Morning Cup Of Coffee And Weather

The county I live in has 12 people a square mile. With small towns having three or four thousand that means the country has even less. In the North Country Woods you can go miles and not see anyone. Most RVers camp to get away from it all. I go camping to see it all.
 
Tour 931 said:
The county I live in has 12 people a square mile. With small towns having three or four thousand that means the country has even less. In the North Country Woods you can go miles and not see anyone. Most RVers camp to get away from it all. I go camping to see it all.
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We've amusingly talked about your home locate before, and I must admit I find the concept appealing. It would work for me if I had a quality butcher or meat market reasonably close, a fridge large enough for a couple of days' worth of food, and a freezer to get me through longer periods of isolation.

I actually lived in a 'tiny house' for about five weeks, so I experienced the appeal firsthand! The simplicity definitely has its advantages. However, I would have needed a bit more space than the glamping place I stayed in offered, along with a better cooking setup and maybe an easy chair.

Not to get picky, but an umbrella or sun screen would have been nice too. The afternoon sun left me with no place to go except inside, and being fair-skinned, I burn easily. The cabin had just a couple of outdoor chairs, a bed, a dorm fridge, and a subpar hot plate for cooking.

Combined, this meant frequent trips to the local Walmart (30-45 minutes away) - almost daily, certainly every other day. Only after 4 weeks did I discover another grocery store just 5 miles down the road in the opposite direction! The frustrating part about groceries in remote areas is that quality products don't get shipped to places with no money. The meat available was particularly horrible - gristly, fatty (the bad kind, not the good stuff), and gray. Yuck.

So I went 5 weeks without a decent piece of meat. I did buy a cheap $20 pressed steel grill from Walmart, and that kept me going. My first night there was rough since I arrived at 6:30pm knowing nothing about the area. Fortunately, I had stopped at Buc-ee's and grabbed a sandwich, so it wasn't critical. On nights when it was rainy, windy, or just too cold, I was glad to have Uber Eats deliver to my location!

I hate living out of a suitcase like that.

You ever get into that furnace?
 
Helping a friend with a container home project has been interesting when considering tiny home aspects. Sweeney's note on the sun shade area is a very important one. A well designed tiny home concept will include a good amount of outdoor living space and much of that space will need cover, ideally some roof for rain and such so gazebo structures or something are a simple help. When playing with container home concepts one of the theories I like is arranging multiple containers in a way that creates a central courtyard area for the outdoor living space. I love courtyard areas that are part of the home's living space. This is why so many container home concepts will utilize the container doors on one end to open up onto a patio or deck with french doors behind the container doors to make the one end of the living space totally open out into a outdoor living space.

Cary
 
Cary Winch said:
Helping a friend with a container home project has been interesting when considering tiny home aspects. Sweeney's note on the sun shade area is a very important one. A well designed tiny home concept will include a good amount of outdoor living space and much of that space will need cover, ideally some roof for rain and such so gazebo structures or something are a simple help. When playing with container home concepts one of the theories I like is arranging multiple containers in a way that creates a central courtyard area for the outdoor living space. I love courtyard areas that are part of the home's living space. This is why so many container home concepts will utilize the container doors on one end to open up onto a patio or deck with french doors behind the container doors to make the one end of the living space totally open out into a outdoor living space.

Cary
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I'm fascinated by this topic. The whole 'tiny house' thing is appealing to me. I've often though about how little of the space I have, actually gets used. My bedroom, bathroom, living room, office, plus another office for Mrs. Sweeney. The shop/barn/garage -- I need about twice what I have :D

I'd need to do a SERIOUS purge (as in 'honey, where's the matches') to do it -- but I'd love the challenge.

Have you ever seen the "Earthship" homes? Now that...is an objective!

I think regardless, having more outside space outside with shade and a firepit - an outdoor kitchen would be nice. It would surely be healthier than the sedentary indoor life we all live today.
 
Sweeney said:
We've amusingly talked about your home locate before, and I must admit I find the concept appealing. It would work for me if I had a quality butcher or meat market reasonably close, a fridge large enough for a couple of days' worth of food, and a freezer to get me through longer periods of isolation.

I actually lived in a 'tiny house' for about five weeks, so I experienced the appeal firsthand! The simplicity definitely has its advantages. However, I would have needed a bit more space than the glamping place I stayed in offered, along with a better cooking setup and maybe an easy chair.

Not to get picky, but an umbrella or sun screen would have been nice too. The afternoon sun left me with no place to go except inside, and being fair-skinned, I burn easily. The cabin had just a couple of outdoor chairs, a bed, a dorm fridge, and a subpar hot plate for cooking.

Combined, this meant frequent trips to the local Walmart (30-45 minutes away) - almost daily, certainly every other day. Only after 4 weeks did I discover another grocery store just 5 miles down the road in the opposite direction! The frustrating part about groceries in remote areas is that quality products don't get shipped to places with no money. The meat available was particularly horrible - gristly, fatty (the bad kind, not the good stuff), and gray. Yuck.

So I went 5 weeks without a decent piece of meat. I did buy a cheap $20 pressed steel grill from Walmart, and that kept me going. My first night there was rough since I arrived at 6:30pm knowing nothing about the area. Fortunately, I had stopped at Buc-ee's and grabbed a sandwich, so it wasn't critical. On nights when it was rainy, windy, or just too cold, I was glad to have Uber Eats deliver to my location!

I hate living out of a suitcase like that.

You ever get into that furnace?
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Haven’t even thought about the furnace. I’m currently working on my shop which is a shop/recreation room/garage and kitchen. Even though I live in a small 1,850 square foot home I have a large 1,500 square foot shop/ where I can entertain up to 50 people which is approximately 20% of the county.

Seriously I can not see another lived in house from my property and can shoot ten feet from my door.
 
We tried going from a 2800 sq ft home (outside DC) to 850 sq ft apartment over my in-laws garage (northeast PA) 9 years ago. I do not know how couples can live in a tiny home; it did not work for us. We moved so my father in law could continue to live in his house. We now live in the house with about 2000 sq ft and that works well because we have room for us and guests. Most of our neighbors houses are second homes; they come here to ski or to hunt. It is 45 minute drive for most shopping and services with a few mom and pop stores closer. I cannot imagine moving back to a more populated area. Winters are cold but we added a wood stove and I am going to add a connection to run a generator off the PTO of my tractor so we can handle any long power outages. This is not where I thought I would spend my retirement years but it works.
 
Steve Sanford said:
We tried going from a 2800 sq ft home (outside DC) to 850 sq ft apartment over my in-laws garage (northeast PA) 9 years ago. I do not know how couples can live in a tiny home; it did not work for us. We moved so my father in law could continue to live in his house. We now live in the house with about 2000 sq ft and that works well because we have room for us and guests. Most of our neighbors houses are second homes; they come here to ski or to hunt. It is 45 minute drive for most shopping and services with a few mom and pop stores closer. I cannot imagine moving back to a more populated area. Winters are cold but we added a wood stove and I am going to add a connection to run a generator off the PTO of my tractor so we can handle any long power outages. This is not where I thought I would spend my retirement years but it works.
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I know the feeling!

About 10 years ago, my in-laws' health issues prompted us to relocate closer to them. My father-in-law had cognitive problems and physical
issues from working in steel mills, while my mother-in-law struggled with MS, cognitive issues, and lung cancer treatment. We rented a house just two doors down from theirs, which had the same floorplan and felt bigger due to its design.

We downsized from 1800 square feet (not including garage and basement) to a similar-sized home with three bedrooms and a living room. However, reality hit when we started unpacking: our moving company informed us that one of the rooms was already full, and we never finished unpacking. Less than a year later, my father-in-law passed away, followed by my mother-in-law needing to move into a senior apartment, eventually joining us at our current home. I still have her belongings, as well as those of my parents.

I thnk "Oy Vey!" is what comes to mind. One day, I'll keep the camper stowed and actually do the responsible thing I should be doing :)

Not this weekend!
 
I don't know why I feel funny about it --- maybe just because I hate spam, and commercial stuff in forums and what not...I know most of my friends here and few non friends know I've started a mobile RV technician business. Fortunately, not many campinn customers will need my service...they're built too good. But, theoretically I suppose it is possible...

After fixing my own camper and helping others at the campsite, I thought I was ready for my first paid customer. But when the money changed hands, all my planning went out the window! It felt great to help a family stuck with a non-retracting camper due to a hydraulic leak. With some knowledge from an NRVTA class, I located the pump and fixed the issue. The owner picked up the necessary fluid while I prepared for the repair. Pressed the retract button... and it worked! The leak remained, and needs to be assessed --- but they were on their way home.
Then, I turned my attention to my first trip of the year- taking the business vehicle pulling Serenity. When I got to the camp site, I thought there might be some stress because I was badged as mobile repair. The gate attendant was confused, asking me what site number I needed. She thought i was here for a service call --- I had to explain I was here to play, not to work. Nice to know there will be no problems getting into state parks if needed!

Pulling the CI behind a Chevy Express Cargo Van was a great - The van has no windows in the box. Just side mirrors. And I can't see the camper. It literally disappears behind me. Talk about forgetting it was there. Backing was a lot harder -- I didn't have any visual points of reference...but still made it into the spot just fine. My MPG went from 20 to 17.

Little cold today, but not bad -- the sun is warm and I'm enjoying it.

Then, I hear my name ... I'm the only one here...and I look out my side door...here comes our very own @Bake and Kroak - we visited for a bit...he was looking for a camp site for the Crossraods of America Gathering this autumn. Sadly, same weekend as CICO, so this will be the first crossroads I miss in a few years. I was asked if I'd do a demo on wheel bearings - looks like maybe I'll do that at the summer gathering.

Regarless....great weekend with a warm camp fire, hot sun, and cool air. Honestly, I do think this is my favorite time of year for camping...when it isn't raining. :)
 
Talking about wheel bearings …. When I picked up the CI I gave Cary a small plastic peanut butter jar. They packed the bearings with grease and left a little more in the jar. Fits perfectly with spare tire in the hub ready to go.
 
Sweeney said:
I don't know why I feel funny about it --- maybe just because I hate spam, and commercial stuff in forums and what not...I know most of my friends here and few non friends know I've started a mobile RV technician business. Fortunately, not many campinn customers will need my service...they're built too good. But, theoretically I suppose it is possible...

After fixing my own camper and helping others at the campsite, I thought I was ready for my first paid customer. But when the money changed hands, all my planning went out the window! It felt great to help a family stuck with a non-retracting camper due to a hydraulic leak. With some knowledge from an NRVTA class, I located the pump and fixed the issue. The owner picked up the necessary fluid while I prepared for the repair. Pressed the retract button... and it worked! The leak remained, and needs to be assessed --- but they were on their way home.
Then, I turned my attention to my first trip of the year- taking the business vehicle pulling Serenity. When I got to the camp site, I thought there might be some stress because I was badged as mobile repair. The gate attendant was confused, asking me what site number I needed. She thought i was here for a service call --- I had to explain I was here to play, not to work. Nice to know there will be no problems getting into state parks if needed!

Pulling the CI behind a Chevy Express Cargo Van was a great - The van has no windows in the box. Just side mirrors. And I can't see the camper. It literally disappears behind me. Talk about forgetting it was there. Backing was a lot harder -- I didn't have any visual points of reference...but still made it into the spot just fine. My MPG went from 20 to 17.

Little cold today, but not bad -- the sun is warm and I'm enjoying it.

Then, I hear my name ... I'm the only one here...and I look out my side door...here comes our very own @Bake and Kroak - we visited for a bit...he was looking for a camp site for the Crossraods of America Gathering this autumn. Sadly, same weekend as CICO, so this will be the first crossroads I miss in a few years. I was asked if I'd do a demo on wheel bearings - looks like maybe I'll do that at the summer gathering.

Regarless....great weekend with a warm camp fire, hot sun, and cool air. Honestly, I do think this is my favorite time of year for camping...when it isn't raining. :)
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Congrats on the launch of your new business @Sweeney!
 
Sweeney said:
Pulling the CI behind a Chevy Express Cargo Van was a great - The van has no windows in the box. Just side mirrors. And I can't see the camper. It literally disappears behind me. Talk about forgetting it was there. Backing was a lot harder -- I didn't have any visual points of reference...but still made it into the spot just fine. My MPG went from 20 to 17.

:)
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Congratulations on your new endeavor!
If pulling the CI behind the cargo van is something you'll be doing regularly now with the new business, it might be worth looking into mounting a wireless back-up camera on the CI. We have one mounted on the license plate holder, and it works fine, unless I'm hauling a bike, which obstructs a significant part of the view.
 
I can’t see my CI with my Transit van when going straight down the road. When backing up I can see it if it’s bent even slightly. It’s never been a problem.
 
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