http://www.gofundme.com/NicksDrivingDream

Let me introduce myself. My name is Nicholas V. Sheffer and I have a fantastic life! Sometimes I feel a little bipolar though and if you take the time to read this blog from the beginning you will see what I mean. I get really determined followed by depression only to rebound. I am hoping this latest rebound will stick!

My very first "car" was a 1973 VW bus. It was yellow and white, my best friend Heath was over at another of his friends homes and spotted it out the window, in a neighbor's backyard. He knew of my love for VW buses and as soon as he told me I jumped on my longboard and went to go talk with the neighbor. He was not home so I sneaked into his back yard. There it was, it seemed to slump into the three foot weeds that surrounded it as if it was hanging its head and drooping shoulders. I looked around and approached it from the back. I peered into the rear hatch window and saw piles of old greased and dusty car parts. I saw a few of the weeds had grown through a couple of rust holes in the floor. I reached down and opened the engine lid and saw that there was still an engine there. The spiders and weeds did their best to hide it but there it was. I then walked around too the front. It may sound stupid and some of you may not even believe in love at first sight especially when a vehicle is involved but there I was. It hit me like a ton of brick. It was like a sad abused abandon puppy the headlights seemed to hold the pain of years of neglect. I knew I had to save her, (at this point it was no longer just metal and glass it was an entity) she needed me to bring her from this grave.

I checked back later that night. The owner was a nice older man but he was using the bus as a storage shed and could not let it go. It was a huge road block but I went back once a week over the next four months to try and talk him into letting it go. I even offered to help him build a new shed to take its place. We were able to finally work out a deal and I was able to tow it home much to my Mothers chagrin. I worked for months to save up the money to get her back on the road. Six months of twelve hour shifts making 5.15 an hour with no overtime (thanks hunter management, owners of the subways I would longboard between on my lunch break) I learned how to work hard for a goal.

I was 18 when I bought my bus, I owned it for one year. I was able to drive it for about six months. No sane person should have become so attached so in love or so empowered by a rusty old twinkie shaped box on wheels. I am obviously not "normal". My Mother sold my bus just a month after I left on my two year full time Mission for my church. I knew that serving the Lord was more important but it was still very painful to say goodbye for good. I still feel the pain... I lost a piece of myself. While I was on my mission I made a promise that I would go for the holy grail of VW buses as soon as I got home. A 21 or 23 window bus would be the only way I could fill the void. Nothing can replace my 73 fully, I tried with a 21 window and it came really close, ( I had to sell her to pay bills) My choice to pay for my daughter being born and to keep my house was a no brainer. I have an amazing wife and daughter and they will always be number one.

I am currently running a GOFUNDME campaign, I have saved up $3,000 dollars to purchase a new bus but It has taken me years, I had it up to five grand but ya, making sure my wife is healthy costs a lot in an ER. My wife an I have over 70 grand in student loans from more than 8 years of school. I know that I am not deserving of your help but I sure would love it. In order to go too every National Park in the US. I need to start now. I hate to beg so if I can do anything to be a help too you in any way and make it so you are not just giving me free money let me know. I have felt I needed to put this out there and see what will happen. Please Please Please share, like and donate. Long live the impossible dream.

I was surprised to see that this Blog has over 2000 views. I finally Graduated from College with my wife no less. We have battled through poverty for ten years to accomplish this goal. If I can work full time and take 16 credits at the same time what can I not do? My wife worked three quarter time and was taking a minimum of 12 credits at the same time. Now it is time to start paying off our student loans. Hooray for that. Patience is a virtue...

Yes that is George Straight on my T-shirt. I wish I could go to his farewell concert this coming June.... I had my dream so close I could touch it. It tis better to have loved and lost. I will love again.

I will be searching for a new 23 window bus, if anyone sees any VW that looks to have been sitting for over 10 years take a photo and e-mail it to me at nicksdrivingdream@yahoo.com with the address and info so I can go acquire it and see if I can sell it to someone that will put it to use. This will help fund my project and I hope to have fun doing it.

Is the dream dead?

I honestly can say priorities have shifted, I have faced adversity, like I never thought I would have to, in the last few years since I made the choice to sell my prize earthly possession. I have now looked at my motives and reason for desiring a VW bus, I can easily tell you that it was about the pure freedom that I felt sitting behind the wheel. The endless possibility the open road held. I have not stopped thinking about my bus and feel the physical hurt in my soul mixed with crushing defeat. This aside I am so happy and grateful in my heart to have a wonderful wife and daughter. I now see the true reason I wanted to own a bus, to share great memories with my own family. I will own another bus and it will be at the right time in my life to share joy and freedom with my family. If anyone out there would like to help me reach for this dream of traveling across the world in a box on wheels with my beloved family let me know. How can you help? See a bus and tell me where it is so I can see about finding one that someone is not interested in keeping. I need to find it cheap. Or I will have to wait.

Sole Identity Charity Art Show

Sole Identity art project, These are my favorite pair of shoes. I owned them when I bought my first bus. I just retired them to a charity art show. I hope my dreams will continue to come true.

THE DREAM IS DEAD (ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY)

Well it has been over a year since I sold my 67 21 window bus off to California. I really needed the money and now what do I have to show for it? I am just as in need of money and I have lost the dream. This part of me has begun to callous over and the excitement and joy it once held has dissipated. I feel very malignant since I let the dream go and have drudged through day to day life just to make it home long enough for my family to bring me back to a state that makes it possible to make it through the next day. Thanks to anyone who cared about my dream and I wish I could have been one of the success stories but ya.