Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2003 09:23:00 -0800
Reply-To: laurasdog@WEIRDSTUFFWEMAKE.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Steve Delanty <laurasdog@WEIRDSTUFFWEMAKE.COM>
Subject: Re: I'm sorry... someone please tell me a camping story..
In-Reply-To: <3E858335.3679.B47BA@localhost>
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Malcolm wrote:
<snip>
>My Westy is my hobby, so the more care I can give it,
>the more I'm "hobby-ing". Just a matter of attitude.
Once upon a time I had that attitude. I loved working
on cars. They were my hobby. I guess that's why I
owned so many '60's busses and beetles...
But now I have other hobbies and I find I don't really
enjoy working on cars much anymore. I don't mind
it that much, but there's too many other things
I'd MUCH rather be doing, and too little time to do
them already. I don't want to waste that much of my
time getting greasy anymore. I don't mind doing
routine maintenance and fixing things, but I only want
to have to fix them *once*. If I pull something apart and
I don't like the way it's made and/or don't think it will
be reliable then I fix it to my own standards, which may
include replacing it with something I feel is more suitable.
The WBX falls in that catagory for me.
<snip>
>When taking off on a trip with a 3 year old kid, one must
>plan! and work around the needs and eventual
>frustration of the kid. Same with a Van.
I want the vehicle for enjoyment, not to learn how to work
around additional frustration.
I really love the van, but parts that I find too frustrating
will be replaced with something else in a big hurry.
I want to go camping, not endure a forced 4 mile march
along the edge of some highway because my car is
being moody, or be constantly puckered up every time
I drive along some narrow busy stretch of road where
there's no place to pull over...
I get where you're coming from. I've been there.
But I feel different about it now than I once did.
I guess it's just one of the symptoms of old age. sigh...
Cheers,
Steve
At 07:27 AM 3/29/2003, you wrote:
>On 28 Mar 2003, Steve Delanty wrote:
>
> > I suppose it's been particularly frustrating because I'd
> > hoped the bus would be "stress reliever", allowing me to
> > camp and travel and relax a little once in a while.
>
>Its all a matter of attitude. I love my wife but I get
>frustrated with her sometimes. I love my kids, but they
>are also the source of much frustration. I"love" my
>Westy, but ..... yes it is frustrating too.
>
>When taking off on a trip with a 3 year old kid, one must
>plan! and work around the needs and eventual
>frustration of the kid. Same with a Van. When my
>Westy "konks out" my wife gets all frustrated and rants
>along the lines of what you say: un-trustworthy. I look
>at the situation as an opportunity to lavish some
>kindness on the Westy AND to learn some more about
>its care and nursing. I budget an extra day or so for
>breakdowns and I tell folks that I might be a day or 2
>late in getting there.
>
>My Westy is my hobby, so the more care I can give it,
>the more I'm "hobby-ing". Just a matter of attitude.
>
>Oh yes, you wanted a camping story, let's see if I can
>think of one .......... Malcolm
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