It isn't unfortunate that they are coming early - like in 25 minutes - to do the shed. It is unfortunate that I was sleeping so well and my sleep had to be distrubed by the alarm clock.  As I have stated numerous times in the past, when I do, finally, get a night where I can sleep, I want to sleep as long as that ride will go for.  

But, getting this project done supersedes sleep and I'm writing this one out pretty quick and getting out of here. The property is only like 8 minutes away, shorter this morning since there will be no traffic holding me up.  Trying to gulp down a cup of coffee quick so I can have another for the road.  

I dunno, but I'm getting myself prepared, mentally, yet once again, to go back on the road.  I hate the idea but I don't see a lot of other options here. If it comes to that, paychecks will go to paying down debt and saving up for another septic system.  Septic system first, very likely.  I'm thinking about it, that's all I can say about it right now. Still some stuff left to do before I will call it good and go driving trucks endlessly.  

As I said, it's sitting there in my mind. I've been trying to get myself back into that thinking for I see no other way around it atm.  Unless Hipcamp and the overnight spots pick up substantially in reservations, I have no choice in the matter. 

I would also like to add more amenities to draw those people in, namely: a swimming pool, a jacuzzi and a sauna.  Those are more on the resort style of amenities, but in Texas, hot summers, it's really a must if you want to get people in.  People like swimming pools.  I need more lots before I do that tho.  

Basically, I'm working towards automating this park as much as possible so that the amount of things that I would have to tend to personally is either completely gone or very much diminished.  I can ask the older couple if they'd be interested in running the place -not physical labor, just the nuts and bolts of dealing with guests. They've done it before, I've come to find out and at a much larger park elsewhere. The only reason they are staying at my place is because it was the best thing around and for the price.  

I don't want to pat myself on the back too much, but taking a trip down memory lane, after I finally and begrudgingly went to actually look at the property, I instantly fell in love with it - sans the gas operation.  That's what originally turned me off to the place to begin with.  But, I have managed to work around that nonsense. I didn't realize I could just put the park in the front 7-1/2 acres until I really started thinking about it.  This could work!  And now that spring is approaching, the trees are budding and it's beautiful.  That's the front 7, the rear 15 should be getting pretty nice now too.  

I haven't been on the trails in at least a week.  Just haven't had the time.  Addler loves it back there, I'll have to take him this weekend. Get a feel for what it would take for tent campers to get back there with their equipment and get ready to start heavily advertising both tent and HipCamp camping.  

Whatever the case, my time is up.  I need to be there to show them exactly what I want  and where.

C'ya later.  

 Uhh, I have a few draft entries that I probably won't even put on here.  I just get distracted by something and start working on something.  Such is life at the moment. 

A few highlights tho.  First and very thankfully, the rest of the project in the shed is paid for.  It is a huge weight off my shoulders.  I started figuring out the costs to do the whole thing with the foam style insulation and cover it up with drywall.  The lumber to build the 2 walls needed for the bathroom. A pre-framed door, a keypad entry, an outdoor lamp for the front of the shed, a vanity for the bathroom - I wasn't going to do it but I think I will so people can wash their hands after using the toilet.   

And other stuff.  It got to the 3 grand point and that became a little overwhelming.  I may have the money for that, but it would deplete my banking account to uncomfortable levels.  The point, I can now finish the entire thing without worrying about money.  I've just spent so much money putting this park together, it went far beyond anything I imagined it would in terms of costs. Inflation also drove prices of everything up. 

There will still be work to do after they finish this weekend, but a huge chunk of the hard stuff will be out of the way.  

I also tried that dryer again.  I put the quarters in it and turned it on, setting the time. At 46 minutes, it shut itself off.  That is exactly what it is supposed to do.  I am not going to cancel that appointment with the repair dude, tho, I want him to see if he can figure out how to change the price for the wash.  I want $2 wash and $1 dry - $3 for all of it.  It's currently set at $1.50 wash and that's just too low. I need to be able to cover the cost of the payments on those machines, at least.  

I did the numbers today as far as income.  At current rates, there is no way I can survive off of that.  It's just not enough money left over after expenses.  It's like 3 plus grand, but you have to take taxes out of that.  That's just with the current setup with 11 long term and 3 short term.  Amazingly, all of the calls have stopped.  It figures, lol. I've only had one call - that person said they were going to come and would call me when they were on their way.

Yeah, that didn't happen.  I'm still pretty hopeful I can get that lot rented soon, hopefully within the next week.  I know of one person that is leaving at the end of April.  So, if I get the 12th lot rented and then this amenities shed starts getting more business coming in, no worries for me, I can keep that lot open after that guy leaves.  

Tomorrow, I'm getting up early to meet the contractor out there, answer any questions, show them what I want and then get to measuring the length of the trenches in the Hipcamp area.  It's for electricity only. I will have to order that wire and I want to be pretty close to exactly what I need.  They have the right sized wire for $1.09 per foot. That's a good price for direct burial - underground wiring that doesn't need conduit.  I'm going to set up 4 outlets and call it good.  If they get used, that would be wonderful.  If they don't, then I spent $200 on nothing.  I'm optimistic.   

The Hipcamp is a gamble, but not a huge monetary output.  I already had the bobcat for backfilling the trench for the shed, it was a no brainer to clear out that area for hipcamp and also deal with the driveway.  The driveway is no longer a muddy, sloppy mess, I am grateful that my efforts paid off, I"m hardly a pro earth moving laborer.  

But I want to wind down spending gobs of money on this park.  If there's anything I would really like to get going, it would be a glamping setup in the back.  I just can't figure out how to have cooling back there.  There's no power and the closest connection would be the shed at something like 800 feet away.

No doable.  I have to figure out the power part first because that's what glamping is - the comforts of home in a tent.  Think of it as tenting camping in a huge, giant canvas tent set up that is more like a hotel room.  King sized bed, TV, heating/cooling, small kitchen, etc.  When I say kitchen, I am definitely not referring to running water.  That's not a part of any glamping setup I have seen, tho I suspect there are probably some out there. 

More like a coffee maker, a small refrigerator and a microwave.  But anyway, I will eventually start looking into it, I just don't need to right now, I don't have the money for that atm.  It would cost 5 to 8 thousand to get one built.  Just not in the cards - right now.  

I'll be happy to just get some of the regular tent camping sites going after I can finally get my attention off of park issues.  It's still going to be weeks, probably, before I finish that shed.  Drywall alone will be a pain - putting it on the ceiling isn't going to be easy.  Hold  sheet up there while trying to drive in screws.....Not going to worry about it, I'll figure something out and get it done.  But the bathroom wall and door will be first priority.  

Well, I'm tired, it's getting late and 6:00 am comes early, at least for me. 

 So yesterday, I tested the machines.  I still have to go get an exhaust piece for the dryer, but it works whether the exhaust is vented outside or not.

The washer ran fine. 30 minutes and it was done with its cycles.  

The dryer also ran fine.  In fact, it ran too fine. I put 4 quarters in the thing and it ran...and ran....and ran....at about 45 minutes, I figured it should be done. At almost an hour I was scratching my head.  It an hour and 20 minutes I started laughing.  At an hour and 44 minutes? I shut the thing off by opening the door. It then turned itself back on after closing the door. It's not supposed to do that, either.  It should force you to hit the start button. 

Well, I called the company I bought it from and they hooked me up with a local appliance store to come out and fix it. I didn't know that store had appliance repair. There is just one problem with this appointment: they have it set for 3/6/2023.  Noting that today is 3/31/2023, lol. I will be calling the store this morning to find out if that was just a type - 4/6/2023 is likely what the agent meant to write into that email.  I'd like to see if they will come sooner. I'm not opening up the laundry until that thing is fixed, I'm not giving away free hours worth of drying.  

At least the company purchased it from didn't give me a hassle about it. "Yea, that doesn't sound right" after telling her the thing ran for getting close to 2 hours without shutting itself off.  

Anyway, I made a lot more calls than that yesterday.  I got on a roll and spent around 7 hours on the phone. 2-1/2 of them were calling Verizon about the internet gateway device.  I turned it off, I want them to stop trying to bill me for service, I cancelled the service and I have an actual email from them proving it. It took me over 2 hours to finally get through to the business department.  I kept calling and it kept directing me to the personal side, then they would try to transfer me over.  It should be needless to say that I was getting very aggravated with that nonsense. 

But, I also called a CPA, he is too busy right now to take me on.  I also called T-Mobile, Dish Network, Direct TV to name a few. I'm trimming the budget.  I don't need to be paying what Dish Network was charging me, I dropped the service at my place and got the service reduced $50 at the other house.  I don't know why they wouldn't drop the price over here. 

I called Direct TV to switch over, they tried to jack me around.  The lowest they would come was $120 per month. That's $40 better than Dish, but it's still pretty high for only 2 receivers and basic channels. But, I decided to go ahead and do it. This dude promised me 10 times the total price was going to be $120 per month.  But at the end?  It went up to $127 and then $128 and then $127.  What kind of buffoonery am I dealing with here?  I told him he promised the TOTAL bill with taxes was going to be $120.  He didn't care and neither did I, I hung up on him.  He called back, attempting to explain away the extra money, I hung up on him again, telling him do NOT call me again.  

So, the house over here has no satellite at the moment. James and Taylor don't watch satellite, the boys like the cartoon channels. I watch reruns of old shows and some news.  But, last week, I found Tubi on the apps on the TV and it plays all kinds of movies, many of which I like.  

New tenants took over lot 13 last night - or so I was told.  It's Friday morning right now, I'll be heading over there soon enough.  I knew they were moving in, lol, this isn't like the other guy that showed up out of the blue. I think the lady is stay at home mom - she has 2 young kids.  So they should be there to make payment this morning.  I have an overnighter that should also be there - they said they were coming in after !0:30 -  yup, please be quiet, I won't be there, thank you.

I still don't have that much for overnighters going for April. I'm intent on renting out the lot 12 for long term.  

I ordered 2 cameras from T Mobile yesterday.  One for the inside of the shed and one that will be attached outside showing the driveway.  I will be able to see who's coming and going and  I will be able to determine who did what if the facilities get trashed.  I'm pretty much of the idea that I want a locking door handle on it.  The cameras add $40 per month to the bills. These cameras have a sim card and you can access them from anywhere that you have internet access.  It's just the price I feel I must pay to ensure that people keep themselves behaved.  

Someone dumped a bunch of insulation in my dumpster the other day.  I have put up a sign stating the dumpster is for RV park and guests use only.  This was the thick, attic type insulation, it certainly didn't come from anyone at the park.  I am considering placing a fake camera up in the tree and a sign saying "this area is under video surveillance" or some other such thing. The only other alternative will be the pain of having to get a lock and a bunch of duplicates made up.  It was suggested to me, but I had already thought about it and thought, gag, not really wanting to do that.

I placed that dumpster about 100 feet off the road so people couldn't just stop and dump. They actually have to drive up the driveway.  So I dunno, but I do know they sell fake cameras that look real.  

Since having the electrician come out and check everything cost nothing, the person of interest that was going to pay for it has now offered to pay for the rest of what's needed done in the shed. "Price it out and let me know".  So, that's what I'm doing today.  Measure everything, determine how many 2X4's I will need and how much drywall and insulation I will need.  A door for the restroom and they sell a small vanity with sink and mirror for relatively cheap at Lowe's.  

I was only going to put up drywall for the bathroom to start with and just do the rest later when I have more money, but since the offer has been made....might as well get the drywall for the entire thing.  It's going to cost some money.  The insulation is $12 per panel.  Ii remembered I already have a ceiling light at the house - brand new - haven't installed it. I thought it was corded, its wired in, which is what I need for the shed for the bathroom.  

So, I need to find out how to connect 2X4's on the tops of the vertical studs and where the joists connect to it. I think it's just a metal piece you screw or nail in there if I recall correctly.  Won't need too many, just enough for the bathroom, the rest of the shed will remain open including the high ceiling.  I don't have the motivation to bring the ceiling down, it's just a waste of time IMO.  

Well, that was easy.  Finding out how to connect them, that is, easier than I thought.  Off to the property, get my measurements and then off to Lowe's.  

 Well, one of the short stays - it was only an overnighter and it was done through Roverpass - cancelled. Roverpass doesn't allow a full refund.  They apparently charge their fees regardless and warn the person making a reservation of such.  The fees can be passed on to the customer, split or the business can eat the costs.  But when it comes to a refund, Roverpass keeps their fees, forces the business to give back everything but those fees which are retained by the business. 

There are deterrents in the industry to making reservations and then canceling. My research has provided me a snapshot of why.  People used to make multiple reservations at different parks for the same day and then they would decide where they would stay when they arrived.  Whoever the winner of the draw got the business, everyone else got shafted.  They would simply cancel their reservations at the other places - or not even do that much - with no consequences.

So, the industry stated shifting towards all kinds of policies. Some places made them pay the fee it cost to make the reservation, ie: campground software costs and credit card fees.  Others forced a full, one night charge to cancel regardless of the customer's "excuses".  Even more forced customers to pay for their entire stay upfront and allowed no refunds, whatsoever.  

I decided not to do any of that. The business is new, it needs as much business as possible. I do force a one night's fee up front, but I will refund their money minus $2 for the campground software.  Anyway, out of a $27 payout to me, the guest only got $21.75 back.  Roverpass fees are rather pricey, at least from my perspective.  I'm on there because I hoped it would generate some business. So far, only 1 guest has actually showed up, 2 others have cancelled.  

Alright. On the cusp of getting this project at least functioning even if not completely done, that is the goal today.  Get the washer and dryer set into place. Get a sign in there - I forgot about the "Rules" sign and I really need those cameras.  I will not have people destroying my brand new machines with negligent acts of overloading or dumping things in there that shouldn't go into them. These are just basic machines, they aren't good for comforters or other large items and I don't want oily or overly muddy clothing putting in there.  This is where rules and cameras come in.  

I'll just tell ya, it is standard, industry-wide practice for laundromats to have cameras all over the place, inside the building, watching everything.  It isn't spying, it's "Who just did this to my machine?".  

I may get the setup done today, but until I get that sign made - which I will be ordering today - and the cameras in - same as sign - I am not opening it up. And, I want the work crew in and out of here with the shower and toilet assembly finished as well.  There, sign ordered, he usually has them ready in a couple of days, which works for me since I don't plan on opening it until Monday at the earliest.  

Today's proposed agenda:

Finish machine setup.  

Install sewer dump station

Dig up a length of the sewer line to ensure it's at a good slope

Probably install a T on the 1/2 inch CPVC so they have access to run it to the shower/toilet

That is a lot right there. I also need to construct the shed - that takes half a day, seriously, but at least I know how to do it now, it's the exact same one as the first one I built.  I also need to figure out how I can cool the router - summer is coming and I don't think it's going to work getting that hot.  The only idea I have is go place it in a mini fridge, such as I have for truck driving. The one I have isn't big enough but they do make them bigger. I would have to re-do the setup I have now.  As long as the fridge has plastic walls, the signal will pass right through it.

Oh and I definitely need to clean some stuff out of the shed.  But, if I get those machines set up, I can just pile stuff up in front of them on that side of the room. They won't need access over there.  I have 2 days to get some of this stuff done. Oh, and the window AC unit. Maria found it wherever she had it stored and is giving it to me.  I have no idea if it even works, but I'll hope that it does. I'll have to make a trip over there.

I don't know when I'll go over there. 

I'm still concerned about this other RV park that hasn't opened up yet.  What kind of competition will it give? I keep thinking it's too far out of the way - and it is. It's 10 miles to downtown or any grocery stores.  I'm 3 miles from the nearest grocery store and less than that from various other businesses.  I think I gave them too much info.  The contractor was asking me my rates and such.  I did tell him - he has given me some free work.  I mean, tell him or not, that competition is coming.  

Basically, if they don't sell it before summer, they are going to open it up.  I really am a bit too open about things sometimes - I told them I had turned away at least 50 potential renters.  That's info I should have just kept to myself.  This all started back up again in  my mind after finding out about that other park that opened sometime late last year.  

They are doing poorly. It's a 16 spot park and the electrician said there is hardly anyone staying there. That owner is killing themselves with very high pricing.  And they are way out of the way.  The nearest towns are probably 15 miles in either direction.  They don't have any discounts for longer stays, like a weekly rate and they don't even have long term listed. Now, some parks don't do long term for they don't want to do long term. Perhaps the dude isn't hard up and doesn't care.  

I'm not in the position right now to be lackadaisical or cavalier about pricing and whether anyone stays or not.  I wouldn't want to come off like that regardless.  I'm thankful for each person that comes and I thank the Lord for the blessing of having the park almost full.  Another moving in today, one more long term I'm trying to fill.  

I'm paying myself April 1st.  That way I have received zero compensation from the business up until then.  The first quarter of being open will show a lot of expenses, it will show income but it won't show any paycheck being taken.  I've decided to up the amount I take to $3,500. Whatever the taxes are on it, it is what it is.  My numbers crunching shows I can do that and still have around 2 grand in the checking account after I pay everything out.  My expenses will decrease as well in the next month what with switching over to T Mobile and getting rid of one of the trash services.  Oh, and dumping Verizon. I took the router out of the park.  

Get rid of all of that and I have over $500 per month savings.  Whatever the case, the first is almost upon us and several rents will be due, thankfully.  The business account is far from broke but I will be spending money this weekend and the initial start up for the dumpster service is quite high.  Electric - water - pay myself. Paying myself will deplete the account quite a bit. I went into business to make money, not pay accounts and nothing else.  Lol. 

Anyway, I need to get out of there.  I will probably need to pick up the boys after school today so I need all the hours I have before then to get everything done.  

G'day 

 Well, another 4 hours and I'm getting close.  All the outlets are working, the dryer is working - tho I don't have the vent outlet going yet, I ran out of steam. That will entail cutting a large hole in the metal in the shed.  The washer is probably working, I have it all hooked up, I just didn't have enough quarters on me to make it run.  The water heater is pumping out hot water, the ceiling light is working, it's all going.  

Tomorrow I will install the vent outlet and the feet on the dryer -it's for leveling purposes and it should be ready to go.  That room is getting warm, I will be needing that AC unit quick. I mean, a person could prop the door open and open the windows for now, it's warm not hot, but hot days are coming.  I also need to clamp down the water lines. They flop around every time the water goes on and off, that will cause a leak sooner or later so yeah, I'm going to deal with that as well. 

After I get that stuff done, then I can work outside.  It never did rain.  I mean, literally it went from it's going to rain to it's not going to rain.  Whatever.  I got distracted anyway after the electrician showed up, the washer and dryer took priority status.  

I also have a couple coming today sometime after 5 to take a look at the last, remaining long term lot.  If they take that, I will have 12 lots rented for long term and just 2 for short.  It's okay tho, 2 is enough for now. If the amenities shed creates an uptick in short term, I will have another one vacated sooner or later. And frankly, I don't want to have to deal with 4 lots open if someone leaves.  3 is okay, I can deal with it, but 4 is too much.  

_________________

The people supposed to move in today moved it to tomorrow.  I pretty much believe they are coming since they are close friends to the people they are moving in next to.

After all of that conversation with another person today, saying they would show up after 5? yeah, no shows and no contact.  I just blow people off like that and move on.  The dude that showed up last night paid up and said he might have a friend that would want to move in.  Well, I replied, it's that lot right there. It's the last one available for long term, the other 2 lots over there are my short term stuff.  I just told him it's available, whether anything comes of it? Who knows.  This guy says he's going to be around for a year.  They are rebuilding the entire electric infrastructure for a 25 mile span between our town and the one north of us.  Yup, there's all kinds of poles, substations, high tension lines, etc.  He said he checked out all the other rv parks around and said he wanted nothing to do with them.

I do understand my small little park has it's appeal, but so much so that a lot of people are saying the same thing? If they think it so great, why can't they please leave me a Google review? lol.  

Anyway, I came home the second time today but ended up going back over there to collect the rent.  He's paying a higher price and I have no problem charging it.  So, 3 trips over there and a lot of work done.  More to come tomorrow - a lot more.  Lord willing, of course.  

It's been a very long day.  I am not complaining, but I'm tired.  A re-run of something and I'm going to bed early - early for me anyway.   

 Update.

The electrician finally left a job site to come up and take a look.  When he arrived, he said he was surprised to see the park near full.  Yes, well I have done heavy advertising.  He said they built a park south of town on 59 and he hardly has anyone in there.  Hmmm.

I looked it up after the electrician left, sure enough there is a new, small park down there. Well out of the way, tho.  Not near the city. People wanting long term probably don't want to have to drive that far to get to town. He is also way over-priced. $50 per night? Lol.  Ok bud, no wonder you are sinking over there.  Try bringing down your prices, more business at a lower price is better than almost no business at a higher one.  It's why I have my prices where they're at.  I'm competitive with everyone but my nightly fee is undercutting most everyone.  My monthly as well, but I'm bringing that up. 

Anyway, I showed him everything I had done and asked the big question: Do I need a ground wire running from the pedestal to the shed?  I showed him the grounding rods I had installed.  He thought about it for a minute and said, yeah it should be fine.  But you could see he wasn't quite sure about his words.  So he called a person he works with. I could hear the conversation coming from the person on the phone.  My electrician explained that "he has ground rods in the ground at the shed, but he doesn't have a ground coming from the pedestal. Do you think that will be okay?"

I could hear the guy saying yes, as long as there is a neutral wire running from the pedestal.  The neutral wire apparently saved me along with the double ground rods at the shed. 

I had him take a look at everything, tho.  He went inside and asked if the light was hooked up? I have a ceiling light up.  Yes, it's all rock and roll time.  Ok! I'm going to go throw the circuit breaker and see what happens!  Uhh, oh.  Well I didn't hook up the lines at the pedestal, there is no power going to the breaker box yet, I was afraid of making an error, hence I wanted a professional to look.  

This guy went on and on about how he was surprised to see the park with so many RV 's in it.  Time to expand!  Yes, I said, I want to but I am having trouble getting a loan. It's at least 100k to build another 14-15 lots and right now, it's pretty tough. Plus they want 2 to 5 grand for an appraisal. What if I give that kind of money only to find out I can't get a loan anyway? That's just way too much money to lose for nothing.

He still went on, telling me everything I'd have to do.  I just threw up my hands, I totally wish I could!  Those people - the contractors - are loaded with money. It's nothing to them to talk about throwing 100k at a project.  Me? not so much lmao.  Too bad these contractors won't lend me the money, I could pay them back in about 4 maybe 5 years with plenty of interest to make them happy.  

So what's next. Well go back to the property and hook the thing up, of course.  I was leaving when he texted me back saying he was coming from Carthage.  I was leaving for lunch, I was starving, very hungry.  So I'm home, just got done with lunch, going to head back over there and see about getting this thing fired up!  

The new people haven't moved in, yet. That's likely due to having to tear down where they're at, put everything up and get it all moved over to my place.  

I am SO glad I don't have to throw another $500 at this project on top of everything else I've already spent and what I'm going to have to pay these other contractors to do the bathroom.  It's a breath of fresh air.  It's not just the money, either, I'm just really tired of toiling with it.  It's heavy labor and it's a lot of "thinking" in realms that I have no expertise. Looking at endless YouTube videos and trying to get a grasp on what I am doing.  

I just wish I felt a little better today. The pollen in the air is apparently getting me good.  It's still hitting everyone around here and the vehicles are still getting covered with green dust - pollen.  It takes the energy out of me. I have the drive to get this stuff done, but when the energy goes I'm just lagging and not feeling it.

Well, I'm heading back over, I feel better after having had a nice, keto friendly, Reuben sandwich.  

  

Posted this story on Facebook, but definitely posting a version of it here. 

The thing about having people at my park that watch out for things for me is that people who don't belong there don't get away with anything.  Or, people who do belong there but are doing something errant/contrary to the rules (think: blasting loud music that is going right through the walls of the next door neighbor and disturbing their peace or a loud party outside or a general disturbance after 10:00 pm).  

So when this guy pulls in last night, no-one actually thought anything of it. My eyes and ears over there know lot 11 is an overnight lot, so they thought it was just another person coming and going type of thing.  He just happened to take one of 3 lots in a row that were empty that is also one of the designated overnight things.  

However, this guy was not on the reservation list and I had no calls besides the people moving in today that there was anyone coming for long term. I was 100% sure of that, it's my park, it's only 14 spaces, it's pretty easy to manage, especially with campground software taking care of the short term people.  They make the reservation, they pay one night up front, bam, it's done.  The spot is reserved automatically on the calendar, the only thing I have to do is send them an automated confirmation letter and clear the "reservations needing attention" queue. When they arrive, I process their card for the rest of the payment if they are staying more than one night. One of those is showing up tomorrow. That person just put in a reservation yesterday for two days, explaining that he was coming in late, after 10:30 pm.

Does your park allow that? Thought about it for a second, yes we allow it, you just have to keep it quiet. People are sleeping and don't want to be bothered.  What I was thinking about? I have discussed this with long term in there and they have indicated that they either didn't know a person had come in overnight or that it didn't bother them.  Many parks will not allow it for a variety of reasons.  It's dark, you can't see what you're doing and you can run over things, such as pedestals. Many of those parks have lots so close together it's no wonder they have to worry about that.  I will allow it as long as no one complains.  

So what happened was, a set of eyes texts me asking me if the the T Mobile 8865 is the WiFi to use? She couldn't remember because she switched over to her own, personal hotspot for internet.  I'm lucky that all the carriers I have encountered so far have decent to very good reception there - it's close enough to the Interstate and there are cell towers within 2 miles.  Yes, that's the correct one.  I didn't know she was referring to this guy having had come to their lot to find out - versus calling my @$$ and first, asking for permission to take a lot and 2: finding out the wifi password.

Are you not getting a signal from it there?  She says no, the new guy on lot 11 needed it.  Say what? What new guy?  She instantly knew from my reaction that something was amiss.  I suppose with this person, it's helpful that they want to get their nose into everything they can possibly get it into.  A short discussion.  I didn't tell her, but I hopped in my vehicle and headed over there. No one is spending the night there for free, or at least not without my permission.  

The trailer was sitting there, on lot 11. It was all setup, including sitting on railroad ties they apparently brought with them.  The sewer hookups were in place, the 50 amp service hooked up, the water line hooked up and the lights were on inside the trailer. However, the pickup that brought it there? Was gone.  I knocked on the door a couple of time and then sort of banged on it.  That apparently got the attentions of the eyes as some of them started looking at what I was doing.  I wanted to make sure there wasn't someone in there that could explain what was going on. Some of these oil field workers travel around with their girlfriends/spouses or even family members.  

No answer, I threw up my hands and left.  I wasn't going to call the sheriff or a tow truck - yet - I wanted to find out what this person was doing there, why they hadn't called and why they assumed they could just pull into private property and park without permission.  It turned out, the eyes had gotten his phone number so they could text him the picture of the password. It's lengthy, it came with the device and I never changed it. 

So, I texted this dude.  "I was given this number from a guest at the rv park.  You positioned on lot 11. After coming over I think you are the quality control guy for the power plant?" I said that because the trailer looked the same and the setup was the same.  But, it turned out, it wasn't that guy.  "I am not.  I'm in space 11 but not with power plant" and "who is this". 

My thoughts exactly, who are you? I told him that there is no reservation for lot 11, no one coming in for long term, I'm the owner of the park.   He immediately called me - a very wise move on his part.  He went into this lengthy explanation of how he's been doing this for 20 plus years and that anytime he shows up at a park late, management never answers the phone, so he didn't bother to try calling.  That he was going to call me in the morning, etc, ad infinitum, he was profusely apologizing, at least.  

Getting some idea of what this dude is doing, he is friends with the 3 people that are paying through some 3rd party company to stay there.  I informed him that tho his friends are paying $400 per month, the revised lot rent now is $475 per month. I'm just not willing to eat electric costs that are coming my way and $475 is the going rate in my area for long term with 50 amp service. Either everyone is charging that much or some places are charging more and in some cases, much more.  Those 3 people are going to get notice in the next couple of days that the rent is going up to $475 for the summer, it's up to y'all whether you want to stay or not. 

This guy blew it off like it was nothing. He said he's paid as much as $900 per month to stay in west Texas.  Yes, I can imagine. There is a shortage of parks over there where all that gas and oil exploration is going on and even the slimiest of parks are charging a fortune. So I stood myself down.  I was getting a bit - jumpy. I'm not going to have people just pulling in there taking up a space without my getting involved the instant I find out about it.  I'm no pushover and I'm not going to get that kind of reputation. I don't want to come off as a hard@$$ either, but you can't just allow yourself to be walked over like a doormat. 

I was actually talking in civil tones to this person, it's what was going on inside of my mind up until I got a full explanation that he probably wouldn't have wanted to hear about.  In reality, the 2 people that just left have been replaced within 36 hours.  And, the replacements are paying $75 more per month a piece for that privilege.  So, he did me a favor coming on over, taking a space and probably going to be there a while.  I still want to rent that 12th space, but the pressure is off to keep at least 11 spaces filled up.  

I will probably be losing another guy within a month as well. His stay was semi-long term, meaning about 3 months to do his work and then move on somewhere else. He may actually be leaving sooner, I really don't know, he didn't know for sure.  So it only seems prudent to fill up a 12th lot to keep the monies flowing in. And as I replace these people, I am raising the rate.  

I have contacted everyone that said they wanted a lot, I have not heard back from any of them save the person that is moving in today.  I have my Facebook ads running, I am hoping to hear from a potential renter any time now considering it's near the end of the month.  

All's well that ends well, right?  

Today? Well, out of the blue and certainly not forecasted until this morning, it's going to rain.  I am not going to bother going over there to dig up that line.  Well, I will if the rain doesn't hit us, but so far, the forecast is remaining the same: "rain likely around 9:45 am".  It's almost 9:00 am right now, I have been dealing with "stuff" related to the business this morning at my home office (my bedroom lol, but I have this huge desk that is devoted to the business).  

I have to deal with T Mobile as well. The sim cards are in and I was trying to make heads or tails of how this works. Apparently, I have to pay my phone off with Verizon first out of my pocket to get it unlocked, then I can switch over to T-Mobile and then, after sending them a screen shot of what's left owing on the phone, they will send a prepaid card to pay for it.  

I didn't know I had to pay that phone off first out of my own pocket. It's $500 left owing on it and I don't really want to lose that much cash right now.  I may take the phone in for a screen replacement.  It's got scratches all over it. They won't do a screen replacement, lol, they'll replace the phone.  I'll just have to think about this for a minute, I've got 3-1/2 weeks before I "have" to switch over or lose the opportunity for the payoff. My other phone is paid off, I don't have to worry about that. 

Anyway, I have some receipts left to take photos of for quickbooks. I went through 83 of them yesterday, probably a dozen or so more left to go. I'll be checking to make sure all of my business expenses are showing up on the business accounts - checking and quickbooks - and then I can go make an appointment with the CPA. .I'm working on it, that's what I can say, if it rains, I will endeavor to finish this today and get caught up.  I've been inputting receipts going back to August of last year.  Including the huge receipts for contractor work.  I seem to be missing one for the land clearing, but I still have stuff to go through. That was 12 grand, I'll definitely want that in the books. 

I am labeling all of that stuff "new construction". That way, all of those receipts can be shown in one column, added up and walaah, there is what it cost to build the park. Tree clearing, dirt work, septic, water, power, signs, etc etc etc.  Ohhh, I need receipts for that mulcher man.  He never gave me any. I know what i can do, tho, find the checks I gave him for the work and use those as proof of payment. That is definitely part of the construction expense. All of that money spent on the bridge and the stairs is already input, that was easy, it was all on a Lowe's card.  

Well, anyway, it's good that it's only Wednesday.  If it rains I can just get out there tomorrow and get that stuff done.  I really need to build that other shed, maybe I can do (or at least start) that this afternoon after the rain leaves the area.  I need to clear out half the shed for these people to have room to work.  Some of it can go outside and not be bothered by weather (just stuff I don't want stolen, but I can put it back in the back where I park my trailer, well out of sight of anything).  The generator I may just bring home, I really have no place for it, it's pretty large and would take up half of a shed.  The rest I can move to one side of the shed, out of their way.  

Taylor said yesterday she will be happy to go camping - after I get a toilet in there.  I wonder how many other people think the same thing? ... and why I am getting no tent campers.  That's a possibility, but it's also possible it's just not that popular around here. The guy that runs the 2 parks says they get occasional tent campers in, but not very often.  Yes, but he doesn't have a deep woods set up.  I have something pretty cool, I think anyway, that might get people in there. I will start heavily advertising locally on Facebook and on my google account for tent camping. It will be cheap and it will have water, firewood, a toilet and shower available.  The toilet and shower aren't close to the camping area, but who cares? Maybe some people do, lol, no biggies.  

Having thought about it, I should have dug out a pit for an outhouse in the back.  At least have something available right there for them to do their duty.  HipCamp owners use outhouses a lot, I found out after doing some research. It's not unusual and it's a relatively cheap answer for something that we all have to do every day: go to the bathroom.  Urinating in the woods is one thing, having to relieve solid waste in the woods is entirely another and probably not that many people want to do that.  I don't personally care that much and I've had to engage several times while over there working.  Shrugs shoulders, I'm not driving all they way home to use the bathroom!  And soon, that problem will be eliminated, thank God Almighty!

That windshield check hit the bank, finally, glad to get that out of the way and hopefully that will cover the entire cost of it being replaced.  I just wanted it cleared out of the account.  I'm getting another $950 in today, replace that money but then another $1,200 plus parts right back out the window.  I have really struggled with this one, paying them to complete my work, but I think it's the right thing to do. They know what they're doing, they will get it done quickly and that's the operative word: it will be done. I will immediately get to framing up a wall and get a door in there. I remembered I already have a light for the ceiling, I will just need to wire a switch and the light and perhaps an outlet. 

I don't really want an outlet in there, but I'm thinking, what if it turns out I really need to have one in there? It's way easier to do it now while the walls don't have drywall on them.....

This electrician is starting to annoy me. He's had that effect on me before. Promise to come out and then not show up and give no indication or even communication of when he might be coming.  I am not blowing up his phone, but I am sending him text messages on a daily basis. Do you still think you can make it out this week?  I want that laundry setup running.  It should already be running.  

This has been a long entry but there's lots on my mind. I am definitely - I think anyway - making the right choice to go ahead and try to rent out that 12th lot.  If it turns out that short terms start flowing in after getting a bathroom in there, I will have another lot opened up soon enough. And that's the thing, I don't want to be caught having to try and rent another lot when someone leaves, I will already have a 12th lot rented and it won't sting me with that loss of revenue.  

Well, I just remembered I need to get my hair fixed.  I got a haircut yesterday from a "stylist" that butchered my hair.  It was a really bad haircut. I encountered this stylist a month ago getting one of the boy's hair cut and she also messed his hair up badly.  I like that cutting salon, I will never allow her to cut my hair again. But I'm not going back there to fix it, I will go try out a barber shop in the area and see how they do.  

I also need to go to Lowe's for - something not business related for once.  My pond water-sterilizer isn't working. It's a lamp that kills algae as it moves through it.  The lamp is burnt out and just so happens Lowe's sells replacements. The water is dark green, you can't see the fish lol.  

I am going over to the park rain or now. My daily drive through plus i can start organizing stuff out of the way inside the shed even if it rains. I'll get something  done over there today!

G'day

 So I sat down and started crunching the numbers.  I'm going to get paid regardless of what else happens.  Bills paid, of course, keep the electricity, water, wifi and trash service going.  But I haven't taken any pay and I'm at the point where I must get something out of this.  The people moving in this week are 99% for sure coming. I would say 100% but you never know. 

There have been people driving through here today, looking of course.  There have been inquiries, haven't heard anything back from others that said they were interested.  Some people will call back at the end of this week, or so they said. It's near the end of the month, I am hopeful I can get these other 2 lots re-rented quickly.  

There were the 2 overnighters in here this morning. One of them didn't feel like talking, I didn't bother them. The other guy wanted to talk.  I was out there applying a coat of wood sealant to both picnic tables, something I have put off but there is no way I want almost $400 worth of tables going back simply because I was too preoccupied doing other stuff.  Maintenance is a thing.  

I got all the topside stuff done on both of them, in a couple of days I will turn them over and apply the sealant to the bottom of everything and especially thick coat it on the bottoms of the legs.  I have no plans of buying more picnic tables right now, people aren't asking for them.  

Anyway, the guy got back to me to completely install the toilet and shower setup. That includes doing the sewer pipe outside and running it to the inside, the water lines, everything it will need to work.  $1,200.  I said I would get back to him, that's when I sat down crunching the numbers of money going out and money coming in, in the next 2 weeks - that is, of course, if no one else leaves.  I'm fairly confident I'll get these other two lots going again soon.  

I came up with enough money to cover my pay for April and May, pay the $1,200 plus parts and all the current, monthly bills I have and still leave me almost 4 grand in the bank. That also includes paying taxes on the income. I"m probably going to pay my self 3 grand. I still haven't called the tax man yet, I won't take that check until the beginning of April. I can hold off a few days to keep this quarter in the red as far as personal income goes.  

I don't know what happens after April and May, I just know that I can survive off of 3 grand per month, just don't do too much extracurricular stuff like too many restaurant visits. My house pays for itself, that doesn't really come into the equation.  But, I do have high credit card payments right now and then the regular monthly bills beyond my house.  I've got a couple of loans - small payments - on the personal side.  The business related loans are paid out of the business account and all of that has been accounted for in crunching the numbers this morning.

I will have professionals doing the installs of the shower and toilet, really just don't want to do all of that work. Besides the endless trips to Lowes and watching endless videos and getting some headaches (literally), I need this setup done to get HipCamp going.  I'm not going to worry about the electric stuff now, if there is something that needs modified, changed or whatever, I will have them do it and a person of interest will pay it for me.  I wish the contractor would make up his mind when he's coming, he only said "this week" and that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be fixing things that he deems inferior/no good enough. I will be putting the pressure on him tho, I need this thing operational and very, very soon, please.  I want tent campers to consider staying here, what with shower and toilet, I want HipCampers staying here, same reasons and I want people that want long term to be more interested by having laundry available.  

Really, I'd like all of this done within the next week. The shower/toilet install people said they will come Saturday morning, work all day and finish up on Sunday. They have good, local references and seem to know what they are doing.  I think they are even licensed and insured.  Hence the high hourly wages they are demanding.  It's $200 more than I wanted to pay, oh well, shrugs shoulders, let's get it done.  

The "only" thing I'll have left to do is install a ceiling light and frame the rest of the bathroom.  I won't even be starting on that until they are finished.  I can finally hope that this project's light at the end of the tunnel is clearly visible and within reach now. 

The other pressing matter - I have procrastinated admittedly - is taxes.  I'm sure a pro will charge me accordingly, I'm also sure that there is money to be left on the table without expert advice on paying the quarterly taxes.  Supposedly due mid April, I hope I'm not wrong because if I am, the IRS will administer a penalty.  They are good at doing that, of course.

I'm actually sitting in the shed at the property.  I didn't feel like going home yet.  Tomorrow I will be out here digging up some of the sewer line - I want to make sure it didn't settle too far what with it not completed and the end just sticking out like it is. I'll dig back about 8 feet - it's not as bad as it sounds, it's not that deep and it wasn't long ago it was filled in.  I want that assurance that it's all good under there. If it is, fine, if it isn't, I'll fix it. Then I'll install that sewer dump station and then they can do the rest.  I want a sewer dump in there for "just in case" purposes.  This will allow even Hipcampers to dump any holding tanks if they so happen to have them, they will have 110 volt electric available and there is now a water spigot next to the shed.  

In fact, all of my water is turned on and has been on for a week in here.  I'm thankful there are no leaks. 

_________

Long interlude.  Phone calls, talking with the older couple and then the new people showed up. Turns out the kids are a baby and a toddler, they won't be causing any trouble anytime soon.  They are moving in tomorrow. That leaves 2 more spaces to fill back up with long term, hopefully I get some calls coming in the next couple of days.  I basically counted on those people moving in for the numbers crunching and didn't count the other 2 lots since - there is no way of knowing if someone will actually show up to rent them.

I'm really only sitting out here hoping the electrician will show up. Considering the time of day it is? Highly doubtful.  Tomorrow I am dressing to get dirty, finish up with the portion of sewer I need to do - which will probably take most of the morning what with the digging and all. They aren't showing up til this weekend so I have plenty of time to deal with "unknowns".  I'd really like the electrician to get here before this weekend to let me know about whether I need to install that ground wire back to the pedestal or if the ground I have going to 2 grounding rods is sufficient. I don't really want to fill in the trench along there if I need to also run a ground wire through that portion of the ground.

Whatever the case, I'm starting to get my hopes up a bit with the prospect of getting this all done.  It's HipCamp season and I'm not Hipcamp ready.  It's also tenting season and I really need to get some verbiage out there promoting the tent camping site/s.  They won't make a lot of money - but I'll take whatever.  Once I can say I have a toilet and a shower, I do expect I will get some HipCampers in here.  Especially if I can also say they have access to an electrical outlet.  I am hoping anyway.  See, if you are a HipCamper and want those things, you input them into the fields.  Any place that doesn't have that stuff?  Doesn't show up.

This is why I am hopeful I can get some of them in here.  I can list laundry, shower and toilet.  And eventually, a small kitchen (not on the priority list atm).  I don't think a kitchen is mandatory, it's just and added amenity that will work for some people, but not everyone needs that so it's going to be a while before I get to that.  

Well I'm a little more optimistic at the moment. The windshield thing kind of got me down a bit, it was a needless problem that I should have really seen the potential for.  I won't be making that mistake again, but the damage is done and it was a chunk of change to pay for it.  Yet, I feel good that I did the right thing and didn't try to argue or just say no, it's not my responsibility  - or just be a bad business person and not own up to it and pay for it.  

Okay, well, I'm going home at this point.  I think my day here is done, I have a list for tomorrow and if I can get that done with the sewer, I shouldn't have any more to do with that setup at all. Just pay them and move on. There are other things I need to start thinking about, especially where to set up this other wifi router.  

And Taylor just texted me, she needs a ride home. They are going to replace her tires but she doesn't want to have to wait there. I can feel that, she's pregnant and has been getting nauseous quite a bit.

\

 Well.

Tuesday morning.

The person that came out to look at installing the shower stall and toilet called earlier to give a quote.  I don't know why he couldn't just print the quote in the same messages he was sending me to call him for the quote? He said they could start Saturday morning and be done by Sunday afternoon. It's mostly labor, I have almost all of the stuff to install it.  But, there is some labor there for sure.  I fear what quote he may give me, it sounds like he is going to want more than I want to shell out for this.  But, after I wake up  a bit more and some coffee in my system, I will be calling him. 

The idea of a loan is out of the question.  I was informed that, like most if not all banks, appraisals are farmed out to companies that do appraisals and for RV Parks? The cost of an appraisal will be anywhere between 2 to 5 THOUSAND dollars.  He wouldn't give me a ballpark, I've already come up with my own. It may be that in the end, I will have to get an appraisal if the county decides to give me some over-priced valuation on the property for the next tax year.  But that isn't a bridge I need to cross right now.  Going by other parks for sale, I'd say the place is worth around 400k.  Acreage alone has skyrocketed in this area over the last year- year and a half.  The property without anything is probably worth around 200k.  Add a park and you have minimum 400k. If I go by other properties in the region, it's more like 500-600k - but you have to be able to find a person that wants to pay that much, of course.

Anyway, putting that out of my mind for now.  I'll keep looking around for other types of loans is all I can say about that.

2 people left yesterday. Just magically, out of the blue, they are gone. One of them gave no notice - his rent is paid until the 12th of April if I recall correctly. The other? That was a bit strange. I texted him yesterday morning and informed him he is a couple days overdue for the rent, can I go ahead and run your credit card? Yes.  I am glad I got that in writing, because, 10 hours later? He texts me that he's moving out of the park and onto his parent's land. 

I've got my feelers out for people that have inquired about moving in - several messages.  One of them is moving in this week, I'll be needing two more, so I reactivated my facebook ads and notied my Google business account that i have a lot available.  It's near the end of the month, the inquiries for lots should come in.  Now, I have been getting calls nearly every day for some time now for long term, I do hope that trend doesn't stop now.  I need those lots refilled quickly.  Well, the dude that isn't due for awhile I'm not terribly pressured, but the one that left after paying the same day? Well, I will repay him after I get someone to move onto his lot.  IT doesn't seem fair to me that I should be eating this on a notice like that.  It also wouldn't be fair to him to make him eat an entire month's rent for nothing. The middle ground is once the lot is re-rented, pro-rate the days from the due date of the rent, subtract that and give him back the balance.  

So what's on for today? Well, find out what this guy wants to charge.  Go to property, start painting the picnic tables if nothing else.  Depends on what this dude tells me for a price. I won't go around shopping for prices, if his is too high, pretty sure everyone else's will be up there, too.  If you take 3 guys and give them, what? $15 per hours?  That's $720 right there plus the parts.  He's part of the crew of people working. I'd say this dude is going to want $1,500, just taking a guess paying his crew and taking a chunk of change for additional profit.  

I have no idea when the electrician will come. Par for the course.  He'll show when he wants to, that's pretty much how they operate. I will have to drop everything I'm doing, if I am doing something, and rush over there if I'm not already there.  I'll say that waiting much longer isn't on my schedule.  I need that coin op up and running and really, the only thing holding it back is electricity.  I can set up that dryer and washer pretty quick now.  Just have to cut a hole for the dry exhaust, the rest is just hooking up the electric lines to the machines - the come separately with them and you have to screw them into place, hook up the drain lines and hook up the water inlets.  The rest should be nothing more than plugging it in, putting some quarters in the slots and make sure it's going to work properly. 

Shoulda, woulda, coulda. Eternal waiting games are not my forte.  I've waited for long periods of time for this contractor or his associates to come out to do whatever.  

With that, I am going to get a very long overdue haircut and then over to the property. 

G'day.  

 I just went ahead and pulled the trigger on lot 11.  I was over there thinking - too much thinking/over-thinking I do believe - but it just doesn't make sense to not get the revenue from a lot that I can readily fill.  Waiting to see whether people will come short term or not seems to be irrelevant considering 1: they really aren't, at least not at the moment and 2: there is going to be another pull through available at the end of April. 

Losing that money for an entire month seems stupid on my part.  I'll keep 2 pull throughs open for short term and hope it fills up more than it currently is.  I've already got someone to move in in the next couple of days.  I raised my rent to $475 per month - it will be that rate from now on.  It includes electricity and the electric part is why I'm raising the rent.  I'm doing great with electricity right now, but give it a couple of months and that bills is going to steadily inch higher.  Get into June and it's going to sky rocket.  

I'm probably going to start telling everyone that the rent is going up as of 30 days from their payment. Not everyone tho. The older couple I'll leave, another guy that is almost never there and doesn't leave his AC on all the time I won't raise and another one whose trailer is maybe 20 feet long and he also doesn't have AC running all the time will have their rates kept at what they are. 

I'm targeting the people that have their AC's on all day long - but mostly that targeting is the 50 amp trailers that have 2 AC's and I just don't feel like paying that much for electricity without more money coming in to replace it.  

In about 2-1/2 weeks, I am figuring with the long term people that I will have around 10 grand in the bank. That's after paying the windshield, the electric and water bills. The water bill is amazingly low considering how many people are in there. But, I suspected the usage wouldn't be that great with people gone all day long.  That means the septic system isn't getting strained, either.  

Anyway, I'm trying to figure out how much to pay myself to keep myself afloat.  But I think 3 grand is good and figure around $1,500 worth of taxation added onto that.  So it's actually $4,500 gross pay.  I still need to make an appointment with the CPA and I'm going to do that this week.  The taxes on that 3 grand may be slightly higher.  I definitely have to spend the money on an accountant, I just am not going to take that chance with the IRS trying to screw me.  I haven't paid myself anything thus far.  But it's a coming, and coming soon. 

Now, I am waiting on the electrician - still.  I have sent him 2 texts today and have received no reply.  It's been hours now.  Since I have a person paying for the use of an electrician, I'm not going to worry too much about what needs left done. I have done the lion's share of the work.  I have saved myself probably 10k worth of money.  That's not even an exaggeration, that is probably low balling it.  

But what about this shower and toilet install?  I'd like to have someone come install those for me.  Especially the shower.  I watched a very lengthy video about the shower stall installation this morning and it gave me a headache. The least I can do is try to find a competent handyman and see what they would charge.  I have the shower stall, the toilet and the sewer line is at least close to where both will go.  I just placed a request in the local gossip facebook forum.  The worst that can happen is a ridiculously high price which will motivate me to do it myself. But if I got, say, a grand quote, I'd be all over it. Yes, please and thank you.  

I just want it over with and I don't want to have to fool with it forever.  I want to get HipCamp going and for all the time it took me to get to where I'm at with the washer and dryer, I could see it taking another month.  I am not a framer, shower installer, toilet installation person.  I have to learn as I go and I don't really want to have to learn skills that I may never even have to use again.  

Oh good grief, I forgot to take a look at a potential 15th RV lot.  I am quite sure my septic system can handle another RV in there full time.  I just don't want the potential lot too far from where the pipe runs into the septic system, it will be easier to install and not much pipe.  Same with electricity, it can run off the closest pedestal and same thing, not too much wire equals not too much cost.  If I can get away with 2 grand to make a new lot, I'm all over it. That's do it myself, but that is much easier than all of that stuff in the shed, gag.  $400 pedestal, $200 at most water line, same with sewer line, $300 wiring (at most), rent a machine - $400 and a truckload of gravel - $700.  $2,100 give or take.  $400 more if I rent a bulldozer (probably recommended).  We're talking 5 months to repay itself.

Actually, now that I think of it, if I run it off the end of the line, it's going to be 26 feet to the next proposed set up. Yeah, my calculations are probably pretty close.  It will be more gravel than I need, but I have plenty of use for gravel elsewhere.  The 2 pull through lots that are short term both need extra gravel put down on one side.  

 I was pleasantly surprised this morning to see the next electric bills. There are 2 of them, 7 lots on each meter.  The total is $600.  That isn't much more than I paid last month.  Now, I know it's going to go up for summer, but for right now? I'm seeing some savings on power that can go towards getting my business checking account starting to go up instead of all of these endless start up payments and such keeping it - well not too low but certainly now where I want to see it. I'd like 5 grand minimum in there and then after that, just pay myself.  

Well, I'm paying myself out of necessity before that. I was at $4,400 in there, but that windshield is going to knock it down and so is the high Verizon payment, should be the last one.  I have a "final" bill for the first trash company and have yet to receive a bill from the new one, but the new one is $160 per month.  

 The extra bills will be gone this coming month or maybe a final verizon bill and I should hopefully be able to get a grasp on my monthly expenses. Not just in theory, but actually seeing it in the banking account.  It's been a tough road.  I've decided to - probably - let another long term in. I dunno.  Traveling season is coming if not already here, it's kind of hard to decide on this one.  

One thing for certain, lot 11 only has one reservation now that this weekend is over and done with.  It's in April.  I just blocked that date out for the pull through lot 5.   It just seems like the right thing to do, get rid of it as a overnight deal and fill it up with monthly payments.  Something is better than nothing - unless - there is a wave of reservations coming.  It's very possible, it happened last month.  

I have 2 coming in today for the pull through lots so I want to check and make sure they are clean and ready for the next campers.  I also put in a text to the electrician - are you coming today or what is your schedule?  It is still early, I got up early in case this dude shows up.  But it's been 20 minutes so far and no reply from him.  I would say I don't want to to go over there with nothing to do - but there is plenty.  

I can start taking measurements for the bathroom to go get the lumber to build the walls/wall.  I suppose I could make the bathroom the entire width of the shed at 8 feet, but it seems unnecessary.  The stall is 36 inches square.  You already know how big a toilet is,  the setup could fit in a smaller space.  I dunno, but I also need to watch some videos about framing in a shower stall.  It's probably harder than it looks, everything else has been. 

That will be my agenda today.  It's lumber, drains, a door, run electrical, finish the underground stuff outside. At least get the sewer pipe run around the corner to the other side of the shed so I can fill that trench back in.  Oh, and water pipe inside the shed as well.  Water pipe and electric will be the easy stuff.  I would just go as wide as the shower stall, but I think people need more room to move around in there and for the toilet. I wouldn't mind putting a small bench in so people can sit down after showering and drying off to deal with their clothes and redressing.  

So, I really don't have a good idea yet of how I want to structure that.  It will come to me after I get in there, start looking at it and thinking about it.  

Oh, and that other shed. I haven't built that one yet. It's for my tools. But I will have to get the trench filled in first. It won't be that much to install the rest of the sewer pipe around the corner.  And I have decided to go through the walls with the water line, so I don't need to run that any further than what it is.  I will likely cut that valve off where I stopped with it and put a cap on it instead.  

I completely spaced turning the water off to the shed.  I guess it's a good trial run, it's been on for some 5 days now with now leaks anywhere. I was over there yesterday getting my rent book - one person owes rent as of 2 days ago.  I will be contacting them today.  

I shaved that goatee/beard off this morning. It was becoming unmanageable and looking - not very good, at least in my opinion.  I would have had to buy a beard trimming kit and I just decided I don't want to fool with it anymore.  So, people are likely going to be giving me stares today once they see me without it.  No one staying at the park has seen me without a beard before. I've only had it since November, but I didn't open up until the end of December and my first guests didn't come in until either the end of December or the 1st of January.  

It's whatever to me, I might try again sometime and keep it nicely trimmed instead of just growing all over the place.  Just not good a beard trimming, I've never really had one before.  I can trim my mustache, been doing that since I was 15.  

Weight hasn't dropped any for around a week or more.  The fat loss is noticeable, tho.  Especially my gut.  I'll be keeping at Keto and doing some things to try and kick start the weight loss again.  A 2 or 3 day water only fast will help with that. 

Yesterday, I was not in a particularly good mood when I woke up.  I didn't want to go to church.  The granny and oldest kid left maybe an hour before church was going to begin.  She left without saying goodbye.  She has made it perfectly, crystal clear that the "only reason she comes down there is to see you, you and the boys".  It was so rude, she said this right in front of me, pointing at James and Taylor.  I know she isn't coming to see me, but she didn't have to do that the way she did.

She is, in fact, a fairly rude and obnoxious person, IMO, as it stands.  I tolerate her because she is James' mother.  There was a wildly drama-filled event this last week with her - well I'm not going into that on the internet.  Personal stuff that will just have to stay within the family.  I will just say that I wanted nothing to do with it and while the worst of it was going on, I was at the movies, thank God Almighty.  

The idea of living with her, tho.  She eventually wants to move down here, buy a piece of property and build a 5 bedroom house on it.  We are to all move in with her.  With her controlling style of behavior, well, I didn't sign up for that.  If it came down to move in with her or leave, well it would be an awfully difficult decision just because I've lived with this family for a long time now, but I would definitely consider leaving.  

This may be years down the road tho.  She's mostly interested in being with her grandkids.  All nice and fine, but she tries to throw the rules out the window with them when she comes.  Ensuing chaos, tho we have all started pushing back.  I'm beyond tired of it, especially on the longer stays. They were here 8 full days and 2 partial days.  That's a long time with a person that - is like that. 

Anyway, the kids finally got their way.  I decided that not going to church because of my mood was denying them an opportunity to learn more about Christ and generally be around Christians, so we went anyway.  I knew there was going to be a special guest speaker, I didn't know she was going to go on for 30 minutes beyond the normal church service time.  It was interesting, tho and a message to challenge everyone.  After that, to the property to take a look, then to Kroger's for dinner stuff and then home, where I spent a few hours cooking and then just hanging out. 

It's generally what I like to do on Sundays - versus - driving trucks down to Brownsville, Texas. I used to absolutely hate that run on Sundays.  It's an all day drive down there and you are expected to - get down there same day unless there is an issue with the truck or if the plant took too long to load.  As it stands, I am in a Facebook group devoted to drivers for that company, there are people complaining about the way the company treats it's drivers all the time on there.  And the way the company operates in general.  

The flip side to that, is that a lot of companies are extremely controlling and intrusive into driver's lives.  After GPS became publicly available decades ago, it was the first step into manipulating and controlling drivers.  "I can see where you're at and that you're stopped somewhere" s***. Yes, I stopped to take a pee, get something to eat, refuel the truck -whatever.  I always pushed back against that stuff, truck driving jobs are plenteous, they always have been even in troubled economic times.  

Then satellite got a foothold into it and then they could install all kinds of devices that they could constantly monitor 24 hours a day.  Then the cameras came - this was the most intrusive thing.  Not forward facing, but the inward facing cameras with the microphones.  I couldn't deal with that when they installed that junk in my truck and I covered it all up. 

I don't ever forget, while I'm not driving and facing having to go back to it, the ways that trucking companies treat their drivers.  I will - likely - not drive for a company ever again with inward facing cameras.  No idea yet. I can survive at least another month if not longer.   If I can keep the lots filled, probably quite a while before I cave in and say, ok, I lost, I have to go back.  But, I am going to still keep trying to get a loan to expand. I only need about 125k.  That isn't really that much money in the business world for getting money to - make more money.  I could easily afford to make the payments and still take in a tidy sum of profit after expenses.  Increased electric bill, water bill, yes.  

Well enough of this. Off to the bank to deposit cash and a check and then off to the property.

G'day

 Family leaving tomorrow morning, it's all been - exhausting.  Too many kids.  Too much fighting and stupidity.  The kids aren't stupid, they just do stupid stuff that they know is dumb but they do it anyway.  Not going into it, it's just that I'm glad they are leaving, the grandma and the oldest brother.  Things can get back to normal around here.....

I'm just waiting for Monday, really. I need the electrician to come out and tell me what I need to do about this ground. If he doesn't show up, I'm just going to go get the ditch witch, dig out the trench which shouldn't take too long with that kind of machine, take the machine back and get the wire from the electrical supply house. Hook it up to the shed breaker box, fill in the trench, take off the panel again on the pedestal, turn off the power and get the wires hooked up.  

Turn the power back on to the park with the main breaker in off position on the shed, go to the shed, flip that main breaker and .... see what happens.  Nothing should happen.  Well, the water heater will start heating the water, but that should be the only thing that turns on.  That's the plan whether it happens on Monday or not. 

Just one more delay in a line of many.   

I paid for the new windshield this morning.  The man was in a much better mood and thanked me for dealing with it without turning it into an ordeal. No problem, it was my fault, the only right thing to do is to pay whatever it costs and write it off.  It's a chunk of change, money I was going to pay myself with.  I still have more money to pay myself with,  I was just trying to leave a large cushion for any issues.  Such as, who knows what this next electric bill will be.

Speaking of that, I am looking into having a solar array installed on a frame.  I know summer electric bill is going to be huge, I'd like to do something to mitigate those bills. First is to raise the rent rate, second is to see if I can get my own power generated.  It's worth a look, the federal government is giving out 30% of the cost of solar. 

This coming month I'm going to let everyone know the rate is going up to $475 per month. If they don't like it, they can certainly find somewhere else to move to. They'll have 30 days to make up their minds.  May, I want that increased rate because it will start heating up. June, well, we all know what happens in June concerning outdoor temps.  Oh, this rate is pretty much the going rate in this region, with one or two exceptions going lower and several exceptions going higher - much higher.  

I was informed by a guest the other day that I should be charging more than I am.  She said "at least $500 per month".  But that isn't realistic.  I replied that I am going to have the 50 amp trailers paying $475 and the 30 amp trailers paying $450.  30 amp trailers only have one AC unit, the 50 ampers have two - and occasionally 3.  

I did not feel like hanging out at the park today, we went to the 8 year old's soccer game this morning.  It was getting warm outside. His team had several no shows, meaning the boys had to play the entire game without any subs to come in to take their place to let them rest.  The other team had 4 subs and were moving  kids in and out of the game.  Our 8 year old was toast. And when I say toast, I mean, not talking, bright red face, barely walking. I felt his forehead, he wasn't particularly hot, he was just completely exhuasted.

After that we went to a birthday party down the street and after that..home. I have no plans for the rest of today.  

 I'd like to forget today.

The electrician didn't make it, said he was busy trying to get a pad done before the storm arrives.

The storm never arrived. 90% chance of rain went to nothing.  

I mowed all 14 lots - and busted a windshield on a late model pickup with a rock that flew out of the mower.  $640 wonderfulness. 

People coming in tonight called and confirmed.  Then they called again and said their friends staying at another lot said that their lot was taken. 

Taken?  I have 2 guests coming in today, the 3rd of the group showed up yesterday, they showed up a day early, but that spot wasn't taken so that got the extra day. 

. They are all automatically assigned by the reservation system. I double-check it, but it's a sound system.

If someone makes a reservation, I am onto it right away. Nothing is left to chance, nothing put to memory.

So who are these people at lot 2? I have no idea. I know their last names because the people that showed up - with nowhere to park besides boondocking parking said the names of all of their square dancing friends. 

The got to the name of  a particular set of people. I went into the shed, fired up the computer, looked, they weren't in there.  

I dunno. 

Just a day.  I can't say I'll do better with reservations, I don't even do them. If someone calls me and wants me to do it for them, I block out the dates. I have a couple of those in there as it stands.  I don't leave anything to chance, faulted memory, distraction, whatever. If a reservation is made, it's in the campground software.

It's the broken windshield that got me today. I should have had the catcher on the mower - at least until I've been over the lots several times over to make sure there are no rocks to pick up and throw. I won't be making that mistake again. Any areas near trailers or vehicles for a while to come will be mowed with the grass catcher attached.

Windshields aren't cheap, especially late model vehicles with other things imbedded into them.

I'm offa here.    

 Friday - early

Whatever happened last night, I missed the ordeal completely. I heard all about it but I was not involved in it, thank God Almighty. I have had enough drama in my life in past events, I don't need any more of that.  

I feel like I could sleep a couple of more hours, but once I woke up, I popped out of bed. Really want to meet up with this electrician this morning.  It isn't going to be free but someone has decided that they are going to pay for it for me, don't ask, it was an offer out of the blue.  They saw the video I posted with the breaker box and decided they were too afraid of electricity to allow me to do that without at least having someone check it out.

In fact, the offer was to do all of the wiring.  I wondered if this person understood how much money would cost, but that offer just came a day and a half ago and I am almost finished. Let's just find out what the guy says.  

I don't know, but this stops progress until he either shows up - or doesn't. If he can't come, I'm moving on with installing the underground ground wire, rent the trenching machine, get it over with.  Not something I wanted to have to do, this job would be over as of yesterday and I would have started positing the machines into place and working on getting them hooked up.  Instead, we get delayed once again.  Nothing new under the sun going on here.  

His words were "if I can get loose before the rain". Well, the rain is slated for 12-1:00 pm.  So, I'm getting out there early, but not as early as I was going to, it's just now getting light outside.  I'll start mowing grass this morning - I'm not going to be over there and just sit around doing nothing, there are plenty of other things to do.  I also still need to treat those picnic tables and really, a lot of other stuff I can get done.  

$243 worth of wire, gag.  Plus $160 for the machine rental. Gag again.  Oh well. 

Well I don't have time to linger here. 

 So - I got everything hooked up. Went to the pedestal, stripped the lines to be attached and then saw something I hadn't seen before.  I huge ground wire.  It was near the bottom of the panel where the connections are, hence the reason I didn't see it.  

That threw me into a conundrum.  I don't claim to be an electrician and therefore, I started looking up videos on how to do the power service to the "sub panel", apparently is what it's called.  

From what I could gather, it's not good enough to just have ground rods at the shed - which I do have installed.  From what I could understand, if something goes south on any connection, say one comes loose and touches metal - the main meter won't shut off.  That may be true, but I don't need the main meter to shut off, I need the sub panel meter, 125 amp, to shut off.  

I didn't really know for sure, so I texted the electrician - while putting the panel back on.  No need to continue on with this until I know for sure what I need to do.  I'm not risking anything. 

He did reply back pretty quick tho.  "Honestly? I'd do both", referring to grounding the shed to it's own rods and running the ground wire from the pedestal to the shed.  I'm fully prepared at this point to go rent a trenching machine, dig out 155 feet of trench, lay the ground and get it done. 

However, I did ask him to come look at the setup, I'd be willing to pay for the privilege.  Might as well if he can get out soon.  He said he could come out tomorrow morning before the rain starts, text him when I'm there.  Okay? I'll be there at 8:00 am, then, so he has plenty of time to get over there from whatever else he is doing.  I almost fear what he's going to say about the setup, but, I'm willing to change whatever needs to be change if such is the case.  

Regardless, unless he says something different, it will be next week before I get that done.  It's going to rain tomorrow, which is Friday, the rental place is only opened half day on Saturdays, closed on Sundays and 48% chance of rain on Sunday as well.  A trencher "should" cost significantly less to rent than a mini-ex, but regardless, I really only want it for 4 hours worth, that's all it should take.  I think.

I have never operated one.  It's pretty simple stuff though. You set the thing at whatever depth you want and it does the rest.  Go a foot deep - if even that - and call it good.  I will have to hand dig down to the bottom of the pedestal again to run the wire to the lug inside the panel.  

Shrugs shoulders.  It is what it is, I'll have the peace of mind that my setup is good without having to wonder if I'm going to burn the park down, lmao.  It sucks that I have to continue to wait to get this portion of the project done and move on.  I will divert my attention to mowing grass tomorrow instead.

Well, after all of that, I left.  Halfway up my street back to the highway, I saw a diesel pickup pulling a 5th wheel trailer.  I knew I wasn't expecting anyone today, the square dancers are showing up tomorrow.  All 3 lots worth. I thought, well maybe they're going to that Sojourners camp down the road further? But I had this feeling....so I turned around and sure enough, they pulled into my driveway.  

I got in there and they said they were square dancers coming in for the weekend.  Nope. I fired up the laptop after a bit of confusion as to what was going on and found that they had, indeed, rented the space - starting tomorrow.  Fortunately for them, it is empty today.  So, I checked them in, offered to help them level the trailer, they declined and said their automatic levelers would do it, I still offered some boards for him to pull the trailer up on, he declined that.  Gave me his credit card, I went back to the shed, ran it, charged them the 4 nights, came back and saw the trailer unlevel.

I didn't offer again, but after seeing how he was setting it up? They don't know what they're doing.  I mean, I tried, that's all I can say. I can get any trailer coming in there level, that's a fact.  But if they don't want the help, they don't want the help.  He admitted this was only their second trip. I'll check in with them tomorrow, if it's still visibly slanted all I can do is offer to help.  

______________

A lot happened since I wrote the above.  But it's inter-family stuff and I don't feel it right to speak about that on the world wide web.  It wasn't me, I can say that, but it was disruptive. I went to the movies with a friend so I missed the fireworks, thankfully.  That's about all I can say about that for now.  

I'm getting up early.  I'll be out at the property by 7:30 or so.  I want to be there if this electrician will actually show up.  I'm certainly going to contact him as he instructed to let him know I'm there and waiting....

G'nite. 

 Thursday - semi-early

Finally found sleep last night and took advantage of it. I was going to get up at around 6:00 am this morning, but the aura of sleep overcoming was enough to stay in bed a couple more hours.  When I can get sleep, I will take it regardless of what is going on.  

Ill be taking my first paycheck here in the next couple of days.  The only time I transferred money from business to checking so far is when I made the error of paying the electric bill for the Park out of my personal account.  I noted the transaction and can always back it up with receipts from the power company.  You know, in case of an audit....  I'm going to take $2,500 worth of cash that I have been accumulating and a small amount out of the business checking account, the cash will be recorded in quickbooks as income for the business.  I do have a few people that pay in cash.  I wish they would all pay in check or credit cards.  Just easier to do the books, it goes into the checking account and automatically reported as income.   

I won't be making the power mistake again, that's for sure.  I just don't want to take too much out of the business account until i see what a full month's worth of electric use is.  I have no idea what that will be, last month the park wasn't full until near the end of the month.  

All 3 short term lots will be full this weekend for that square dancing event. It's after this weekend that the amount of short term goes into spartan mode. Like, only 5 days worth and that's in April. There's still 5 days left of February.  I dunno, I'm weighing my options here.  It's hard to wait until I have the laundry room completed to go ahead and fill up one more of the long term.  There will be a long termer leaving next month anyway, or at the end of April for sure. His work will be done and he's moving on to some other state for similar work with the power grid.  

Lot 11 only has one more reservation after this weekend, that would be the lot I would think of renting out.  I could move the sole, one night reservation to one of the pull through lots and start getting that $475 over - nothing.  It's so hard to make that decision, we are going to be entering the traveling time when people are running up and down the roads with their RV's and looking for spots to stay overnight.  I'm likely to pull the trigger, tho, and fill that spot with a long term.  I already have the person in mind.  I'll have to make up my mind soon, it's usually the end of the month when these people are looking to move.  

It just kind of makes sense to put a long term in there when knowing that another long term is going to be leaving in the next month or so.  Some money is better than none.....and besides, HipCamp is my next experiment. 

I've also thought about the contractor's words.  I can get up to 15?  I only have 14.  Why can't I build another lot out of the current septic system? I didn't ask him that yesterday, I just started thinking about it today. I have long term people that are hardly ever there.  They aren't going to be using their restroom facilities that much. In fact, 3 of them were gone for an entire week.  The usage on that system wouldn't be too great adding one more lot. The problem is, where would I put that lot? I will be looking this morning, rest assured. 

But, you know, that laundry thing will probably send that septic system to capacity.  Still, I have to think that one more lot isn't going to overload the system with people gone most of the time - they are using toilets elsewhere.  If I could fit in a smaller lot where I"m thinking I could put one, it would cost me .... around $1,500 worth of materials and mini-ex rental to install the utilities.  The pad could be layered with a 3 or 4 inch layer of rock - another $700.  Looking at $2,200.  It would pay for itself in less than 5 months.  

If I can put a lot in where I"m thinking, the cost wouldn't even be that much. Just as I went off the end of the last lot for power, water and electric for the shed, I would go off the other end for the same for a lot and it wouldn't be that much distance to cover.  I dunno, but I'll get back to that later on today after I take a look and take some measurements.  If long term lot, it increases my gross receipts by $5,700 per year.  That's nothing to shake a stick at.  I can make it a shorter lot - there are plenty of people wanting long term that don't have these super long 5th wheels.  

Well, this morning is a trip to Harbor Freight and if they don't have it, Lowe's.  If they don't have it, I will try the electric supply house in town. It...being a number 7 metric hex key.  I have a set of hex keys, it goes from 6 to 8, skipping 7.  James and Taylor had their own sets and theirs did the same.  I cannot install the neutral or ground wires into that breaker box without it.  I don't know why the hex key sets skip 7 and I don't know why they would use a number 7 in that box considering, apparently, most sets skip that one?  Just a way to make doing the job more difficult? Seriously.  Anymore, manufactures include hex keys with whatever it is you are buying if it needs one.  Not this manufacturer, which would be GE. 

Well whatever, I'll find one, that's for sure and hopefully today, I want to finish that blessed box and be done with it already, dang.  IF I can get that thing done, THEN I can hook up the main lugs from the pedestal and power it up.  With the main circuit breaker in off position, I can then go over and turn that sucker on and hope to high heaven I got everything right.

Rest assured, I was triple checking my connections while hooking up the various outlets.  But, I"m going to check them again, just to be sure.  I'm confident in my work, yes.  You can't screw up those main lugs, they are obvious what they are. 2 hots and a neutral. The neutral is delineated with a yellow line running all the way through it. The ground you get from the grounding rods installed near the breaker box and a separate run for the ground, including that damned number 7 hex key lug.  I am so tired of having to go to stores ...gag.

Well, not that tired, it's just an annoyance that I will be getting over shortly once I power it up. There are other outlets to install, but I can't run those wires until I know where I need them, I won't know where I need them until I get the bathroom built.  That will take a minute.  

Well, the day's wasting away and I need to get busy.

G'day