Wednesday, January 29, 2025

 Tuesday - night

Today was a much easier day than yesterday's nonsense. Even tho it was the second load, I was still home by 3:00 pm, which is really good for second load time.  The deal is, the outside temps have risen considerably and so the product in the trailer doesn't cool way down at night.  I was done offloading in an hour and ten minutes compared to the 2 and a half hours 2 days ago.  

I am loading in Lufkin tomorrow, 1st run and hopefully that means I"m home by 1:00 pm at the latest.  I need to finish the laundry tasks I started yesterday before I got called out.  

As of tomorrow, the park will be full, including the 2 alternate spots. That because the power plant worker is coming back.  The family is coming back soon, not sure when, there is a lot opening up for them in a few days.  Then there's lot 1.  

Some people simply showed up.  They do that a lot more than I care for.  Is this lot available for at least 7 days? They ask Trey, I was still on the road. Trey calls me, yes, let them take lot 1 but I can't guarantee it's available until I get back and get in front of a computer.  But sure enough, the bookings were empty for the next couple of weeks, actually, for overnighters and I just blocked everything out for the next month.  I don't want overnight bookings when I don't have a place to put them.  If that family moves back in, the only lot available will be lot 1 for overnights. Or anything else for that matter and I have another guy practically begging me to move in to the park.

As I have stated previously, I have been trying to switch my theme to long term for quite some time now.  Besides lot 1, everyone in there is long term. The guy leaving on the 1st was there for some 6 or 7 months.  I just have too many empty lots trying to do overnight stuff, just wasting money to be had.   

I've actually thought about adding lots to the existing structure and not going the full fledged route of getting a massive loan. You see, I could probably put in 3 more lots near where the power meter stand is at and just add another meter to the stand. 

I've thought about this before, but I like the little area with grass and a nice pine tree.  My sewer system would be overloaded so I would have to have them come pump out the thing more often. That's the only drawback I can see.  This would be along the end of the driveway.  I have room there.  I just didn't like it because it's kind of a steeper drop, but I've seen parks with people having their trailers sitting up on blocks and such, they can make it work if they really want it.  I wouldn't use such lots for short term, but long term I think it could work.  

I pay the septic company to come check the system every month, it's required by the state because it's a business.  It's $30 per month, paid in advance.  They'll pump out just the first chamber of the septic set up for $120.  That's really what would end up filling up quicker, the rest of it wouldn't really need pumped out too often. 

Why would I do this? Because I want this park to make me more money than it is. There are too many expenses that add up to a lot.  3 more lots would be very helpful and cost a lot less than going out and starting 25 lots from scratch.  The driveway is already there.  That leaves installing a meter, a panel for the meter, the underground wiring, 3 pedestals, sewer line, water line, create the lots and gravel.  I'll have to do some figuring.  Let's see....probably a grand to install a meter, panel and run the underground wiring, but that may be conservative so lets' go with $1,500. $1,500 for the company to come out and run a line from the power company side to the meter.  3 pedestals @ $400 a piece.  Probably $540 worth of sewer pipe and another $200 worth of water pipe.  A couple truckloads of gravel. Rent a mini ex to dig out the trench.  

Try using the tractor that is at the property to do the lots.  It's about 7 grand to do all of that. Sounds expensive? It's 10-15k to have a contractor come out and do all of that, tho we're talking a new septic system included in that price, a whole new driveway, fix the main driveway and a lot of other stuff.  

I'm going to take a look at that area tomorrow after work and figure out whether this is really doable, because I can probably come up with the money to do it.  I have no choice but to install another meter, the 2 I have are already well loaded up with lots and the shed and the alternate lots.  Can't add anything to it and really, since the meter setup is right there, it doesn't add a lot to the bill excepting having someone come out to attach a main line from the meter to the power pedestal next to the power pole. 

Be nice if I could add 4, but I'm not sure there's enough room there.  

I kind of get a little bit unsure about this stuff, tho, I had 6 lots empty for a while and it wasn't looking good. Then all of a sudden everything fills up and there's hope again?  It's weird, the RV park business stuff. 

The guy begging to move in? He's already at a park near town somewhere, he didn't say which one, but he did say he's right next to "a major highway and I'm tired of all the constant road noise".  He's on one of the ones next to highway 59 for sure.  He's been to my place, he got out of the vehicle, listened and said, gee, this is great!  See? People get sick of constant road noise, especially if you are living there. Overnighters take in stride for the most part, just part of the game when they're going from point A to point B. But, they do like it when they find a place that isn't noisy.  

I think I am getting closer to realizing the goal of long term - meaning really long term. Not just a month or two, but either retirees or people coming to the area on long term work assignments.  


 Wednesday - night Another rainy day. Long, dreary road, plant, loading, getting wet.  Getting home is especially nice after such days, I ju...