On The Line

I just received an email from Sportsmobile (SMB) that my van has started the conversion process. Later in this post, I'll share a couple pictures they sent of the progress. After considerable back and forth with the audio-visual guy, I think we've come to an agreement on what he'll be installing - and just in time, too, because the wiring that he designates is one of the first things to go in. I'll also bring you up to date on how I've gradually been converting my wish list for the RV contents into reality.

It's always good to start with the exciting stuff. Here's a photo SMB sent showing the windows have been cut into my van:

Only the sliding door window has glass in it yet since that came with the van, but I'm sure the rest will follow soon. The other photo they sent shows that the wiring has started. 

This, of course, is for all the interior lights, switches, electrical outlets, as well as things like the refrigerator, microwave, and water pump. I'm also asking for quite a few extra runs of wire to be installed in case I want to upgrade the sound system in the future. This became a bit of an issue for a while. The major sticking point is that the third-party audio-visual company that SMB works with doesn't carry the (perfectly acceptable) brand of LCD TV I want installed, and only offered a model that is twice the price. Along with some other items I requested, the total AV estimate came out to $4200! That kind of took my breath away; I don't think the grand total I've spent on AV in my life comes close to that figure. So I was prepared to postpone any AV installation until after I got the van, but once the interior paneling is up, that's a pain. SMB stepped in to mediate and we've settled that the AV guy will install the TV that I supply and supervise running the rest of the wires I've requested.

Not that I'm averse to spending money; I'm almost giddy from how fast it's been flowing out lately. In addition to having some remodeling done on the house to prepare it for renting (finished off an upstairs room and put new flooring in the kitchen), I've been acquiring bit by bit the items I indicated in earlier posts that I want for the motorhome. 

One inducement to part with some money is that at the retirement party my daughters kindly threw for me, several friends and relatives gave me gift cards for the Container Store. Those were burning a hole in my pocket, so I went out and bought just about all the items from that store that I described in my "Galley" post. Those generous gifts covered the lion's share of the bill. I'm happy with them all, but I'm particularly glad I made one purchase. I bought the rack and mesh drawers that will go under the galley counter:

Looking at the assembled unit, it occurred to me how long the drawers are. Sure enough, some comparison with the floorplan showed the unit is six inches deeper than the aisle it faces. That means it has to be installed as the furniture is being built! I would never have thought of that without staring at the actual unit I'd assembled.

I'm also finding that by having made my wish list well in advance, I've been able to wait for each item to go on sale and save quite a bit of money. So, what do I have so far? I mentioned in my "Gadgets" post that I'd already purchased the Endless Breeze fan and the Parrot AR Drone quadcopter. Since the latter purchase, the government has really been tightening down on where and when you can fly them. I hope that I'll be left with someplace I can use it. Like the Parrot, I bought the HomeRun HD Plus because it was on sale at a deep discount. This is the device that will allow me to watch broadcast TV and RV park cable on my computer or iPad. Also from the "Gadgets" post are the Focal speakers. They're on my list of requests to the AV guy, so they're as good as purchased. By the way, they're made in France and pronounced Foe-cahl. Be sure to extend your pinkie when you pronounce it. Let's see, what else...  Oh yeah, I bought my telescoping ladder. This may prove to be a waste of space, but it seems like a good idea to be able to climb up on top of the RV when I need to, and there may be camping situations where it's handy, too. It's actually surprisingly compact and lightweight.

I also bought a new camera that was available at a great price. This is one area where I've scrimped a bit compared to my original plans. The plan was to buy a DSLR, but instead I got a Panasonic Lumix:

It's got 16 megapixels, a 20x Leica zoom lens, image stabilization, and lots of shooting modes including aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual control. It's got all the features I was looking for except the SLR part, and I'm not sure I'll ever really miss that. Plus, I was concerned about the size and weight of carrying around a DSLR. So, for one-third of the price, I think the Lumix will keep me happy for quite a while. 

The next item was definitely a splurge - I could have waited a long time before getting it, but a reconditioned computer/TV projector was half the price of a new one, so I jumped on it. If you remember, the plan is to break this out when a 24" TV just isn't enough. The projector will give me a 60" diagonal image in the RV and even larger if I take it outside. It's a Vivitek Qumi. It's perfect for my needs and... well, it's just so cute:

At 500 lumens, I'll want to use it with the curtains closed, but the LED light source is rated for 30,000 hours, eliminating the costly replaceable bulb found in conventional projectors.

By far the biggest equipment expenditure for my upcoming itinerant lifestyle is an Evelo Aries electric bicycle, but I don't consider it a splurge. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that having the bike along from the start will really enhance the enjoyment of my travels. Though I could have waited, the bike was on sale this past weekend with the best price that I've seen in the year I've been following it, so again I spent money to save money. It should arrive in a few days, and I'll dedicate an entire post to it. 

Something else to look forward to is that in a couple weeks I'll make another trip up to Fresno to check progress on the van. I'll drive this time (last time I flew) since I'm in no hurry. Oh yeah, almost forgot to mention: since the last post I've become officially retired. You'd think that'd make for a relaxing time. Ha! In the past month I've had an estate sale to empty out the house, had workmen in for two renovation projects and preparations for three more, replaced the kitchen stove, had five visits from repairmen, delivery men, and a plumber after the washing machine broke down (and they're not done yet), and I've been coming up to speed on a new consulting project. Hopefully, hitting the road a couple months from now will be a retirement from this retirement.