As I write this, I am on a schedule to go out to work beginning at 6am. I've missed a lot of work lately, so I have to catch up. At least, that is the excuse.
Why the haste? It seems that I've spent the last hour just to do something I consider rather insignificant. It takes too much time to do anything, so progress seems to be at a snail's pace.
Last night, I didn't get home until after 7 pm. Most of the day, I spent working on one thing or another. That is how my days are now. The last trip was an hour away, so I finished actual work at about 6 pm. Traffic seemed hectic. I was anxious to get home and rest my tired bones.
Just now, I updated my Facebook page with the Boots and Oil page that is supposed to help with traffic. Well, good luck with that. It seems like an effort to get everything to tie in together. I think I am making progress on that, but it is slow.
Yesterday, while waiting around for some business, I did more measurements on the van. It looks like there will have to be a slight modification in plans there, but it should still be okay. I'm going to shove the freezer in the corner, followed by the microwave, and then the TV stand. These should fit up against the cargo cage.
Along the driver side wall, there will be the clothes closet, then the storage made from the top part of the computer desk, and that will probably leave enough room for the second computer desk. That desk will have to be cut to size, in order to make room for the stereo speakers that will be stacked on top of each other. That gets to the back door, which won't allow access, as that second computer desk will cover it up.
Moving to the passenger side, the drawer will rest on top of the second computer desk and cover most of the sidewall to the side doors. Entry to what's left of the interior space will have to come from the side door. No other entry will be possible.
I may be able to squeeze one more item next to the drawer! Still have to work this problem, though, so more changes to the plan are possible.
There should be enough room for the rollaway bed to deploy so I can sleep. Upon rising, I can move the bed and then put down the washtub and take a "shower" right in place. There will also be a sink available.
To do one's bodily functions, there will be a luggable loo set up. I know that doesn't sound appealing.
It isn't a bed of roses, but I think it could work.
I need to park it in an RV spot and have a storage location for the car. I will commute back and forth in such a manner to work and then to sleep.
That's the plan.
Working hard to implement it in time to make the move by April Fool's day.
Update:
I go out and work five or six hours and then feel a bit tired and go home. Fell asleep.
Always time for sleep, it seems.
Al Fin: "Cowboy Commentary", aka "Eat your veggies" The Flag banner is posted in order to defy those who would make patriotic symbols illegal or disreputable.
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Friday, January 15, 2016
Market Crash - Last Week Was The 2nd And Final Warning...
Market Crash - Last Week Was The 2nd And Final Warning...: Kitco News' contributed commentary features articles and opinions from some of the top experts in the gold industry.
Comment: Are we there yet?
Comment: Are we there yet?
Who Won The Debate? Dick Morris TV: Lunch Alert!
Who Won The Debate? Dick Morris TV: Lunch Alert!
Cruz and Trump. Rubio did not do all that well, says Morris. He also thinks this could become a two man race soon, and that Trump may not fare as well in that setting.
Cruz and Trump. Rubio did not do all that well, says Morris. He also thinks this could become a two man race soon, and that Trump may not fare as well in that setting.
Are we crashing yet?
Stocks are down today, about 400 last time I checked. Funny how it has dropped so far, but my short ETF position is still way down.
Am I cheering this on? No. If there is another meltdown, talk is that there will be more QE. These people do not seem to understand that wealth does not come from borrowed money for the sake of borrowing and spending; nor does it come from increasing the monetary base. To put it another way, the government is not the solution, it is the problem. It took another 30 years for the seventies to return. It is yet to be determined if there will be another Reagan to right the listing ship of state.
Most likely things will continue as they have been until something happens that changes the direction of events.
Am I cheering this on? No. If there is another meltdown, talk is that there will be more QE. These people do not seem to understand that wealth does not come from borrowed money for the sake of borrowing and spending; nor does it come from increasing the monetary base. To put it another way, the government is not the solution, it is the problem. It took another 30 years for the seventies to return. It is yet to be determined if there will be another Reagan to right the listing ship of state.
Most likely things will continue as they have been until something happens that changes the direction of events.
Obligatory, 1.15.16; Buckling down as deadline approaches
It is getting close to a deadline for a decision about renewing the lease here, or making the big jump out west. One thing I keep doing is seemingly going around in circles with these decisions. Making and unmaking them. That is not good. Too late to add to New Year resolutions to correct that.
That is a bit surprising since it seemed like one of my erstwhile decisions was to wait until I get my SS checks before I make the move. The possibility of living cheaply allows me the option of making the leap after all. This idea has occurred to me recently. So I am back to considering an early move.
That was the general idea all along. But no matter how cheaply one can live, there still exists a need for money, hence the decision to go with Uber.
But going with Uber requires a car, and that complicated the matter a bit. Seems like I have settled upon getting a parking spot, plus an RV location to dry camp on for the overnights.
The idea is to sleep overnight at a dry camp location, then go retrieve my car for the daytime work. Once work is done, go swap vehicles in order to complete the cycle. Repeat procedure each day I am in town until satisfied with amount of money earned, then go back to ranch. The car will stay in the storage place in town.
Even if the opportunities for making dough in town are limited, that is not a big wad that has to be earned.
Yesterday, I looked around Home Depot a bit. A sink can be purchased cheap and placed in the second computer desk. If I can get the second computer desk and drawers in the van, then very few of the pieces that I thought I had to throw away will have to be, in fact, thrown away. I will be using most of the stuff I got here in the apartment.
It will be a tight fit, but I think it will fit.
To review, the van will have a stereo system, DVD, TV, VCR, computers, storage space for a number of things that I will need out there. It is almost like taking my furnishings with me and squeezing it all into a small space. Like living in a closet full of stuff. Not a time for claustrophobia.
Still trying to figure the money angle. Can I make enough from Uber? Buckling down here means working it full time. Up till now, it has been a part time gig.
That leaves less time for planning the move, though.
Hence, time has to managed carefully.
There is not enough time to spend on posts for the blog, so posting will be light for awhile.
Posted under general subseries in off grid main series of posts.
Prev Next
That is a bit surprising since it seemed like one of my erstwhile decisions was to wait until I get my SS checks before I make the move. The possibility of living cheaply allows me the option of making the leap after all. This idea has occurred to me recently. So I am back to considering an early move.
That was the general idea all along. But no matter how cheaply one can live, there still exists a need for money, hence the decision to go with Uber.
But going with Uber requires a car, and that complicated the matter a bit. Seems like I have settled upon getting a parking spot, plus an RV location to dry camp on for the overnights.
The idea is to sleep overnight at a dry camp location, then go retrieve my car for the daytime work. Once work is done, go swap vehicles in order to complete the cycle. Repeat procedure each day I am in town until satisfied with amount of money earned, then go back to ranch. The car will stay in the storage place in town.
Even if the opportunities for making dough in town are limited, that is not a big wad that has to be earned.
Yesterday, I looked around Home Depot a bit. A sink can be purchased cheap and placed in the second computer desk. If I can get the second computer desk and drawers in the van, then very few of the pieces that I thought I had to throw away will have to be, in fact, thrown away. I will be using most of the stuff I got here in the apartment.
It will be a tight fit, but I think it will fit.
To review, the van will have a stereo system, DVD, TV, VCR, computers, storage space for a number of things that I will need out there. It is almost like taking my furnishings with me and squeezing it all into a small space. Like living in a closet full of stuff. Not a time for claustrophobia.
Still trying to figure the money angle. Can I make enough from Uber? Buckling down here means working it full time. Up till now, it has been a part time gig.
That leaves less time for planning the move, though.
Hence, time has to managed carefully.
There is not enough time to spend on posts for the blog, so posting will be light for awhile.
Posted under general subseries in off grid main series of posts.
Prev Next
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Yay, Grego. 10k posts have now been made
No celebrations, though. Not enough time.
Just got home from work. Actually, been in and out all day. Mostly working the neighborhood, you might say. One thing about Uber, you have the freedom to work anywhere you want. But you don't necessarily get to make a lot of money while doing it.
Not complaining too much about the money, just saying that it really doesn't pay. I had an Uber driver onboard today. He was talking about the same topic. Not that much happiness in Uberville these days.
That reminds me of a joke. Something of an old one. I think it went like this "All I want is fewer hours, and higher pay." Now, I know it was a lot more colorful than that, but you get the point. People who do the hiring want to pay as little as possible. People who do the work want to do as little work for the money as they have to. Nobody wants to live to work, everybody wants to work to live. Or live like a King.
Just got home from work. Actually, been in and out all day. Mostly working the neighborhood, you might say. One thing about Uber, you have the freedom to work anywhere you want. But you don't necessarily get to make a lot of money while doing it.
Not complaining too much about the money, just saying that it really doesn't pay. I had an Uber driver onboard today. He was talking about the same topic. Not that much happiness in Uberville these days.
That reminds me of a joke. Something of an old one. I think it went like this "All I want is fewer hours, and higher pay." Now, I know it was a lot more colorful than that, but you get the point. People who do the hiring want to pay as little as possible. People who do the work want to do as little work for the money as they have to. Nobody wants to live to work, everybody wants to work to live. Or live like a King.
Jobs Report Is Phony: Only 11,000 Created Dick Morris TV: Lunch Alert!
Jobs Report Is Phony: Only 11,000 Created Dick Morris TV: Lunch Alert!
Comment:
David Stockman debunks claims of job growth, Morris reports.
The phony job report is consistent with the dishonesty that is running so rampant throughout the government and media. In other words, the left wing is running the show, and now that they are, they must hide their incompetence, as it is an election year.
Comment:
David Stockman debunks claims of job growth, Morris reports.
The phony job report is consistent with the dishonesty that is running so rampant throughout the government and media. In other words, the left wing is running the show, and now that they are, they must hide their incompetence, as it is an election year.
Obligatory, 1.14.16, Navigating the maze of computer security
Seems as though that issue has arisen since I started using the Androids more, and Facebook. In turn, I started using Facebook in order to promote the blog. Promoting the blog was one of my New Year resolutions. Have spent most of an hour just trying to get something down, while I am bogged down with this security crap.
I just resent it, that is all. If security was inherent, none of thus would be necessary. It is an extreme waste of time. But it does give employment to people. Harrumph.
Now I have forgotten what I came on to the internet in the first place.
As usual, I suppose. To check on the blog.
Oh, yeah. Barnhardt had something unusual, even by her standards. She has been on this Masonry kick lately, and she is tying it into post modernism, if I am not mistaken.
I did not know what to make of that. It seems that she is veering off into some kind of anti modernism angle and I do not get it.
It almost seems like the limits to growth angle. That is something I have argued against here. Seems to me we have already got that, and have had that since the seventies. It is part of modernism, not the cure for it. So, I do not get where she is going with that.
To me, it is certainly not a bad thing to have technology, as long as it is used in a responsible way. Like nuclear power. Nuclear power could end a lot of our troubles, but the limits to growth types will not let that happen. The fear of it does not have a basis in science.
You can tie in global warming with that as well. Those people claim science, but it is not science. Science is being hijacked. Just as all of Western Civilization is being hijacked by the left.
I do not believe that there has to be a conflict between science and religion. Jesus of Nazareth said that those who are interested in the truth listen to him. If science is a quest for truth, then, how is that in conflict with what Jesus of Nazareth said?
On the other hand, these leftists reject Christianity, and have an allergy to the truth. Jesus said that Satan is the father of all lies. Seems to me like you have a consistency there. Science is not in conflict with religion, but is in service to it. Science is a quest for truth if it is anything at all. If it is in a quest for truth, it is in service to God.
If science is not in service to religion, then it is not a religion, or it is not science, or both.
I just resent it, that is all. If security was inherent, none of thus would be necessary. It is an extreme waste of time. But it does give employment to people. Harrumph.
Now I have forgotten what I came on to the internet in the first place.
As usual, I suppose. To check on the blog.
Oh, yeah. Barnhardt had something unusual, even by her standards. She has been on this Masonry kick lately, and she is tying it into post modernism, if I am not mistaken.
I did not know what to make of that. It seems that she is veering off into some kind of anti modernism angle and I do not get it.
It almost seems like the limits to growth angle. That is something I have argued against here. Seems to me we have already got that, and have had that since the seventies. It is part of modernism, not the cure for it. So, I do not get where she is going with that.
To me, it is certainly not a bad thing to have technology, as long as it is used in a responsible way. Like nuclear power. Nuclear power could end a lot of our troubles, but the limits to growth types will not let that happen. The fear of it does not have a basis in science.
You can tie in global warming with that as well. Those people claim science, but it is not science. Science is being hijacked. Just as all of Western Civilization is being hijacked by the left.
I do not believe that there has to be a conflict between science and religion. Jesus of Nazareth said that those who are interested in the truth listen to him. If science is a quest for truth, then, how is that in conflict with what Jesus of Nazareth said?
On the other hand, these leftists reject Christianity, and have an allergy to the truth. Jesus said that Satan is the father of all lies. Seems to me like you have a consistency there. Science is not in conflict with religion, but is in service to it. Science is a quest for truth if it is anything at all. If it is in a quest for truth, it is in service to God.
If science is not in service to religion, then it is not a religion, or it is not science, or both.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
This country has gone b@#$%^t crazy [ repost ]
Note:
A couple of the headlines are bizarre today. This post is kind of like the same idea about craziness, but somewhat different.
The original:
Nothing makes any damned sense. Perhaps it isn't really this bad out there. I'd like to think that it hasn't, but all the "news" you read about makes you wonder if the country hasn't really gone totally freaking nuts.
end original, and now comment:
Look at these headlines:
The Gender neutral bathroom revolution is growing
WATCH: An Oregon Miltia Idiot Throws a Tantrum Because People Are Sending Bags of Dicks
Maybe it is just a slow news day.
A couple of the headlines are bizarre today. This post is kind of like the same idea about craziness, but somewhat different.
The original:
Nothing makes any damned sense. Perhaps it isn't really this bad out there. I'd like to think that it hasn't, but all the "news" you read about makes you wonder if the country hasn't really gone totally freaking nuts.
end original, and now comment:
Look at these headlines:
The Gender neutral bathroom revolution is growing
WATCH: An Oregon Miltia Idiot Throws a Tantrum Because People Are Sending Bags of Dicks
Maybe it is just a slow news day.
Best of posts suspended for awhile
One of my New Year's Resolutions was to promote the blog. One way toward that end was to organize the posts into the "Best of" lists, which would guide the reader to the most popular posts.
It seems that I don't have the time to go through all these posts and list them. There just isn't enough time for that.
Rather than do that, I will continue with efforts to get Social Media involved so that this thing can "promoted" that way. Best of posts will have to wait awhile. I stopped a Politics, and was going in reverse order. This post is a reminder to myself should I wish to continue and where I left off.
It seems that I don't have the time to go through all these posts and list them. There just isn't enough time for that.
Rather than do that, I will continue with efforts to get Social Media involved so that this thing can "promoted" that way. Best of posts will have to wait awhile. I stopped a Politics, and was going in reverse order. This post is a reminder to myself should I wish to continue and where I left off.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Van to RV conversion Next steps
Prev Next
This post will go into the Construction sub-series of the off-the-grid main series of posts. These posts can be accessed from a table of contents and watched individually or in series from beginning to end.
Rather than update the last post, I decided to make a new one. Reflecting upon the work I did yesterday on this, I am going to have a lot more shelving than I figured on. So much, in fact, that I may be challenged to use it all.
I am also discovering that I will be able to take a lot of stuff out there with me, and yes, it will all fit into the van. When I started this, I never would have figured on that.
This van will be very tricked out. It will have a microwave, freezer, clothes "closet", an entertainment center with stereo, TV, DVD, VCR, and computers out the wazoo. If I put the overhead rack in, I can put even more stuff to ride on down the road in style!
The procedure for working this may go like this: I will lease a space in El Paso that will hold either the car or the van, but not at the same time. When I leave the ranch, I will take the generator with me. Once I get to El Paso, I'll take out the generator, and then I will have room to live inside the van. Perhaps I will only sleep in it when in town. Of course, the car will have to come out first. I'll ride around town and work for the Uber thing, and then come "home" to the van. Once I made enough money, I'll go "home" to the ranch.
Woo-hoo! This could be great.
Update:
This doesn't rate a new post, so I'll just make a short remark or two. It looks as if I should be able to fit almost everything I've mentioned so far into the van. Just so there would be no mistake once I start installing this stuff, I've double checked all the measurements. It's A-OK so far.
Operationally, I've gone back and forth so much over this that nothing is solidified just yet. It looks like it may be best to get two RV spots in El Paso, park the car in one, and the van in the other. I'll try to arrange some sleeping time without having to rent a parking spot in an RV place in town. This could keep my expenses down to a couple hundred a month for the storage places. I have to check around to see what may be possible with this. It is an unknown at this point.
A parking spot in an RV place could be cheaper or more expensive, depending on how you handle it. That part must be thought out better.
Update: ( 1/20/16)
Wishing not to make an entirely new post on the subject of the van to RV conversion, I thought I would make note of what thinking I've done on the subject in the past week or so since I created this post.
The second computer desk was to be put in the back. As of now, this plan will have to be modified in order to allow the rollaway bed to be used. It is simply too difficult to get into and out of the bed with so cramped a space inside the van. I will have to make some space in order to allow some maneuvering room. This means the stereo system is out. That stereo system will have to be junked. Too much space and not enough utility. The desk itself will have to be cut into several pieces and rejoined with hinges, so as to allow for movement out of the way when not needed. It can still go into the back, but it will be quite a different beast than what it is now.
Even this may not be optimal. I may want something else to help out. It is hard to get out of that bed because it sits so low to the floor. It is only hard because of my age and physical condition. If I were in my teens or twenties, it wouldn't be such a problem.
This post will go into the Construction sub-series of the off-the-grid main series of posts. These posts can be accessed from a table of contents and watched individually or in series from beginning to end.
Rather than update the last post, I decided to make a new one. Reflecting upon the work I did yesterday on this, I am going to have a lot more shelving than I figured on. So much, in fact, that I may be challenged to use it all.
I am also discovering that I will be able to take a lot of stuff out there with me, and yes, it will all fit into the van. When I started this, I never would have figured on that.
This van will be very tricked out. It will have a microwave, freezer, clothes "closet", an entertainment center with stereo, TV, DVD, VCR, and computers out the wazoo. If I put the overhead rack in, I can put even more stuff to ride on down the road in style!
The procedure for working this may go like this: I will lease a space in El Paso that will hold either the car or the van, but not at the same time. When I leave the ranch, I will take the generator with me. Once I get to El Paso, I'll take out the generator, and then I will have room to live inside the van. Perhaps I will only sleep in it when in town. Of course, the car will have to come out first. I'll ride around town and work for the Uber thing, and then come "home" to the van. Once I made enough money, I'll go "home" to the ranch.
Woo-hoo! This could be great.
Update:
This doesn't rate a new post, so I'll just make a short remark or two. It looks as if I should be able to fit almost everything I've mentioned so far into the van. Just so there would be no mistake once I start installing this stuff, I've double checked all the measurements. It's A-OK so far.
Operationally, I've gone back and forth so much over this that nothing is solidified just yet. It looks like it may be best to get two RV spots in El Paso, park the car in one, and the van in the other. I'll try to arrange some sleeping time without having to rent a parking spot in an RV place in town. This could keep my expenses down to a couple hundred a month for the storage places. I have to check around to see what may be possible with this. It is an unknown at this point.
A parking spot in an RV place could be cheaper or more expensive, depending on how you handle it. That part must be thought out better.
Update: ( 1/20/16)
Wishing not to make an entirely new post on the subject of the van to RV conversion, I thought I would make note of what thinking I've done on the subject in the past week or so since I created this post.
The second computer desk was to be put in the back. As of now, this plan will have to be modified in order to allow the rollaway bed to be used. It is simply too difficult to get into and out of the bed with so cramped a space inside the van. I will have to make some space in order to allow some maneuvering room. This means the stereo system is out. That stereo system will have to be junked. Too much space and not enough utility. The desk itself will have to be cut into several pieces and rejoined with hinges, so as to allow for movement out of the way when not needed. It can still go into the back, but it will be quite a different beast than what it is now.
Even this may not be optimal. I may want something else to help out. It is hard to get out of that bed because it sits so low to the floor. It is only hard because of my age and physical condition. If I were in my teens or twenties, it wouldn't be such a problem.
Charges of racism is the new McCarthyism
A simple analogy can be made when reading history, and applying those lessons to current events. During the fifties, amidst the red scare, the charge of communism could be used for political advantage against those who tended to sympathize with the left. Not all those charges were just, as Mc Carthy got caught exagerrating stories of communist infiltration. These days, the reverse seems to be happening, as the left will charge just about anybody on the right as being racist. There has not been that moment on TV, when everybody knew the charges were unjust, but perhaps the day will come soon.
Just because Donald Trump worries some on the left, they are charging him with racism. It is a pretty big stretch to call somebody a racist just because he disagrees with you, and stands a good chance of winning the presidency. Perhaps the left are more worried about losing political power than in correcting any injustice. Nothing is unjust about guarding our borders, nor in keeping out terrorists.
Just because Donald Trump worries some on the left, they are charging him with racism. It is a pretty big stretch to call somebody a racist just because he disagrees with you, and stands a good chance of winning the presidency. Perhaps the left are more worried about losing political power than in correcting any injustice. Nothing is unjust about guarding our borders, nor in keeping out terrorists.
Monday, January 11, 2016
Commerce has come to a halt
Published on Zero Hedge (http://www.zerohedge.com)
"Nothing Is Moving," Baltic Dry Crashes As Insiders Warn "Commerce Has Come To A Halt"
By Tyler Durden
Created 01/11/2016 - 13:05
"Commerce between Europe and North America has literally come to a halt. For the first time in known history, not one cargo ship is in-transit in the North Atlantic between Europe and North America. All of them (hundreds) are either anchored offshore or in-port. NOTHING is moving. This has never happened before. It is a horrific economic sign; proof that commerce is literally stopped."
Busy day
Been doing more stuff around the place while I get over this malady. It isn't all that bad, though. The work today went well, and I'm tired at the moment.
I'm going to take a break, and while doing that, I'll check the news. If there's anything interesting, I'll post on it.
I'm going to take a break, and while doing that, I'll check the news. If there's anything interesting, I'll post on it.
David Bowie- Space Oddity Original Video (1969)
David Bowie has died. He was 69 years old.
I was just thinking about this song not too long ago. Don't think I embedded it, so here it is. Of course, it is one of his hit songs.
I was just thinking about this song not too long ago. Don't think I embedded it, so here it is. Of course, it is one of his hit songs.
water collection idea
Make water condense on chilled bottles with coils of chilled tubing wrapped around for maximal surface area.
Somehow, I will have to find a way to get those coils to stay in place. Superglue, perhaps? For the bottles, use bottled water containers. For coils, use plastic tubing. Glue them together and then freeze them. Use anti freeze to get colder temperatures without freezing. The colder it is, the better. Has to stay below dew point before water will condense. If it stays below freezing for hours, plenty of water should condense.
Additional possibility would be to place many such bottles on racks inside of a metal box. The bottles will exchange heat with the racks and the walls of the metal box. More surface area is obtained that way.
With my water experiments, I was able to gather some water this water from the humidifier. There will not be quite so much moisture in the atmosphere, though.
I can also use this cold box to set up another heat exchanger that will take the water through the radiator type device in order to make use of the colder air. It will double as an air conditioner.
Update:
It may be a good idea to use metal screen in some fashion. Seems to have a lot of surface area and would conduct heat well for the condensation desired.
This post will go into the water subseries of the off-the-grid main series of posts.
Prev Next
Somehow, I will have to find a way to get those coils to stay in place. Superglue, perhaps? For the bottles, use bottled water containers. For coils, use plastic tubing. Glue them together and then freeze them. Use anti freeze to get colder temperatures without freezing. The colder it is, the better. Has to stay below dew point before water will condense. If it stays below freezing for hours, plenty of water should condense.
Additional possibility would be to place many such bottles on racks inside of a metal box. The bottles will exchange heat with the racks and the walls of the metal box. More surface area is obtained that way.
With my water experiments, I was able to gather some water this water from the humidifier. There will not be quite so much moisture in the atmosphere, though.
I can also use this cold box to set up another heat exchanger that will take the water through the radiator type device in order to make use of the colder air. It will double as an air conditioner.
Update:
It may be a good idea to use metal screen in some fashion. Seems to have a lot of surface area and would conduct heat well for the condensation desired.
This post will go into the water subseries of the off-the-grid main series of posts.
Prev Next
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Van to RV conversion; First Steps
Prev Next
This post will go into the Construction sub-series of the off-the-grid main series of posts. These posts can be accessed from a table of contents and watched individually or in series from beginning to end.
While convalescing ( in a manner of speaking, I'm not that badly off ), I thought that I would do something to start preparing for the conversion of the van.
From earlier posts, it may be seen that I'm considering using some of my furniture inside the van. Yep, to tear apart the pieces and put them back again so that they will fit into the van's sidewall. I've done the measuring and so forth. The freezer can go up against the cargo cage thingy, and there would be enough clearance for the roll-away bed to deploy. Next to the freezer, would be a place for the microwave. I can make that out of parts from the computer desk. The clearance is just right I can set the top part of the computer desk on top of the microwave, which in turn, sits on top of part of the computer desk that detaches from it at an angle.
I'll have to cut up the desk. To use the part I'm cutting off, I'll split the desk part into two, and then recombine them into clothes storage space that will fit along the side of the van. I have a lot of ideas here. Once I get done, I'll have the two computer desks chopped up and spread along the walls of the van, so to speak.
To make this work, make three cuts of wood that connects the computer desk with the upper part. The upper part has a storage place with doors to open and close- I want to keep that intact. After cutting it off the top of the desk, I will re-attach it to the part that is already attached and at an angle. This angled part is held to the desk with screws. Those have been detached for a long time, by the way. When all of this is completed, there will be shelving above and below the microwave. I can store stuff for the kitchen and "bathroom" in there.
In order to take a shower, I have a washtub. Yes, you can stop laughing. This place won't have running water, so I will have to take a "shower" in the washtub, and it will have to done while sitting down. I've worked these details out already, so it won't be a big deal. I can literally "shave, shower, and what have you" ( you know what I mean)- in the van. Sleep too, as I will have the roll-away bed in there as well.
Not all of this stuff is wanted in the cargo department. For that, an overhead storage thingy is to be built. I've worked those details out, too. Haven't bought the rack and so forth, so that project is down the road a bit, if you pardon the pun.
Some of my stuff will be up there. Like the washtub. The big chair I got will be up there, too. It folds up, and the washtub should fit up there too.
Oh, yeah. I was thinking of having the dresser in the van. No, that will be in the trailer, if I ever build it.
If I fix up the trailer, then I won't need the overhead. If I have the trailer, though, I won't be able to take the car with me everywhere.
I got an idea to add a luggage rack on top of the car while I tow it, but that is a thought for another time.
If I don't tow the car, I will have to drive it more.
There's a lot of decisions to be made about how to do all this.
For now, I'll just dry run everything before I start making cuts. Once you start on this, there's no turning back.
Update:
The dry run was to cut a piece with the hand saw. I made a more handy pedestal for the tablet. I am using the tablet for the update. After some consideration, I decided to wait and make myself more familiar with the power saw. Better to be safe than sorry.
Update:
Put the desk into proper orientation for the safest cut with power saw. Made measurements. But no cutting yet. Still puzzling out how this will all work out. No need to rush. This will be last update on this. If I don't get it done right, or if it falls apart, or something else goes wrong, you'll probably not hear about this again. However, if everything works out, I'll probably refer to it in the future.
Update:
It wasn't this last update, after all. Did all the cutting on it, looks like I will be able to use virtually all the wood and drawers in the desk. All in all, I'm pretty happy with it.
This post will go into the Construction sub-series of the off-the-grid main series of posts. These posts can be accessed from a table of contents and watched individually or in series from beginning to end.
While convalescing ( in a manner of speaking, I'm not that badly off ), I thought that I would do something to start preparing for the conversion of the van.
From earlier posts, it may be seen that I'm considering using some of my furniture inside the van. Yep, to tear apart the pieces and put them back again so that they will fit into the van's sidewall. I've done the measuring and so forth. The freezer can go up against the cargo cage thingy, and there would be enough clearance for the roll-away bed to deploy. Next to the freezer, would be a place for the microwave. I can make that out of parts from the computer desk. The clearance is just right I can set the top part of the computer desk on top of the microwave, which in turn, sits on top of part of the computer desk that detaches from it at an angle.
I'll have to cut up the desk. To use the part I'm cutting off, I'll split the desk part into two, and then recombine them into clothes storage space that will fit along the side of the van. I have a lot of ideas here. Once I get done, I'll have the two computer desks chopped up and spread along the walls of the van, so to speak.
To make this work, make three cuts of wood that connects the computer desk with the upper part. The upper part has a storage place with doors to open and close- I want to keep that intact. After cutting it off the top of the desk, I will re-attach it to the part that is already attached and at an angle. This angled part is held to the desk with screws. Those have been detached for a long time, by the way. When all of this is completed, there will be shelving above and below the microwave. I can store stuff for the kitchen and "bathroom" in there.
In order to take a shower, I have a washtub. Yes, you can stop laughing. This place won't have running water, so I will have to take a "shower" in the washtub, and it will have to done while sitting down. I've worked these details out already, so it won't be a big deal. I can literally "shave, shower, and what have you" ( you know what I mean)- in the van. Sleep too, as I will have the roll-away bed in there as well.
Not all of this stuff is wanted in the cargo department. For that, an overhead storage thingy is to be built. I've worked those details out, too. Haven't bought the rack and so forth, so that project is down the road a bit, if you pardon the pun.
Some of my stuff will be up there. Like the washtub. The big chair I got will be up there, too. It folds up, and the washtub should fit up there too.
Oh, yeah. I was thinking of having the dresser in the van. No, that will be in the trailer, if I ever build it.
If I fix up the trailer, then I won't need the overhead. If I have the trailer, though, I won't be able to take the car with me everywhere.
I got an idea to add a luggage rack on top of the car while I tow it, but that is a thought for another time.
If I don't tow the car, I will have to drive it more.
There's a lot of decisions to be made about how to do all this.
For now, I'll just dry run everything before I start making cuts. Once you start on this, there's no turning back.
Update:
The dry run was to cut a piece with the hand saw. I made a more handy pedestal for the tablet. I am using the tablet for the update. After some consideration, I decided to wait and make myself more familiar with the power saw. Better to be safe than sorry.
Update:
Put the desk into proper orientation for the safest cut with power saw. Made measurements. But no cutting yet. Still puzzling out how this will all work out. No need to rush. This will be last update on this. If I don't get it done right, or if it falls apart, or something else goes wrong, you'll probably not hear about this again. However, if everything works out, I'll probably refer to it in the future.
Update:
It wasn't this last update, after all. Did all the cutting on it, looks like I will be able to use virtually all the wood and drawers in the desk. All in all, I'm pretty happy with it.
Obligatory, 1.10.16; Puttering about
A manner of speech. Just doing odds and ends around the place, that's all. I could work. I feel well enough. But these things I am doing interest me more. Sure, I'll get around to making a few bucks, but as of now, it isn't needed.
Now, if I had won that Powerball thingy, my money worries would be over forever and ever. Or would they? I got to thinking about that. No, the money worries would not be over, even if you win the jackpot and have it all to yourself.
Still, the idea of having all that beautiful money really attracts me. It's like catnip. But maybe it isn't so good for a body. Anyway, I'd just as soon try, as $2 isn't that much to miss, and besides I might even win. If I win, what would I do with all that money?
If I had a billion bucks, I would.... You know what? Can't think of anything, but wait! I'd like to fund some stuff that I think deserves funding, but isn't getting it. Like Focus Fusion. Maybe Kirk Sorensen's project with molten-salt reactors. I might even buy a ride to Mars, if I live long enough.
Having money is better than not having it. It is what you do with it that counts.
This post is going to be categorized as a Seinfield post, which means it is about nothing. Named after the show, which was about nothing. This is about nothing because it is a stupid dream and that's all it is. But I like it, and I'm a gonna do it anyway.
Now, if I had won that Powerball thingy, my money worries would be over forever and ever. Or would they? I got to thinking about that. No, the money worries would not be over, even if you win the jackpot and have it all to yourself.
Still, the idea of having all that beautiful money really attracts me. It's like catnip. But maybe it isn't so good for a body. Anyway, I'd just as soon try, as $2 isn't that much to miss, and besides I might even win. If I win, what would I do with all that money?
If I had a billion bucks, I would.... You know what? Can't think of anything, but wait! I'd like to fund some stuff that I think deserves funding, but isn't getting it. Like Focus Fusion. Maybe Kirk Sorensen's project with molten-salt reactors. I might even buy a ride to Mars, if I live long enough.
Having money is better than not having it. It is what you do with it that counts.
This post is going to be categorized as a Seinfield post, which means it is about nothing. Named after the show, which was about nothing. This is about nothing because it is a stupid dream and that's all it is. But I like it, and I'm a gonna do it anyway.
No Powerball Winner
Jackpot is up to $1.3 billion.
Yep, I played it last night. What the heck, huh? If you don't play, you can't win. The odds are really bad, though.
Yep, I played it last night. What the heck, huh? If you don't play, you can't win. The odds are really bad, though.
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