Gone, Baby, Gone!

It'll be gone soon, my Oregon home.  After a mere 4 years on the market, the sale is due to close next week.  Yes sir, my timing was spot-on perfect, nailed the absolute worst housing market of my lifetime, dead center.  I don't recall how many price reductions there were, a dozen or more.  Final price was less than half the initial listing price - and also less than half the replacement cost.

The value loss is substantial but so is the relief at seeing this property in the rear view mirror.  It was the 3rd and last custom home I designed and had built.  It was, and still is, an awesome home with a view to die for and I thoroughly enjoyed living there.  But, there comes a time when a change of venue feels right.  The good thing is, it still feels right.  Living 4 years in one place while wanting to live in a different place?  No.  Life's too short.

I readily admit that it was a show-off house, a statement that I did okay and could afford a nice custom home.  I'm over that now, been there, done that, no longer feel the need to impress people with the trappings.  I'm quite happy with my moderately-sized AZ home and even happier that I don't have to spend countless hours maintaining a huge home and yard.

Bye, bye.

Invention 1

“Necessity is the mother of invention.”  And a demanding mother, she is.

The Magic Wand

The Necessity: the ability to open/close the ceiling vent in the RV living area.  It’s 8’ above the floor.  One could climb up on the counter, of course, but inevitably there would be a fall that resulted in breaking numerous bones, spending a month in traction, 6 months more as a semi-invalid, your muscles slowly atrophying into mush.  A better alternative is preferred, a long handled thingy that will reach, securely grab, and turn the knob while the operator has both feet safely planted on the floor.

The invention, step by step:

1. Measure the knurled vent knob: 1 ¾” 
2. Go to hardware store and wander around, measuring 2-pronged objects that appear close to the correct size.  Settle for a heavy duty screw-in type tool hanger with a spread that’s ¼” too small, “I can bend that sucker, I think, expand the gap so it fits.”
3. Take sucker home and expand the gap with a wrecking bar.
4. Grab an old broom handle and whack it off at 3’.
5. Drill hole in center of whacked end.
6. Screw sucker into hole.  The Magic Wand is born unto the world!
7. Test drive.  Voila!  Works like a charm!

Ye Olde Magic Wand

It’s not as cute as Tinkerbell’s, not as powerful as the Hogwarts students’, and not as versatile as either one.  But, mine’s bigger!  More important, it’s every bit as effective in accomplishing its assigned task.

PS: Know who first said it, the mother thing?  Would you believe Plato?  Yep.  It’s from his book, The Republic, not in those exact words but close enough.

Horny & Furry

We had to bag the Tundra as the 5^th wheel tow vehicle.  It had the towing capacity but not the payload capacity: passengers, dogs, 5^th wheel hitch, misc junk and 5W pin weight came to about 150 pounds over max.  And, I like to have 20% more capacity than needed, for insurance.  So, we had to go to a ¾ ton pickup, ended up with a Ram 2500, which has payload to spare.  It wasn’t my first choice but we were in a time crunch and the local dealership gave us an offer we couldn’t refuse. They took both the Tacoma and the EDGE on trade-in for the Ram, and gave them acceptable values.  Last Friday I delivered the old rigs to the dealership, swapped two sets of keys for one, and drove off in the Ram.  Just drop off the key, Lee.  Set yourself free.

2013 Ram 2500 SLT

'Horny'

Tow mirrors are a must, although they stick out a ways.

This shot shows it in normal driving position.

This shot shows the mirror in towing mode.

It manually rotates 90 degrees, works great!

We took delivery of the Cougar this week and it was a bloody mess - filthy from sitting on the lot for a year.  And, many things were missing: TV, spare tire, battery, light fixture.  And, many things were screwed up: slide-out, blinds, cabinet dings, etc.  Dealer told Trish (the buyer) it would be clean, have new batteries, full propane tanks, be all ready to take camping upon arrival.  In your dreams!  Trish called the dealer, gave him hell, said she was keeping the $5.5K balance due until things are as promised.  Dealer had instant religious experience, said he'd arrange for local outfit(s) to make it right.

Cougar 276RLSWE

That huge awning is motor driven, love it!

'Furry'

The new rigs were at the hitch shop for 2 days to install 5W hitch on Ram and short-bed pinbox on Cougar.  I picked them up Friday. Now, we do outfitting/upgrades, adding or replacing stuff to make things more convenient and worry free.  Add-ons include a ceiling exhaust fan, 3 ceiling vent covers, surge protector, closet shelves, hooks for keys/clothing, propane tank gauges, water filter.  Bath and kitchen faucets - cheap-ass dual handle types – will be replaced with quality single handle fixtures.  I detest dual handle faucets!

This side has the slide-out room with dinette and sofa/bed.

When we and the local outfits have finished our work, it’ll be ‘sea trials’ time.  We’ll go to a nearby campground for 3-4 nights and field test all systems and operations.  That will generate another ‘to do’ list.  We need to push things right along because we leave for the summer in a few weeks.  My work will be done on time and I’m betting the outside work will be, also, because Trish will be kicking butt and hell hath no fury………!  Trust me.  I know.