Jesse. Traveler. Remapping life. Current City: San Diego, CA See also: The California Plan I like learning new things, martial arts and technology =) I build websites for a living. This blog is about my travels and sometimes web developer-y stuff.Tumblr (3.0; @jessecrouch)http://jessecrouch.com/<p>There’s a <a href="https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=legoland+california&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.,cf.osb&biw=1920&bih=955&ix=sea&ion=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&authuser=0&ei=dBpET8zEKc7RiALiu8HODg">Legoland</a> here in San Diego!!<br/> Deeply saddened that it’s built without adults in mind at all though =( Found this and a bunch of other <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g32171-d103404-Reviews-Legoland_California-Carlsbad_California.html">similar reviews on Tripadvisor</a>:</p> <p><i>Our boys were 13 and 11 - huge Lego fans. The rides were generally too little for them but they loved Miniland, Xbox game space, Build and test, and shopping. We wish we would have visited here 3-4 years ago! This was a 3 hour excursion for them - no rides.</i></p> <p>Legos were my #1 toy while growing up. I probably spent more time with them than I spent time in school.. haha.</p> <p>Maybe I’ll find some kids to go with. hahah.</p>http://jessecrouch.com/post/18132223484http://jessecrouch.com/post/18132223484Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:00:06 -0600legolandtheme parkssan diegocalifornia<p>I’ve been in San Diego for 1 week now. I’ve been looking for a semi-permanent place basically since the day I arrived and still have yet to find anything promising. Prices here are high ($700-1500/month for what I want) and my requirements for a place are limiting: large bedroom that I can fit a bed and a desk in (master bedroom, typically) + short term lease (3 months or less). The former is limiting, but the latter is the real killer. If I were willing to go to a 6 month lease, I could rent just about anything I wanted here… however I don’t know yet how long I will stay. Seems it <a href="http://jessecrouch.com/post/12188713550">doesn’t matter where you are in the world - nobody likes to rent short term</a>.</p> <p>I’ve been pondering an alternative which is to never rent long term and just hop from place to place, mostly via <a href="http://www.airbnb.com">Airbnb</a>. There are a few <a href="http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/182193#photos">1</a>, <a href="http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/39516">2</a>, <a href="http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/275931">3</a> neat ones here in San Diego, but I’m not sure there are enough “fun” ones to justify not having a space that I customize and can call home. Plus, doing that all the time adds up… $75/night = $2250/month.</p>http://jessecrouch.com/post/17869506672http://jessecrouch.com/post/17869506672Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:57:33 -0600accomodationssan diegocurrentairbnb<iframe width="400" height="329" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=san+diego,+ca&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=San+Diego,+California&gl=us&t=m&z=10&ll=32.715329,-117.157255&output=embed"></iframe><br/><br/><p>Made it to San Diego! It’s so warm here. Think I will probably stay awhile.</p>http://jessecrouch.com/post/17461871699http://jessecrouch.com/post/17461871699Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:08:13 -0600currentlocationsan diegocalifornianomad<p>I was talking with my dad on the phone tonight and we had a discussion about the cost of hotels, apartments and houses. One interesting finding for me was that I’ve always tried to do the “cost of housing” calculation by year - never looking at it from a monthly or daily perspective. This may make more sense for travelers, especially those working and traveling like me.</p> <p>The rule generally goes “rent should be less than 1/3 of your gross (pre-tax) income”. This means if you make $30,000 per year, your rent should add up to <i>no more than</i> $10,000 per year = $834 per month = $28 per day.</p> <p>Therefore, the cost of your hotel, motel or hostel should be that “per day” number - in this case, $28.</p>http://jessecrouch.com/post/17204136904http://jessecrouch.com/post/17204136904Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:37:00 -0600accomodationscost of livinghostelhotelhousingrentroad warriorwork while travelingtravel tip<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz0j6asgfG1qeo1i0o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Interstate 10 at sunset</p>http://jessecrouch.com/post/17202384007http://jessecrouch.com/post/17202384007Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:51:00 -0600drivinginterstatesignssunsettexaswest<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz0ivwrEdT1qeo1i0o1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz0ivwrEdT1qeo1i0o2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Traveled over 2000 miles since Illinois now!</p>http://jessecrouch.com/post/17202259747http://jessecrouch.com/post/17202259747Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:45:32 -0600mileageodometerspedometer<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz0itiX1xG1qeo1i0o1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz0itiX1xG1qeo1i0o2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Stopped at a picnic area to pee on a fence (there aren’t many rest areas or exits in West Texas)</p>http://jessecrouch.com/post/17202232151http://jessecrouch.com/post/17202232151Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:44:06 -0600bonesdead animaldeserthoofspine<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz0ikuRIQq1qeo1i0o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Probably my 2nd most favorite shirt.</p>http://jessecrouch.com/post/17202123365http://jessecrouch.com/post/17202123365Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:38:54 -0600gearluggagemeboxescar travelmoving<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz0ih4mR8N1qeo1i0o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I don’t normally drink a lot of soda or caffeine, but I do when I’m driving for safety. This is the first time I’ve had a frappuccino and I’m hooked =)</p>http://jessecrouch.com/post/17202077879http://jessecrouch.com/post/17202077879Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:36:39 -0600frappuccinomochagearcell phone chargerstarbucksfoodcoffee<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz0i7yQvTP1qeo1i0o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>my car. filling up at a station in the middle of nowhere.</p>http://jessecrouch.com/post/17201961381http://jessecrouch.com/post/17201961381Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:31:10 -0600carfordcontourgas station7-eleven<iframe width="400" height="225" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fi-S9lrnLZ8?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br/><br/><p><b>Neil Young - Dead Man Theme</b></p> <p>There is no music more suitable for driving through West Texas than the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000005J5D/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=themartexpl-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000005J5D">Dead Man soundtrack</a>; I listened to the whole thing at least twice on my 10 hour drive to Las Cruces. Several have described it as “haunting” and I can think of no better way to describe it. This track, the opening and closing theme song, is mysteriously absent from the soundtrack in this form, but takes on several others. It’s basically Neil Young being awesome on guitar mixed every-other track with Neil Young + voice clips from the movie.</p> <p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112817/">The movie</a> is one of my favorites too.<br/> I recommend you try both.</p>http://jessecrouch.com/post/17201386409http://jessecrouch.com/post/17201386409Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:06:39 -0600dead manfilmjohnny deppneil youngelectricguitarosttravel playlistdesertwesttexas<iframe width="400" height="329" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=las+cruces,+nm&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Las+Cruces,+Dona+Ana,+New+Mexico&gl=us&t=m&z=11&ll=32.31994,-106.763654&output=embed"></iframe><br/><br/>http://jessecrouch.com/post/17145617982http://jessecrouch.com/post/17145617982Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:28:29 -0600currentlocationlas crucesnew mexicousamap<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyylc04JVS1qeo1i0o2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyylc04JVS1qeo1i0o5_r1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Hello from Las Cruces, New Mexico!<br/> Photos are from Interstate 10 heading west through Texas.</p>http://jessecrouch.com/post/17144385608http://jessecrouch.com/post/17144385608Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:43:00 -0600currentnew mexicopanoramacarsunsettexasinterstatelas cruces<iframe width="400" height="400" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=corpus+christi,+tx&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Corpus+Christi,+Nueces,+Texas&gl=us&t=m&ll=27.80021,-97.396545&spn=0.728867,0.823975&z=9&iwloc=A&output=embed"></iframe><br/><br/><p>Corpus, ho!</p>http://jessecrouch.com/post/16660341184http://jessecrouch.com/post/16660341184Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:59:00 -0600corpus christitexascurrentlocation<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyi8x8ihWN1qeo1i0o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Laptop, tumblr and my other kitty</p>http://jessecrouch.com/post/16629705583http://jessecrouch.com/post/16629705583Sat, 28 Jan 2012 04:53:00 -0600Kittycatgearlaptoplenovotumblrw520family<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyi8d1kBAl1qeo1i0o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>One of my kitties</p>http://jessecrouch.com/post/16629503320http://jessecrouch.com/post/16629503320Sat, 28 Jan 2012 04:41:00 -0600austincatfamilykittytexascutechristmas treechristmas lights<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lydk8nruyu1qeo1i0o2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lydk8nruyu1qeo1i0o1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Lauren eating with me at <a href="http://rudysbbq.com/page/home">Rudy’s</a></p>http://jessecrouch.com/post/16483261537http://jessecrouch.com/post/16483261537Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:09:58 -0600texasaustinbbqrudy'sfoodmeatsignsneonfriends<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly8ctqT8Mf1qeo1i0o2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly8ctqT8Mf1qeo1i0o1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Yes, I went with two friends separately to two different Torchy’s in just two days.</p>http://jessecrouch.com/post/16330702099http://jessecrouch.com/post/16330702099Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:41:49 -0600friendstorchysaustintexas<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly8clq9iEJ1qeo1i0o1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly8clq9iEJ1qeo1i0o2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>In my tree =)</p>http://jessecrouch.com/post/16330384899http://jessecrouch.com/post/16330384899Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:37:01 -0600treeaustintexaschacosblueshirtoutdoorsstripesme<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly8c4uMNkJ1qeo1i0o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>my tree</p>http://jessecrouch.com/post/16329691946http://jessecrouch.com/post/16329691946Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:26:53 -0600blueshirtoutdoorschacosbig treestripesmeaustintexas