With everything that's weighing on me attempting to kick start this business, the idea of having to have laundry room available was reinforced today.

The owner of the 2 parks that are the largest competitors actually called me today.  He wanted to know if I had any extra spots available, his parks are full. Yes, I said and thought, I could use 12 more units in here.  Wait, that's 11 atm, the 2 weeker is in here.  

It was a long conversation.  He has filled his parks up mostly with oil field workers.  Yes, I have 2 of them here as well.  His advice: you have to have a laundry room and a bath house.  

I was working out front, pulling weeds, thinking about this all afternoon.  What can I do without taking out another loan?  I've already racked up credit card debt, what another 4 thousand more?  

My legs toast, I stopped the weed pulling operation and went to the park and opened up the power pedestal closest to the shed.  See, buying a small shed and locating it near the utilities is an interesting idea. But I'm spending $600 minimum on a small shed.  One that has the appearance I want is a grand.  

So what does it gain me to have another shed when for a grand, I can run the water, sewer and power lines to the shed from the closest lot?  I measured the distance, it's 136 feet.  That's not  that much - well it isn't until you start pricing the materials, lol.  It's going to be a grand for all of that, I've already done the pricing.  Another $250 for the size circuit breaker box I need and then I can start on running the wiring to the inside of the thing. I haven't priced any of that or the circuit breakers I'll need. I just know that I am going to put in a 200 amp breaker on the shed. 

If I'm doing it, I'm doing it right.  Because I will want 1 washer and 1 dryer to start. But it will go to 2 eventually.  I will eventually want a soda machine and I will need a large, electric water heater.  OH darn, I'll need the water heater right off the bat for laundry.  Once the laundry is done, I'll be looking into installing that shower room. I may not be able to do all of it, but I can do some of it and save some money.  I don't lay tile and I'm not going to try, especially for a bathroom and moreso for a shower stall.  

I don't know about that yet, I'm just focusing on the laundry aspect, it's keeping business away. Actually, I suspect lack of shower is also keeping business away, but the laundry I can do myself.  And a bathroom is going to cost a lot more money.  

Why did I wait so long to make this decision? Because I really do not want to get loaded up with debt. But think about it. You are living in an RV park, you want to be at home, not driving to a laundromat to spend 2 hours minimum there every week to do laundry. Instead, you take a load of clothes to the laundry room, run the washer, come back when the timer says it will be done, put it in the dryer and walaah.  You've spent a few minutes walking back and forth versus a few hours doing nothing but laundry.  I understand the need, I was just resisting.  Because I hate debt, yet I have a lot of it now.  

And the driveway. It's in pretty bad condition in a few spots.  I have no choice but to fix it and have at least a couple truckloads of gravel brought out.  So, the same day I rent a mini ex to dig the trench, I'm having gravel brought out. Which means I need to install that pipe on the driveway and get some dirt over there first.

See? It's endless. The things that need to be done and need to be done in order.  It keeps raining and the driveway gets worse and worse in those spots. Enough!  Right now, I can't dig that trench because there is a huge puddle of water. I can't see what I'm doing, the water just covers over it. 

I dunno, maybe I'll just take an extra set of clothes over there, get on my hands and knees in that muddy water, dug out a small trench without actually being able to see it and get it drained so I can get the rest of the trench dug out and get that damned pipe in there. Excuse my French, but this stuff is eating at me.  I would have already had it done had it not been for this knee injury.  

I have my work set out for me, that's a fact.  I'm going to come up with a plan for all of this, write it out and then get busy.  That plan will be done tonight, I intend on starting work on this stuff tomorrow.  It will take a while to do all of it, I just don't have the skills that a person working for a company that does nothing but this kind of work on a daily basis has.  I can do it right, it just takes me longer to get it that way.  

I'm going to mix it up between pulling weeds and getting that stuff done. The weeds are beyond ugly, it's disturbing seeing that stuff driving in there. I got a lot done on the front today and burned all of it while pulling it.  I had a decent sized fire going - took a while with everything being wet - but after it got burning, the coals got nice and hot and then it didn't matter how wet the weeds were.  

I don't even care about debt now.  Well, that's not exactly the correct way to word it, I definitely care about debt, but if I want to fill the park up, it needs the bare bones amenities.  It's gonna get done.  It might take a week or two - or who knows how long, I can't say, a pro could get the trench dug and wiring, sewer and water pipe done in a day.  I'm not a pro.  It could take days.  I don't know, I just know that I'm digging out around the pedestal by hand, I don't want to strike anything underground with a mini ex bucket.  

Then get the pipe and line - that will take time because I am not sure yet where I'm going to get it. Lowe's doesn't have the best prices and I am willing to drive however far to save significant money.  Or even have it shipped in if necessary.  The electrical line, that is, the sewer and water line will have to be sourced locally.  Oh and the breaker box for the shed, have to have that to connect the power line to.  

It is likely that I'll dig out the trench with the mini ex - and use it to spread some gravel - and then take it back.  I doubt I'll be able to dig the trench, install the line, turn off the power to the park - I don't want to die by electrocution, thanks - connect the line to the lugs, install the water and sewer line and then use the machine to fill in the trench on the same day. In fact, doing it alone? I peg that at impossible. I'll just have to push the dirt back in with a shovel. 

And there is my plan, lol. Not much more thought need be put into it.  I'm going to work at whatever pace my energy levels will give me until it is done.  I just can't afford to get sick again - or have some other injury - or have a relapse on knee pain.  

I haven't received - I take that back. A man called me today saying he wants to come take a look at the park.  He's needy tho. If he's telling the truth, he has a job at the Valero - gas station about 5 miles from the park - makes not that much per week and needs to be able to pay $100 per week instead of the entire month's rent up front.  I'm a bit hesitant.  I'll meet with him and see how it "feels".  I don't know how to put that into words quite right, but it's the sense you get whether this person is a good gamble or not.  It's all risky.  

But besides him? No online reservations, no other phone calls and no emails with inquiries.  I'm going to fill the amenity junk and get that out of the way and then I will know one way or the other whether that was holding back people from coming.  The lack of Google reviews is also a huge issue.  Besides one person giving me kudos on a facebook review, I have received nothing from anyone else.  

Wait, I have a Google review on there now.  4 stars.  I'll take it. I wouldn't give my park 5 stars either.  Just not enough there.  It's the couple living there.  I was wondering if they would ever give a review? They said they like it there - but apparently me telling them today I'm going to start working on installing laundry was the tipping point for them. Of course. They don't like going anywhere.  That is glaringly obvious. I'm guessing they are living off of social security income only.  I just can't imagine staying inside that RV all day long, only coming out to take the dogs out for potty breaks and occasional trips to town.  Probably to do laundry - I'll bet they were hoping I was going to do this. 

Well that just sets it in stone even further.  

Right now? I am very tired from all of that working today.  I kept going until my legs felt like lead weights and just couldn't walk anymore. I need a lot more days like this one. This is how you force yourself into shape, you push yourself. I was walking with dead weight legs for quite a while, just trying to get a pre-determined swath of the field done before I quite. I almost finished it.  I'd have to spend - another week working at it all day long. But...laundry takes precedence. I'll work on both of them.  

 Well, the forecasters got one right.  It rained all day long yesterday, moderate to heavy rain.  So, I went to walmart looking for a ledger, they didn't have one which was odd considering they have an entire "business" type of aisle with business good, then to the city water department.  While I have time, let's get all of this stuff done.  

The account has been transferred over to the business checking account.  

Then I decided to do something about auto insurance.  I ended up at a place that is 2 blocks from my house and stood there - it was kind of strange the receptionist didn't have me go sit down at the desk of a lady that has it set up for taking applications....it was a good deal of time standing there.  

Whatever the case, all of that time paid off: my insurance was reduced by $100 per month with almost the same coverages as I had with Allstate.  I got rid of the roadside assistance.  I have never used it on any of my policies and seems a waste of money.  I have about 6 months left of payments on that vehicle and I'll be done.  I will probably leave the coverage on it, it's tempting to take a much lower insurance rate with minimal coverage, but if something happens, you lose everything and have to start over.  I plan on keeping that vehicle for awhile, car and especially truck prices have skyrocketed and I don't feel like getting caught up in $700 a month payments.  

You would be surprised how how much Ford, Chevy and Dodge want for a new pickup. 

Anyway, over to the property while contemplating what to eat and then, Taylor texted asking if I wanted to go do lunch? 

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Today/Wednesday. No rain in the forecast but everything is wet over there.  I would have to say it's a good time to go over and pull weeds.  It's cold outside, but I'm sure after a few minutes of physical exertion, I will warm up nicely regardless of outside air temperature.  The front field is so ugly when you pull in there and I would like to see how much I can get done in a few hours of pulling. If I can knock out a good chunk, I'll just keep going.  I'd rather have a plain, barren dirt field than a field full of 3 foot tall weeds.  Just not a very good look, at all.  This is a problem I can do something about without spending any money.  I'd rather pay for machinery to do it, tbh, but I'm going to try to see about getting the front portion done and find out how long it takes me.  There are several days worth of rain forecast next week, it would be nice to get that front portion de-weeded and get at least a little grass going out there.

That's my plan, whether I follow through with it or not? Well, the next entry will be the tell-tale on that one.

Keto.  I'm doing well sticking on the diet.  9 days into it, I'm stuck at 10 pounds lost.  I was down 11 pounds, but it went back up a pound and that's where it's staying for now.  However - there is noticeable fat loss, especially on my belly.  A person needs to see some results - it doesn't have to be a lot - in order to gain that momentum, confidence and motivation to keep going.  The scale helps, but seeing it is much better.  I'm still fat around the belly, lol.  Just saying, it's gone down.  I have no intentions of caving to internal desires for potatoes, pastas, rice and other things any time soon.  

As long as I can see results either on the scale or in the mirror, I will remain motivated to stay on it.

I'll go to drastic measures to get it going again, such as water-only fasting for several days if necessary. I'm not there yet, I'll let this go a couple more days before switching gears.  

My next financial challenge will be calling Dish Network and basically telling them they can either get the price back down or I'll be switching to Directv.  I think these satellite companies sometimes think you are bluffing . So they start talking about reducing your channel lineup instead of simply giving you a long term customer discount - or whatever they want to call it, the price of the service at the AZ house is beyond ridiculous, it's absurd. I get so tired of these companies jacking up the prices - the do it in increments - and then you have to call in to discuss seemingly endlessly to get it back down.  

If I didn't need the service over there, I would just cancel it altogether.  But, people want the satellite so I have provided it for quite a long time now.  I'm not really trying to "make" money off of that house, but it does need to pay for itself.  

Well that's enough.  I need to get ready to go over there.  I don't think I"ll take Addler, he's a big baby in the cold. He'll run around for a while and then he'll just stand there, shivering, looking at me. Yes, even your dog can give you looks, lmao.  He does it well, too.  He'd be happier laying on his bed in my bedroom, which is exactly what I'm going to do. He's outside probably standing at the door atm, I pretty much let him inside with occasional potty breaks when it gets cold like this.  

Starlink. I'm signing up for it.  IT isn't available here yet, but you can sign up in advance.  I can't afford Verizon.  I'm only 2 weeks into it and I've already received a notice that I've used half the data up already.  I can't be having $500 per month internet bills, I might as well take out a loan and have Fidelity installed for the 7 grand for that much money.  They provide unlimited access offers.  I only have 3 people in there using internet and it's half gone already?  And then, they charge you an exorbitant amount per "block", they are calling it and rest assured, those blocks aren't that much date.  

I've already signed up for it.  Apparently, whenever they are expanded into my area, they just ship out the equipment, which isn't cheap.  But, I've read up to 30 devices can be hooked up to it at a time.  Another RV park owner said he put up 2 separate systems and says it works well enough. Yes, I'm not trying to provide lightning speeds, I'm trying to give people access to the internet for looking up email, social media.  Not online games that use tons of data and broadband width.  I dunno, I'm a bit nervous about this Verizon account because it can go way up in monthly price. And there is only one full time rig there.

They sit in that trailer all day long. They said they had their own unlimited wifi, but it's obvious they are relying on my internet for their complete internet coverage. I can't do anything about it, this device doesn't appear to have any limits you can attach to individual users.  Some devices you can cut one particular user off completely while still allowing access to everyone else.  I dunno, but at the rates I'm charging, I'm not feeling all that generous with giving them even more perks for minimal money.

It's a perplexing situation that I"m going to have to figure out - and soon.  I expect a high power bill, a medium water bill but wifi? No thanks.  I can only  hope that Starlink becomes available soon.  They have a business account but it's $2,700 to set it up and $500 per month.  That's way too much money. I'm thinking more in the $200 range and that's it.  

And again, if worse comes to worse, I will pay the price for Fidelity.  Outrageous amount at first, yes, but in the long run it would definitely pay for itself.  I think they have a plan in the $250  range for unlimited access for multiple users.  I dunno, I'll wait another week and see where the Verizon usage is at, but it's obvious I can keep that up.  Think about having 14 units in there and at least some of them home all the time gobbling up data?  I didn't build a park to have so much monthly accounts payable accounts that I am making hardly any money.  I'd actually get rid of internet altogether and people can fend for themselves if that were the case.  

That's really a perplexing situation. 

People want it, but they don't really want to pay for it....this is why I'm limiting the low, intro monthly rate to 4 units. After that, I'm jacking up the monthly price by at least $50 and it is what it is.  

Meanwhile, I've been racking my brains trying to figure out how to afford to have a shower room built in the shed.  I don't know - yet.  Loans loans loans. No thanks, I've got enough.   

Enough. I need to get out of here and get something done. And get away from this computer.  I have a person in my Facebook inbox claiming he's a minister running a children's ministry in Pakistan, wanting money. Of course you want money!  He's sent probably 30 pics of the kids and him handing them bowls of food, apparently.  The problem? Anyone can lift pics off the internet and say it's them. He even sent a copy of his government issued ID.  I do help people out here and there, but strangers off of the internet? With so many scams?  Just not interested.  I asked him if could prove his ministry by telling me any pastors in the US he works with. Also, the name and address of his ministry?  

G'day.