Charting a new course.

[ArtW]

congratulations on a reasonably equitable split, your setup looks sweet to me
I hope sometime we meet out in the world, my camp is always open

 

[jimindenver]

Thank you Art. I really look forward to putting names to faces.

WriterMs

It's too cold here in January to stay, so point the nose south and follow it. Other than that I have no idea besides the RTR . It's all happening so fast that getting through it and getting ready to go has my head swimming. This isn't camping nor snowbirding, everything has to go into that rig. That means half of the crap that's in it has to go just to make room.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

Congrats on the equitable split. In fact sounds like you may even be getting the better end of the deal just being able to drive off into the sunset free from all the burdens of selling a home and with a little cash to boot. What an overwhelming feeling of freedom that must be. Sure there are a lot of other emotions wrapped up in there as well but sounds like you are a man with a plan and staying focused should help you through any bumps in the road that remain.

Nice set up too, nothing wrong with a few scratches. They all hold a story of a rig well used.

Good luck Jim, look forward to following your journey.

 

[Gunny]

Jim, you've shown a lot of courage in some of your posts, but what speaks to me is you have shown a lot grace. Might see you at RTR, a lot depends on some tests they are going to run on me at 1130 this morning(since it's past midnight here).

I hope your best days are ahead of you and wish you well. Rob.

 

[WriterMs]

It's too cold here in January to stay, so point the nose south and follow it. Other than that I have no idea besides the RTR . It's all happening so fast that getting through it and getting ready to go has my head swimming. This isn't camping nor snowbirding, everything has to go into that rig. That means half of the crap that's in it has to go just to make room.

Jim, reading your post wherein you comment on being with someone 24/7 for so many years (decades).. wow. May I make a suggestion for you to consider? When you head out, you may want some time to be totally alone. But also consider making an effort to locate others on this forum who are camped in places you might like to go right away.

Most on the forum are open to camping in proximity at least for a few days here and there. And I suspect you will need some human contact more often than not as you get used to NOT being with someone 24/7. Sort of consider weaning yourself away from constant contact with another of any sort.

Just being able to share a beer or soda with some conversation for an hour or two each day or meeting up while you have supper... that should help with the simple shock of such a radical change. When I ended a ten-year relationship, being with my friends was a huge help (and tho he and I lived together, he traveled for biz a lot so I was used to being on my own a good deal).

Hang in there and keep us posted.

 

[Queen]

Congrats on the escape, Jim. Interesting how the new laws allow us both, at opposite ends of the relationship spectrum, some measure of protection.

 

[jimindenver]

ERLH

It's not as much as it could be if we were to take the time to do it right but you are right, a easy freedom is worth the expense. It's all the same to me, enough to get going again and that's all that matters. I can't physically run the business as it is, Don't want to be tied down to the house and don't have room for art and antiques. So we each get what we want .

A sense of freedom, yes. Overwhelming, even more so. He just has to get financing, I have to completely change my lifestyle. I am lucky that I have been making the trailer boondocking worthy for five years meaning I could throw most of it in storage and take off for a while. One load up of water and food can last a single person a month and the power is never ending. I just have between now and the first of the year to work it all out.

Gunny

Thank you for the compliment. I sure hope your test came out well. I have been poked, prodded, radiated and run through several different tubes this year. Now they know exactly what they are doing nothing about. Luckily the test I was worried about came back good and the back, at least I know my limitations and what I risk exceeding them.

WriterMs

You are not the first to want me to be around others, I appreciate the concern. I will be making a beeline for the Q after the first and I'll see how it goes. I use to be gregarious, I'm sure it will return. Worst case I can back the trailer off some and give myself some space if need be. I think it might be nice to feel comfortable in a group after the RTR but I certainly don't want to burden any one. As for the shock, sometimes you just need to dive in, shake it off and keep going.

Queen

I'm proud to say I have been involved in the fight since the 80's. One of my long standing customers has been one of the biggest pockets in that fight, it was quite the celebration when it ended. We did the Denver domestic partners registry on our 15th anniversary but knew by the time marriage became possible that we wouldn't be doing it.

 

[Queen]

Queen

I'm proud to say I have been involved in the fight since the 80's. One of my long standing customers has been one of the biggest pockets in that fight, it was quite the celebration when it ended. We did the Denver domestic partners registry on our 15th anniversary but knew by the time marriage became possible that we wouldn't be doing it.

Same here, Jim.  Came out in 1978 and was working at a gay club when the AIDS crisis hit, it feels like I spent my 20's in the trenches in that fight, and my 30's up to my 50's fighting for the right to have my beloved and I treated fairly.  I am tired of fighting and looking forward to some rest.

 

[ArtW]

There should never have been a question of gay marriage, it's a state institution, providing legal advantages and financial incentives, ans as such should have been legal from the word go
I'm really not pro marriage at all, but if it's gonna be a thing it should be a thing for all

 

[jimindenver]

Ah yes AIDs, I remember the calls coming in to the gay center back in the early 80's. People were scared, so was I. Settling down with someone likely saved both our lives. In 92 they passed amendment 2 here which took all of our rights away. We could be fired, refused housing, refused medical, any nasty thing they could think of and we had no legal recourse at all. It was the last part that the Supreme Court said no too thankfully.

What people didn't realize about amendment 2 was that it could be used against them. Didn't like someone, it didn't matter if they were of color, gender, age or religion, all you had to do was say you thought they were gay and you could get away with anything. Xan't really disprove it and you had no ability to sue. Fun huh?

 

[Queen]

Good times. I remember the visit from my landlord in 1984 "look, I know you're a good tenant and always pay on time BUT a couple of the neighbors think you might be gay and we just can't have that here, I'll give you a week to get out"; then a call from my boss in 1991 "it's been brought to my attention you are probably gay and we just can't have you around children (I taught swimming to disabled kids), don't come back, we'll mail your final check" (they never did).

 

[jimindenver]

As far as movement forward. We have to do a P&L today for him to take to the bank. He was sweating it but with a monster credit score, the equity left in the house and the income in the business staying the same, all they were worried about was him going somewhere else. He will pay me off and his payment goes up $40.

Yesterday I went out to the trailer to make sure what I am negotiating for. I can't do anything real until he signs off on it but I was able to plot the solar feeds coming in the roof vent. There isn't room for the two 1/0 cables so I will run the 10 gauge feeds in the vent and then into the closet right next to it. I'll mount the combiner box with the buss bars and a cut off switch. From there it's easy to drop the 1/0 through the floor and across to the bay holding the controllers and inverter.

I was also working out where the three 8-D's will go. I had thought of putting them under the dinette seats but then thought why do I need two seats for one person. I decided I will remove the seat next to the wall holding the controller. There I will build a cabinet not just to enclose the batteries but also above them for storage.

That leaves the other dinette seat. I'm loath to loose the storage but that is the most uncomfortable thing for a person of my size to sit on. I can pull it out and in its place have a office chair that I can move and use my anti-grav recliner. It also means I'll have a large open area right near the door for loading up when on the move. It will let me over night without having the walkway packed.

I could replace the couch with a cabinet for more storage. It's not real comfy for me and getting to its storage is a pain.

I'm chomping at the bit here. I think I will tell him to sign over the trailer and I'll sign over my F150 4x4 just to get moving.

 

[jimindenver]

Good times.  I remember the visit from my landlord in 1984 "look, I know you're a good tenant and always pay on time BUT a couple of the neighbors think you might be gay and we just can't have that here, I'll give you a week to get out"; then a call from my boss in 1991 "it's been brought to my attention you are probably gay and we just can't have you around children (I taught swimming to disabled kids), don't come back, we'll mail your final check" (they never did).

Wow, just wow.

It was that sort of thing that Amendment 2 made legal. People didn't see the danger it presented to themselves.

To bore you even further with the trailer. With the batteries inside I won't need the trailers travel battery on the tongue. I am going to see if I can mount a small inverter generator up there. I certainly can't keep the 120 pound 3500/4000 that has never been needed since it was bought. I can't pick up a 50 pound 2000w either, that's why I'm looking at mounting it.

So much to do everywhere I look.

 

[Queen]

I like the idea of a generator in a box on the tongue, but I'm betting whatever we get will end up in the back of the truck.

 

[StarEcho]

The tongue on my amerilite is apparently pretty short, because with 2 propane tanks, there is barely enough room for anything behind them! I WISH I could mount a generator there, it would be so convenient! Not that I have used it much but I like having the option. I originally had 2 6v batteries on the tongue behind the propane tanks but they had to move the tanks up so close to the jack that the regulator had to be mounted facing the back so it totally defeated the purpose of a 2 stage automatic changeover regulator because you couldn't see when it had already changed over.

I had help moving my batteries inside under my bed with 2 more 6v batteries, and then had the tanks moved back so the regulator is visible now. But that also means that there is no room. Irritating, but it is what it is. The generator goes in the back of the suburban.

I guess since your trailer is longer the tongue is bigger? I have the 198bh.

 

[jimindenver]

I measured, with the tank cover on there is barely a foot up there.

 

[jimindenver]

As a update

The Trailer is MINE. Monday the court case was dropped at my request so that we could start moving forward on our agreement. With that done the first thing we did was remove each others names off of the truck and trailer at the DMV. I'll miss my little truck but I have been chomping at the bit to start installing my gear without worry of hearing "we are selling that trailer" as soon as I am done.

So you'd think I'm out working on it this week but no. The house is being inspected next week for his loan and I am doing exactly what I wanted to avoid by fixing everything possible up. Yesterday it was grout the showers, today a few light switches, check for any leaks, make sure everything works. The hardest thing is leveling the water heater that I wasn't able to carry in and out. It will have to be drained and some adjustments be made to the feeds/ flue.

At least I can start making the list of what's needed and start ordering the rest of what I need. Little things like propane regulator hoses, switches, fuses and pin lugs. To gain back some time I am considering farming out the work up top. The conflict between getting it done right and me being on a ladder is killing me but I could have them pull the roof top A/C while they were up there. It would give me much more room for solar and a usable vent instead of a A/C that is never used at all. It will be replaced by a 12000 BTU portable that uses much less power.

The other issue is my Expedition. I am worried that it needs more than it is worth. The A/C needs more than just recharging, it needs some front end work, a new set of LT's, a new drivers seat and a complete flush and fill on the fluids. I'd loose my 4x4 replacing it with a van but gain a lot of storage.

Getting closer every day.

 

[Queen]

I can feel your frustration/happiness in what you write. Sorry you're having to play Mr. Fixit, that's gotta suck... but you are getting there and getting OUT for sure! Congrats.

 

[jimindenver]

Turns out he misspoke and said inspection but it's just a appraisal. Oh well, don't need the house burning down before I leave.

It did get keep me from resealing the roof on the trailer. I went out today but the RV shops are close and I don't have any Dicor. So I started looking at the dinettes and thought these wouldn't be anything to take out and they were in the utility trailer within the hour. One had to be disassembled so that it didn't tear up the wall and that made trading the trailer in on a Motor home no longer a option.

Now I know the batteries and a cabinet will be where one of the dinettes were but just having that area opened up makes it feel so much more open.

I'll get the Dicor this week and do the reseal Friday, hopefully the panels and batteries placed over the weekend. I won't care if it snows if those two things are done.

 

[Canine]

If you ever get down Ar. way,Me and Vic expect a visit.Good Luck.