Friday - afternoon

Final day of work freedom. I spent most of it in bed so it wasn't like a vacation or anything. But, I am feeling much better today thankfully, sort of need to go back to work.

We - we being the kids and I, mom was at work - took the tractor over to the property, I had no problem getting it off. I thought I might because of the way the dude drove it up on there like it was -- difficult or something. Nope. It came off smoothly and without any problems at all really.  I then proceeded directly to the back of the RV park and plowed down the grass and weeds, almost all of it.  

This machine is 1,000% better than that thing I was using from the kid.  They're not even in the same world if you're talking functionality.  Mine is hydrostatic, his was old and completely manual. You had to push the clutch in for everything.  This? No clutch at all, it's pretty much the same as an automatic car.  Put it in gear and then forward and reverse are just separate pedals, no hand work at all.  There are levers all over the thing, of course, but it didn't take long at all to figure everything out.  So much easier and simpler operation.  

And the motor is very powerful, I am extremely glad I opted for the higher HP engine.  It's a smooth ride in the park, this thing is worth every penny I am paying for it.  

There is the entire front to do, but I figured not to push it too much, I have to get up at 5:30 am tomorrow - Saturday - don't want to tempt fate and get sick all over again.  We went to IHOP after that - remember, kids are on summer break as of yesterday early afternoon. Gone 3 days next week, we'll get a much needed break from them.  Love them to death, just it can get trying with young kids constantly full of energy and wanting this, that, the other thing, the house, the moon and the stars to boot. It's endless, trust me that is not an exaggeration. 

If I would have thought about it and touched on it yesterday in this blog...I just should have bought a new tractor 2 plus years ago.  Then again, I was helping the kid out. He's starting out in life, he has some sort of heart problem that he needs surgery for, was going to school, working a job and helping out on his family's farm.  He's now making at least $36 per hour fresh out of school, that's what SWEPCO (power company) pays them if they graduate.  

So, I guess I won't regret helping a person out that isn't lazy, has a good work ethic and just trying to get started in life. 

But now, I need to focus on getting the 3 empty lots filled up.  I forgot to take pics, dangit.  I'll have to go back over there.  I need pics and get ads running all over Facebook.  I won't use Google ads, they are useless. Pay a lot of money for nothing in return. Facebook ads are far cheaper as well and I usually get some results out of it.  The money is needed to pay off debt for the upgrade project - I spent several thousand on it already beyond the septic system and I want it paid off sooner than later - and I need more money to get those 4 lots finished.  

Why finish those lots when you have 3 empty? Because this stuff comes in waves.  You go without anyone calling for a lot to 50 people in a month calling.  It's crazy the way it works. Last year I probably turned away 50 people wanting a place to stay.

Now, I do have some prospects that are interested in coming and moving in there, but I don't count my chickens before they hatch, not in this industry.  People say they are coming and don't. They find something else and don't bother to tell you about it.  I am at a distinct disadvantage to other parks with not having a main building to have an office, a C store, game room, Tv room, whatever. A gathering place.  I'd love to have a deli, but that isn't really a thing unless you have enough spots to warrant a full time employee to run the thing. 

Since I don't have those amenities, I cut throat my rates and advertise the fact that my park is closer to town then any of them.  My park is cheaper and my park is easily the quietest park in the entire region.  I am a mile and a half away from the Interstate and several miles away from 59, a mile away from 43.  The first 2 are heavily used highways filled with truck traffic and those other rv parks are right next to or very close to them. NOISE NOISE NOISE all the time.  

You pick the best attributes you have and work with it.  It brings people in, but mostly the pricing is what gets people in there, that and the quiet part.  Students like it because it's close to all 3  colleges, tho the university if further away, it's still closer than any other park around.  They don't want to waste time going to school and they don't have a lot of money (usually, sometimes the parents are financing everything).  

That gives me an idea. I haven't even targeted the students! What a crock, I should have been doing that a long time ago. I get there are posting boards and internet rooms with students where I could post my park.