Having no idea what I would face driving the rest of the way back today, leaving the truck stop I was at in Cross Plains, I was at least encouraged it was Saturday and not a week day.  But, it was supposed to rain most of the way back and that usually ends up with accidents and people freaking out all over the place, driving 30 mph in a 70mph zone on open highway in the passing lane - well you get the picture.

I was 40 miles into it before I got entangled in the first ordeal.  An accident.  The entire freeway shut down to stop and go, it took about 20 minutes to get through that.  Then it took forever for everyone to get separated out on the highway so vehicles weren't  all driving together in a big group - the aftermath of that accident 50 miles or more down the road.  

Then it was a construction zone that had everyone going 5 to 30 mph.  Etc. Etc. - including spending 30 minutes trying to get fuel at a very busy Love's in Palestine, AR.  But, I did make it back with time to spare on the clock.  Not the end of the world if it took a partial, extra day, but why bother, get this stuff over with.  

So I'm home.  I'm a bit unhappy that I don't have enough money in savings to cover a larger purchase at the upcoming auction.  I have enough for opening bids on several properties that would fit the bill, but if these rich people show up, they'll just up bid well beyond anything I have in the bank. Since you have to have the money in the auctioneer's hands within an hour of the auction ending, I can't go beyond what I have on hand.  

I'm going to go anyway, you never know.  Plus it will be rainy and cool outside. These auctions are done outdoors, rain or shine, that ought to keep some of them home.  But, I'm only interested in attempting to win a bid on one property, if I don't, I'm not picking up anything else. I already have the 3 lots and the hunting property, I don't need any more of that.  Monday, however, I am going to go back to the city and attempt to get a copy of the zoning map for the town.  There are several mobile homes up for bid - these are homes that will have to be moved -  if I could find a decent mobile and if I could put one on one of these properties, well that would be nice.  Those mobiles go cheap at the auction, hardly anyone bids on them.  It would cost more to have the thing moved than it will to buy one. 

Oh dang. I just checked the law firm's list, they have stamped a large number of the properties "WITHDRAWN" - usually meaning the owner came along and paid up the taxes. In some of those properties, they are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars being sold for 15 -20 grand?  But, I have to go out to my vehicle, get out my list and see what I have checked on there that is of interest compared to what has been withdrawn.  If there's too many, I'm just going to contact dispatch tomorrow and tell them I'm available for the next load that I will be up for.  

Okay, I can't wait til tomorrow to check this out, lol, going to get that list.

None of the properties I was looking at affected. I wasn't seriously considering the properties with houses since the starting bids is well above my current finances and undoubtedly will go very high.  One property in particular stands out, it's in my town, on the outskirts tho. It's 11 acres and has access points from 3 different streets.  It's completely undeveloped and covered with trees. The property would be great because there is no need for a water well or to install sewage vault with leech fields.  Tying into an existing system is far cheaper.  

But, the opening bid is $5633, I could probably go up to 8 grand and then have to cut out of the bidding.  In reality, to be able to win a bid on such a property, probably need about 22 grand.  

I may just table this RV park thing for a while and get it out of my system.  It's just not happening.  Yet.  If I wait two years my old 401k presumably will be worth more and I won't have to pay out the 10% fine for cashing out early.  

Or, just an aggressive savings plan that has at least a grand a month.  Can I afford to take out $250 out of every paycheck? Hmm, maybe.  Cut out eating out, don't buy an big ticket items (next on the list was a computer desk with hutch), live frugal.  That depends on work as well, of course, but I wasn't planning on quitting anyway even if I ever do get property and get something going.  

But, the plan is to go to the auction regardless of odds of winning anything.  The rich dude has said twice now that sometimes a bunch of people show up and bid everything up - and sometimes not many show up and stuff goes cheap.  With that in mind, I will go, if I don't get what I need, I will leave empty handed and go back 3 months later to the next one.  

Okay, well it's Saturday night, everyone is in bed except me - but it's only 9:30 pm - I have no plans for tomorrow.  Actually, I may.  Now that I think of it.  The back yard is an utter disaster. I need the exercise.  I just walked outside with no jacket on, it's nice outside.  Good working weather, I may just get up and go out there and resume the cleaning project I had started before this wicked storm came through.  I'm thinking I could also potentially set up the new pond.  That is, if no more serious winter weather is coming our way?  

Well, it's a plan anyway.  Take my mind off of things.