Time for some [forced] life simplification

[drooartz]

Funny how a couple months can change things. In December I bought an old Toyota Land Cruiser as part of a long term plan (if everything played out properly) that would see me sell my Honda, eventually add a new SUV for my wife so I could drive her truck, expand my garage space, and really settle in to some old car fun. Neat plans, and in this current economic climate a real luxury.

Then we hit the deer (luckily covered under insurance but left us down a car for a while)

So I had to speed up some necessary work on the Land Cruiser ($$)

Then we had a $2000 plumbing emergency

Then we had a really slow start to the ski season (and it's still not snowing), so my usual gig booking has been slower than normal

Then we found out that our employer (wife and I work for a local school district) is facing a reasonably large shortfall for the next budget season, so possible cuts, furlough days, insurance increases, the usual. Could be nothing, could be hundreds out of the monthly budget.

So while I'm extremely grateful that we're okay and can weather this (and still have work and a home as many don't) I've had to get a bit ruthless with the extras. My lovely plan required a lot of things to work out, and somehow none of them did.

So the Honda is for sale. The FJ40 is for sale. The BMW motorcycle is for sale (I'll replace it eventually when things settle). The MGB is <span style="font-weight: bold">NOT for sale</span> under any circumstances. Again, just a minor annoyance compared to the real suffering that some folks (including many here) are going through but still a setback. And I hate feeling like I made a stupid set of decisions. I'm usually smarter than that.

So the next time y'all hear that I've come up with a great plan to add some sort of new car/truck/bike project to the fleet... STOP ME!

 

[JPSmit]

Sorry to hear Drew, My wife's job finished in August with severance running out in December, so, new realities here as well. One thought, before you sell things, cost it out! If they are paid for it may make more sense to pull them off the road for a few months than to sell and re-buy later. What you will get financially is typically not as much as you have in them and particularly for things like the bike, just pulling it off the road may be all the relief you need. Likewise, you will probably still need two drivers for day to day jobs - and as you said in the post, you don't know what the consequences of her job will be. In other words, waiting a but won't hurt you and may very well save you in the long run.

That being said, the best things in life aren't things.

cheers mate!

 

[AngliaGT]

Drew,

At least you have a little warning,& are in better shape
then most people.
Then again,when it comes to asking weather or not to buy
another vehicle - just remember who you're talking to!

- Doug

 

[Guest]

Focus, Billy, focus. Time to enjoy what you have and not take on anything else...

ahem!

 

[drooartz]

Focus, Billy, focus. Time to enjoy what you have and not take on anything else...

ahem!

I wrote that comment with my own predicament very much in mind.

At least you have a little warning,& are in better shape then most people. Then again,when it comes to asking weather or not to buy another vehicle - just remember who you're talking to!

We're definitely aware that we're in much better shape than many in this country -- we still have our jobs and our house and our health. This has all just been a reminder that things can change quickly.

As to the issue of more cars, I don't expect much encouragement on that front from you lot anyways.

 

[drooartz]

That being said, the best things in life aren't things.

Very true indeed. I've definitely decided that I'm just not a collector. Truly nothing wrong with those who are, but I'm just not wired that way. A large part of why I still enjoy my MG (and the Tunebug before) was the local folks I've met and the people here.

So other than a modest financial hit for my folly I've learned a good lesson here.

 

[Guest]

Yeah, not a collector, you just have lots of cars. :laugh:

That's like, saying a prositiute isn't a ho', she just likes sex and money. :smirk:

 

[drooartz]

Yeah, not a collector, you just have lots of cars. :laugh:

I'll be down to just the daily drivers and the MGB in a few weeks if all goes well. One at a time.

As for your second comment....

 

[billspit]

I've seen your BMW motorcycle on ADventure. Nice bike. I wish I was closer and not feeling some heat too.

 

[mailbox]

The MGB is <span style="font-weight: bold">NOT for sale</span> under any circumstances.

At least you have your priorities straight.

 

[drooartz]

The MGB is <span style="font-weight: bold">NOT for sale</span> under any circumstances.

At least you have your priorities straight.

When it comes down to it, that MGB is the most fun vehicle I've driven. Huge smiles for small cost.

In an update, shook hands on a deal to sell the FJ40 tonight, should finish it up on Saturday. Nice chap, owns a bunch of LBCs as well. My kind of guy. Bittersweet, but it's what I need to do.

 

[aeronca65t]

I get this. Completely.

I went through the same thing at your age.
But even at my age, it's not bad to simplify. Not because of the money but because of the time.

I find that I have zero time for flying or motorcycling these days. I wish I did, but other important, stuff (in my case, grandchildren) would have to get ignored. Having cars is easier (OK, I'll admit: not real simple....I have 4 garage spaces with 4 British cars in them right now and a Miata that sits outside).

So I gave away my Honda FT500 thumper to one of my brothers and the plane will probably go at some point in 2012 (I'm slowly negotiating with two guys right now).

Of course, I also keep dreaming about the neat, British 4-wheeled beast I could buy if I had money from the sale of the plane (and maybe also, my MGB).

It's all part of the transitions in life. To be honest, I wish I could find the time to learn to play the guitar better. Or take piano lessons. :wink:

 

[drooartz]

Nial nailed it. While the current financial implications are the immediate catalyst, the real driver is time. With two jobs (programmer and musician) my time to be able to go deep into things -- even practicing my music -- is limited. I realized when I settled in with the Land Cruiser that I had gone one hobby too far. For some reason I couldn't see that *before* I made the move. Ah well...

Hopefully the lesson will stick now.

 

[Guest]

Shhhhhhh! Not so loud, I'm on the phone w/ a guy about buying another TR6.

 

[drooartz]