NOMADICISTA

Of the house sort, I had a heart to heart talk with my plumber/electrician/well specialist, and he feels the same way I do, my itsy bitsy impossible house is a MONEY PIT!

So, he suggested that I look into getting a 40 ft. fifth wheel, they're selling cheap, nuh uh, this kid is gonna buy a bus and get said electrician to help me wire and plumb it!

So that's it folks, Lois is getting a new home, and it will be on wheels, then when my cutesy house comes down, a pump house and tool shed will be built and I will make sure the back of the tool shed has outside outlets for those of you needing to plug in.

Electrician may think I'm cuckoo, but who gives a D**M,,, and I've already put an ad in the paper for a short bus, so if I get a call about a long one, I'll look anyhow-as long as it moves itself.


Lois

Now your thinking

What else can I do?

Only problem is that Social Services won't like it, and a fifth wheel they would help pay for, a bus they won't.

All I can do is hope I stumble upon the right bus and have it registered as a motorhome so they don't squawk. Because I'd lose my shelter allotment if they did.

All else failing, take this house down and put up a cottage, by ourselves, with all the right permits etc.

But I WANT a BUS!


Lois

I have been compromising on a 5th wheel for several years now. It is ok, but it you are starting a "look" for one, look for Teton (out of business, but good used ones around), NuWa (Hitchhiker), or Excel.

Fleetwood, Kit (I have one of each) are cheap, cheesy. As are most of the others being built today. Actually pretty much all of them. Economics of trailer construction is ripping a new one through the industry and leaving nothing but debris in its path. I am living in the Kit and getting ready to move into the Fleetwood ($500 trailer plus a rubber roof), but if could afford it I would do one of the above!!

If you can find a 1978 - 1987 Holiday Rambler in a regular trailer, 30 ft or more, in good shape, that would be a great trailer.

Kit - has been a "good" trailer for my needs. They are very crappy built, though, and are now out of business. The wood in the walls rots at the drop of a hat - it is like most made today, cannot keep them sealed due to the nature of the design. I plan to scrape the box off the frame and either rebuilt it along the lines of NuWa or use the frame for flatbed trailer.

Couple of web sites. I like the videos on NuWa. I have tried mockups of wall construction on small scale and the blue foam is wonderful!! VERY strong method.

www.nuwa.com
www.excelrvs.com

Now DISASTER AND A HALF--NO RV's and NO bus allowed as permanent dwellings, plus I have a kid in an adoptive home and when she's old enough to leave there if she wants I have to have a HOUSE or I can't keep her!

So it's back to fix the electrical next and the structural and go on from there--my poor budget is getting thinner by the day!

Lois

Can you just tell them, "Oh, it's not permanent!"

Yeah, but they'd expect me to build a house within a year according to local by-laws

Lois

Can you just build a large shop/pole barn type structure, put a bathroom in one corner for permanent status, and park you bus or large trailer inside?

Thought about that, but not kosher with Regional District either.

Talked to electrician, wiring goes ahead in Sept. and in between now and then, I occasionally shut off the main breaker and we take out extra lights and stuff that have been tagged into the original power sources.

And I shuffle a bunch of clutter outta here via a garage sale or taking it to the thrift store, so we don't have so much stuff to move when the time comes to do repairs.

I'm not impressed with the situation, but because of my kid I HAVE to have a HOUSE, and I want more than anything for her to say F**K YOU to her adoptive parents and come home when she turns 14.

Can't say much more, not supposed to use her name or such on the net, but I can tell you she's 7 and looks a lot like me.
Lois

Well today a building contractor looked at the house, and was sort of ho-hum about it

I'm not impressed, so I called for a second opinion. I'll have that tomorrow or Friday.

Whichever quote comes in lowest will be the one I take, and don't worry, I know enough about construction to know if something ain't right + I have my construction buddy up Island to consult.

So come THIS Sept. the wiring gets done, and next Spring the construction gets done, and then at long last, next fall I can renovate the bathroom!

What a rigamarole when all I wanted to do was reno the bathroom. Instead I opened a nasty closet of home repairs.


Lois

House situation is looking worse and I am flat broke.

I don't think I can finish this project without losing my sanity, because I can't get any help!

Even d**n fool Rick doesn't realize how important this is .

I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't want to live in a fire trap with only cold running water for the rest of my life

Lois

Sorry to hear you're getting beaten up.

Remodel work is always MUCH more trouble than people realize going in. Huge amount of work, even if you contract it all out.

In my experience to give yourself a fair chance you have to talk with at least 4 and sometimes a lot more potential contractors for each part of your job. There is a huge difference out there and only by talking with lots of people do you start to get an idea what's available. It appears to me that about 1/2 the contractors will actually damage your house; 1/2 of the rest will do a very average job with a lot left to be desired; 1/2 of the rest will actually do a decent job; 1/2 the rest will do a good job; and 1/2 the rest will be truly good for you and do an excellent job; the rest you'll never hear from.

When first talking with a contractor understand that the way it starts out is the way it will always be. If they don't listen to you, if they won't explain in ways you understand, if they're late, if they don't return calls, if they track mud in - that's the way it will always be. You really need somebody you can talk with, that makes sense and that you feel you may be able to trust; your personal relationship does matter.

That said, I have found that contractors that do WHAT they say the will, WHEN they say and at the PRICE they say are worth (almost) anything they charge because the alternative guts your time and life while still costing a fortune. IOW for your own safety and sanity don't try to go with the cheapest unless he also qualifies as one of the best.

Sometimes there are things you can trade (as opposed to cash - a year's parking space?); I've heard of that but never seen it work myself.

A friend got grants and real low interest loans bankrolled by his county because of programs to bring houses up to code. You may want to see if there's anything like that available around you. IOW, check out government programs.

Best luck.

Rufus

Yeah, but they'd expect me to build a house within a year according to local by-laws

what is their definition of an acceptable abode? Would a pre-fab building work, a mobile home on a foundation, ... ?

I know you want to be mobile but seems like your other commitments preclude a completely nomadic lifestyle, at least at this time. maybe a small short van/bus would work with a 'home-base' of some sort that would satisfy the code hounds..

think you could approach these folks?
http://www.habitat.ca/

Mike

Habitat requires a mortgage.

"Their" only acceptable solution is a park type trailer that would drive me nuts in a week

Lois

Lois

Your story tapped some old peeves and I see my response was long and "moneyed", likely not what matters to you.

But keep talking with different people, give the world the best chance to turn up something good. Lots out there.

Rufus