Recorded Meeting with Oregon State Parks Leadership – March 5, 2025 (Audio Only)

Driving RV to Oregon Coast First Time

rswfire drives his RV from an inland location to the Oregon coast for the first time, documenting the journey through mountains, tunnels, and forests. He stops for fuel at 6 AM, travels through California briefly, and experiences excitement about reaching sea level and seeing the Pacific Ocean. **Key events include:** passing through the Smith River National Recreation Area, driving through redwood forests, navigating GPS confusion, and finally reaching the coast where he can glimpse the ocean through fog. He sets up camp for a planned two-week stay, expressing enthusiasm about exploring the area including hiking, foraging, storm watching, and potentially learning to surf. The transmission captures his first encounter with the ocean environment and his decision to spend winter on the southern Oregon coast before potentially heading north in spring.

Driving RV from Nevada to Oregon

rswfire begins a 5-hour drive from eastern Nevada to the Oregon border, departing from a mountain campground at 6 AM. He needs a shower desperately, having been cleaning with face wipes for over a week while his new ear piercings heal. The journey involves navigating mountain roads with his RV and towed Jeep, dealing with a mouse problem in the RV insulation, and reflecting on his transformation over 7 months of travel. **Key events during the drive:** - Successfully navigates down mountain roads in second gear, managing the weight of RV plus Jeep - Passes through small Nevada towns including Elko and Winnemucca, observing local people and their limitations - Encounters homophobic treatment at hardware stores due to his earrings and gay identity - Reflects extensively on his authentic, non-fragmented approach to life versus others' fragmented worldviews - Discusses his decision to stop taking medications (Celexa, tramadol) after going off-grid - Expresses frustration with YouTube commenters who give unsolicited advice, violating his clearly stated boundaries - Considers turning comments off permanently due to lack of meaningful connection - Crosses into Oregon after driving Highway 140 for nearly 90 miles through remote desert and mountain terrain - Experiences dramatic elevation changes and stunning geological formations - Ends the transmission while looking for a place to camp for the night in Oregon, having achieved his goal of reaching the state

Reporting Safety Threat from Trump Militia in Oregon Forest

rswfire addresses safety concerns one week before the 2024 election. He describes driving an RV to the Oregon coast with plans to live in the forest to escape expected violence and system disintegration. After attending a gathering that reminded him he likes humanity, he decided against forest isolation. He discovered that the unpatrolled forest area he had considered is occupied by Trump supporters, possibly a militia. He connected this after observing traffic patterns for two weeks and seeing a truck with Trump flags that he recognized from a caravan that had driven through Harris Beach State Park making noise and declaring readiness for violence. He states his intention to continue living authentically despite the threat, referencing his earrings as symbols of refusing to hide himself. The transmission ends with him holding voters accountable for aligning with such groups.

Getting New Piercings and State Park Updates

rswfire records a YouTube update after waking from a nap, showing off new piercings obtained in Eugene, Oregon - an eyebrow piercing and additional ear piercings (helix and lobe). He drove an hour and a half to a new piercing shop run by an experienced piercer and left feeling happy about the transformation. He provides updates on his state park volunteering work, currently in his second month at a park where he's been working in the Welcome Center. The role has been rewarding despite being slow season - he's met many guests who were kind, some flirted with him, and other volunteers frequently come to share their lives with him. He mentions there are "complicated things" happening at the park that he can't discuss yet. **Upcoming schedule:** Next month he'll be cleaning yurts at the same park, then moving to a different park in his birthday month (April) to work with his previous boss again. May-June will be at Mount Hood. July-August he plans to drive to Kentucky to visit his mother and Oliver (his cat), then return to the coast. September he returns to his starting park, and October-December he'll work at a Welcome Center at a beach location an hour and a half north. **Financial situation:** Money is tight. He's doing some work with his old boss from his previous 10-year job, but the dynamics have shifted and he's making much less than before. His RV still has ongoing issues and he has the same bills to pay as mentioned in previous updates.

Dismissed from Oregon Parks Volunteer Program

rswfire announces his official dismissal from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department volunteer program via letterhead. The dismissal cited public comments (referring to a previous video timeline) but provided no concrete justifications beyond standard volunteer termination language. He plans to escalate by filing a formal complaint with HR, not to rejoin but to hold leadership accountable. **rswfire reflects on bringing presence, joy, and genuine commitment** to the volunteer role and states he was rejected solely for holding leadership accountable when they forced the situation. He accepts the reality, will resume his job, and return to moving every two weeks, which provides more freedom to explore the coast. Recording takes place in his RV on a cloudy afternoon with poor lighting conditions.

Crabbing Experience and Campground Work Discussion

rswfire accompanies Johnny crabbing at Newport pier, expressing disgust at the birds, bird droppings, and the process of catching and killing crabs. He documents the experience while feeling uncomfortable with the alien-like appearance of the crabs and the killing process. After leaving Johnny at the pier, he walks to South Jetty area and reflects on the ocean. Later they meet at a cleaning station where Johnny demonstrates how to kill and clean crabs, with rswfire continuing to film despite his discomfort. The conversation shifts to campground work arrangements, with rswfire discussing his upcoming volunteer position with flexible 8am-noon hours to allow for additional employment. They discuss various campground politics, including an incident with an aggressive volunteer nicknamed "the holy roller" who yelled at Johnny over customer service procedures. Other topics include rswfire's frustration about being "banished" from Oregon State Parks, a neighbor's constantly beeping carbon monoxide detector, plans to potentially fix his RV slide-out mechanism, and navigation issues getting to the pier. The conversation covers practical RV living concerns like propane hookup, camping equipment needs, and the possibility of tent camping for exploration trips.

Processing State Park Rejection at Eel Lake

rswfire visits Tugman State Park at Eel Lake, describing the beauty of the water and rain reflections. He walks familiar trails around the lake, noting flooding that blocks some paths and mentioning an unmarked trail he plans to explore. He reflects on his core muscle recovery since January when he first volunteered at this location - noting he no longer thinks about the injury and can now consider longer hikes. He describes spending time with a friend watching Star Trek, something he hasn't been able to do for a year due to his mind wanting to engage elsewhere. He processes emotions about being rejected from the Oregon State Parks volunteer program after being bullied and mistreated for two months. He expresses disappointment that supervisors protected people who said inappropriate things to volunteers rather than supporting him. rswfire sits on the dock where he spent time during his volunteer month, describing it as an excellent stargazing location. He processes grief about detaching from the state park system while still loving Oregon, the coast, and the parks themselves. He mentions stopping YouTube posting for three months during volunteering and that the parks used a video he made after dismissal as justification for letting him go.

Walking to Ocean Through Oregon Dunes

rswfire takes a walk to the ocean after a 12-hour day, describing it as a week of controlled chaos. He walks through Siltcoos dunes on the Oregon coast, noting the area is empty except for him. The walk involves climbing a steep dune to reach the ocean. He describes the terrain - ATVs go to the right, hiking trail and river to the left. Upon reaching the ocean, he greets it directly and walks along the waves toward a river, commenting on the wave patterns. Throughout the walk, he makes repeated vocalizations of 'heat' and mentions few footprints from other visitors that day.

Mouse in RV, Deciding Nevada vs Oregon

rswfire discovered a field mouse in his RV the previous night after his cat Bailey alerted him. He spent hours trying to catch the small, fast mouse without success and didn't sleep well. The next morning he drove down the mountain to purchase humane mouse traps and return a battery charger he no longer needed. **Location Decision Process:** He's torn between staying in Nevada versus continuing to Oregon. Nevada appeals to him with its wide open spaces and views, and he feels it would be practical for work due to better solar and internet conditions. However, he's concerned about staying for the wrong reasons - refining rather than transforming, avoiding pushing his comfort zones. **Boundary Violation Issue:** He addressed a difficult situation involving a YouTube follower from Kentucky who developed an unhealthy attachment, claimed to love him despite never meeting, and continued contacting him after being asked to stop. This person would swear at their phone/camera in response to his videos. rswfire expressed frustration with boundary violations and explained his content as "messages in a bottle" - witnessing rather than typical YouTube interaction. **Current Plans:** He's considering staying in Nevada for the full 14-day BLM limit to let the decision unfold naturally. If he stays in Nevada, he wants to rebuild his savings and possibly go to Oregon in spring, though he's curious about seeing Oregon in winter. He also plans to visit Great Basin National Park if he remains in Nevada.

Beach Walk and Social Observations in Newport

rswfire drives over two hours to get fingerprinted for a volunteering position, then convinces John to walk to the beach in Newport. They discuss various RVs and camping equipment they see, with rswfire making observations about other beachgoers including a tattooed man collecting rocks. The conversation covers topics including family financial dynamics (sister buying property with father's money while rswfire was disowned), workplace drama with a female colleague described as a bully, physical limitations from rswfire's injury and brace, and technical plans for rebuilding reputation through a Laravel/Vue/Tailwind project on GitHub. rswfire expresses interest in romantic connections and discusses living arrangements, sleep disruptions from injury, and cooking limitations in the RV. They observe the volcanic sand, discuss the geology of the area, and plan future visits to other beaches.

Integrity Reflection After Institutional Contrast

rswfire walks down a road while recording, reflecting on how individual integrity could solve world problems. He describes waving at someone who gave him a dirty look, using it as an example of how choices ripple outward. He contrasts two institutional experiences: being ambushed and abused by Oregon State Parks managers for over an hour in a destabilizing encounter, versus being offered a beautiful lakeside campground location by a different institution that had previously sheltered him. The second institution proactively made arrangements for him to stay there despite logistical challenges. He concludes that it's possible to maintain integrity and build a sovereign life that matters. He mentions preparing to move this weekend.

RV Office Setup and Pacific Northwest Travel Planning

The speaker provides a detailed tour of their newly organized RV office area, demonstrating a centralized power system that runs all electronics from a single plug connected to a CyberPower supply. They show their desk setup with velcroed-down equipment, PlayStation, PC, and desktop all connected to one monitor. The cab area features Bailey's (cat) space, a litter box, decorative items from their mother, and newly installed electronics including RV GPS, dash cam, and Bluetooth-enabled stereo system. The speaker expresses excitement about heading to the Pacific Northwest, planning to travel up the Oregon and Washington coast with some inland forest camping. They discuss their route from Kansas through Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, and into Oregon - approximately 1,800 miles remaining after already traveling 600 miles. They plan to use their RV for forest camping and their Jeep for exploration, emphasizing this is a learning experience rather than typical RV lifestyle approach. Throughout the tour, they demonstrate various organizational solutions including storage areas, velcro mounting systems, and space optimization. The speaker shows particular satisfaction with their cab visibility improvements and overall RV setup completion.

Reflecting on Institutional Disillusionment at Eel Lake

rswfire records a morning reflection from a trail near Eel Lake on the Oregon coast. He discusses his disillusionment with the park service, which he had hoped would be different from other institutions. He describes observing rangers with integrity who made themselves smaller out of fear, leading to his decision not to become a ranger to avoid compromising his own integrity. He explains his integrated nature as a whole person whose thoughts, emotions, ethics, and energy form one unified field, contrasting this with institutional decay he has observed over decades. He reveals he was supposed to resume volunteering in April with people he had worked with before, but this opportunity was removed using vague language despite having done nothing wrong. He positions himself as a mirror of what the world has lost, suggesting his ejection from systems occurs because looking at him reveals what they have lost.

Morning Reflection on Transformation and Coast Circuit Plans

rswfire records at 4 AM from his RV parked beside Highway 101 at Pistol River, Oregon. He describes his current situation: boondocking with low propane (8%), using electric heat from solar batteries, dealing with road noise, and waiting for client payment. He reflects on watching his first RV videos from 7 months ago, expressing shame at seeing himself as "fat" and "socially awkward" but recognizing his transformation through "unbecoming" rather than growth. He reveals he initially planned to end his life in Nevada but has been radically transformed by shedding what didn't serve him. He outlines his four-year circuit plan for the Oregon coast, spending one season in each of four areas before cycling back through different seasons. He discusses practical challenges including battery replacement, water pump issues, and hot water thermostat problems. He plans to reposition the RV to reduce road noise, visit Whales Beach to potentially meet an older woman he's connected with, and begin using his shower. He concludes by stating his location openly and emphasizing his happiness through shedding constraints.

Recording Night Sky Experience at Western Travel Site

rswfire records a video transmission while standing outside his RV at a commemorative site for western travelers. He describes experiencing complete silence and a 360-degree view of the night sky, with distant town lights visible on the horizon. He reflects on the courage of historical wagon travelers who would have seen the same sky. A cat named 'm' is mentioned as being inside the RV. rswfire expresses concern about potential predators but appreciates the remarkable solitude. He outlines his travel plans: heading to Idaho the next morning, then to a state park, followed by Oregon where he will make long-term plans. He notes being 800 miles from his destination and plans to stop at pulloffs along the way. The transmission captures seven months of travel culminating in this moment of experiencing the western landscape.

Introducing Development Services on Upwork

rswfire records a video introduction for Upwork, positioning himself as a developer while standing on the edge of a lake near the Oregon coast. He identifies himself as Sam, mentions living and working with Oregon state parks, and presents his programming credentials. He describes his programming background starting from sixth grade, emphasizing it came naturally to him and has been a lifelong pursuit. He references early experiences programming on paper and running code mentally when computers weren't available during high school and early adulthood. He concludes by asserting comprehensive technical capability and inviting discussion.

Nevada Mountain Hike Financial Planning Oregon Coast Decision

rswfire hikes in Nevada mountains on his final day at a week-long campsite, discussing financial constraints and work planning. He reports low savings, missed vehicle payments, and defaulted credit cards after five months without income. He describes challenges integrating nomadic lifestyle with freelance programming work, comparing Nevada's solar advantages against Oregon's better RV facilities. He decides to leave Nevada for Oregon coast, planning a 5-month journey north on Highway 101. He outlines work preparation steps including setting up freelance profiles on Guru.com and Upwork, emphasizing that nomadic lifestyle takes priority over work demands. Technical discussion includes RV battery problems, solar charging options, and inverter solutions. He mentions AI as a companion throughout his journey and commits to slower travel to better integrate experiences.

Managing RV Systems and Seeking Shower Access

rswfire begins Monday morning at a national recreation area campground, assessing his situation with house batteries that have been running for 3-4 days at 11.15 volts. He plans to visit a laundromat with shower facilities in Florence, Oregon, but finds it closed despite posted hours. He decides to experiment with charging his RV's house batteries by running his Jeep's engine and inverter for about 3 hours, estimating this would use one gallon of gas. **Key developments:** - Discovers house batteries are still functional after several days without charging - Plans to fill water tanks and use RV systems (fridge, water pump, lights) if battery charging works - Has $60 total budget and campground reservation until April 12th - Attempts to get propane at multiple gas stations in Florence, facing repeated refusals - Successfully gets propane at a BP station from a helpful attendant - Visits Honeyman State Park (where he previously volunteered) to fill water tanks - Navigates tight RV maneuvering in campground spot **Operational details:** - Currently has quarter tank of RV fuel with 80+ mile range - Emptied water tanks at previous location for better fuel mileage - Running low on propane (less than 11%) - Plans to look for freelance programming work on guru.com - Considers showering in RV using heated water to avoid facility dependencies

Scouting Oregon Coastal Campgrounds

rswfire drives through Oregon national forest roads exploring campgrounds while reflecting on societal collapse and place-based identity. He visits multiple locations including a closed recreation site, Cape Blanco campground, and Humbug Mountain State Park. At each location, he evaluates site quality, privacy levels, amenities like dump stations and shower houses, and proximity to coast and mountains. He documents specific site numbers, notes neighbor noise issues at his current location, and assesses which sites would accommodate his RV. The transmission includes observations about Oregon campground design, seasonal closures, and coastal geography including lighthouses and fog-covered mountains.

Launching Off-Grid Life and Support Systems

The speaker announces the beginning of a new chapter, transitioning to off-grid living in national forest along the Oregon coast. He frames this as an act of sovereignty rather than escape or trend, emphasizing intentional living without hookups or conveniences. He describes his approach to sharing content as presence rather than performance, having posted hundreds of videos over the past year to document real transformation without fragmenting. The speaker outlines multiple support mechanisms for his journey: direct donations, an Amazon Wish List designed as a functional blueprint for sovereign living systems, and a private content subscription space for more vulnerable content. He distinguishes his work from brand-building, positioning it as life-building and offering his signal to those who resonate with his approach to living with integrity.

Exploring Coastal Trail and Preparing for System Collapse

rswfire arrives at a new campground near Brookings, Oregon for a 3-day stay. He discovers a short trail leading to a viewpoint called "a boot" overlooking the ocean and coastal community. From the elevated position, he observes people on the beach below and reflects on preferring the higher vantage point to being on the beach itself. After the brief hike, he describes his travel day routine - doing dishes, eating tuna fish, showering, and hooking up his Jeep. He met a helpful gate attendant who allowed early check-in. His RV site is cramped and unlevel, requiring him to park his Jeep sideways. **Future plans:** He will return to a previous campground for two weeks to explore forest roads systematically. This exploration is part of his preparation for potentially living in the forest permanently. **Political analysis:** He predicts that regardless of who wins the upcoming election, the losing side will view it as an existential crisis and riot or worse. He believes this instability could push society over a precipice, leading him to prepare for disappearing from society entirely while maintaining a good quality of life.

Planning Cross-Country Travel After Job Dismissal

rswfire reveals that his employer waited until his last week to dismiss him, attempting to schedule the termination one day before his final shift. He forced them to fire him over the phone instead of in an ambush meeting. Now declaring himself a free agent again, he outlines travel plans from Oregon coast to Kentucky via Columbia River and I-84. **Key changes from previous travel**: This time he won't pre-schedule campgrounds, instead trusting his intuition and taking things day by day. **Primary purpose of Kentucky trip**: Dental work requiring implants on bottom teeth from his trusted dentist. He plans to spend summer in Kentucky, then potentially return to the coast. He discusses needing to plan around freelancing work and invest in RV improvements like solar power and slide repairs.

Transitioning to Caretaker Role After YouTube Channel Closure

rswfire reflects on closing his YouTube channel after a year and a half due to disconnected audiences who didn't respect boundaries. He discusses his website potentially being shut off due to inability to pay the $70/month AWS hosting bill, though he can work locally if needed. He's transitioning from park host to caretaker role, which involves driving a truck and delivering supplies to campground hosts across different locations. His boss has been supportive for 6 months, contrasting with brutal psychological abuse experienced at state parks over two months. He's building friendships with other hosts, particularly one he hikes with regularly (20-30 miles this week), and is mapping hiking locations in Oregon coastal dunes using GPS. The new role involves living in a restricted corridor space rather than on a campground.