The people that took off to New Jersey showed up yesterday. The storyline is that they got into a minor accident, didn't have insurance on their vehicle (they were at fault), had the truck impounded and the police allegedly took all of their possessions including their ID's as well. I've heard of vehicles being impounded for no insurance, I have never heard of police taking your ID and personal possessions and not giving them back unless you are being arrested. Sounded sketchy to me. Like, something is being left out in this story. None of my business, really. What is my business is getting them to pay me or getting them out of there.
I unplugged their rig after finding out they weren't even in town, not anywhere near town and unknown return date. I checked my notes, they pulled their rv in there on the 14th of last month, were supposed to pay on the 28th, instead, they took off and then get themselves into this predicament. We're at the 16th of July now, so that thing has been parked there over a month. The only reason I didn't move it is because I have empty lots. If all the other lots were full or booked, I would have moved that thing behind the shed and end of story. I could have legally had it towed to an impound yard.
So, we had a discussion yesterday, she said she would come up with money in the next 2 days. Later on, she sent me a pic of a huge DeWalt cordless collection that is likely worth serious money that she is attempting to sell. Where did she get it? I thought but didn't ask. Her father passed away recently, which is the reason she said she went to NJ, perhaps it was his stuff? I have no idea. I just know I have been patient long enough. If they had money to pay for fuel to drive to NJ, they had money to pay me. She gets disability every month as well. She is clearly disabled, she has severe arthritis, she can barely use her hands/fingers at all.
I have my own financial stresses right now and paying for someone's electricity to run their AC unit and other stuff isn't part of my plan to get the ship righted. So, she has until tomorrow. After that, I'm going to ask her to move the thing off of my property - or - perhaps allow them to move it behind the shed. No electricity, just a place to park it. If they don't have money to pay me, they don't have money to move it to another RV park. I'm assuming she gets her monthly payment on the 28th, but that's 12 days from now and I'm just not going to allow this to continue on. I don't mean to sound harsh, but the idea that they had money and blew it without giving me anything doesn't set right with me.
Now. Another guy called yesterday. It was a lengthy conversation, I will talk with people if they want to talk and try to set them at ease that my park IS the place they want to come to. He says tentatively leaving where he's at on Wednesday but not 100% certain yet on the departure date. He is also a pipeline worker, so it's definitely a long-term thing. I dunno, there have been a few of these types of conversations lately but nothing has come of it. I do have new, long-term in there but that was a "do you have a space?" and then "we're coming today after work". And they did, lol.
In terms of location, the plot of land I was looking at a long time ago for my park would have been better. It is on the other side of town and before anyone gets to the other rv parks on that road. Well, this was a side street off the highway and you had to drive back quite a ways. I would be getting a lot more of the pipeline workers than what I'm getting. It's several miles closer to Shreveport.
I don't regret not buying that property, I just wish I could have found something over there that would have worked. The reason I don't regret it is because the property is located next to the airport and right were small planes do their run-ups. It gets very noisy and the noise goes on for a while.
If I had property that was out of city limits and near an Interstate exit, I would definitely put something in there for RV's. It's the way people like it, apparently, in wanting to get off the Interstate and not have to drive far. This is why my focus switched to long term, begrudgingly so. Much more money to be made off of short term than long term. But, I'm 2-1/2 miles off the Interstate and people just don't think it's so great to drive that far. They would, apparently, rather listen to highway noise all day and night long. I-20 through there is very busy and lots of constant noise. Especially from trucks using their engine brakes.
It will be something that I will be looking at in the future, if I go back into trucking, get my debt paid down, get the amenities I want in the current park and get some more people in there. The idea of putting in more spaces hasn't left, it's just on hold. I figure when they start converting US59 into an Interstate in my area, I'm going to be full and will be able to charge more to boot. That's a guess, but it's a pretty good one. You have people staying locally, not people having to drive clear to Shreveport, which makes any decent park in the area a good bet that they are going to fill up if they aren't already.
Another model I have seen are parks filling up with these little housing units. They look like they are about the same size as my shed, but they are actual housing units, not converted sheds. One park is full of those things, owned by the park and they appear to be rented out. I will likely have to consider doing things that I originally was opposed to in order to get the business I need in there. I'm not going to stay stuck on a business model that isn't working. It does, however, take money in order to accomplish such things.
I just don't want the place to look trashy. That's all I ask of myself, is not lower standards of a good looking, clean park. I keep that place clean, picking up trash all the time. I shouldn't have to pick up after adults, but we all know that people throw trash around like the earth is a giant trash can and there is little you can do about it. It isn't usually a lot of trash, I just bite my tongue and pick it up for the sake of appearances.
People drive through all the time looking at the place. I don't know if they're potential customers or if they're competitors or just curiosity, but I both see them when I'm there and on the camera.
Apparently my tiller won't be done until Friday, my next focus is the RV. A water leak that needs to be fixed, carpet installed and whatever else I find that needs addressed. I want to get it fixed and rented out or sold. I'm not going to fix the engine at this point in time, it isn't going anywhere. If I need to move it, it will start and move, it just doesn't run that great. The only priority is get it fixed and get it rented. At the right price, I should be able to get someone in it quickly
I have no idea the actual source of the water leak, it will probably be a pain in the @$$ to get at and oh well. It is coming out from above a cubby hole accessible from the outside. I don't know, but I'll take whatever I have to take apart to get at it and hope no damage is done in the process. It has to be fixed, that's all I know. I figure I can easily get $550 a month for the thing, just get it rented and get some money coming in from it. I like the idea of selling it better, but that may not be feasible. People wanting to move into something that old may not have a lot of down payment money available and I will insist on a down payment, non-refundable.
Whatever the case, at least right now, it appears going back on the road is inevitable, hence looking for a job, putting inquiries and seeing what I can come up with. I can tell ya, if the "right" job were to come to me, I would take it right now without hesitation and do the grass later. Like, even wait until cool weather and just put rye grass down again. That stuff doesn't come back after planting it, it dies out and you have to start over every year. The good thing about rye grass is it's easy to grow. You don't have to till anything, you just wait until there is forecast of rain for a week or so, spread the seed and eventually, watch it grow. It's also cheap compared to any summer grass. I was and stand astonished at the high price of bermuda and other grass seed. $300 plus per 50 pound bag?
75% chance of rain this afternoon. I wasn't planning on doing anything anyway. Well, I'm trying to get myself to get into the shower and get ready for church. No kids to motivate me to do that here, but I need to go anyway. It's only an hour and I usually get something out of the message. I then go to the park, check everything and then either go to Applebee's for lunch or go home and cook something. Right now, I'm staying away from restaurants of any kind. It's pricey and I don't need my finances eaten up for something I already have in the refrigerator.
Yes, I'm definitely going to church now that I think about it. It's that or sit around the house all day long, alone. Not that that's a bad thing, but it's good to get out and socialize a bit. Or at least have some kind of human interaction.
With that, it's off to the shower.
G'day
