Wednesday, November 17, 2021

 Just not sleeping at night.  Coughing has subsided greatly but whatever's going on with this nonsense, it's keeping me awake. Not having to go to work? No big deal. If I were driving right now, tho, it would be miserable.  I completely forgot to start the antibiotic regimen yesterday....got distracted with property stuff. Picked up the prescription, yes, just didn't start it.  

But I was growing stir crazy today.  Well, just as a rehash, I got sick probably 5 or 6 days ago. The coughing got worse and worse until I just enough of this, I'm going to urgent care, which I did yesterday. I was supposed to go out on a run but my dispatchers said no thanks, hon, you are staying home, you don't need to driving sick like that, you sound terrible.  

So this morning went out with Taylor on multiple errands.  It ended up at IHOP, we were both hungry and a nice omelet sounded good, we both had one in fact.  One of those last all day long meals, I am still not hungry at all.  Also went to Boot Barn, I bought the 4 year old a bit better pair of boots, the ones I bought for him a few months ago had already worn out and were separating.  A bit pricier, but not that bad because it's small child size, he should get 4 or 5 months out of those, worry free. The boy loves his boots.  Better than sneakers, amazingly enough.  The older one likes boots, too, but not as much as the 4 year old.  

Back  home, took a nap.  Had to, sleeplessness caught up to me.  The steroids I think is what's causing it, because when I took the prednisone pills for a couple of days it was definitely having some sort of effect on my system. It was a tradeoff - little sleep but much less coughing all night long.  

Then off to the property.  Still looking for the telephone pole, lol, not there yet but I had Addler with me an we went for a nice, long walk.  Not too strenuous, but definitely needed to get the blood pumping through my veins. Laying around doing nothing gets extremely old after a while.  I don't know how able-bodied people can do that every day.  I can see kicking back for a while, but not all day long.  

I measured from the edge of the street to 15 feet the other side of the power lines.  From there I started 280 feet - that's the length of 14 spots. 7 on each side, so actually 7 lots long at 40 feet wide.  I really think I'm taking the right route at 40 feet wide.  It's a good amount of room - but it's not too much.  I can see with a 9 foot wide trailer and losing at least 5 feet on the driver's side plus the room the slide outs take, you are still left with a goodly amount of room on the passenger side for your living area.  

Quality over quantity, 50 lots total, which is what I intend on putting in total, would take in a minimum of $1,500 per night gross receipts.  That's even if you  I can totally fill it up during the peak season - tho with enough advertising I believe I will be able to.  I have around 250 "extra" feet at the rear. It's plenty of room for a dog park, a swimming pool, a bath house a pavillion and maybe even a party house - weddings and such.  Parking along the side of the existing driveway.  

The plans are becoming a bit more definitive over time.  I think it's the best idea to have the facilities all together near the rear.  A bath house in the middle is the only different route I might go, so it's not too far from anyone to walk to.  Or perhaps in the end, one in the middle and one in the rear as well.  

I was also looking into swimming pool financing again.  It's amazing, but they have financing just for swimming pools. The best thing I could find is around $500 per month for an elongated period of time making payments.  Yes, I would consider it at the beginning.  If I'm not even opening before Spring, I have time to consider that kind of payment every month.  Propane service may be a thing, in the future, as well.  I'd probably just ask guests about it - if this facility had such a service, would you use it? I wouldn't mind getting one of the local services coming maybe once a week if they would agree to it to fill people's containers at the sites.  Simply have a sign up sheet and see if there's enough interest to have them come out.  Even in the summer people will use propane for their water heaters and indoor cooking.  

Anyway, even with only 14 lots to start and if I could keep them relatively filled up most of the time, making  a pool payment wouldn't be that bad.  I'll have another loan payment as well and I want the operation to make the property payment as well.  Plus a part time employee.  $1,000 + $452 + $500 = $1,952 for payments per month, plus electricity, water and internet.  And an employee on top of that.  I'd up that $1,952 to around $3,900 for everything but the employee.  28 hours per week, office open from noon to 4, Monday through Sunday.  Or Sunday through Sunday I guess you'd say?  add another $1,680 for that employee or employees at $15 per hour.  I'm looking at $5,580 per month expenses. Which is a lot for only 14 lots, but it's doable and still pull a profit.  

30% of gross for 14 lots would be around $3,780 per month, so that's going well over the 30% cap, but that isn't permanent.  And that includes a pool payment. Oops, forgot about pool care.  Weekly service.  $1,800 more in monthly expenses, it's about 44% versus what they say should be 30% max.  But once the operation gets up to 50 spaces, 30% is $13,500 - that's a significant difference and ability to do much more and have more employees.  Of course at that point I'd be quitting trucking and I would be part of the payroll.  And I won't be part time. I'll be out there all the time working maintenance, clean up and upgrades.  At that point there would be another monthly payment added - a piece of machinery for bush hogging, clearing, backhoe.  Perhaps a farm tractor.  

This isn't just a dream to me.  This is going to be reality if I have anything to do with it.  Lord willing.  

So far, since I've started looking, I've seen absolutely no one outside of their houses.  I'm looking to ask about these ATT pedestals, surely someone must know whether there is actual service and whether Fidelity has an operation. Otherwise, there are mobile hotspot options which are costlier, but internet is vital to the appeal of any RV park.  At least the option for mobile hotspot is there, hopefully there is a business plan if it comes down to having to go that route.  

Ahh, and I saw a tiny little green snake.  It didn't move when I stepped over it, it caught the corner of my eye.  I got a stick and picked it up, it didn't even try to get away.  Bright green it looks like from what I could find it's called a Rough Green snake.  Non venomous, I didn't think it was but, just in case, that's why I picked it up with a stick versus picking it up with my hand.  I thought it unusual the thing didn't try to escape.  

I am kicking back now. I tried not to exert too much today but I thought it was time well spent. Hopefully the antibiotics will do some good - if the doc is right this isn't a virus and antibiotics will actually help.  It was peaceful, serene and lovely to walk through the woods. It made it all that much nicer with the thought that those are my woods.  Just me and my doggy. Water still running in the little stream. Not a lot, but it's there.  Walking trails covered with leaves, fall is kicking in and the deciduous trees are dumping their leaves in a quick hurry.  

Well, I was going to go get the boat today- it's finally done.  Months sitting at that place.  They didn't call me, I had to call them, lol.  Maybe tomorrow. Tho, we are going to the 6 year old's school tomorrow to partake of some parent lunch or whatever it's being done for, parents are showing up, I was invited.  Phoenix - the 6 year old - doesn't know we're coming.  So it'll be a surprise for him - whether it's a nice surprise? Remains to be seen when we see his reaction to showing up.  Mama's been getting on his case and grounding him from certain things for doing poorly on tests, kind of a motivational kick in the @ss type of thing to get him to pay more attention and focus himself on his work and learning.  

But if I do get the boat tomorrow, I won't be able to take it out just yet. The trailer license plate is current but the boat registration is not. Get busted on the lake without it current? They write you a ticket just like in your car.  And anyway, I need to install a trolling motor,  I won't take it out again before one of those is on there to at least get me out of any trouble if the darn engine still wants to have trouble firing up.  

It's been a long time since I have taken that boat out.  Covid hit and everything was put on hold.  I didn't care about the boat at the time, it could wait. The shop has had it running. They turned it, off. Left it running, turned it off, turned it back on. They had no problems with it, of course they didn't.  No clue.  I don't want a new boat, I don't want another boat, I just want this one to work.....

Next will be to take the 4 wheeler in and get it fixed.  Can't do that until one of the friends of the family brings my 16 foot flatbed trailer back. He has had it several weeks, time to bring it home sir, I have need for it.  I want to ride it on the trails at the property and keep them "maintained" - riding on them will keep anything from growing on them.  Trust me, the tires on that 4 wheeler will tear up any plants, lol.  It's  a beast. 

That's enough for one entry. I completely forgot to take pics for the site designer to use for temporary pics of the "park".  These would be pics of the trees - nice pics, not anything showing where I have cleared out the back and front portions. He adamantly suggested not having "under construction" pics.  That's fine, I can take photos that will make that property shine, look right as rain, appealing to nature lovers.  Too late to go back today, the sun is already going down. I want full, over head sun for those pics for the everything to stand out.  Was a perfect day for it too, it wasn't over cast, just a nice day. 

Oh well, maybe tomorrow- maybe.

 





 

 Friday late-morning Typical morning when there is no work.  It was, I should say, until the new guy called.  "There's nothing wron...