STILL no work for me. They are sending out limited loads right now, the plant isn't able to produce enough product for unknown reasons.  Today I figure the driver's license department is probably open after everything being shut down - but - I still needed to do more study/practice tests.  I can safely say that I feel like I'm ready to take the test for Hazmat endorsment.

I'm consistently getting 90 to 100% on the large number of practice tests that I have taken.  I kept going through one particular site the last couple of days because it would ask the same questions over and over and throw in new ones that I didn't know the answers to.  I've done that test at least 20 times today and finally getting to the point where my score is enough to pass. I think the real test is 30 questions long and you need 80% correct to pass. I needed to be able to get everything at 90% minimum to feel like it's worth spending the time going to a DL office and standing there waiting for an opening without an appointment - and not even being guaranteed that I will be able to in that day.

And now, they are even further behind since they've been closed an entire week. I do not want to continue driving on an expired license regardless of the state mandate.  I have no idea if other states will honor that.  If not, they will write me a ticket and put me out of the truck.  

The kids are gone, thankfully.  Schools are still closed here - not because of weather but because of lack of water pressure.  Taylor's work has been shut down - a local restaurant - because of no water pressure as well.  So, some parts of town have water pressure and other parts of town do not. The city needs to get its act together and get this town up and running.  Anyway, I've had the best study time this morning that I've had yet what with the kids not being all up in my business and running around the house yelling and screaming and stomping on the floors and making all kinds of noise.

They've been pent up for over a week as well.  The daycare is open regardless of the schools being closed and there they will stay all day long until around 5ish.

Went out with Taylor yesterday - get her out of the house and have some conversation about what's going on.  For my part attempting to solidify my future in this house and whether my presence is still welcome here - but we affirmed our friendship and that was enough for me.  It's an odd situation.  She is done with him, but not forcing him to move out.  He'd be screwed completely financially.  I think he's sleeping in the boy's room.  I dunno, but I suggested at the least get a travel trailer for him and have him live out back.  She thought they were too expensive, but actually you can buy older ones in still decent shape. Doesn't have to be huge, but a place where he goes at night and separates himself from her, for I can tell ya, she wants literally nothing to do with him right now.

I don't blame her, I fully understand which is why it was strange that he's still here.  But that's not my venue, I'm not going there, was just basically trying to assess the situation.  As I stated before, I hold no ill will against James, I still consider him a friend and whatever they work out is okay by me.  However, I did offer that if this situation required getting out of the house, I would be willing to buy a house on land outside of town.  3 bedrooms at least with 2 baths, that way we have a place to live and I have the property to build the park on.  Oh I'm still all about that park, but it seems so elusive.  

The city has yet to upload a new auction sale list, so I'm calling them today. It's almost 3 months now and it should be getting close to the time for another sale.  It's one hope I have for getting that property I need.  I actually wouldn't mind starting a park in various other states with much cheaper land or with views or with some sort of uniqure "thing" that separates the property. These full time RV'ers travel all over the place.  But - I do want a southern home for it so that they can come year round.  

There's a lot of RV parks around here, mine would have to have a unique setting. So far I've determined that far and wide, full time RV'ers want much larger spaces.  They complain about it in forums all the time.  I don't understand why RV parks cram them in so close to each other that when one RV deploys it's awning, it's almost touching the RV next to it.  Picnic tables and a fire pit are also high demand.  Laundry facility and propane for sale also high on the list.  A closed in dog run park also very high on that list as well.  

Some of them complain about full time RV'ers in parks - they don't want them there - but they don't give the reasons why.  In the setting around here? I'd have to have some full time people living in there, just no way around it.  Full hook ups are a must and many of them demand wifi.  And after reading a lot of posts about wifi, that sounds like it can cost a small fortune to have - it's a thing where you'd have to charge more for anyone using it.  I'm not sure why these people don't just have Verizon or ATT, perhaps some of the places they go to don't have reception, but I"m reading that many RV parks do not off wifi - either free or paid for - that one would be up in the air depending on the costs.  The bottom line is to make money, not throw it out in amenities.  A laundry room would be a one time set up cost, a dog park the same thing.  Picnic tables and firepits also the same. Get it set up, forget about it for the most part excepting a laundry room the machines may need perioidic repairs, but it's a must have.  

Full hookups are a given.  That's water, sewer and electric at every site. Pull thru's are preferred for many people that are hesitant about backing up those giant things. A lot of these people sell their homes and buy fancy, giant RV;s with the proceeds and go about living in them full time.  Many of the people I have been reading haven't been doing it long or haven't even bought their RV yet and asking for advice.  I don't give any advice, I do ask questions about things people say they want.  For example, people wanting huge, fenced in dog runs.  I asked whether they would like it better if the property had a forest and walking trails and you could just let your dog run off leash?  I haven't been back to that yet today to find out, I got busy with hazmat tests, that takes priority over pretty much everything right now. 

But, I am glad that I haven't actually acquired a property yet, the more reading I do, the more I get a feel for what people want/need in an RV park.  It's a mix, but there are certain things that most of them want.  I can tell  ya that all of the parks I have seen around here have them all crammed in there.  That might attract people wanting to live in them, that won't attract travelers - who pay a higher price for a nightly or weekly stay.  I have lots of things in mind. Even if I ever get this venture going, I won't have all of that at first.  Too much up front money. Things would need to be built as I have the money to install them.  Like a huge kiddy playground - those seem to be immensely popular with parents full time RV'ing.  Yup, they take their entire families and do home schooling and work out of the RV as well.

Hence the demands for high speed internet.  

Well enough of that - tho that is a lot of what is floating around in my head right now besides having had crammed a bunch of useless Hazmat info in there that will disappear after I take the test.  That endorsement will be good for 5 years and I'm not sure I will be working after 5, at least not for a company.  I guess I need to do an evaluation of my finances and see if I could afford a higher priced property.  It only makes sense, really, to get at least 25 acres for multiple uses.  An RV park, some mobile home pads elsewhere on the property.  A house to live in, that type of thing.  25 acres would afford for that and still have plenty of room for hiking trails and nature walks type of things. That would appeal to families for sure wanting to get their kids out of the unit and exploring the wild blue yonder.  Oh and a swimming pool.  That would not be something I'd put in at first, 30 grand or more for an amenity that may or may not pay off would not be a wise business decision from the start.  

So, I'm going to go back to hazmat tests - I'm do it a couple more hours at least today while the house is quiet.  It's just really nice to have a quiet house for once.  If by chance I don't get a run tomorrow, I'll be at the driver's license office before 8 am and be waiting at the door. This was their instructions to get in on stand by.  I may even ask to be passed by for a load so I can get this s*** over with. Sorry for the language, but this stuff is really annoying, having to take a test for something that is your livelihood, that you already know everything you need to know. I don't need to know anything about explosives - dynamite and the like - I never plan on hauling that stuff. Or chlorine, or a host of other things. 

G'day.