Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2007 20:24:51 -0400
Reply-To: craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: When a 20-yr old can't afford a hippy bus
In-Reply-To: <7959ab2e0708031653v6dd119cfh50b8f11583f1e605@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I had this entirely in my mind when it happened today, this thread that is.
See, theres a baywindow westy about 10 miles out of my way that someone
enlightened me to about a year ago. Every now and then i drive by to
reassure myself the white ghost is still there, and the treat thats growing
out of its roof/right next to it is still doing well. Its the driveway of a
nice old house. Some time ago i used google earth to find the houses address
(as its not listed on the mailbox) in an attempt to eventually write them a
nice letter asking them about the bus. On todays faithful stroll, i saw an
elderly woman sitting on the front porch and decided to go talk to her.
Long story short, not only can a 20 year old afford a hippy bus, an 18 year
old can be GIVEN a 1975 westy and actually asked and encouraged to do
something with it (even if thats just part it out). The nice old lady lives
alone, no remaining decendants, used to be her sons.....it comforts her but
shed like to find it a home even if thats in a junkyard where people can get
parts. She said its mine for the taking, the engine turns over by key and it
ran when parked FIFTEEN YEARS AGO. Long story short, the body is GONE, i'll
post pictures soon, but doesnt loook to be worth saving. I have little to no
use for a baywindow that cant be saved, might take it for parts, keep my
favorite goods (make a couch out of the rear seat, a clock out of the
hubcaps, etc) and part out the rest. Anyone need something specific (or alot
of specific things) off a 1975 Westy?
So i guess i was wrong, good things do happen to good people and a 20 year
old CAN afford a hippy bus!
-Craig
'85GL
On 8/3/07, Lee Peterson <iridewheelies@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> "Eat Desert First" became my credo.
>
> where did you race your 928, The Baja 1000?
>
> sorry, it's friday night
>
>
>
> On 8/3/07, Don Hanson <dhanson@gorge.net> wrote:
> >
> > Right, that's me. I took a pre-emptive retirement and spent my savings
> > and some inherited money on the Porsche racing interlude. "Eat Desert
> > First" became my credo, after I watched my father (among many others)
> work
> > his butt off for 50 years so he could retire, then he died..Also, I had
> a
> > close call myself with a truck hitting me as I waited for a flag person
> > at a construction delay...Doing everything right, and I still lost a
> few
> > years of my life as I recovered. I vowed then that if I ever got back
> to
> > normal, I wouldn't waste my precious time "working, so I could retire
> > sometime and do what I wanted"..
> > You musta missed my "smiley face"..Actually, it is a bit easier to
> sustain
> > the 84 hippy bus than back when I flipped burgers for the 36hp 57 South
> > African panel van...But a carpenter's wage now is pretty dismal...
> > Don Hanson
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Jake de Villiers
> > To: Don Hanson
> > Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
> > Sent: Friday, August 03, 2007 10:34 AM
> > Subject: Re: When a 20-yr old can't afford a hippy bus
> >
> >
> > Come on Don, aren't you the guy that "raced" a Porsche 928 with 550 HP &
> > extensive expensive body & chassis mods? Or was that just a story?
> >
> > Otherwise, I'm thinking that you could have bought a decent '84 GL for
> the
> > cost of the tires and entry fees for one event!
> >
> >
> > On 8/2/07, Don Hanson <dhanson@gorge.net> wrote:
> > Back when I was 20, I worked to barely own my 57 split window 36hp
> > house
> > on wheels. Fried burgers in Seal Beach, Ca. and washed dishes in
> > Aspen, Co.
> > in winter..Lived in the bus, because rent was too steep. Pretty cold
> > in
> > Aspen..
> >
> > Ah, but now, I can still just barely afford my 84 hippy bus.(smiley
> > face)
> > Still live in it for months at a time. Make about the same spendable
> > income
> > these days being a master carpenter and cabinet maker as I did
> flipping
> > burgers or washing dishes.
> >
> > But, would I trade it all for a "real job"? Stockbroker, Oil man,
> > politician? No..I guess not..in fact..
> > He** No!... No Way!
> > Don Hanson
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Jake
> > 1984 Vanagon GL
> > 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
> > www.crescentbeachguitar.com
> >
>
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