I need some advidse™
I need to be bold. I need to be decisive. I need action and a plan. But before I make a bold move, I want to test it out slowly (I tend to get burned when I am distracted by shiny things™). Before I commit to living in a van, I want to make sure that it will be allright™. I spent the morning talking to my network of highly trained professionals™ to get their input on my idea. You see, it is sort of like having an executive committee that I can consult before making new and career path changing decisions. I see much value being added by stepping up™ into living in a car.
This will enhance the marketability of me and showcase my many talents and (hopefully) demonstrate my management skills™ vis-à-vis my foreclosure help website. You see, I feel blessed™ by having the vision™ to foresee not a stationary consulting business, but a mobile 24/7 action team headquarters that can instantly spring into action as duty may call.
Unfortunately, G™ doesn’t seem to see it that way.
I spent the morning looking around on craigslist and cars.com and other valuable resources (there’s my network™ again). I found a 1987 Dodge Caravan with 387,000 miles on it for $50 (sweet™! It’s in my budget). I think that if I can remove the rear seat I will have just enough room for a sleeping bag (or a blanket, as I haven’t been to REI to research virgin free-range goose down bags with alpaca/polyethylene liners and a gore-tex/100% recycled TPFE outer shell). Although the owner originally wanted $75 for the van, I was able to use my highly refined negotiating skills™ to get to the more reasonable price I obtained.
I think that the insurance cost will be significantly less, although I am somewhat concerned that the van hasn’t been registered since 1994. Should that be a problem?
I am also looking forward to no longer having a mailing address, so sorting the mail and dealing with all of those associated issues should get much easier. With my new found mobility, I hope to be able to immediately respond to homeowners in financial distress and share my wisdom and knowledge with them. I am hoping that I can build a referral network™ through these people who I help find financial salvation.
More details on my new planned living arrangements:
Kitchen – I found a great deal on a hibachi at Wal Mart for $11.87 (that’s also where I bought 11 quarts of Marvel Mystery Oil to try and quiet some of the noise coming from the engine – note to self™ I need to have a mechanic make a post-purchase inspection). Because my van has running boards, I can bolt it onto the passenger’s side (so if I am dining on the roadside I will not create a safety hazard). Also, by mounting it on the side, I will be able to save on lighter fluid buy driving around the block a couple of times a 25-30 MPH to create a draft and get the fire hot (idea guy™, remember?)
Dishwashing – Since my needs will be simple, I only need a small Tupperware container. I can get hot water from the radiator easily, since the heater core is blocked and the previous owner has plugged off the heater hoses. With a few feet of surplus garden hose I can have plenty of hot water for dishes and an occasional shower if need be.
Dish drying will follow along the lines of hibachi startup, but at higher speeds. I am still experimenting. 65 MPH seems to™ high (a plate was ejected on US 80 during the first test) but 25 MPH takes to™ long. I think maybe Watt Ave at 40 MPH would be about right.
I am hoping to get to Big Bob’s Used Carpet Emporium today to get some shag carpet (yeah baby!) to replace the 20 year old well-worn upholstery. I need it to look professional if I am to have a successful mobile consulting service. I plan to use the passenger’s seat as the reception area. Since the passenger’s seat has some spring sticking out, I am planning to remove it and instead pace the Blue Ball™ their™ to make it look more avant-garde. I don’t think it is legal to drive while sitting on a Blue Ball™ so I will have to conduct my consulting from a parked location.
Clothing/Personal effects storage seems to be problematic. Their™ I no concealed storage in the van, and I don’t want my clients to see my vast wardrobe. I was thinking about one of those roof mounted streamlined storage devises™ but they cost more than the van. Perhaps I can improvise™ something. Cardboard seems to™ flimsy, but one of my networked professionals™ has some leftover latex paint that is about the same as one of the colors on the van so it won’t look to™ mis-matched.
I am still having trouble with my new phone system so I can’t yet post any pictures. The minimum image file size is still way to™ large. Be patient.
If one of my professional sin my network™ has graphic art skills I could use it to make a handsome and professional graphic and lettering on the sides of the van. I want too™ come up with a bold logo, and paint it very large (to cover some of the rust) on the sides and hood. What about painting it in reverse on the hood so it is readable on the road, just like an ambulance.
I plan to park initially in neighborhoods that have been overbuild and where prices have run far to™ high (thanks for the marketing tip, Amy™!) for a few days to build some grass-roots marketing. I can also take some time out of my soon to be busy days to build a larger network with bird-dogging™ postal professionals™. Roger, my regular mailman has been a bitter disappointment. In nearly four months he has not yet brought a viable deal too™ the tabel™. I plan to have 35-50 postal professionals in my enhanced network™ by June 1. At that pace I should be able to bird dog™ between 2 and 89 deals a weak™.
I have to admit that I was overly optimistic in my apartment building venture. While I initially wanted $5,000 amonth™ in passive income, with my mobile web based consulting business, I think that between $1,000 and $1,500 should suit me well. Clearly it will take longer to establish my reputation as the leading mobile foreclosure consulting firm on the west coast, but the effort will be well directed. Long term I envision franchising the business model as I reach out to help those less fortunate than I. I feel blessed™ to have come up with this concept. I really did fall forward™. Stay tuned. I found some delicious organic maple cured free-range hormone free (modified vegan™?) bacon at the whole Earth Food Store that is normally $15.99 a pound for $11.99 a pound. I am going to treat myself for having made such an excellent negotiation on the van.
