Update:
The van, she's dead, Jim!
Headed home on the highway yesterday, a tapping that had been part of the van since I bought it turned into more of a knocking and then a real loud knocking and associated lack of power. Uh-oh. Pulled over to a handy rest area and checked things out, nothing visible like a hole in the engine, leaks, or anything like that. Tried re-starting, same big knocking. Had it towed to a trusted mechanic (have towing insurance option...).
Spun rod bearing, suggested repair is a new used engine + install, to the tune of $2k+. It also needs front tires and an alignment, electrical work with the running lights. Time to let it go...
And here I was, anticipating posting about a whole year in the van this coming Sunday. Ah, well, life happens.
Sometimes procrastination actually does work out. At least I don't have much time or money into any of the mods I was planning. And to tell the truth, I was getting a bit tired of it -- bigger than needed, gas hog, typical New England rust issues which would eventually have doomed it anyway. Served it's purpose, too -- considering the purchase price, I paid about $200/mo for a place to sleep at night through the past year, still better than any rent, and provided safe transportation through a nasty winter.
This week has had it's ups and downs. Monday, my mentally disabled son had a complete meltdown which ended in a confrontation with his mom's live-in babydaddy. Tuesday, I sat us all down to review what had gone down and have words with the guy. Man I hate confrontation. Wednesday, my truck blows up...
Today marks 17 days sober for me. Just started attending AA and got myself into an Intensive Outpatient Program for addiction. Drug of choice: alcohol. Followed closely by weed. Not any longer, quit both, hopefully for the long run. Certainly can't handle drinking, and in my case, weed leads to that on a philosophical level -- they are both intoxicants, I don't care if weed is not technically addictive and safer, in my mind they are basically the same. So for me, quitting both is the only way to go. In any case, believe it or not, I am very glad to have been sober while all the misery of this week went down.
I'm in the middle of building a 8 x 12' sugar shack out back of ex-no1's place, and now have impetus to finish and make it a priority. Gotta have a private place to sling my hammock and lay my head down. Thing is solid -- 6" post and beam construction, 1" pine siding from salvaged trees, 2" oak underlayment for the floor with 1" pine on top. Yowza. So far, it has a roof and two walls, just cleared wood out of it where it had been stored through the winter, time to hit the ground running on that.
In the meantime, having the truck blow up, being low on emergency funds for a replacement, and being sober means it's time to get back on my motorcycle, a street-fightered Honda VTR1000 SuperHawk. About time. And the hunt is on for a van replacement. The chase being better than the catch and all that, I love shopping for vehicles, dreaming about futures in various configurations. Conversion van? Cargo van? Last-gen Transit Connect...? Camper van? Who knows. I'll most likely save through the summer and plunk down in the Fall, but it's still fun looking around.
While technically I never was a true vandweller, it has been just a fantastic year using one as a bedroom, even through the most miserable winter in recent memory. I lived in a van through it all. Not many people can say that, and quelled the fears and doubts of loved ones and friends who thought I was just being dangerously cray-cray. It's been a great learning experience which taught me a lot about what I need and don't need in the next van, and has prepared me just fine to live in a tiny house. 8x12? Spacious!
Not to mention finding this site and other advanturous souls with the same interest as a result. I'll stick around here and update about both the tiny house/sugar shack and the next van...
Take care, all!
