| Author |
Message |
David J. Silva (Cypress) (63.178.233.42)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 6:48 pm: | |
Greetings,
I'm a 42 y.o. wannabe. Like many in my situation I have learned there are three major challenges to a successful bus conversion experience;
1. Choosing the shell
2. Completing the conversion
3. Getting the wife interested
(not in this order)
The first two are still outstanding and the third had been touch and go until recently. My wife is a great friend and a team player but I suspect her support for my bus dream was somewhat forced.
I asked her to read the tread titled "How old are we". That did it.
When she saw what a diverse and interesting group of folks comprise this hobby she became nearly as obsessed as I am.
She began looking at bus sites trying to find something that might be in our budget.
She even agreed to extend our upcoming Florida trip to include Arcadia.
Look forward to meeting some of you
Thanx
Dave Silva |
OAE Palmer (208.164.96.26)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 9:18 pm: | |
Just imagine the results if you had tossed in a diamond, chocolates & some flowers, heck you wouldn't have had the time to type the above!
My wife, bless her heart....stuck by me and the dream
even though it took over 3 yrs. to drive our bus home from the day we bought it!
Our bus had 2 problems that kept it from being sold in the 1st place.... and me from driving it.
It was parked 1300 miles from home,
overheated and would NOT hold a charge for more than a day or 2.
The overheat was a plugged radiator that looked perfect on the outside.
Replaced it in 3 hrs.
The short turned out to be crossed wire in the drivers service lamp.
Once those small items were fixed,
a new starter and a serviced alternator were installed and we have since put several thousand carefree miles on it.
There are few pleasures greater
than cruising on the concrete ribbon
as the master of your own destiny.
Going, meeting, seeing and doing who and what you want,
WHEN you want....
from the security and comfort of HOME.
She'll love it...... |
Darryl (68.114.34.45)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 11:00 pm: | |
Congratulations Dave. You've mastered the largest obstacle you're likely to encounter. Harmony at home is a wonderful thing. If your wife is excited now, wait until she gets to Arcadia! This will really put her over the top. Although I've not been to the bash yet, everyone says it's tops! |
Steven Gibbs (12.148.43.6)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 8:11 am: | |
Dave,
As I look back over the two years we worked on the bus, I find it hard to believe we did it. However, trying to imagine doing it without Gloria is impossible.
Once she got the bug (Laughlin, 2000) she was ready to get started. She negotiated with the bus broker and saved another 500 on the shell. Took care of all the paper work and insurance while I put in a radiator to get it home.
Over two years she was out there most every night helping with cutting out seat rail, drilling out rivets, cutting up scrap aluminum, removing windows, hanging and riveting new steel, wraping every inch of wiring with loom, installing new brakes and drums, and hundreds of other "second pair of hands" tasks.
She accomplished several projects completely on her own including sanding, staining, and finishing all of the cabinets and woodwork, building and covering the valances, and selecting all of the interior colors and finishes. Her single most important design contribution is the breakfast bar that sets our coach apart from the factory motorhomes and has proven very useful.
During all of this she managed to keep the house clean, do the laundry, make meals (although we did learn to eat simpler meals at a later hour), and keep track of two teenage boys. Oh ya, she also has a fulltime job.
Getting to Arcadia is a great idea; your wife will meet many other wives, like Gloria, and that will help to build her confidence.
You have identified the three most important things and even though you can get it done without your wife's support, it would probably be an empty victory.
FWIW
Steve G.
MC9
Pontiac |
Doug Dickinson (Dougd470) (65.161.188.11)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 9:47 am: | |
Dave
Sounds like you have your objectives identified and a direction mapped out. You should be able to achieve with that done.
My wife - understanding person she is - has not gotten bitten with the bug yet. This is my project and my son (23) is helping. My next task, since I don't have a place to work on the coach, is getting the several body things done so I can start on the systems and interior portions. While the wife isn't very intersted in helping, I suspect she might when I get things underway inside. Once the bedroom, is done, we can start using it a little. By then we will probably have 2/3 of the investemnt done and (hopefully) develop some momentum.
Good luck |
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