Thursday, August 11, 2011

Crazy

Things have been a little crazy around here, thus the lack of posts.

The first thing that happened was that I just didn't feel like posting, so I didn't.

Then I went to help my dad and sisters sort through some of my mom's things.  I thought about posting that, but it wasn't nearly as emotional or interesting as one might think, and we were done with it in a couple of hours.

On our way to see my dad, we saw a travel trailer for sale and stopped to check it out.  It fit every want and need we have in a travel trailer at this time...which meant it wasn't a pop-up but was still lightweight enough to pull with our half-ton pickup, and it cost only an arm instead of an arm and a leg.  So, with the help of our credit union, we bought it.  I'll post pics of it after the weekend.

(And yes, I know..I know...taking on debt and all that...but it's the way we decided to do this...)

Shane has been working as usual, but yesterday they flipped his schedule to accommodate a night job, so he worked overnight last night and will work overnight again tonight.  They're doing a small job in a shopping mall, so they can't do the work during the day. 

He'll get home sometime in the wee hours tomorrow morning, will rest for a while, and then we are driving the 100 or so miles to pick up the camper.  We'll camp in it a night or two while we're already near the lake, then bring it home either Saturday or Sunday.  We'll be home just in time for Shane to reload it and take it with him to live in while he's at work in Garden City, KS, again. 

We knew he'd have to go back, but we didn't find out it would be THIS weekend until just yesterday.  I've learned to not even ask how long he thinks he'll be gone, because they either won't tell him or it won't matter what they tell him.  He'll be there until they tell him to go home, and it either will or won't be his last time out there.

Wednesday of next week, Kat starts back to school.  This summer has gone far better than I thought it possibly could, thanks to a chore chart for her and some clear-cut rules about what she could and couldn't get away with over vacation.  All the same, I'm ready for her to be back in class.

Then things might start getting back to what I'm beginning to think of as normal for 2011 -- which isn't very  normal at all.

13 comments:

Mark said...

Question. So where would Shane sleep if he didn't have the camper? Would he have to rent a place? And if that's the case, then your Camper purchase makes perfect sense.
Your Friend, m.
p.s. Now I'm off to Facebook to see who else sent me a Friend request. Geez, they're coming out of the woodwork! m.

Annie Jones said...

He gets a per diem of $80 for room and meals. In the past it's cost him about $55 a day, even when he splits the cost of the room with a co-worker; he'd go over per diem if he booked a room just for himself.


He can rent an RV space with all utilities (including wi-fi) for $360 a month, or $12 per day. Add groceries to cook in the trailer to the tune of $10 or less per day, for a total cost of around $20-$25 per day. If he lets the co-worker stay in the camper, too, it will cost him even less.

The savings can't in any way justify the purchase, but it will help us get it paid off more quickly.

Sonya Ann said...

I'm ready for my kids to head back too. It was a good summer with them but still........
I think that the camper was a good purchase. You will get years of use out of it. Sometimes we work so hard to save that we leave out all the fun. You scrimp and save for a reason and that's to live.
And I can't wait to see the pictures!

OurWanderingAdventures said...

Sounds like a fun purchase!

slugmama said...

Well the camper purchase makes perfect sense to me! And putting the leftover per diem will get it paid off lickety split. Just hope that Shane has many more job days away from home.....but not too many.... ;-)

Waiting to see the camper p*rn....

Sheila said...

I can't believe how fast this summer has gone. I'm glad y'all got a new to you camper. One reason Kevin bought the RV was if he gets laid off--looks very possible--he will be able to stay in it wherever he goes instead of staying in hotels. You know, most of the RV parks we stayed in for the past week had people who live there--the rates sure beat apartment rent or hotels.
Happy camping. Take care.

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't fret over the debt (haha - I rhymed!). We recently refinanced our mortgage and pulled out some equity to cover a kitchen (and then some) remodel. We have a lot of equity in our home due to diligently paying extra on mortgages over the years and decided that, for this project, we were okay with dipping into that pool of money. We got an awesome rate to boot. Everything else we've done to this house has been with cash, but those projects were much smaller, and the thought of saving to do the kitchen was just a little depressing, to be quite honest. Our kitchen is literally falling apart (25 years old and has never been updated), so we justified the debt. Right or wrong, it's done.

An RV sounds more homey when working away from home than a motel does, anyway. I'm sure he'll be more comfortable.

Dr. Alice said...

I have to agree with everybody else regarding the camper purchase. It makes a lot of sense to me. Plus, thinking of future jobs I am sure it could come in handy there too.

And regarding normal life, one thing I have learned over the years is that "normal life" is hardly ever normal...

Melynda@Scratch Made Food! said...

Annie, I think all this is really called the "new normal". It sure seems that way here!

Lisa B. said...

Annie the purchase makes sense to me also since you will receive so much per diem per day to go towards the camper. And I agree Shane will be more comfortable in it than a hotel room.

I'm also ready for kiddo to start school. My whole "normal" life has changed also with me going back to work. I just can't seem to get my act together. Maybe once school starts again that will help.... keeping my fingers crossed!

Enjoy your weekend at the lake!

McVal said...

I'm so ready for the kids to go back to and get to some normalcy around here too. It won't be... but I can dream. Hopefully my son will find a job to get his butt out of the house too and some other things I'm wishing for. Oh and I want a pony.

Frances said...

I think the camper is a great purchase! My parents-in-law had one for year and it got a ton of use.

Mark said...

Thank you! Thank you for explaining all that. m.