OUR ROAD TO FULLTIMING
April 27, 2000: DUMPSTERS, DOCTORS, AND TRUCKS
Over the past six weeks since I posted our last installment, we have made additional progress in downsizing the house, made a decision about Ron's retirement, and found the truck of Ron's dreams.
As I was finishing the last installment, the dumpster was delivered by our local "waste management" company. The following Saturday, we took all of two hours to fill it!!! Ron, in his "one-car" part of the garage, has many tools plus four metal storage units and two workbenches full of "stuff", most of which was tossed in the dumpster. I, on the other hand, occupy the "two-car" part of the garage with my picture framing tables and equipment. I tossed out moulding that I know I would never use plus any other "stuff" that had absolutely no use.
With a newly emptied dumpster, the next Saturday found us in our garden area tearing out all the wood that had rotted there. I also carried all those boxes with those outdated receipts and cancelled checks that I referred to in an earlier installment. It was absolutely amazing how much "stuff" that we found stashed in places we hadn't even seen in the last ten years!!!
We held another garage sale just before the final "dump", and most of what didn't sell landed in the dumpster. Ron managed to sell his cement mixer and table saw, although he says that selling the table saw was like "cutting off his arm". He does have a smaller one that he is planning to take with us. I must say that he is really getting more and more enthused about this whole new lifestyle!!!
During this time, Ron finally informed his boss of his intention to retire "before the end of the year". (I'm sure that it will be sooner than that!!) He also told him that he will be going out on medical disability because of probable back surgery. When we went to his appointment with the neurosurgeon on April 19, the doctor said that surgery was not necessary. The problem is severe arthritis in his back, partly caused by a previous surgery. He prescribed a new "benign" drug that will, hopefully, alleviate some of the pain that he is experiencing. Despite this diagnosis, he has said that we are most definitely still going ahead with our plans to go fulltime, so he will see our primary care doctor in order to obtain the medical disability. Instead of "if and when", Ron now says "when". YIPPEE!!!
Having discussed dumpsters and doctors, the last subject of this installment is "trucks". Yes, Ron found the truck of his dreams at the Spring Escapade in Lancaster last week. Actually, I found it, and I called him immediately on the FRS radio!! It's an International medium duty truck with lots of storage boxes. (Remember that small table saw!!) The downside of this is that it is more than we really wanted to spend on our tow vehicle, so my job this week is trying to find a reasonable alternative. I have some very promising leads, but until we finally decide on something, I won't go into all the details. When we finally agree to buy something, I will post pictures and all the details.
Because we are coming closer to the truck, I have been in contact with Mail Boxes Etc. in Rapid City, SD, about establishing residency through their service. (We certainly don't want to pay California sales tax on the truck or 5er!!!) They have an email address and a toll-free phone number plus they will fax or snail mail the forms required. I have also found the necessary DMV forms from South Dakota to register a vehicle in that state plus the tables with the rates for licensing a recreational vehicle, truck, or car. For further information on domiciling in South Dakota, check out Coleen Sykora's article "Advantages of South Dakota as a Domicile" on her Workers on Wheels website.
More later......
November 1, 1999 THE BEGINNING January 25, 2000 THE DOWNSIZING BEGINS February 6, 2000 RECEIPTS AND TAX RETURNS March 12, 2000 THE FIRST "DENT" May 24, 2000 OUR TRUCK DECISION July 2, 2000 BITS AND PIECES July 21, 2000 MEDICAL CONCERNS July 27, 2000 STEPS TO A FULLTIMING BUDGET August 8, 2000 OUR TRUCK DELIVERY SAGA September 15, 2000 AN UPDATE ON OUR PROGRESS October 2, 2000 SIX WEEKS TO GO!!! October 15, 2000 MORE HURDLES CONQUERED November 14, 2000 ALMOST THERE!!! December 21, 2000 ELKHART.....FINALLY!!! December 21, 2000 LET THE COMEDY BEGIN!!!