I get a call earlier today.  These people are 3 hours out, do I have a lot available for overnight? Yes, yes I do. I have 2 of them actually, a back in and a pull through. They want the pull through.  We work out payment arrangements and I actually forgot about it.  

Until I got a notification. One of the few things I have notifications turned on for, my cameras let me see what's going on over there with anyone coming in.  I don't always look at them. 2 days ago I had over 80 notifications. It's more of a, gee, someone calls and says something happened over there, let me see if I can find something with video of it.

But if someone is coming in, something in my brain says to check notifications.  So here these people are - they didn't tell me there is a motor coach and two vehicles.  I guess I don't really care, it all fit onto one lot.  Ok, they stop and the grouchy people ask if they are staying overnight.  Yes! I can hear all of this on the camera, remarkably.  Not like the camera is 5 feet away.  I couldn't hear what their reaction was, but they got in their vehicles, found their lot and got settled in

Meanwhile, while I was on there, I looked inside the shed.  It was rather startling to see this dude staring at the camera cussing and calling me all kinds of names.  He was smack dab in the middle of this when I came online with it.  WTH.  It's HOT in here, you need to get AC installed in here, you lazy ass.  Then he inspects where I had started to cut a line through the shed wall to get the ac in there.  Then he starts mumbling some unintelligible s***.  

These people. They have the best spot in the park.  It is hands down the best spot to be in.  It faces the doggy park and there are no neighbors, obviously, on the doggy park side. Considering this is where they hang out - on the passenger side of the trailer - and the entrance door, they don't even have to see their neighbors on the other side if they don't want to.  

I got pretty angry pretty quick, this guy can get the hell out of my park, I thought at first.  And other thoughts and potential reactions that I won't go into.  Just human nature, I just let some time pass and let myself cool down.  They have no way of knowing whether I am actually seeing them or not.  I have other people telling me they are talking sh** about me behind my back.  I"m not really sure I should let that phase me.  I'm thinking, just act like I know nothing at all.  It's that or I can tell ya, all hell is going to break loose for about the time I engage them in their gossip, bulls*** and backtalking and they open their stupid mouths and start letting out their vileness, I'm going to let loose.

But I don't really think that's the way to go about this.  I guess for now, until I figure out how I want to engage this without sinking to their depths of incivility and stupidity, I'll act like I never heard what he said. Or they have been saying to other people.  I don't wonder if other people just scratch their heads and wonder what they are even talking about.  or maybe they agree with them and I'll  have a max-exodus out of the park?

But there is a reason they are at my park and not at the others.  The came from the other parks. They can bitch all they want, but deep down, they know they are getting an excellent deal in probably one of most prime areas near town that they can find.  I'll find out tomorrow, but it's April 30, 9:00 pm and they are still there. They aren't going to be moving somewhere in the middle of the night, that would be stupid.  Improbable as well. 

But, they seriously can leave if it's so miserable there.  

Well, anyway, it's Sunday night, the house is quiet now that the kids are in bed and I'm settling myself down as well. I don't need to lose sleep over people like this. They are this way with each other, I've heard it several times now.  They are just miserable people.  They are unhappy with each other and they are taking it out on the easiest targets.  That's my assessment after hearing them cussing each other out and on one occasion, they were in their trailer with their door open, I was probably 200 feet away and could hear them yelling at each other inside the trailer from that distance away, loud enough to understand what they were saying. 

The question I must answer now is: is it worth it having this kind of people in the park spreading their poisonous, toxic attitudes to everyone else? And how many people would I lose if they left? And if I lost half the park, would it matter or would I be better off?  Do I want these people to be the first people anyone coming into the park sees and many times talks to?  I think it's going to come to a head eventually if I do nothing and they will sink themselves. That is the way this stuff usually works out, they get so mad they lose their minds, blow up and then they force their own exit out of my place upon them. 

I can tell ya, the Mexicans couldn't care less about these people, I have already received payment for the 3 that came in together for next month.  The dude on lot 3 doesn't care, either. The new people that are only there for a month have become buddy buddy with them, however, but does it matter? No, they aren't staying long anyway.  There are other people, tho, that they may or may not be poisoning.  

Anyway, I best get off of this thing and get off of this subject and start thinking about something else. 

 Unexpectedly - but thankfully - the trailer trash moved out today.  No notice, I just went to the park and saw it gone. Double checked with them, yes they left.  Good riddance, honestly. Not only was the electrical hookup a fire hazard, they also had a huge water leak in the trailer. I only noticed this when I was over there inspecting the trailer and there was water dripping down from the sides and bottom of it.  I can't even imagine what it must have looked like inside and I don't want to know. An eyesore is gone and I won't be making that mistake again. If someone wants to come in with an older trailer gain, they will be sending me 10 pics of all sides or they won't be moving in.  

I don't need or want people that throw trash all over the place, have busted out windows, dogs that get out and terrorize the park, fire hazard connections and water leaks. If they has asked, I could have directed them to a trailer trash park that would have happily accepted them if they had a site available. My constant cranking on them probably drove them out of there without having to have a confrontation. I simply won't tolerate people living like that, I just built the place, it is getting a reputation as a "clean" park and the first thing you saw pulling in was that setup? 

Since it's the last day of the month, I reposted  my ads and one with a boost.  In case anyone is looking for last minute space before tomorrow/the 1st, I want to make sure my ad is out there.  

All I can do now is wait and hope the lot re-rents quickly.  I also opened up a few days starting today going through Friday for overnights.  People like the pull throughs more than back ins for overnight stuff and I'm not taking a chance of losing a customer because I have it blacked out. Who knows, in reality, how long it will take to re-rent it?  I have my laptop in the vehicle, if it does rent out long term, I can black out the next 5 days.  I have lot 12 available, the 2 nighter left and isn't taken again until Thursday.  That one is being left open since I have 2 more reservations totaling another 11 days worth of reservations on it. 

Tho, if someone wanted a back-in long term, I could switch these overnighters to pull through.  Anyone staying that long - 3 days on one and 8 on another - is here for more than just staying at a park somewhere. They are here for an event - there are lots of them in this region and usually something is going on somewhere during the weekends - or they're here for family. Or whatever, but I doubt it's just here for staying at my park.  I really need to find - decent - long term to take lot 7 because I am still facing losing more people here soon enough.  

Well enough of that. It's Sunday and I really just sighed a great sigh of relief to see them gone.  The boys were with me, we went to church. They wanted to stay and play, so I set out to mow that rather large doggy park while they played.  It takes quite a while to mow that much land.  It's the biggest thing in the park that has to be mowed.  Tomorrow I will try to finish the rest of the park and get it done with - at least for now.  At least I got something done over there today!

A while back, there was a doggy trotting down the street that was totally out of place. You could tell - or at least that's what I thought anyway - that it was looking for home and didn't know where it was.  It let me grab it's collar, so I called the animal hospital listed on the tag.  They gave me the number, I took the dog home and James and taylor started calling the numbers that the animal hospital was giving me.  Fast forward, the people that own the dog were out of town on a trip to a funeral.  The people that were supposed to be watching the dog, we learned yesterday, didn't even know the dog was gone until these people called them and asked them if the dog was there?

Yes, it's in the other room with so and so. Well, you might want to take a look because we are looking at pics of our dog that some people rescued.  The owner's had a friend come over and take it home with them, not returning it to the pet sitter - I wouldn't have wanted to take it back there, either.  We learned yesterday that they had rescued that dog 14 years ago and of course, it is as much family as any human.  I feel that way about Addler, I know plenty of people that feel the same.  

These people came over yesterday with a card for James. They didn't understand that I had rescued the dog, James just happened to call the number that one of them answered. It was a collaborative effort on all 3 of our part to help get the doggy home.  These people expressed their great gratitude and left. The card? Had a handwritten note and a $100 bill in it.  Personally, I would have wanted to hand it back to them.  I would feel like we are exacting a ransom note or something. I always think when I see stray dogs and try to help - what if that were my dog running loose? Wouldn't I want someone to find him and try to get him home?  

Yes, of course. Well, since we have the money, we are going to go out and treat ourselves to dinner at a restaurant somewhere yet to be determined. We are waiting for James to come home - he went back to that barn setup, he needed to get that trailer out of there that the lady was giving him for payment for doing all that work.  But, he's coming home soon and yes< I am looking forward to a nice meal from - wherever.

Later, we have a gender reveal for the folks that are going to end up with the baby that is in Taylor's womb right now.  The baby is healthy, btw, after getting a scare from the docs that she has gestational diabetes. That turned out to be a false alarm.  She found out the gender this week, the folks are begging us to tell them what it is.  I'm not even going to say it on here in case they have somehow found this blog, lmao.  So, that should be fun.

G'day

 I got nothing done at the park yesterday/Saturday.  I didn't intend to.  I put enough hours in this week, I am hanging my hat for the weekend. Of course, there could be the wild hair to go over there and finish mowing what isn't done. However, a lot of people will be home today meaning vehicles all over the place and people attempting to enjoy a day off. I will probably wait - excepting the doggy park.  Unless the grouchy people did it.

See, I saw them on the camera yesterday evening - I got a notification, I do not sit there and watch camera views all day long - and saw the man pushing the mower by the doggy park.  The camera doesn't have a shot of the doggy park, it's on the side of the shed.  Whatever. I've never given them official permission to use the mower, if they blast someone's window, that's going to be on them.  

No, yesterday morning was the soccer game. It was cold, a mist was falling from the sky and it was windy.  The boy wasn't liking it, I wasn't particularly liking it either, but only because I had come with a light coat.  A medium thick coat was necessary to stay warm.  We got done with that, went to Mikky D's for lunch and then home where I started cranking on cleaning projects.  Vacuumed my floor several times over - you know, a dog and such?  Took the shelves out of the fridge, cleaned all of that. Got out the carpet shampooer and did the high traffic areas and especially where the dog is at. 

I also washed his bedding and other laundry.  By the time that was done, it was time to go.  Go where? The boys have been begging to see the Super Mario brothers movie.  I figured I would be bored to death, but I took them anyway.  Turns out that yes, some of it just put me to sleep but some of it was funny.  

That toasted the entire day.  Or, at least, until almost 6ish in the evening.  I didn't even go over to the property yesterday, that's the magic of having cameras.  I can see if anything is going on. It doesn't replace a physical visit and putting eyes on everything, but it works when I don't have time to get there. And anyway, I didn't really feel like going over there and listening to these people bit***** about the grass. I'm taking care of the grass, they just don't see what I am doing when they are at work.  They didn't even know I had sprayed the entire park with grass killer around the areas where the grass is growing tall.  

They didn't ask, they just assumed that I am doing nothing and that "the grass in this park is out of control".  In a pig's eye it is.  I'm not going to mow the damn grass every other day.  I would literally have to mow it twice a week to keep up with their tastes.  I was also out there pulling grass around pedestals, solar lights and other areas where the mower can't reach.  And if they think I am going to use a weedeater next to trailers and cars, they have another thing coming. I already ate a new windshield for a late model truck, I don't have any desire to do that again.  Weedeaters will just spew the rocks all over the place.  

Tomorrow.  I dunno yet.  Lots of things to do. I bought the vanity, that whole setup needs to be installed. I could at least get started on it, but the drain stuff isn't happening until all of that dries out outside in what's left of the trench.  Still, get the thing in there and placed and out of the way.  I have the stuff to finish electrical outlets and a new cutting blade to cut the hole for the AC.  Definitely want the AC going soon, it's going to start getting hot sooner or later.  And that also means getting the insulation installed.  I'll probably wade into the insulation territory and see how that goes.

I have the materials, I just don't know if the glue I bought is going to work.  In reality, since it's sheets of insulation, if I cut it good enough, the sheets will just push into place and stay there without any glue.  I think I'll prioritize the AC tho.  And if the weather holds as the forecast says, maybe by Wednesday I can start fooling around with the final drain assembly I'll need to do until/if/when I decide to install a small kitchen. That project is definitely going to wait.  

Well enough. The church bells are ringing and I'll soon be singing - praises to the Holy Lord!  

Amen to that. 

G'day

 

 Long day.  I decided to start mowing the grass again this morning.  I got 5 lots done, James showed up for the trailer. So, turning off the mower? It wouldn't restart. I took off to get over to Lowe's and get some food.  That done, to the bus stop. Got the kids and then back to Lowe's.  I wasn't done there and I didn't want to buy everything without - buying everything.  They didn't care and then we went to the property. Got that stuff out and then got back to mowing grass.  

I guess I got caught up on pulling grass around the pedestals and such, I didn't even get done today.  k

The cranky people gave me a thumbs down for not mowing their lawn while getting others done.  These people, like really?  I told her that the lawn mower wouldn't restart earlier and that's why I didn't finish.  Im pretty sure the thing just needs  new spark plug, it runs fine once you get it started.  

Oh and fooling with these people with the Great Dane. We went back and forth, I'm not going to have them giving my place a shi*** image.  

I really don't know where the hours went today, I left this morning and didn't get home until almost 8:00 pm, that's all I can tell ya. 

Whatever the case, I'm wasted tired. It's 9:30 pm, I think I'm going to bed.  

 I'm getting close to evicting the people with the Great Dane.  They have an unsafe electrical hookup that I've asked several time to repair correctly, they have 2 or 3 windows busted out, they leave trash laying around and they now have dogs getting out.  I'm not gong to continue with these people forever.  I've tried numerous times to get them to clean up their act.  I picked up the trash myself and chucked it in the garbage - it's a really bad image to have what amounts to trailer trash living in your park.  I'm heading over there today and see what's up, I got a text saying one of their dogs got out from another person in the park.  

Trailer trash. I've tried to keep that type out.  This one got by by taking pics of the trailer that didn't show the windows broken.  And you certainly can't tell if they are living in squalor by words on a message.  I've notified them swiftly about the things they have = wrong - over there and it hasn't done any good. I'm not willing to have them staying there indefinitely, living like that. 

There is one person using the machines that just started using them today.  I need more park guests to be using the machines.  

The people always complaining are at it again about the grass.  I just ignored them. The ground has been wet from rain, you can't cut grass when it's wet. It just clumps up and you are wasting your time.  The grass doesn't cut right, either.  

I need another load of gravel. I don't want to spend $700 on anything right now, but the driveway still needs a bit more gravel on it and there are lots that need some fixing up.  I'm probably not going to do that right now, I may see if I can get some gravel dumped onto my trailer and just use a little bit to fix the driveway and call it good for now.  

The grass killer I sprayed has so far shown nothing in terms of killing off any grass, save a few yellow specks on a few blades of grass.  I'm going to find some other brand to use and see if I can get all the grass along the edges of the driveway and pads killed off. I already did this once, I'll do it again. I don't want to use a weedeater on that grass, high probability of having rocks flying into trailer glass and costing me even more glass replacement fees. No thank you. One guest said it costs anywhere from $700 to over a grand to fix glass on those trailers depending on the size of the window.

Well some of those windows are huge. I have people coming into lot 12 today, if it dries up enough in the next few hours I'm going to mow all sides of that.  The sun is finally shining!

Well, I guess I need to get the generator off the trailer.  James is finishing up today over at that place where he's cutting down a metal barn, he needs it to haul off the scrap.  He's also going to pull out a 21 foot trailer and bring that over as well. I have ample space for it  we really don't have space at the house.  At least not for extended. If he were just selling it, he could leave it on the street and put a hitch lock on it. But I'm pretty sure his plan was to bring it over to the property.  

I don't like to watch people on the cameras, but since this guy is using the machines for the first time, I am going to watch him to ensure he isn't getting into anything.  I haven't seen any erratic or volatile behavior yet, in fact, he's just coming in, moving clothes into the washer and then moving clothes into the dryer and leaving.  That's exactly what I intended.  People can sit there if they want, of course, I do have a chair in there but I'd rather they just come and go.  The beauty of that door keypad, just enter a code and that's it.  It takes 2 seconds to enter the code.  

I remember attempting to decide what I was going to do about the door and keeping the place locked up - this was easily the best decision I could have made for it. No keys, no worry about strangers getting into  it- at least not without force - and having security cameras to ensure that people keep it on the up and up.  

That's about it. I am going over there and likely starting on the insulation today.  I have the glue and the sheets, I just need to start measuring them, gluing  the wall where they will go and get with it. There's a lot to do.  The ceiling will be impossible.  I will have no choice but to buy a stepladder. We don't have one at the house and as much as I hate to spend another $70 on things, there is no question that I must have it.  I was using a 2 step stool to install the lighting, but I can't quite reach the ceiling itself.  

But, to start, I can start on the walls. That will take who knows how long, there are a lot of cuts to be made.  I've got the electrical outlets completed besides a couple of items that I need to buy.  I am installing a light for the outside of the shed, I don't have a switch for it, I haven't started the install yet. I don't want it left half-assed.  Just start the installation and finish it the same day, including getting it hooked up to electricity.  It's a low wattage bulb I bought for it, I likely will just leave it on until I can find a light switch to install with it. I'm sure Lowe's must have them.  

I think I might put some Gorilla tape on those insulation pieces as well, hold them in place.  That insulation will be the only thing keeping the heat out during the summer and the cooling in.  I don't have any heating over there and tho it will need something, it isn't necessary now and won't be necessary until this winter.  It's still getting chilly, but not enough to need a heater in there. I also wouldn't mind installing one of those things that allows the heat from the dryer to escape into the room.  

Well, sitting here writing isn't getting anything done....

G'day. 

 Another day in paradise. 

Up until 2:00 am, the rolling thunder kept me awake for hours. It wasn't here and there, it was constant and it just rolled across the sky, growling like an angry lion, calling out to those that are sleeping.  Thunder and I aren't friends when it comes to sleep. I am a very light sleeper as it stands.  Thunder, especially that type of thunder, wakes me up and keeps me awake. 

Woke feeling cruddy because of it this morning.  Not like I went to be at 2:00 am.  

But, I made it out to the property, cut one piece of drywall, decided this wasn't the day for doing that and went to installing electrical outlets.  I've got all the outlets I'm doing - done. Except the stove outlet. No biggies there, the rest of the stuff is what was priority. I have another list of things I need from Lowe's. As it stood, I needed to get home to get the boys from the bus stop.  

It was funny tho.  I was talking with the lady side of the older couple and mentioned that those other people hadn't said a word to me in a week. She hesitated.  I could tell. Those people b**** about everything.  So they're talking shit about me again, lol. Yes, she said, but they complain about everything.  I replied: they are complaining about the grass again, right?  Of course they are.  I mowed it a week ago, I'm not getting out there and mowing every day.  Why the grass suddenly decided to take off and grow like weeds, I have no idea. It didn't do that for many months over.  

And even more interesting:  I no more got done talking to the older couple and this lady contacts me: the wifi isn't working. I can check that easily, just try to access my cameras.  If the app works and shows live footage, it's because the wifi is working.  Yup, both cameras up and going.  Oh, nvrmnd, it's "finally" working now.  I said hi to her and she complained about the grass. 

Whatever, dude. I'm not spending the rest of my life mowing grass every other day.  If they don't like it, literally, they can leave and take their foul attitudes with them. I didn't say that, but I was surely thinking it.  I don't need this.  What she really wants is for me to buy a riding mower so she can go riding around mowing grass all over the place. Even the older couple lady said that today.  WTH.  I can think of a thousand things I'd rather be doing than mowing grass. 

But even if I do get a riding mower, I'm not sure I want anyone else running it. Rocks. I will eventually get rid of them, but right now, they are still everywhere. I pick them up, I throw them into the woods, done. 1 done, a lot to go. If they go around busting out windows on an RV, are they going to pay for it?  Obvious answer.  I need a riding mower, I don't need recklessness. I already made a mistake once, I don't need more of that.  That goes right into my paychecks.  If I have to pay out a window, I am losing money I can pay myself.  

I spent my retirement money on this thing.  I sometimes wonder if it was the right call. I go through all the logical/analytical thinking.  What if it doesn't pay off? What if it doesn't pay the bills? What if I can't make ends meet? I go there sometimes.  But I then think - property values have gone up like wildfire in my region.  Prices for buying RV parks are unbelievable. Couple the 2 together and you have a property that is worth enough to retire off of coupled with SS payments.  Not my goal, but it's there.  

I dunno. I'm still just sort of grasping my way through this.  People in the industry want to give me all kinds of advice and help - if I pay them of course. I'll just continue on with my dream and hope it pays off.  

I'll be going to Lowe's yet again tomorrow morning.  I have quite the list.  

 5 time repeat customer coming again for a couple of days boosting lot 12's appeal in keeping it short term.  I have never spoken with these people. They show up, they drop the trailer, they hook up, they leave.  I've seen them a couple of times, waved at them and moved on.  Give me another 10 days worth for that spot in the next 30 days and it's paid for itself the same as my current rates of long term.  I don't mind keeping one lot open if it's going to generate sufficient revenue.  

I'm certainly not going to tell those 3 sets of people that I don't have the space available, that's a fact. So, stuck with it for overnighters, I'll just hope I can get some more people in there to rent it. 

I'm feeling much better.  I should be able to go over there and continue work tomorrow.  It's been raining most of the day and severe storms coming tonight, however, that may affect sleep. I'll still go over there but at what time? I'll figure that out in the morning.  It's actually better that I just get over to Lowe's and get that sink and cabinet.  Well, probably just a waste of time.  I'm not getting into what is remaining of that trench after all of this rain and more projected tomorrow.  

It's okay. I have to finish some wiring and outlet installation, the AC installation and start putting in the insulation.  There's plenty to do.  Wiring will take precedence, I'd like to get that over with and behind me, at least the stuff I can do for right now.  Actually the only other wiring I will have left is if I want to install a stove in the future and another wiring setup for another set of machines. The stove is a real possibility, the machines? Not so much.  These machines are getting used on the weekends but slight usage during the week. I see no need to purchase more.  If people want to complain, I will tell them they can use them when there is no one using them.  If it's that big of a deal, they can just go to the laundromat like they've been doing.

The thing about the stove wiring is the expense.  I have to decide if I am really going to do that at some point, for that wiring is expensive. Stoves use 50 amp breakers meaning I think it's 6-3 wiring.  Even 10 feet of that stuff would cost probably around $80. And 10 feet would work, now is the time to do it. I'm going to fill that hole the wiring is coming in through with duct sealant and after that stuff is in there, it's going to be difficult to remove it to push through another wire.  

Oh, btw, I bought the outlet for the stove, the box it goes in and a cover awhile back. I was certain I was going to put in a stove and I am still convinced it may be a good idea.  Ill probably go ahead and get that wire when I get the vanity.  Those are the few big ticket - well not that big actually - but big enough ticket items left.  The stove can wait, the kitchen sink can wait, etc.  I'll need a bench for the bathroom as well, I'm looking for something cheap, not fancy.  I'm tired of spending money on this thing.  I still have hipcamp wiring to go - but I've had the wire sitting there for a month. Just haven't had time to get to it, the priority is to get the shed going for whosoever demands such amenities to be in there.  

I'll be taking a shower in that stall. Yes, I know it works, I want to just stand there with the hot water running and ensure I have it right.  The water drains perfectly, no pooling.  There are no leaks and I have backfilled that setup underneath the shed.  I guess I should get some throw rugs for people to stand on when they get out of the shower. I know I don't like standing on cold, hard flooring.  Several dollar tree cheap rugs or Ollie's will work.  

The point is that you just hang one up to dry and put a fresh one in when one gets wet.  This is far from being a fancy setup here, it's practical and that's all I was aiming for, for now.  It's cost a truckload of money, I hope it pays off. I am very glad, regardless, of having a bathroom to use the toilet now instead of having to go out into the woods or sending the kids out there.  

I did spend time today updating websites where my park is listed to reflect the sewer dump, the water spigot, the grassy area for hipcamp, the laundry, shower and toilet.  I also put out a local Facebook ad in case there are any tent campers in the area that want a place to pitch a tent over night.  My Google site has been updated to reflect the additional amenities.  

I would very much appreciate it if Google would please update the photo from satellite of the property. It's just a forest - people look at it, they tell me so. Looks like you just have trees there? This must be a new park?  I'm just not going to spend $300 on drone footage.  I don't know that the money spent would equate into income.  I could put a link to google maps on there for people to see the footage.  

Well enough.  It's not late but I've got a lot on my mind right now. 

And I was taking a look at Hipcamp. It's crazy. You have to change options in 4 different places. Otherwise, it still shows no laundry, shower or toilet.  I'm glad I went through all of that yet again.  I have now going through the entire admin site and hopefully I have this correct. I am going to go to Google Incognito and take a look. Okay, the only thing left is that I need to take a couple pics of the Hipcamp area.  I don't want people thinking they are getting an RV site for that kind of money - it's cheap.  It's enough to make a little profit and get some extra finances generated.  I'm going to get some pics tomorrow and get those up there quick, lol.  

I guess I best take a pass through my Roverpass site one more time as well! Well that sucks.  I'm on page 4 for a search for my town.  Most of what's showing up isn't even in my town. These other sites must be paying to get their site boosted.  Hipcamp? My listing shows up at the top of the page.  I'm going to start looking for tent camping apps and see if I can get on some of them.

Well I guess I'll leave lot 12 open,lol.  It has 1 3-day and 1 8-day reservation on it for next month all of a sudden.  Put some more days on it with reservations and it equals monthly lot rent rate.  I also have a reservation for December 19th, lmao.  They actually called asking for the date.  Ok?  And a reservation for August 6th?  Ok. People in the business that have a reputation and have been there a while say they have their lots booked out for the summer well in advance.  I dunno if these people are suddenly showing up because I now have a bathroom facility or not.  

Speaking of bathrooms, that guy came in there yesterday twice to "inspect" everything and was mumbling something loudly on his way out.  I have no idea what his beef is and I'm not going to concern myself with it. If he has something to say to me, say it to me, not everyone else that he encounters in the park. Their lot rent is coming due soon, we'll see if they're staying. If they are, I'm going to ask him directly about these shed inspections that occur on a daily basis.

Of course it isn't finished. Of course I have materials in there for the construction.  I freely tell people that the facilities are available but it's still under construction, please "pardon our dust".  There are no surprises, there is no omission of facts.  But, that couple are constant complainers and loudly voice their disapproval about a myriad of things.  Or were, anyway, they  haven't spoken to me in a week and I have no idea why that is. They went from friendly to standoffish.  But again, this is the type of personality these people are, even with each other.  It's not surprising to me that they have turned on me for no apparent reason.

My reaction? If you don't like it, you can leave.  There are other parks in the area. If you find one of them better than mine, feel free to move.    Not a conversation I really want to have with them, in fact, I am just avoiding them. I'll take their money every month and they can stay over there and mouth off all they want.  Others in the park greatly disagree with their viewpoints and have told me that in no uncertain terms.  I do wonder if they regret leaving a good Google review.  I don't know if you can take down a review once you have posted it.  

Anyway, the thing about yesterday's inspection? He didn't go around back to see the massive amount of work I did out there. I didn't work on the inside and I'm still feeling quite bad from that excursion yesterday. Muscle aches and a giant headache this morning, it's raining and I'm sitting in my bedroom office and I don't care if I don't get anything done today.  In fact, the serenity of sitting here listening to the rain drops and the peacefulness of a house without anyone else home is quite amazing.  I still have this headache, debating whether to take meds or just wait it out.  I'm kind of stubborn on taking Tylenol and such. I really don't like taking that stuff unless I absolutely feel that I have to. 

One thing that is nice? That dirt is back in the trench. I wouldn't have been able to do that until next week sometime now that  it's been raining for hours and there are severe storms forecast for tonight, including a 3 on the tornado index.  Yes, there is still some dirt on the sides of the shed to go, but not much and really, the eyesore is gone.  I put that second shower stall up for sale, I don't need it.  I am not going to expand the facility any time soon.  It's one bathroom and one set of machines and that's it. I might put in a soda vending machine, but I'm really not sure it will be cost effective.  Maybe if I got a lot of tent campers coming in? 

I really wish I had the money to build out a glamping setup.  The biggest money is spent on building the platform, buying the giant, canvas tent and installing heating and cooling.  I suppose a good queen or king bed is probably up there as well.  I'm going to price out the materials next time at Lowe's - not to buy it right now, but as a goal.  This is something I want to do, I just need to get it there.  The obstacle? Somehow getting power back there.  

Now, I could build it at the rear of the RV park area - about 300 feet back from where the park is located - and run that aluminum, direct burial wiring to it. But that doesn't have the great views that building it in the trees will have.  Generators are noisy and expensive.  There is no real place to install a solar array - the gas production well takes up all of that.  Having the power company run power back there is likely a non-starter.  I think they gave me the install to the park for free because they figured it would pay for itself eventually.  

Really, the only thing I can think of is a generator, perhaps put in a building with maybe some sound proofing to keep the noise down.  

Why am I going on about this type of thing? Because I must have goals.  I want another 16 RV spaces and at least try 1 glamping site.  Glamping sites are easier than cabins or mini houses in that they don't have running water or bathrooms in them.  You might put a glorified outhouse nearby and perhaps an outdoor shower.  It's an experience, a destination in and of itself.  But it isn't cheap.  And it absolutely requires electricity.  I can see 3k just worth of lumber and supplies to build the platform. 2k for a tent.  A grand for heating/cooling setup.  After that, however and if you have existing bathroom facilities nearby - it's just putting in the furnishings, carpeting, decorations.  It's basically a hotel room in a tent. 

So, there is Austin bank a mile away and a lead to getting a loan from a particular person at that bank who can get loans where others have failed.  I'm going to at least call the person and see what they have to say. Probably not right now, lol, this headache is starting to go away but definitely not a good time to be discussing a business loan.  I don't have down money, it's going to have to be a collateral loan or it's nothing at all.  The point? I'm just going to keep trying.  The worst they can say is no.  If I could ever get a yes, I could get on the contractor's list and have him commit to a timeline - with caveats for weather of course - and get it done quickly.  I didn't do that last time and I was just thrown in there when he had time.  Which ended up not happening a lot because rain would stall the plans.

The biggest obstacle right now would be the appraisal.  Just too much money. 

Out of necessity, I finally took an "owner's draw" and paid myself just a few minutes ago.  Business account? Lots of money. Personal accounts? Not so great. We're just short of 5 months into this and I finally took a paycheck.  After the 1st, I will be taking more, at least another grand.  

I will probably be taking 2 grand now that I'm looking at my electric bills that finally came through. A total of $696.48, it's still low enough to get some money into my personal accounts before the high electric bills hit.  This will finance me through May and into June or longer.  I have gotten rid of a lot of unnecessary payments, lowered others and tho I have high credit card debt, the amount is manageable.  

Credit card usage is about to go by the wayside as well.  I have more items to buy for the shed, but if it's a grand I'd be surprised.  I'm really debating whether I should just go and get a vanity today and get that over with.  Of course, that will pose more installation challenges having to run a drain pipe from outside to it and running water to the faucet through types of water lines I have never dealt with before.  I don't think they are particularly hard to do, but still.  New stuff abounds in this project, hence taking so long to finish.  

Well, I'm not just using credit cards now.  I am using a lot of business checking account money to finance remaining purchases.  I just want to try and end the usage of credit cards.  The IRS check hasn't hit my account yet.  I don't know how long that takes, they would have had that check by now.  Even if I owe them more, I am sure they will cash that check regardless.  Finances will start getting a bit dicey now with having to make extra payments to a savings account - that I have not yet opened - to pay for property taxes and insurance. That insurance due will hit in December.  I'm hoping I won't have to make any claims and keep the premium the same or even go down.  

Whatever the case, I have at least 4 grand worth of money coming in the 1st of May - providing everyone stays of course - which will pay expenses and still have ample money left over even after paying expenses. This is where my pay starts to come in.  I also have to start putting aside estimated taxes. This all needs to go into a savings account to separate those monies from operating capital.  I'm starting to get a little better at this. Not a pro, but at least I have some semblance of a mind of how it works and how I should go about doing it.  There is more coming in after the 1st as well, but it's up in the air type thing whether they are staying.  I'm taking my Facebook ads down for now, will need to make a new one for a new look instead of reusing the same ones over and over.

But not now. All lots are filled besides the one, available overnight lot.  I suppose I could run a free ad for tent camping tho.  Might as well? Yes!

With that? The sun is now shining, I'm feeling better and after I make that new ad, I'm going to head over to the property and get some work done.

G'day. 

 I overdid it today.  Move the generator, move the stuff off the trailer and start shoveling. And shoveling some more - and more.  I got the entire back side of the shed backfilled and then got half the side of the shed done as well. There was some point after all of this shoveling - I was almost done - that I sat down.  

When I went to get back up? I was bent over and feeling it badly.  I continued to work in such position until I got everything cleared out.  If I'm posting Hipcamp is open, then Hipcamp better have everything I say it has, including that dump station.  No, I don't suddenly have a miraculous number of people contacting me through Hipcamp or Roverpass. Instead, I have someone posting a reservation for August through my reservation system.

Say what?  

But I am, obviously, hoping that reservations will start to pick up for the Hipcamp area.  Well, not that anyone has ever stayed there, lol. 

One of the set of eyes hasn't contacted me in many days now.  I don't know what she's pissed about, I'm not going to bother wasting my time asking.  Something is wrong and unless they actually tell me what that is, I'm going about my business. They are bit*** people that find fault with each other and everyone else.  I don't have time for it.  Well, I don't want to be subjected to it, drama is not my thing.

I'm sure it will come at me at some point tho....I haven't said anything negative to them at all, but they talk to all kinds of people in the park.  I don't know what influence they have and I don't care...unless...I find out they are trash talking me for whatever reasons. The dude comes into the shed every night after he comes home from work and looks at everything.  Like he's some sort of inspector. He opens the door to the bathroom, looks in there and leaves. 

I'm not their subordinates. They are my bread and butter, but I'm not going to bow down to them.  If he would have gone around to the back of the shed, he would have seen right away what I had done today.  

I contacted the Great Dane people again today - they are always gone when I come through there.  That electrical connection isn't going to work, I want that fixed immediately. Not tomorrow, not next week, TODAY.  He argued with me that "that is the way they set it up". I don't know who they are and I don't care. I replied that if I had the electrical contractor come in the park and look at that sh**? He would have ripped that thing out of the pedestal. I would have, but there are dogs in there and they need the cooling during the daytime.  He replied "I will try to fix it today". 

No, you WILL fix it today.  I'll post a pic of this nonsense on my Facebook.  

So what else is there today? The work kicked my ass. I came home and laid down in bed.  Taylor and the oldest showed up the same time I did, I didn't expect them at all.  I forgot that there was a field trip to an aquarium and the she was asked to be a chaperone. She is also leaving on Thursday to go be with her friend who asked her to come to be with her during surgery.  This is all preplanned.

I mean, I'm finally feeling better 6 hours later.  I wanted to get more done today. Reality is, I got overzealous about getting Hipcamp ready and just drove myself to get that stuff done back there. I'll see how I feel in the morning before determining what, exactly, I'm going to do.  

I'm done.  

 Oh, and this, forgot to add on last post: my "new" valuation for my property for taxes for next year.  Near 200k.  They want to raise my taxes to almost 3 grand.  It's probably worth more than that, but comparing it to other rv parks? There is no way they should have valuated it for that much.

Just one other park I compared it to has 36 spaces, which is 22 more than I have, several cabins, a house and a large clubhouse.  They valued that at near 300k.  Mine is just 14 spaces, a shed and nothing else.  By that reasoning, either that other park is greatly undervalued or they have greatly overvalued mine. 

It's around $400 per month I will have to set aside for taxes alone.  That's unbelievable.  That's a lot of money eaten up for - nothing in my book. The ISD wastes money continuously and now is going to add a bond initiative to the next election coming next month.  They built this giant, covered stadium type thing for a high school.  That is a glaring waste of money, they already have a full fledged football field as it stands.

They built a brand new Jr. High facility.  Now they want even more to do more stuff to the High School. I asked one of the board members about it, he sounded just like a politician should sound: Full of s***.  I posted that on the local gossip site and hope that people will vote against it.

I wouldn't be able to pay that right now, I can tell ya.  I'm going to have to open a business savings account immediately and start setting money aside. I figured I was in for around $2,500 for property taxes AND insurance combined.  I'm pretty well screwed unless I get with it and start saving.  In 9 months I can have $3,600 saved up, which will pay for the property taxes and get me close on the insurance.  

It was just a sickening feeling to receive that in the mail yesterday.  I knew it would go up, I didn't figure they would value it that high.  I am weighing on appealing this decision - but what if it backfires and they find it should be valued even higher?

I'm going to look up every RV park in the county that I can find on the tax rolls and see how big they are, how many spaces and amenities they have and compare it.  If there is too much of a disparity, then yes, I will appeal it.

 Well...

The shower is done. A little more cleanup and it's ready to go. Hot/cold running water and no leaks coming out the drain underneath, thankfully.

The toilet is fixed as well. Just that tube, no more leaks there. 

The older couple - well the man used to be a glass installer.  He fixed the window on the shed in a matter of minutes after getting the glass - from wherever.  I had already let them have the $25 they collected for me from an overnight stay, that paid for the window and I will let them have another overnight stay fee when one comes in - if they are paying cash - to help finish the deal. He said the glass only costed $6.  

Really didn't need busted glass on a bathroom facility and he saved me a ton of money having someone come out to replace it. I'm no glass man and I don't intend on becoming one.  

Roverpass and Hipcamp amenities have been updated. Roverpass, however, had several items on there that should have already been checked off that I'm sure I had on there before. I must have checked them and then didn't save it? I dunno, but that's all updated. I am also opening Hipcamp - sort of.  The description is a grassy area with access to the amenities shed and for now, we will let you use an extension cord if you need electricity. 

But the thing is, both sites now have listed on them a shower and toilet.  Anyone doing a search that must include those amenities will now see them at my park.  I changed site 2 and 3 on Hipcamp from my regular RV lots - I don't have but one available now anyway - to Hipcamp lots.  $15 per night, they have access to everything.  I also have a tent site on there that I'm hoping that the availability of a bathroom with a shower will help draw people in.  

I'm undecided what to do today. But I think I want to start backfilling that trench. There are still some things to do in it but most of it can be backfilled, that way I can make access to the rv dump station.  It's IN the trench, lol, it's just a part of the sewer line. I don't know if there will be any usage, but I have it listed so I need to make it accessible.  Yes, that trench is an eyesore even if behind the shed, I want it filled back in. I won't finish it all today, that is a lot of work and a big pile of dirt, I just don't want to pay for a bobcat right now. It's too expensive and I don't really have much need for it other than the backfilling.  

Yes, I have plenty to do in the shed, but there are priorities and right now, getting Hipcamp going, now that I have the toilet and shower officially accessible - is a top priority.  

Yesterday I finished that stuff up and then went to the tax guy.  He asked a lot of questions.  Long story short, my task now is to get specific numbers on construction together - which are listed in quickbooks and get him the info.  Although I'd love to do that today (not)  I really must get with some of this shed that needs to be completed.  I want to get the generator out of there as well. I will put it way in the back where I usually park my trailer and put a cover over it.  Maybe fire it up before I do that and let it run a few minutes.  That will get that generator out of the shed.

But to do that, I have to get all of the insulation off of the trailer.  Well, I have to do that anyway, James needs to borrow it. He has been taking down an old barn type thing for a client and needs to haul the stuff out of there. The client isn't paying him, instead, she is giving him the materials left from the barn plus a 21 foot long utility trailer probably worth in the $2,500 range.  

I'm a little behind my time this morning, I got to thinking about things and time just escaped me.  Im' still wondering if I should apply for this truck driving trainer position.  It's 5 days a week, 10 hour days, around 70k per year, home every night, no weekend work. It's a lot of hours and I"m not quite ready for a job yet, there is still stuff to do at the property that needs to be finished first.  I'm working on it, it's getting done, but it seems like it's taking forever.  Whatever the case, I am happy that so far, everything is working including my fixing the contractor's mess.  I have left that trench open on purpose to ensure 1 - it isn't getting backed up and 2 - it isn't leaking.  I have run the toilet and the shower and it's draining nicely with no leaks anywhere, it's time to wrap that up. 

I'll just have the vanity drain, but I only need leave a little of the trench open for that and another small portion of trench open for the eventual kitchen area. I suppose I could cover that up and just mark where the drain outlet is.  I also have a water supply there I need to uncover - got covered over with rain pushing mud down into the trench  - and stick a 90 on it and bring it up out of the ground.  Just another water spigot for customer usage along with the sewer dump back there.  

I'm getting more motivated now that I am getting Hipcamp open.  I don't know what's going to happen with it, but it's officially available and I am now going to be on a race to get most of this stuff done.  

And tent camping. Hoping some people will take advantage of that as well.  I'm trying to get those traveling nomads in there.  

Oh, and the people with the Great Dane. I'm getting to the tipping point with them. They have left bags of trash sitting out on the side of their trailer for days and trash laying on the ground. The dog has dug a deep hole, the windows I asked them to fix are not fixed and the real kicker: they have a 30 amp cord to supply their trailer jerry-rigged to an extension cord and into the pedestal!  I wrote them and told them they need to fix this IMMEDIATELY AS IT IS A FIRE HAZARD.  If it isn't fixed this morning, I am going to give them an ultimatum to either fix that and the windows or get the hell out of my park. 

I can have them towed out of there if necessary.  I will not have that kind of electrical nightmare in my park, period. If that thing catches on fire, it will burn down the trailer and my pedestal. The aluminum underground wiring will melt and trip the circuit to that entire side of the park.  The dogs inside that trailer will be consumed in flames and the possibility of the next door neighbors trailer burning down as well..

I regret letting them in - but - they agreed to my rules. The pics they showed of the trailer were taken so as to not show the broken windows.  It's a no brainer for me, fix it - all of it, keep your space clean or adios.  

Anyway, I need to get ready to get out of here, get over there and start shoveling dirt. 

G'day

 As much as I hated to do it, I had to cancel the 10 day stay for the Hipcamp person.  Those are at reduced rates, tho that isn't the reason I canceled.  The reason I canceled it is because 3 of those days, another person had already reserved a spot through my campground reservation system.  Hipcamp doesn't connect to park software to determine if there is availability, it just gives the camper the options that are listed and I guess we all hope there is a space available.  I mentioned the 3 days that had already been booked in case they want to stay anyway at the reduced rate and find somewhere else to go during the days I don't have availability.

Or, they can boondock those 3 days if they so desire, that's entirely up to them. But it appears that the parks in my area are filling up and mine apparently is just a spillover - I haven't been on the map long enough for people to consider it first before the others that have been around for decades.  I've got 4 good Google reviews so far, tho.  Anyway, I refunded them the entire amount. If they want to stay on the days that aren't booked, that's fine by me.  The reservation just came in late last night so I didn't wait around long to get back to them. They obviously need a place to stay, they will need to find other accommodations.  

As for sleep - I went to bed last night at 9:00 pm, woke up around 1, got to sleep around 3 and then slept until 7 am. So that's around 8 hours of sleep, I'm fine today.   Which is a good thing, what with having to go see the CPA today.  I have my notes I used to calculate my quarterly estimated taxes, I'll be asking him if that is anywhere near being correct.  

Well, Hipcamp is warning me that too many cancellations from the Hipcamp operator can result in reduced amount of viewings that Hipcampers will see when searching. I think that was the 3rd reservation made through that system.  But, I am not looking to piss Hipcamp off, I just need to get the 2 spots up and going ASAP.  I will remove the other spots from the listing and only have the HipCamp operation in the back listed with only the 110 amp outlet, the availability of water "nearby" and a sewer dump also nearby plus access to amenities.  I really think it will work - time will tell.  

If Hipcamp really wants to sanction owners, then they should be giving the ability to connect campground software to their system to give it real time information on availability.  

The lady that came in yesterday for 33 days said the opportunity for the truck driver training job is still opened.  Well, they've had that position open for quite a while now, I'm wondering what's up with that.  It's a Monday-Friday job, I dunno if I want to spend that much time at a job or not.  I think they're 10 hour days as well.  I"m not really sure what I want to do about working right now, I'm still trying to get the amenities shed at least close to some semblance of finished.  I'm going over there in a little while after my morning cups. 

I'm going to put that shower together and I bought a shower rod and curtain to boot. Clean that thing out nice, it will be a nice, hot - or cold - or warm - shower for whosoever wants to use it.  The walls are up enough to block the view including a functioning door with a lock on it.  The light is working in there, the only thing left is the vanity.  I will be doing that soon.  In fact, very soon.  The AC will be installed and the insulation.  Drywall isn't mandatory, I can say it's finished enough to use - actually it's already being used anyway.  That one guy goes in there with a roll of toilet paper every single day now, lmao. 

In fact, he's in there a lot. I think he's using it as a hideaway from the wife - they seem to argue a lot.  It's a small space in even a giant RV - they have a 44 foot long unit. There were 3 different people in there using the machines yesterday, a good sign.  If I could get more days of lots of usage I'm pretty sure I could make the payments with that money on the machines.  I'll be counting the amount of money in both quarter collecting boxes today as well.  

So, I have a few more electric outlets to install, put up a few more pieces of drywall - the inside walls on the bathroom - finished the shower stall and then see what kind of time I have left.  I don't even think I'll be able to get that done before i have to go to the appointment.  It's just critical in my mind to get to a CPA, have them give me the options and what kind of cost they are going to hit me with and then make a decision.   

It's cold outside, my version of it anyway, in the high 40's.  I didn't really expect that and apparently it's going to stay cold overnights for a while, but with daytime temps in very nice range.  Right now, the only available lot is lot 5 - tho those people from last night may still be there, it's available for several days before some people come through that booked it for 3 days.  The lack of available overnight lots is not concerning to me.  The rest of the lots are blocked out on my reservation system, if you actually go to my site to book (versus going through Hipcamp or Roverpass), it will be the only thing showing.  The software works it just takes time to figure something out when something new happens.  

I'm working on getting everyone paying on the 1st of the month instead of having to go around on random days trying to collect money.  Some people make it more difficult than it needs to be to collect. For example, one person that kept saying they will pay but was never home. They wanted to pay in person but at the end of the day?  They finally just gave me their credit card number and that was that.  Why didn't he just do that in the first place? Sometimes involves endless texts or phone calls to get people to pay up.  

Well that's enough. Get another hot cuppa to go and some ice water and get over there and get busy. I'm actually going to spray the grass around the pedestals first thing this morning before doing anything on the shed.  I want all of that grass around those things gone.  I tried to get a kid that was advertising he will work on the side (school) to come over and pull that grass, but apparently that didn't appeal to him lol.  Usually, actual work is a turnoff to these people saying they will do "any kind of yard work" or other such verbiage which leads you to believe they will -.....- do yardwork.  People want paid, they don't want to work for it. I'll just spray the stuff and after it's dead I'll come pull it out myself. 

With that, off to the races.

G'day

 The lady couple got to the park and wanted to change their lot from a back-in lot to a pull through. Lot 5 is the only pull through available, but to make them happy, I instantly agreed, sure! 

Not a big deal, right? No, but some people put in a reservation for lot 5 today before I could black it out.  So I'm sitting here trying to figure out how to change lots with reservations already on them.  I was trying to delete both reservations but they wouldn't let me, telling me I had to deal with pricing in another sector on the software.  

This is something I haven't run into before and now? I have to start watching more training videos to see if I can find out how to manage this. Meanwhile, I sent a confirmation letter to the people that just put in the reservation - we are moving you to a back-in lot - it has ample room but it is a back in lot.

The kicker here? It's just a 21 foot long trailer.  This could have gone to Hipcamp if they were to agree to power only and have access to a dumping station and a water spigot to fill up their tanks. And Hipcamp will be cheaper. 

Anyway, I figure someone will leave soon enough out of the pull throughs and open that up again.  What if they don't? Well the means they're paying money.  The new guy that is there for long term finally said he could pay Cashapp. I'm fine with cashapp, I take payments however people want to pay them. 

What's on tap for tomorrow? Yes, this is Sunday, I did go over there but only long enough to see if the man had come back to pay up and also let the boys eat their Happy Meals in the shed.  The laundry has been getting used all day long.  It's what I need - but on a more regular basis to get the money coming in to at least pay for the payments on the machines.  That was the goal from the beginning, I don't really think I'm going to get that much going in there.  

However, it is beginning to pick up.  The ladies are going to use it, both lots of eyes are using it and a couple of other wanted the access code as well.  That's good news even if the one lady wants to complain she "love having this place all to myself". Yes, well she doesn't have to make $219 per month payments on machines and I don't want to be paying for that kind of amenity, I want to at least break even.  Wifi is a given, it's free, but laundry? 

The people with the Great Dane suggested that "you almost need another set of machines".  No, I thought, I don't. I don't want more machine payments and unless everyone in the entire park started using the laundromat, I am not going there.  I have to average 3 loads per day to pay the payments and so far? That isn't happening. Now that it's starting to pick up, it might get to that point.

I'm going to have to get the directions, sit down and try to make heads or tails of how you change the amount being charged. It's only $2.50 per load and that is not the going rate.  It's more like $3.00 per load.  I am tempted to just have someone come out and pay for them to do it, the instructions are difficult to understand. It tells you to unscrew something but doesn't specify what, just says where. But if you look, there are no screws there.  In fact, I think I will contact the company that sold it to me and see if they can find a person to come out and do that.  

Anyway, tomorrow's agenda does not include reversing that T in the ground. Too wet. Just keep working on stuff inside the shed. Probably get all the rest of the electrical outlets finished and then probably start on installing that insulation.  

Had to edit.  These people show up at the park unannounced. No phone call, no text message, no email, nothing.  They drive through the park looking for a place to park.  There is only one space open - lot 12 - but is available for tonight. So, they call me AFTER they arrived and asked if I had a space available? yes, I have one lot....interrupted, they told me lot 12.  Yes, that's the available lot.  I just find it pretentious to show up like that. Why not call before you get there? What if I have nothing available? They must have been desperate, I dunno.  Nothing on any of my websites invite people to come take a lot without asking. Lmao.  

With that? Bedtime. 

 I've slept so poorly that writing in the blog or much of anything else has just gone by the wayside. Last night, however, I did finally sleep and now I'm feeling much better.  

So this dude calls me for long term lot rental.  "What is your policy on dogs and criminal background checks?".  I mean, just go ahead and send up the red flags.  Well, we allow dogs - "I have 5 of them", ...2 of them are large and 3 of them are chihuahua sized.  Oh.  What about your inference about criminal background checks?

"Well, I was in prison for beating my wife, but that was 30 years ago".  It was an instant no.  My insurance will not cover me if he does something in the park.  But, I just worded it: "Well I'd have to check with my insurance company". He knew what that meant.  He said thanks anyway and hung up the phone. 

I need people in here, yes, but I don't need them that bad. The insurance person made it clear that they aren't going to cover any claims resulting in people with violent crime convictions from the past.  I might have thought about helping him out but 5 dogs in an RV?  I live in a pretty good sized house and I wouldn't want 5 dogs  in here.  My cutoff is 2 dogs ... maybe 3.  The older couple have 2 dogs and a cat.  The other eyes in the park have 2 dogs.  The new people have 2 dogs.  That's it tho, I can't imagine having 5 dogs in a space that small. 

That is the second lead off of the Facebook ad.  I had been getting more with previous ads, I dunno, it's just hit or miss I guess.  We're still a week away from month's end, I'm hoping I'll get another long term out of someone looking for a new place to stay. 

Anyway, last day of the parental unit's vacation, they will be heading home sometime this morning probably  It's about a 2 hour and 15 minute drive, so they can sleep in, take their time, get some breakfast and leave at their leisure.  The youngest has been getting into trouble while they're gone, I don't envy him when they get home....especially taking the Nintendo Switch in the middle of the night. I caught him yesterday and I caught him today. Yesterday, he was grounded by parents from TV, games and playing outside.  I have no idea what they will do now, but I bet it's not going to be a fun week for that kid.  

Meanwhile, the 33 day stay - if that's accurate, I do wonder if they accidentally put that many days in there - is coming today.  That will fill up 13 of 14 lots.  I'm still cruising to fill that last one with a long term.  If I miss a few travelers, that won't be a big deal.  People will be leaving soon enough and I don't want to be caught with 4 open lots like that last time when 2 of them left overnight without any advance notice.  The only thing that might change the number of overnight travelers is getting that bathroom opened up. I'm almost there, I just need to fix the toilet and get the shower working and cleaned out. It will seem odd to have a bathroom without a sink, I suppose, but that will be rectified soon enough. 

So, it's basically going to be a pallet of sod per lot - but a couple of lots it's more like 2 or 3 pallets.  $250 per pallet.  That's a minimum 4k to buy the sod which doesn't include delivery or ground preparation.  Yup, I don't have that kind of money right now.  I'm not sure what I will do, but it likely will be buy a bag of seed and do one lot at a time.  

I did apply for a "part time" trucking job. There were no specifics given on how many days per week or what they mean, exactly, by part time.  In my view, part time means exactly that: short hauls that get you home either daily or possibly longer hauls but only like one per week. Or who knows.  Any ads I see like that I will apply for.  There is another one that says "home several times a week".  That would have to be local or semi-local hauling.  They may - or may not call - back. Some of these places want you to fill out the initial application and then call them. 

There are fuel hauling jobs available I may take a look at, but that usually means night shift to start out with and I'm really not a night person.  I went to bed at 9:30 last night.  I'm going to see what I can find, tho, I don't really think I can live comfortably off of the income of 14 lots.  Hipcamp may or may not work and increase the revenues, but I still don't know that it will be enough to pay for my bills and still have "recreational" money available to do the things I want to do.  

I will be collecting quite a bit of money on the first, but the real question will be: How much will electric cost me this month?  

Good thing I checked my notes. The appointment with the accountant is tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 pm.  I want to find a clear picture of how I can go about legally paying the minimum in taxes I can and how much I can afford to pay myself after paying those taxes. I am pretty sure an S corp will be recommended, which is fine, if they will set that up for me. The money spent is the money saved and then some.  This CPA comes highly recommended by a general manager of a local business that is also a national chain.  They set up the local side of the accounting format for them.

I'm sure this isn't going to be cheap, but I feel like I'm in over my head with trying to determine how much I should have sent to the IRS - what with attempting to determine how much money I can take in an "owner's draw" this year for regular paychecks. I think I got close, but what if I"m way off? Or what if switching to an S corp will save me a truckload of tax payments? 

Whatever the case, time to get ready for church. The youngest will have to sit with me at the regular service while the oldest gets to go to the children's ministry.  He is not going to like sitting at a service listening to a sermon and at this point? That's just too bad. He isn't listening today anyway.  I am thinking this could go bad at the church service with him sitting there for an hour, but we will find out. If the oldest kid didn't want to go, I just wouldn't even go today and let him stew at home.  

 5:00 am.  Boys still sleeping. I wanted to get up half an hour earlier than them to enjoy a cup or two of coffee.  I am not sure if I'll just come home and go back to sleep or go to the property and try to get stuff done early.  I'm not quite awake enough to make that decision, lol. 

I have to take the 6 year old over to the next door neighbor's at 6:00 am and then drive the 8 year old to school - they are going on a longer field trip to a town about 70 miles south of us.  So they are leaving at 6:30 am and have to be at school by 6:15.  

After that? Either home, Waffle House or the property.  

It rained for a long time last night, many hours, so I know I won't be getting into that ditch today.  Just would like to get that situation done or as done as I can - still have the vanity drain to install but I'm not doing that until I get a vanity - but I can backfill most of the trench.  

I now have a dump station for people to dump their holding tanks. Not something I want used too often, just more of a convenience that I hope only gets occasional use.  I do believe the liquid is flowing good in that area, but still. 

And all of this time, people running that washer every day, there haven't been any backups, thankfully. That tells me I got the fall right.  Now where the toilet and shower are? No idea yet. I've flushed that toilet many times and it's been getting used and when I cut into it, there was nothing standing in there excepting right under where the toilet is. That was expected because of the lack of slope/fall on that line going over to the main line.  There is a very good fall going out of there now, that will no longer be an issue. Yes, the stuff coming out of that pipe was, naturally, quite smelly.  

I think today I will work on getting the other electrical lines installed.  Finish the bathroom light, install an outlet for feeding an outside light and put in another regular outlet near the front door - there are no outlets over there and I want to be sure that if I need one for something like maybe a coffee maker? I have one available.  I had to buy another 25 feet of electrical cable for that, gag. That stuff is expensive!

I was about to say I need another switch for an outside light, but I want to get one with a light sensor on it that will automatically turn on and off according to the sunlight.  Meh, I might put a switch on it anyway.  I have an extra switch and I have a box for it.  

I also need to get that AC installed and start working on installing the insulation.  So, there is still plenty left to do - unfortunately. I'd like to wrap this thing up. Instead, there are still weeks worth of work left to go in there.  It'll probably take a whole day just to install a vanity what with drain pipe and water lines.  

If this dude shows up today, I'm putting him in lot 10 and the ladies coming Sunday will be in lot 12, leaving only one pull through site - lot 5 - left available. Rest assured, if someone wants it for long term, they can have it.  This will leave me less vulnerable when other people leave.  I don't have any overnight reservations in the system, so losing a few here and there that are trying to find a place right away isn't going to hurt me.  

Well, it's almost time to take the little one next door.  I have decided to go ahead and get over to Waffle House after dropping the older boy off and then over to the property.  I'd like to be there when this guy shows up to make sure he takes the lot I want him to take.  I greatly dislike these people that just pick and choose whatever they want, notwithstanding the fact that they have been informed which lot they can have. 

 The sewer system is repaired - almost.  I messed up on fall/slope and had to redo both outlets.  I am not going to have shit sitting in a pipe.  I will go to whatever lengths I have to go to fix it and I can tell ya, fixing that stuff underneath that shed is not pleasant stuff.  I won't even go into all of it, I will only say that at the end? I put a damn sewer waste tee in backwards and will have to redo that. But that is not under the trailer. I will be a relatively simple job. I want it right. If I leave it like it is, it's going to be directing toilet waste to the end of the pipe - which is right there. 

That is, of course, not what you want. You want the poop to flow towards the direction you want it to go.  It just isn't anything I want to continue doing, I want that stuff over with, but I also know if I leave it?  I'm going to have backed up lines sooner or later and it's just not worth not fixing it now. Get it right.  

__________

Well yes, I'm doing that tomorrow. However.  I got a phone call. Mr. B? yes?  We have your vehicle finished, we just need to detail it and it will be ready to pick up later.  OHHHH??!!!!  Yes, we will call you back when we are done.

Ohhhh myyyyy.  They told me yesterday it was next Wednesday when it would be done, with the caveat that it might be done sooner.  I'm covered in dirt and I'm sitting there listening to this person telling me this on the phone.  Yes, I had to lay down in the dirty, several times actually, to finish out this project. That T? It's out in the open.  Simple fix, I'll get that done tomorrow if it doesn't rain. 

It was supposed to start late this morning. Then early afternoon. Then mid-afternoon. Now in a couple of hours.  Whatever. Typical forecast, lol.   

Anyway, I called the lady that's giving me rides, she was an hour out.  I was done as far as I could get with the sewer line, the toilet works, it's sending stuff the wrong direction but it's still working.  Just when it gets sent out the T through that special setup, it shoots out of there and plunges it down the line. Exactly what you want.   She got me, we went to the shop - and then I noticed right away something was wrong. 

But nothing so bad that I didn't take it. They forgot to do the job on the driver's side headlight cover.  It has oxidation.  The passenger side is brand new and the bug deflector is also brand new. I'm not leaving it there another day right now to fix it - they want it a whole day, lol.  I'm thinking to pay for a new one on that side as well. They are telling me they can get it "80%" of what it would look like new.  Well, why would I want 2 things new and 1 looking - not new? I'm just going to call them tomorrow and ask them to order the part, I want new on everything up front.  

Later on, I got a call from a gentleman from - wherever, another Oklahoman I think.  He started asking questions about long term.  I answered all of them but he still was asking about electricity. Is it prorated to the end of the month? Do you have to pay extra fees with it?  

Huh? No, sir, electricity is included with the cost of the rent.  This is, apparently, unique to our area. Other places even 50 miles away all charge extra for electric. It's metered and you pay whatever the power company is charging you for it - it is illegal to charge a tenant more than what the power company charges you.  I know this from ample research. No matter, you don't try to make your money off of electricity, I never even thought of that anyway. 

The point of meters is to force the customer to deal with their own electric-use habits.  Otherwise, some people think: free-for-all! Just turn the AC units down as cold as they can go, leave all electric-using devices on constantly and the park can pay for it! WooHooooo!  

He's coming early tomorrow morning, he stated. I may or may not be over there early. I have to get up at 5:00 am to get my coffee and then get the boys up at 5:30 am. One of them is going on a field trip and the bus leaves at 6:30 am. Well his bus to take him to school doesn't even arrive by then. So, I have to take the 6 year old to the neighbor's house at 6:00 am - she will take him to the bus stop - and then take the 8 year old to school so he can get on his field trip bus in time.  

After that? I don't know if I'll go home and go back to bed or just keep going. If I sleep well tonight, then I'll just keep going : )

Anyway, I have 13 spaces taken as of tomorrow and Sunday.  One more, please!  

That's it. I'm happy. The day is done, the boys are going to bed soon.  

_________________

The boys are in bed, they are on their way to Oklahoma and I'm going to bed as well. 

 Another bad sleep night, gag.  Just awake for hours.  

Rain isn't expected to hit until after 2:00 pm.  With the way forecasts actually come true around here, one wonders if it's even going to rain at all.  

I'm going to try and get the sewer line completed today, done and over with.  And I will try to get the wiring completed for the bathroom.  The light fixture is near completed, but there are a couple of other lines I need to run off of the line that feeds the bathroom as well.  

Throw the main breaker, pull the wires out of the light switch box that turns the light on for the laundry area, hook that all up, run the wires to their destinations, install those outlets and be done with it.  Yup, that's a lot more work than it sounds.  

Still nothing extra in the reservation system.  I suspect much of what I am going to get is these last minute travelers needing a place to stop overnight. I'll gladly accommodate them, but I am looking to fill those lots with longer term.  I have 3 open lots right now, 2 more than I want open. I'll continue to run ads until people move in.  Hmm, well the boost is still pending.  For whatever reason, it usually takes at least 24 hours before they will approve it. 

Just biding my time here.  My ride is coming in about 45 minutes. I'm not really looking forward to much of anything today, I am tired and it will take a while to shake that feeling of grogginess.  There is so much work to do, tho, that I can't afford to just sit home on a week day.  The taxes are done for now,  there really isn't any legitimate reason to stay home beyond feeling tired.  I've driven countless times in a semi truck in this condition. 

It would be really nice, tho, if the collision center would call today or tomorrow and say the vehicle is done.  They said it might be this week but couldn't give any guarantees.  I guess it doesn't matter, the folks are leaving and I will be able to use whichever vehicle they leave behind. It's just that I like to drive my own vehicle. If anything happens, it's on me, not on them and me.  I'm still waiting for the aftermath with the insurance company.  Maybe they don't do anything until the dust settles - ie: the vehicles are fixed and the ticket is done with the court.  

This weekend I'm going to try to make up my mind when to leave.  My mom says she usually leaves town sometime in May, once the temps hit 100 she's outta there.  The forecast shows no 100 degree days in May, but that isn't going to stop her from going up there, I don't think. It's likely more the temperatures up there that matter.  The lows show in the 40's - which is way too cold for her. She has never liked the cold and hence she doesn't go up there in the winter.  I haven't told her I am coming, I am still half weighing surprising her at her doorstep - but at the same time, I don't want to show up to find she is leaving or even gone.  

So early May seems best.  I can tell ya, if I didn't have family there, I wouldn't even go.  I have no desire to travel anywhere.  If I were to stay in town here and just deal with the park and maybe take an occasional trip to somewhere within - 200 miles maybe - I'd be fine with that.  I mean, a flight overseas and visiting another nation, now that would be something entirely different.  I've traveled the US, I've seen most everything besides Alaska and Hawaii, I'm weary of traveling and it's why I gawk at the idea of going back to trucking.  I may have to do that eventually, but not now.  I could go at least a couple more months on what I've got right now and especially with money coming in.  

I'm sure I could get reconditioned to trucking if I really have to.  A couple more years of it won't hurt me, I guess.  It's more having to be forced back into it, tho, than wanting to go back into it.  It would take some pressures off of me and also get me paying down some debt and also getting me into a financial position to get another loan.  

But every time I get on the Interstate and I see trucks, I just think how ugly it is driving out there. Troopers wanting to pull you over, idiots driving cars and nowadays, idiots driving tractor-trailer rigs like they are cars. They cut you off without thinking twice about it.  Trying to find places to park overnight.  Not getting any or much exercise. Sitting all day long.  Trapped inside a small box endlessly.  It has zero appeal to me anymore. The glory days of driving are far gone, it's just an overregulated pile of garbage now and I'd rather have nothing to do with it. 

I might actually see about this truck driver training position - that lady is coming back this weekend and staying a while.  Of course, she might be staying to train a trainer - they have allegedly been looking for someone but I haven't seen any ads for it.  Yes, I do peruse trucking positions here and there to see what's available locally.  If something good were to show up, I might try to jump on it.  A rear end collision, my fault, isn't going to help anything tho.  

Gonna finish this one up. Time to get my stuff ready to go.

G'day

 I decided to boost the Facebook ad again. It's just a 3 day run that costs $12 and usually produces good results. I'd like to get 2 more long term out of it and fill the park up until others leave again.  I've got 3 open lots right now, but one is going to be taken for a month starting Sunday.  So try to fill up 2 more lots and be done with it.  For a little while, lol.  Someone noted to me that one of the recent arrivals has 3 air conditioning units on it ...wow!  I hadn't noticed. They are paying more because I upped my rates, but I would have wanted another $25 per month out of them for a 3rd AC unit. 

Anyway, I got all the way up to the sewer line coming out of the toilet and had to stop.  Need just one more fitting a 22 degree angle coupler to get the main line lined up with that line.  I may have to cut that line off and raise it some, so I will need a coupler as well.  I won't know until I get the pipe all the way up to that area.  However, I don't - or shouldn't anyway - need anything else to finish that project up until I go ahead and get to installing a vanity. But, I'm installing a T on the sewer line for that s well.  k

I do have some extra parts - including a 90 - I just don't have any more 22's or inline couplers. 

The oil workers who are all together brought in a trailer. The trailer has 2 motorcycles on them - custom Harleys.  They must be planning on staying a while.  Or who knows.  Someone said one of them is worth 40 grand at least. They must be worth something, they took one of the wheels off of the trailer so it can't be hooked up to and hauled off. 

Another one came back early today in his truck with a car following him. He stopped - I'm hooking up my trailer, we'll be gone a week. He had told me about this when he moved in.  He's going to Talladega for the car races.  And sure enough, he hooked up his trailer, pulled it out, they parked their car in their space and left.  He wanted to be sure no one was going to take his spot, lol.  I wouldn't have allowed it anyway, but I get why they'd want to block the space. 

Well - the folks are leaving tomorrow evening.  She wants alone time with hubby, I'll have the kids for 2 full days and partial of 2 others.  No matter. I can work all day tomorrow and all day Friday.  I'm needing to get out there early tomorrow to beat the rain so I can finish the sewer line and get a toilet working again, gag.  After that I have plenty of work to do inside. Really need to get that AC installed. 

Anyway, get that sewer stuff done, put up a curtain on the window, finish the electrical and I'm calling it a bathroom with shower available.  It may not be the finished product, but it will work and that's all I'm looking for to at least get it advertised.  I will, of course, keep working on it but if someone needs the toilet or a shower, there it is.  Might be a bit odd without a sink, lol, but that's coming soon! 

____________

Many hours later. A traveler called, said they needed a place, do you have anything available? Yes, indeed.  Well we won't be coming in until after 10: 00 pm, is that okay? Sure! Please go to my website to pay, I won't be there that late.  And sure enough, they paid.  It isn't 10:00pm yet but I will get a notification from the camera if they do pull in. If only I could get at least 2 of these going every day......

Well, off to bed.  I need to be at the property earlier. Like 8:00 am would be good.  

 As normal, I realized I needed to install more things on the sewer line - now - before closing it all up.  You build the line, you want to install everything you need or will need in the future now. You can cut it open for future reference, but why, when you can just install the stuff now and not have to go through all of that, including having to cut into a line that has had human waste traveling down it? Yeah, makes no sense. 

Specifically, a T to use for a future kitchen and another T for the vanity as well as a T to vent the line.  I still haven't installed the p trap because I wasn't able to make it that far yesterday - it started raining and I needed another T.  It's whatever, today is supposed to be rain free and I intend on getting all of that stuff done if humanely possible.  

Whatever the case, after it started raining, I did some drywall on the bathroom wall and then started installing the electrical wiring to get a switch and ceiling light in there. Big pain - there was no clear route for the wire, I had to chip out wood on several studs to route it properly. Installing the ceiling light was no piece of cake, either.  There was nowhere to install it, I ended up having to put several more pieces of wood up there at the ceiling to get it installed.

That all took over 7 hours.

During that time, I got several complaints about the dumpster. It has become clear someone is dumping trash in there that doesn't live at the park. The question may have been answered by one of the complainants who stated the people in the house across  the street asking him a couple of days ago whether they could dump their trash in there? NO, was his firm reply, he stated to me anyway, to the person and said it was for the RV Park use only.  But do you think that's going to stop them?

I doubt it.  Even with a sign out there, I am guessing they are the source of the trash. And who knows who it was that dumped all of that insulation in there last month. None of our people, no one has a house with attic insulation at my property unless my vision has become very, very bad.  Well, I need to find my hunting camera, get it functioning and install it out of site on a tree branch nearby.  I'm not going to keep having this dumpster overflowing with trash.  

And let me just note, some of these RV'ers have lived in much larger parks and stated they didn't fill up a dumpster in one week like that. It is literally overflowing right now, there are bags of trash on the ground. We're talking a dumpster, not a residential trash can.  This is an intolerable situation. If I can't identify who is doing it, I may have no choice but to install a padlock on it and hand out keys. I hate to do that, it's really going to add more trouble, but what else is there to do?  

Anyway, the collision center has now stated the 26th instead of the 25th for a completion date, with the caveat that "we may be able to get it in this week, but we won't know until later this week, we will call and let you know".  I haven't asked them to get it done quicker beyond stating at the very beginning of this that I don't have a rental car.  I just wanted them to know I don't have until the next of never to get it done. 

However long it normally takes, fine, but let's not drag it out longer, I was attempting to say without actually saying that.  So, they know I need it back as soon as possible.  

Anyway, I still have my ads running on Facebook.  I'm losing one or even 2 people (that I know of) in less than a month's time, I want to fill the 14th lot up.  The 13th will be occupied for over a month starting on Sunday.  I'd rather just fill the park entirely up and have a pause on having even one overnight lot rather than having 2 more lots empty when that time comes.  

However....yesterday, I got 2 phone calls. The first was going through Hot Springs and looking for a place to stop for the night. Umm, I'm 3 hours away?  They quickly ended that call, they knew the town I'm in but apparently misjudged the time it would take to get here.  The second were a set of couples traveling together in 2 vehicles.  Do you have 2 lots available? Yes I do! Come on over! They were just coming into town from the East and it wasn't anything for them to keep traveling a few more miles to get to my place.  

Turns out it  was 2 pickup trucks with campers on the back.  Campers of today are nothing like the campers of yesteryears. They have holding tanks, sink, bathroom, small fridge.  They manage to cram all of that stuff in there.  I was a little surprised when they pulled in, lol, they didn't state they were in pickup trucks.  Well, I gave them a discount, I didn't feel right trying to charge them the same amount as a 42 foot long 5th wheel.  They were coming from Hattiesburg, MS headed back to their homes in California.  

If I could have a steady stream of these types of travelers stopping in, it would make it worthwhile to keep a couple lots open. It is  traveling season.  It's these types that wait until the last minute to find something that I'm getting in there.  And in a few cases, they plan their routes and I am where they figure they will be on their trip to wherever to stop overnight.  The price is what's drawing them in.  

Since I have no access to a vehicle during the day, I end up having to make trips to Lowe's at night.  I didn't get everything I wanted to last night, it was late and the store announced closing time in 15 minutes. I got the sewer parts, yes, but there are other things I need for other projects.  

No matter, I have plenty to keep me busy for today.  In fact, I suspect the sewer stuff will keep me busy all day long.  I hope to have it finished today, tho, just before more rain comes tomorrow.  I need my toilet back! The hard parts will be trying to align the shower stall line with the T and the sewer line coming out of the toilet with that T. Lot's of tee's.  I bought extra parts in case I get them misaligned. 

Well, my ride is arriving soon. Gotta make lunch and drinks - especially my coffee. I've found the day goes much better if I take a thermo with coffee in it over there.  It stays hot for a long time and it's just nicer to have.  I can only hope I get some more last minute travelers in there today, I will have 3 open lots for it.  Or even a long term out of the blue to move in - it happens that way a lot. Like, no a preplanned event, "we're coming on such and such a day", it's more like "you have anything available right now?" 

Why yes, yes I do!  Come on over!

G'day