I got the motor home (which I now call "The Beast" ) to the dealer in Cresco for servicing. It needs a refrigerator and a vent over the bathroom. There are some other things it needs; but I'm making great progress on getting it ready for the move.
I looked at my old list of things to repair on it and I've already gotten most of it done.
I'll have to guess-imate the gas levels since the tanks are buried under a couple of metal boxes. I guess I'll just try to keep them full. I will have to get locking gas caps. Kids are always stealing gas around here.
I need to contact freight haulers and see if I can have the motor home hauled to California. This morning it started bouncing after going over a rough patch of road. It's hard to keep in my lane. I'm glad that it wasn't windy. If I have to drive it out to California I'll only drive it when there is no wind. I might have to wait several days for the wind to die down. Maybe I'll drive it mostly at night. It would be worth $1500 for me to pay someone to truck it out there. The train people said that it was too small to take by train. Maybe I can find some trucker who needs something for a return trip to help pay for his gas.
The Ebola epidemic is proceeding. I'm having a hard time getting news about it. The newest news I found was a week old. Maybe the news networks feel that since it is now only in Western Africa that it doesn't count as real news. Maybe it just isn't as out of control as what I've heard. I feel that something which could kill off 50 to 90% of the world's population deserves to be talked about. Maybe the mainstream press is being silenced to prevent panic. I would like to hear more about it.
Gold went up and the stock market went down, today. I guess it had something to do with news out of Portugal. I haven't read anything about it yet; but does it really surprise anyone that bad news can come out of Portugal? I feel that gold has put in a bottom and now is the time to buy it. Maybe it would be even better to pan for it.
I'm wavering on whether I should go to California right away or leave next Spring. I did an analysis of my debts to assets. I'm about $6,000 in debt right now. Sometimes I feel that I should head out and find enough gold to justify leaving. At other times I feel that I should stay where I'm at and get ahead financially before leaving. In the Wintertime, I could put aside about $1,200/month in savings. I have a tendency to buy gold and silver with that money. I'll have to quit that.
At other times (especially after watching Glendon Cammeron on YouTube) I feel that I should drop everything and pursue my dream of panning for gold on the Klamath River.
Right now I feel that I should stay put and set aside money for the move. A worsening of the Ebola outbreak or a collapse of the currency might force me to make my move earlier. Only time will tell.
Later
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Not much to Talk about Tonight
Not much is happening here, today.
I had the most boring day at work, nothing got fixed on my motor home, I didn't buy any silver or gold, Bitcoins went down but not by much.
The stock market sold off over 110 points. It might be the beginning of the bubble bursting. If it goes down hard tomorrow maybe it is the start of the depressionary phase that will precede the inflationary phase. We'll see.
The talking heads on CNBC were talking about a bubble bursting; so even mainstream media is looking at that possibility. I only hope that things hold together long enough for me to get to California.
Talking about going to California; I got the batteries installed in the motor home over the weekend. I just used JB Weld to hold down the battery in the engine compartment. The other two are held down better.
When I tried the lights and stuff in the living compartment, nothing worked. I probably have a blown fuse or a switch that's turned off somewhere. Hopefully, the mechanic at the RV dealer's can fix it.
I'm just waiting for the pipe to the fuel tank to be replaced. It also needs a window fixed and the step to the living compartment to be welded. I'll have to find someone to give me a ride back from Cresco where the RV dealer is. That's about 30 miles from here and I don't want to walk back. Maybe I could load the bicycle on the motor home and ride back. It's mostly downhill. I could do that on a weekend. It would take me half a day.
Dan is doing the things that pertain to the mechanical aspect of the motor home. Things like replacing the refrigerator and the vents are going to be done in Cresco.
The mainstream media isn't talking about the Ebola outbreak. I think they are trying to keep us in the dark. If we knew the truth, panic would break out and the world's economy (which is already fragile) would collapse. I expect that to happen in about 6 months anyway. I hope I'm wrong because I would be in a better position to make my move in a few more months. Of course, life never gives you the chance to do things in a more rational manner. It looks like I'll have to get my act together and get the heck out of here, soon. I want to be far away from all of these liberals when the shit hits the fan.
Later
I had the most boring day at work, nothing got fixed on my motor home, I didn't buy any silver or gold, Bitcoins went down but not by much.
The stock market sold off over 110 points. It might be the beginning of the bubble bursting. If it goes down hard tomorrow maybe it is the start of the depressionary phase that will precede the inflationary phase. We'll see.
The talking heads on CNBC were talking about a bubble bursting; so even mainstream media is looking at that possibility. I only hope that things hold together long enough for me to get to California.
Talking about going to California; I got the batteries installed in the motor home over the weekend. I just used JB Weld to hold down the battery in the engine compartment. The other two are held down better.
When I tried the lights and stuff in the living compartment, nothing worked. I probably have a blown fuse or a switch that's turned off somewhere. Hopefully, the mechanic at the RV dealer's can fix it.
I'm just waiting for the pipe to the fuel tank to be replaced. It also needs a window fixed and the step to the living compartment to be welded. I'll have to find someone to give me a ride back from Cresco where the RV dealer is. That's about 30 miles from here and I don't want to walk back. Maybe I could load the bicycle on the motor home and ride back. It's mostly downhill. I could do that on a weekend. It would take me half a day.
Dan is doing the things that pertain to the mechanical aspect of the motor home. Things like replacing the refrigerator and the vents are going to be done in Cresco.
The mainstream media isn't talking about the Ebola outbreak. I think they are trying to keep us in the dark. If we knew the truth, panic would break out and the world's economy (which is already fragile) would collapse. I expect that to happen in about 6 months anyway. I hope I'm wrong because I would be in a better position to make my move in a few more months. Of course, life never gives you the chance to do things in a more rational manner. It looks like I'll have to get my act together and get the heck out of here, soon. I want to be far away from all of these liberals when the shit hits the fan.
Later
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Wall Street Rant
I've been meaning to rant about how I've been taken advantage of by Wall Street for some time, now.
First I want to acknowledge that I am speaking from self-pity and blaming others for my problems. That's human.
Shortly before I would lose money on Wall Street I always read a book about investing. Generally they would say that the ruling class was about to pull away from the masses. Now was always the time to invest because the train was pulling out and if you didn't jump on board right away you would always be poor and not in control of your destiny.
Usually I would win for about 1 month. When I figured out how much I would make by the end of a year it was in increments of hundreds of thousands of dollars if not millions.
After the first month I started losing. I would not only lose what I had gained but whatever I had saved or borrowed to start investing in the first place.
It's too depressing to add up what I've lost but it included my inheritance, back-pay from Social Security Disability and several thousand dollars that I borrowed.
I think my schizophrenia is a big part of the problem. One of my delusions is that I made billions during the 1987 stock market crash. I had delusions that I invested millions from a credit card (betting against the market) and turned it into billions. A few months later the federal government took it away. These things always turn into thin air and nothing comes of it. That is the nature of schizophrenia. It turns out that my most hopeful thoughts are delusions of grandeur. I also have delusions involving Sports Illustrated models. Oh well.
Part of the problem is that I'm drawn to leverage. That means (in the financial world) using small amounts of money to control larger amounts. I started as a commodities trader. With commodities ( at that time) $2,000 would control a commodity worth $40,000. This is wonderful when you are winning but it sucks when the underlying commodity goes in the wrong direction. I would also use options which is similar. Even when I bought stocks I was generally on margin. That means for every $1 I put up the brokerage would put up $2 more.
It was always just a matter of time before I would lose my shirt; and I always did.
Now I'm down to betting on precious metals and Bitcoins. I'm not using leverage and things are going fairly well.
I still want to get out to California before the financial collapse. I feel that I only have a few months. Maybe I'm repeating my old (fear basesd) thinking.
I feel that I'll be able to live practically for free and if I find some gold that is just icing ont the cake.
Today I'm putting batteries into the motor home. I've got the wrong battery in the engine compartment. The posts are too close to the hood. I have to put mounting brackets into the battery compartment for the other two batteries. Once I get that done I'll take it to Wal-Mart and install a couple of marine batteries, there. I think that will happen yet today maybe Saturday. We'll see.
That's all I've got today.
Later
First I want to acknowledge that I am speaking from self-pity and blaming others for my problems. That's human.
Shortly before I would lose money on Wall Street I always read a book about investing. Generally they would say that the ruling class was about to pull away from the masses. Now was always the time to invest because the train was pulling out and if you didn't jump on board right away you would always be poor and not in control of your destiny.
Usually I would win for about 1 month. When I figured out how much I would make by the end of a year it was in increments of hundreds of thousands of dollars if not millions.
After the first month I started losing. I would not only lose what I had gained but whatever I had saved or borrowed to start investing in the first place.
It's too depressing to add up what I've lost but it included my inheritance, back-pay from Social Security Disability and several thousand dollars that I borrowed.
I think my schizophrenia is a big part of the problem. One of my delusions is that I made billions during the 1987 stock market crash. I had delusions that I invested millions from a credit card (betting against the market) and turned it into billions. A few months later the federal government took it away. These things always turn into thin air and nothing comes of it. That is the nature of schizophrenia. It turns out that my most hopeful thoughts are delusions of grandeur. I also have delusions involving Sports Illustrated models. Oh well.
Part of the problem is that I'm drawn to leverage. That means (in the financial world) using small amounts of money to control larger amounts. I started as a commodities trader. With commodities ( at that time) $2,000 would control a commodity worth $40,000. This is wonderful when you are winning but it sucks when the underlying commodity goes in the wrong direction. I would also use options which is similar. Even when I bought stocks I was generally on margin. That means for every $1 I put up the brokerage would put up $2 more.
It was always just a matter of time before I would lose my shirt; and I always did.
Now I'm down to betting on precious metals and Bitcoins. I'm not using leverage and things are going fairly well.
I still want to get out to California before the financial collapse. I feel that I only have a few months. Maybe I'm repeating my old (fear basesd) thinking.
I feel that I'll be able to live practically for free and if I find some gold that is just icing ont the cake.
Today I'm putting batteries into the motor home. I've got the wrong battery in the engine compartment. The posts are too close to the hood. I have to put mounting brackets into the battery compartment for the other two batteries. Once I get that done I'll take it to Wal-Mart and install a couple of marine batteries, there. I think that will happen yet today maybe Saturday. We'll see.
That's all I've got today.
Later
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Decision Time
I feel that it is time for me to decide to get off my butt and go to California, now.
Lately, I've been thinking about going next Spring. I'll have more money; especially after making money shoveling snow. The trouble is that the long awaited currency collapse will be that much closer.
My current thinking is that the world wide currency collapse will be brought on by the Ebola outbreak. As it spreads out from Africa the world's economy will collapse because people will withdraw and not spend money. Everyone will be hiding in their homes. I feel that the lack of consumer spending will wreck the economy. It will probably happen within the next 6 months.
I'm watching the outbreak very closely. It may not spread as much in the Western world but it will get here. People will panic and the only thing that really will prevent it's spread is isolation. Of course, people will say that they are being discriminated against so that may not happen. Those factors increased the spread of AIDS. It will happen again only with more disastrous results.
If I were to get off my butt and sell some etchings and silver I would be able to get out to California and be panning gold in a month or so. It's time to quit straddling the fence. It's important to get out of here.
Even if the epidemic isn't as bad as I think it will be, it will probably trash the economy. Even if it doesn't, I'll still be living quite cheaply and will be finding gold.
On the topic of jumping into my motor home and leaving; I drove the motor home to Waukon, last Sunday. It still drives badly. The new tires helped some but the wind blows it all over the road. People tell me that all motor homes are like that.
I need a few things for it:
That leaves getting the fuel tanks and brakes fixed. I'll have to get after Dan to do those, quickly.
I need to get moving.
Later
Lately, I've been thinking about going next Spring. I'll have more money; especially after making money shoveling snow. The trouble is that the long awaited currency collapse will be that much closer.
My current thinking is that the world wide currency collapse will be brought on by the Ebola outbreak. As it spreads out from Africa the world's economy will collapse because people will withdraw and not spend money. Everyone will be hiding in their homes. I feel that the lack of consumer spending will wreck the economy. It will probably happen within the next 6 months.
I'm watching the outbreak very closely. It may not spread as much in the Western world but it will get here. People will panic and the only thing that really will prevent it's spread is isolation. Of course, people will say that they are being discriminated against so that may not happen. Those factors increased the spread of AIDS. It will happen again only with more disastrous results.
If I were to get off my butt and sell some etchings and silver I would be able to get out to California and be panning gold in a month or so. It's time to quit straddling the fence. It's important to get out of here.
Even if the epidemic isn't as bad as I think it will be, it will probably trash the economy. Even if it doesn't, I'll still be living quite cheaply and will be finding gold.
On the topic of jumping into my motor home and leaving; I drove the motor home to Waukon, last Sunday. It still drives badly. The new tires helped some but the wind blows it all over the road. People tell me that all motor homes are like that.
I need a few things for it:
- Repair the sensors for the gas tanks. The meter shows empty all the time.
- Fix the rear tank so I can get fuel into it. The intake hose leaks.
- Replace the refrigerator.
- Install batteries for the living space.
- Install something to hook up the solar panel
- Check the brakes. It takes a lot to stop it.
- Replace the vent over the bathroom.
That leaves getting the fuel tanks and brakes fixed. I'll have to get after Dan to do those, quickly.
I need to get moving.
Later
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Begging on EBay
I've taken to begging on EBay. I'm now asking people to buy my etchings to help a prepper bug out to Northern California. I needed to do something to get people to actually buy my etchings
I start them out at $100 and I end up going down to $75 before 1 person actually makes a bid. I'm tempted to start out at $0.99 and see if I can get some bidding between people. I don't think I'll do that even though EBay advises it. The idea of selling an etching for $0.99 is just too frightening.
I tore a hangnail off of my big toe on my left foot a couple of days ago. Was that ever a mistake. Now it's throbbing and swolllen. I found some antiseptic in an old first aid kit and that helped a lot, but I'm still a few days away from it being well.
Not much is happening with my motor home. Dan is busy rebuilding his garage. I think he is too busy to get to my motor home. I was just asking a friend (named Nick) where I should take it. Maybe I'll take it to an RV dealer in Cresco. I think that is my best bet. It looks to me like he's been around for a while and he probably knows how to repair things. Well, I've got to get going on getting my bug-out vehicle running. I think the Ebola outbreak will only affect Africa, but I would like to have the option of leaving if I have to. I'll run up to the RV place, here in Decorah, and see if he can work on it, tomorrow.
Later.
I start them out at $100 and I end up going down to $75 before 1 person actually makes a bid. I'm tempted to start out at $0.99 and see if I can get some bidding between people. I don't think I'll do that even though EBay advises it. The idea of selling an etching for $0.99 is just too frightening.
I tore a hangnail off of my big toe on my left foot a couple of days ago. Was that ever a mistake. Now it's throbbing and swolllen. I found some antiseptic in an old first aid kit and that helped a lot, but I'm still a few days away from it being well.
Not much is happening with my motor home. Dan is busy rebuilding his garage. I think he is too busy to get to my motor home. I was just asking a friend (named Nick) where I should take it. Maybe I'll take it to an RV dealer in Cresco. I think that is my best bet. It looks to me like he's been around for a while and he probably knows how to repair things. Well, I've got to get going on getting my bug-out vehicle running. I think the Ebola outbreak will only affect Africa, but I would like to have the option of leaving if I have to. I'll run up to the RV place, here in Decorah, and see if he can work on it, tomorrow.
Later.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
A Lack of Focus
I feel that I've been demonstrating a lack of focus, lately.
I should be doing everything that I can to get to California and panning gold. Instead, I've been buying gold and silver and fixing the motor home.
Of course, I need the motor home to live in while I'm panning gold; and getting gold and silver is why I want to go to California in the first place.
Maybe I'm just being impatient. Lack of patience is something I learned in the Marine Corps. It's essential to getting things done on a timely basis.
I'm also trapped by having a part-time job. I'm bringing in income that makes the move possible in the first place. Without the money coming in from my job I would never have considered going to California. I almost hope I get laid off so I can run out there immediately.
I feel that I'll make more money out there but I have a sure thing going on here.
My present plan is to wait until after next March to make my move. That way I can bring in some income by shoveling snow. I do quite well at that. Of course, I'll end up spending most of that money on gold and silver from EBay.
I've cut my expenditures a lot by moving into a different apartment. Not only was the rent less but I'm getting free Internet. I figure that I'm saving over $100/month by living here.
I just need to find ways to make more money in the summer. I got a landscaping job on Fridays. That will help.
I need to sell more of my etchings. I collect etchings by an artist named Malcolm Childers.
I should be doing everything that I can to get to California and panning gold. Instead, I've been buying gold and silver and fixing the motor home.
Of course, I need the motor home to live in while I'm panning gold; and getting gold and silver is why I want to go to California in the first place.
Maybe I'm just being impatient. Lack of patience is something I learned in the Marine Corps. It's essential to getting things done on a timely basis.
I'm also trapped by having a part-time job. I'm bringing in income that makes the move possible in the first place. Without the money coming in from my job I would never have considered going to California. I almost hope I get laid off so I can run out there immediately.
I feel that I'll make more money out there but I have a sure thing going on here.
My present plan is to wait until after next March to make my move. That way I can bring in some income by shoveling snow. I do quite well at that. Of course, I'll end up spending most of that money on gold and silver from EBay.
I've cut my expenditures a lot by moving into a different apartment. Not only was the rent less but I'm getting free Internet. I figure that I'm saving over $100/month by living here.
I just need to find ways to make more money in the summer. I got a landscaping job on Fridays. That will help.
I need to sell more of my etchings. I collect etchings by an artist named Malcolm Childers.
I put one of my favorites above. It's named "Frenchy's Flathead Flyer". It's an etching of a vehicle that a junkyard mechanic (named Frenchy) put together from various vehicles in the 1970's. I guess he used it to run around the desert in Nevada. It looks like a lot of fun.
Well, I'm going home to work on one of my laptops. It doesn't charge up the battery correctly and I have the part that should fix it.
Later
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Got New Tires for the Motor Home
I got the new tires put on my motor home today.
I've taken to calling it "The Beast" for the way it drives. It reminded me of an old movie "The Beast". It was about the battle between an Afghan fighter and the driver of a Russian tank. This motor home drives like that tank.
On other news, the Ebola outbreak was called "out of control". I don't think I'll panic quite yet. It seems to be attacking health care people and people who bury the bodies. I don't think normal people will get it very often. It seems to be spread through body fluids.
It might hit Africa hard since they have a lack of infrastructure. I hope it stops there. If it mutates to an airborne contagion it will kill 50 to 90 percent of the human population.
I hope to have the motor home ready to run to the north woods if that happens.
I think that a financial collapse is more likely though.
That reminds me, gold spiked by over $40 last Thursday. I didn't see any real reason for it so maybe it's the long-awaited hyperinflation. Oil also went up on the Iraq crisis. Maybe that's what spiked gold. If it keeps going up next week it's hyperinflation.
I priced taking the motor home to California by train. They wanted $14,000. That's more than it would cost to get a fairly new motor home in California. I told them to forget it.
I'll have to rent a car trailer to tow my van behind my motor home. It looks like that will cost $400 to $500. It will be worth it.
My plan is to go by next March. I'm having trouble financing the move. And I can make money shoveling snow in the winter. That should be enough to get going. Maybe I can hit up Faye for some money to make it happen sooner. I could offer her interest and maybe have her hold my gold and silver as collateral.
I need to do some sort of landscaping to make money in the summer. I need the money to make my move. I do so well in the winter but summers are a waste to me, here.
I've run out of things to talk about for now.
Later
I've taken to calling it "The Beast" for the way it drives. It reminded me of an old movie "The Beast". It was about the battle between an Afghan fighter and the driver of a Russian tank. This motor home drives like that tank.
On other news, the Ebola outbreak was called "out of control". I don't think I'll panic quite yet. It seems to be attacking health care people and people who bury the bodies. I don't think normal people will get it very often. It seems to be spread through body fluids.
It might hit Africa hard since they have a lack of infrastructure. I hope it stops there. If it mutates to an airborne contagion it will kill 50 to 90 percent of the human population.
I hope to have the motor home ready to run to the north woods if that happens.
I think that a financial collapse is more likely though.
That reminds me, gold spiked by over $40 last Thursday. I didn't see any real reason for it so maybe it's the long-awaited hyperinflation. Oil also went up on the Iraq crisis. Maybe that's what spiked gold. If it keeps going up next week it's hyperinflation.
I priced taking the motor home to California by train. They wanted $14,000. That's more than it would cost to get a fairly new motor home in California. I told them to forget it.
I'll have to rent a car trailer to tow my van behind my motor home. It looks like that will cost $400 to $500. It will be worth it.
My plan is to go by next March. I'm having trouble financing the move. And I can make money shoveling snow in the winter. That should be enough to get going. Maybe I can hit up Faye for some money to make it happen sooner. I could offer her interest and maybe have her hold my gold and silver as collateral.
I need to do some sort of landscaping to make money in the summer. I need the money to make my move. I do so well in the winter but summers are a waste to me, here.
I've run out of things to talk about for now.
Later
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