Date:         Sat, 19 Mar 2011 17:09:13 -0400
Reply-To:     Pete O <pnoceanwesty@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Pete O <pnoceanwesty@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: The list?
Comments: To: Rob <becida@comcast.net>
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2011031916522916@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I would say the List has a lot of "soul".

I think of Larry Chase's "Pay it Forward Fund" and Andrew Grebneff and all
the awesome trip reports.  I really enjoy when talk veers into how the bus
is used, appreciated and why kids and dogs love them, too.  Sometimes I
think the real gearheads on the list simply put up with the same mechanical
questions year after year because they too, love the list and want to
preserve the ability to find info in the archives.

...still got some soul, bro.

Thanks for the Oswley post, by the way - very cool.


Pete
'79 Westy "Aardvark"
'87 Westy "JoesVan"
WWW.Busesbythebeach.org <http://WWW.Busesbythebeach.com>


On Sat, Mar 19, 2011 at 16:52, Rob <becida@comcast.net> wrote:

> Am I at the wrong place?
> When I sent that post about Oswley's passing I realized that 95% of
> the list would ask "who's Oswley?", maybe 3% would say "he was still
> alive?" and the last 2% are those who will forever have a connection
> between the Vanagon they drive and Oswley. It's not just Oswley
> either who has that connection...
>
> Over the last 17 years this list has saved me time, money and even
> blood. It's pointed me to many like minded individuals both local and
> far off. Has the list passed me up & left me so far behind that even
> mentioning someone like that is truly a wrong thing to do?
>
> I do find myself wondering (right now) if I'm at the wrong place? I
> thought so once when I suggested Muir's book (many years ago) and was
> laughed at because it had 'no relevance to a water cooled Vanagon' (I
> think about that every time I read of someone getting their Vanagon
> towed because the clutch went out).
> Is the way past part of 'how' the vw bus got it's place in America
> not anymore relevant than "How to keep your Volkswagen alive and
> well" on this list?
>
> Is this list 'just' about keeping the Vanagon mechanicals running and
> where the great/bad roads are or is there some soul to this list?
> I've always thought this list had some soul, I think that came along
> with the VW bus... maybe that's past too.
>
> <shrug>
> I have to go finish changing the oil in the Honda then maybe it's the
> Vanagon's turn, maybe the Vanagon wants to go to the beach instead...
>
>
>
>
> Rob
> becida@comcast.net
> Now in western Washington, USA
>
> The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan
> belt and a leaky tire.
>