporator.
Right now, I’m out of work (more time to get the bus in order!), so I’m doing the things I love, and am pleasantly surprised to be making ends meet while I build out our Shuttle. I’m doing a little dog sitting because I love dogs, hosting karaoke at some local bars because I love to sing, and doing some modeling because I love being a part of the artwork my brilliant friend, Mark, creates.
I can’t wait to learn lots of other things building the bus and traveling. Join me on my journey by following along!
allen
Allen is my partner in crime. He loves science and current events, and is one of the most intellectual people I have ever met. He enjoys gaming on his pc and spending time with our dog. He used to work building everything from gym equipment and saunas to kids playsets, and those skills are definitely coming in handy now that we are working on the bus.
Allen did some hiking and camping growing up, and when I met him, he was about to hike the Appalachian Trail. Lucky for me, he seemed just as excited about traveling in the bus together, and has put off his great adventure for now. We definitely intend to do one of the big 3 hiking trails in the United States, but I want to get my feet wet first with smaller hikes while we travel in the bus.
sprocket
This is Sprocket! He is a Border Collie Lab mix, and is the most adorable living thing I’ve yet to encounter in this life. He is 11 years young, and still full of energy. He is the best cuddler in all the world, and just when we think he can’t get any cuter, he does something absolutely precious and we fall in love all over again.
Sprocket positively LIVES for walks in the woods, and loves to meet new people. He enjoys the beach, protecting his yard from invisible monsters, and people food (which he almost never gets).
He takes very good care of his humans, and is the goodest boy of them all. He deserves a life full of outdoor exploration, new places, and friendly humans. To be honest, we are building the bus just for him 😉