OK. 4 or so years ago. I left the overcrowded confines of southern California. In dreams of moving to a small town for a simple life of living humbly within our means. Winnemucca proved to be a little off center. Its a mining town, the local economy is inflated from the high income of all the miners working here. We arrived right as the housing market was recovering and ended up with a house that was more then what we originally anticipated. It happens. The plan was for me to continue working with the company I moved away from telecommuting, I got a second somewhat of a babysitting job during the nights so I could telecommute while on another payroll. Well I got a job in mining so now money shouldn't be a problem. The transition was smooth but I became once again a man living paycheck to paycheck... The family got bigger and we moved to another house, this was 2 years ago when the housing market was sketchy, the mortgage market was in chaos. The house we moved into was a little inflated on price but we wanted to move on it because we could get a loan at that time and was unsure if we could get a loan in 6 months. Not willing to sell the first house

Stuff happened.

We got divorced, she is living in the second house

What a world.

OK. Maybe I wont be a bullrider.

But i'm still getting the hell out of here.

Last journal I was soo close to doing it. Leaving california but we backed out, we felt at the time the only way to feel comfortable moving is to buy a house there and at that time we just were not ready to buy a house.

Works been sketchy, I still enjoy my job but there are soo many things that need to be done that are beyond the ability of anyone here. Uh, I mean there, I wouldn't write this from work now, would I?

For a while it was really scary, we decided once again that we had to move. With me keeping my job and my wife being pretty able to find something up there it was a no brainer. But there were some issues, the job for a little while didn't think they could afford me out there and my replacement over here. But if my job wasn't getting me where I wanted here then I can't let that hold me back from going there. Time to shave the stash and pick up a paper hat, McDonalds has been remodeling alot and doesn't seem that terribly bad. But thats behind us now. My replacement is more of a sideplacement, he can only work part time for the first year and with that I'm sitting pretty for a full 40 hour workweek and nobody blows their budgets.

There are compromises. We arn't going down there with a house ready to move in, we're bringing out own house and camping out in my parents backyard untill we find one. My new pay is still being negotiated but it looks like it will be the same pay I started out with. However I dont feel like thats backtracking. With my income now I can't afford a house here, with my new lesserbutbetter income up there we are within house buying range.

So Feb 28th is my last day and I had my goodbye lunch today. Its finally sinking in, no matter what, we're going.

This makes me happy.

Some bright morning when this life is over, I'll fly away
To a land on God's celestial shore, I'll fly away

Living in california makes for some interesting challenges.

Can't buy a house, even if I could I dont really see the value except for what you could sell it to some other sucker for. Seems like eventually everyone would just wise up.

Oh how glad and happy when we meet, I'll fly away
No more cold iron shackles on my feet, I'll fly away

So we made an escape plan. Bought a travel trailer, moved into and RV park and started saving. The plan was in a year, we were going to blow this popsicle stand and move to nevada, little whore town winnemucca north reno. Logic had no time we really needed very little money to buy $100k house. We could do it.. today. So my wife went up to check out the market. We told my boss (long story, but yeah, we) and he said it was sorry to see us go but absolutly I could continue working via telecommute.

I'll fly away, oh glory, I'll fly away
When I die, hallelujah by and by, I'll fly away

The boss and I talked it over at lunch while the offer for a house was being faxed to the real estate agent. We made some interesting discoveries over lunch, find out i'm respected alot more then I thought. That he had plans for me, big momey, $80k a year with bonus.

Saying things like he hates to see me go as a friend and as a coworker. I was admitedly being overly optimistic about how permanent telecommuting would affect the company.

Just a few more weary days and then, I'll fly away
To a land where joy will never end, I'll fly away

So in the end, he's going to look into getting me that raise, a real one. If I stay?

The offer is being considred now, we'll find out by wensday afternoon.

Boss says he really wants to keep me, do what he can to get us on our own property, even fronting some money.

I was ready to go though.

3 bed double wide on a 5 acre lot, the backyard extends right into BLM land (a reserve you could say) and a mile through that you have the river.

We were going to go horseback riding together while my parents watch the little one.

Did I mention my family moved up there?

Very very torn.

Leaving would set a large hole in the company, as least from what the boss assumes. He'd keep me on, but would have to hire someone else locally... I dont know if thats neccessary...

What do I want?

I can get some land here, set back a good distance from the city.

things are starting to not make sense again.

Boss said 100 miles away would be fine, telecommute 80% of the time. But that doesn't sound ideal if i'm supposed to going to have people working under me soon.

"what were you doing last night?"

umm, looking at porn.

"BULLSHIT! history isn't cleared you were playing that damn game wern't you?"

No no hun, I was making a slashdot journal entry so you could read whats on my mind.

"Whats on your mind then?"

irony meets recursion.

This is in the future, but by the time you read it. It will be the past.

"My head asplodes."

Wife is sniffing, "did you fart?"
I replied, nope, I kinda sniffed but didn't smell anything funny. Under the table my 2 year old daughter said "no, I farted". Shocked by her response we asked, "why did you fart?" She got up out from under the table saying "butt, butt" my wife didn't really hear what she was saying until our daughter stood up, turned around and did the airport security pose, saying "from there". Funniest thing we have ever seen, and the stupidest thing to ever laugh at. When CPS comes knocking at our door. You'll know.

*edit* not stupid as in jim carry stupid. But stupid that she knows it was funny. Just wanted to clear that part up. It was funny as hell and wasn't much we could do to not laught. Still, not a great idea.

Was looking for something to brighten my day with.

http://www.mitsubishi-presentations.com/proj_pocket.asp

This website used to say june/july for availability.

September seems soo far away. Considering I have been waiting since january for this.

sucks sucks sucks

Everything you are doing is wrong.

If you had someone else to critique it from an outside source they could insight you with what would be the 10 other possible more proper ways to approach your situation. Anyone else who agree's with what you are doing is doing so only to justify their own actions. This is recursive to an infinite depth.

Long story short.
We used to pay $550 a month rent for a 3 bedroom home. In my area thats unbelivably cheap, its my mother in laws place. We really want to buy a house and could almost swing it if we had the %10 down. Although with the market at where its at I wouldn't buy a cemetary plot. So we want to buy but have no money and no place to buy at. We figure we start with step one, get money then see when the prices will become reasonable.

We decided we were paying too much in rent and could live for cheaper. We moved into an RV park. Not a mobile home park, a literal RV park. At first we were going to buy a 40 foot trailer but could not swing the loan. We moved out borrowing my parents 30 foot trailer which is actually working out beutifully. We have been moved in for a full week on wedndsay and are having a blast. I ask the other neighbors how they like it, they say its great, its like camping every day. And thats how it feels right now, so for those who stay they dont lose that feeling. If we manage to keep our spirits in the right place we could have a great time while we save for our own trailer, and then a house (whenever the hell and who cars now anyway).

Now I told you that story to tell you this one.

When we were unpacking Saturday, our now ex-neighbors were playing with the paintball gun. Again. Last time they had it out they shot the wall and splattered a second one on the glass and wall.

They did it again.

We just donated a bunch of baby toys that our kid had grown out of. We donated it to them, it was on the yard, they asked about it and we said, sure, take what you need. They got a crib, stroller, lots of toys and a changing table. I renember while I was cleaning that it seemed kind of odd that they didn't offer any money for it. Collectivly these could easily bring in $100 in a yard sale, but we didn't have the time or the interest. I'm not saying I expect $100, I just said that to describe the value, I couldn't see myself taking that from someone else without offering some money, at least $5 as a thank you. But forget that, I just laughed at my observance.

Then splat, they hit the glass again. I looked up and saw a bird flying away and them laughing and there was a paintball spulge on the window. I thought that was incredibly rude, and went back to packing. A few minutes later one of the little girls came over with a baby wipe while I was taking a box out, I smiled when greeting her, and started to say something when she sheepishly said "I was shooting the paintball gun and we hit your car" I took a double take because I didn't understand the house window equals the car??? Sure enough she goes around to the car and starts to wipe away at the door. No real damage. She finishes up and I got back to my buisness. It just confused the hell out of me when the girl went back and they started shooting again. Now it was an older guy who did most of the shooting, he hit the house window and I belive the girl did shoot the car and did not shoot again. But the older guy was still firing away randomly with the whole family watching and laughing, leaning on their new stroller.

When they hit the window I was already planning on smashing a half open paint can through their back window of that mustang they have.

I've calmed down a bit and decided I will only put a lock in their fence in the middle of the night. I need to find a good source of assorted keys, I'd like to put a large bag of keys hanging off the lock to encourage the neighbor to get out of the mess by trying different keys. My other question is should I put the righy key in the bag or just keep that as a personal momento.

I think its a very important lesson in respect. Not "I pwn j00" type respect. Just a keep your hands to yourself message.

If you have any ideas besides the lock fence trick let me know. I've written off setting their fence on fire and breaking windows. But trapping them in their yard for an hour of so sounds like good times.

Third watch is on its last shift.

I just hope they end it well.

chant with me everyone, "SPIN OFF! SPIN OFF! SPIN OFF!"

http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/24/television.thirdwatch.reut/