Me Be Like Me Are

[Headache]

I started my "captain's log" of sorts.  It's something I've wanted to do for a long time.

Since I'm all over the place in what I choose to discuss at any given time I've chosen a theme where I can post a pic in the same field as the date that appears when I post it.  Each one will have a different pic so when I do finally settle on that one vehicle to live in the posts I put up that are about mobile living will have a pic of my vehicle and I will post mobile living related updates here.  Right now you get that awesome warrior woman Valeria from the Conan films.

Posting will be erratic as I'm also packing.  I had been asked to move out because the owners son is taking over and remodeling to rent out at a much higher rate.  I'm moving in to what I can afford.  /shrug

The name of it came from something I used to say to my parents when I differed from their views, which apparently was quite often.

Me Be Like Me Are

 

[WriterMs]

What a fun site. And a good intro on why you are moving to the mobile lifestyle. It will be a great journal for you to look back on and something new and fun for like-minded folks to read. Love the "all mystery, all of the time" tagline. LOL

 

[Headache]

I chose that tagline because my emotions are like the weather in some places; changing every few hours. In the past some people gave up trying to keep up!

It's also a way for me to practice writing. I've been attempting to improve my grammar via free education online so it's a good way to try and reinforce what I've learned. My short term memory can be very subjective and this is a way to keep it functioning better.

I won't be updating all 3 sistered sites at the same time but will be adding content to at least one on a regular basis, such as posting a recipe to the toothless blog one day and maybe post a discussion on the board on another. I'm going to try and remain as fluid as possible so I'm not feeling forced to add content. I'll add more as time moves on as eventually I'll have property for a home base and will discuss my homesteading of it. I have a goal of making at least one addition on one of them each day but even that must be fluid. Be water.

Thank you for the kind words!

 

[rvpopeye]

Hmmmmmmmm thread title sounds weirdly familiar......

Oh yeah,,,,,,I Yam What I Yam !!!! skuh kuh kuh kuh kuh

Sounds likesk it'll be intereskink.

 

[Headache]

I made a new post on my blog about downsizing. I've been kind of running the gamut of feelings lately regarding moving into the van but I chose to focus on that for the moment.

 

[Headache]

Some of my goodies for van dwelling have/are coming in today! My new bed frame with room for a lot of storage underneath:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017YETHUS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There's enough room under that I can slide my dog's crate under it. Coming later is the Coleman camp oven and 4 water jugs:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009PURJA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00168PI4S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Due to another members unfortunate issue with bed bugs I also ordered one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018842HZA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Unfortunately I'm not going to have much of a build. I won't have time nor do I have a place to do it now. I'll just have to wing it with what I can throw together and hope I've covered the important bases.

 

[Headache]

I started my ammo can build but currently I don't have much time to be able to spend online so I'll be posting updates here as my build and preparations to leave progress. Here is the ammo can build and pics:

http://mebelikemeare.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=dvfhi5klblkh374ijptrg3qpv4&topic=15.msg40#new

Tomorrow I take the van on for a new windshield and oil change. Still working on the house but it's down to very little packing and mostly dealing with clutter and cleaning, oh and errands. Lots and lots of errands and the travel time is a huge chunk of that. When I figured out a daily itinerary of stuff to get done I forgot that and messed up my whole plan.

 

[Headache]

Well, I am still firmly anchored in port which is not a surprise to me but does slow down the plans of the owner's son here when I live.

My original plan was to leave in April but I tried to move that up significantly when the owner asked me to move out asap because his son was taking over management of the property...until reality firmly let me know it was still around. Before being asked to move I knew leaving in spring was a realistic timeline for my budget and very doable. This is not and is causing me a ton of anxiety I just don't need. I need an exhaust on the van and currently the prices for the parts are around $1000. If I get work done on the van I can't afford to leave and the van won't operate safely without me getting the work done meaning I have little choice in the matter.

For those of you considering this lifestyle this is the reality. Thankfully I was a truck driver for over a decade so it's not some surprise out of left field as far as the work needed on my van.

I have an old farm tractor I can sell but after talking with some people it's more advantageous for me to put it up for sale in February which gives me January to have it worked on and all the extra parts gathered. Very little "moves" after the holidays unless it's a really cheap deal and I don't want to give the tractor away especially since I invested in it to sell for the down payment on some property.

Sigh, another winter in the almost sunless northwest. I have seasonal affective disorder(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder) and right now it's hitting me hard. I was very much looking forward to being in sunshine that lasted longer than a few days.

 

[WriterMs]

Sounds like you are doing what you most need to do by concentrating on the basics vs a more complicated build for the van and getting the van mechanically safe.

It can be good to start with basics so that you have not invested in things that later turn out to be unneeded or the wrong thing.

So then the landlord's son is somewhat flexible and not throwing you out while you need time to catch up on the money lost to van repairs? That sounds like a good thing.

It is always hard when you are ready to go and make the big change and then obstacles appear. Frustration is a difficult emotion to bear.

 

[closeanuf]

I don't know where you live: I live in West Texas and out here we have "muffler shop" that all they do is exhaust work.  I know in the past I have priced exhaust system parts and been blown away with the prices and then the thought of laving on my 68 year old back getting my eyes and nose filled with dirt I went to the muffler shop and they have always been cheaper than buying the part and  doing the work myself.

 

[Headache]

So then the landlord's son is somewhat flexible and not throwing you out while you need time to catch up on the money lost to van repairs?  That sounds like a good thing.

Not anymore.  He told me today that he was going to serve me a termination notice next month.  Not an advantageous time during the winter.

 

[Headache]

I don't know where you live: I live in West Texas and out here we have "muffler shop" that all they do is exhaust work.  I know in the past I have priced exhaust system parts and been blown away with the prices and then the thought of laving on my 68 year old back getting my eyes and nose filled with dirt I went to the muffler shop and they have always been cheaper than buying the part and  doing the work myself.

The PNW is just as expensive as New England.  I can get the parts for almost half of what the shops want to charge for them here.  The parts cost almost $1000 and a shop doing it costs around $2000.

 

[jimindenver]

Not anymore.  He told me today that he was going to serve me a termination notice next month.  Not an advantageous time during the winter.

Tell him he will have to evict you if he can't be reasonable. Eviction here takes at least 6 months.

 

[Headache]

I couldn't handle that emotionally let alone have any money to pay for it. Also, I still have some equipment here I need to sell. If I stay on his good side he may let my equipment stay for a few months and I wouldn't have to move it into pay storage. That's worth more to me than trying to stay here. I don't want to stay where I'm not wanted especially how I found out about this...I saw some of my stuff outside being loaded into one of his employees pickup trucks. I realize that is against the law but I'm mired in a PTSD episode now and am trying not to take medication because I won't be able to drive. I did have my stuff removed from the pickup but now I have til Friday to separate it from the owners stuff and that is legal(48 hour notice).

 

[rvpopeye]

Jeeeeeeeeeeze..................................

 

[ArtW]

$1000, what do you need, the whole fool system? that sounds excessive to be honest

 

[highdesertranger]

^^^^^^ x2. even if you need everything, 1k for parts is excessive. go to Rock Auto and see if they have a complete kit. highdesertranger

 

[Headache]

^^^^^^ x2.  even if you need everything,  1k for parts is excessive.  go to Rock Auto and see if they have a complete kit.  highdesertranger

Rock Auto was $869 WITH my discount not including the in-between the cat and muffler pipe I needed, some hanger rubbers and a rear oxygen sensor.  Add those in and it was over $900 not including shipping.  Amazon was about the same.

You don't need to tell me it's excessive.  Look for yourself.  2001 E150 Club Wagon with a 5.4 and it's not an extended or anything special about it.  On Amazon it will ask for trim package and mine is XLT.

As Bob has mentioned in posts and elsewhere and I'm telling everyone I can; avoid the 99-2003 Ford vans if you have a limited budget.  Ford thinks they are made of gold and did everything they could to gouge the hell out of you for parts.

 

[highdesertranger]

got a link? I just looked it up at Rock Auto and they don't list a complete exhaust. the only pipe they show is the tail pipe. I still say 1k is excessive. bring it down here to So Cal I bet I could get it done for half that. highdesertranger

 

[Headache]

Amazon had the other parts but again, this van isn't worth it and if I could make it down there I would have made it to the shop in Cedar City.

If you doubt it fine but when you price out the entire exhaust and when the first two parts(pre-converter Y pipe, oxygen sensors, hangars, and cat converter) and their peripherals are almost half the total price at one of the least expensive parts houses we know of....there's no way I'm bringing it down there without knowing price first and it might catch on fire before I got there. If it starts choking and puking just driving 25 miles....no way. I'm selling it because I want a one ton anyway.

However, I just was extended an offer from another member which I've sent some new details so I'm awaiting a response.