Work

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Why Eugene and Thinking Ahead

I’m in this general area of Oregon because Thursday morning I am having a 150 watt solar panel installed by the RV solar experts AM Solar. Even before I had a rig, I knew that I wanted my solar system to be installed by them. I didn’t want to say too much about this because of the number of kerfuffles since I left Abbotsford five weeks ago, but now I really do believe this project is a go!

Once I have the solar panel, I won’t need to plug in every few nights. Even in this soggy climate, I’m confident that with proper electrical management this solar panel will mean a great deal of freedom for me. It’s a lot of money at one time, but it will pay for itself quickly.

As to why I am in Eugene specifically, it’s that I have friends who were able to put me up with a 15A connection and access to a spigot to top off my fresh water tank. I am so grateful to them!

Climate notwithstanding, I am really enjoying Eugene. It reminds a lot of Ottawa, actually, and the neighbourhood where I’m staying is not unlike the grittier half of Sandy Hill and the Byward Market where I lived and worked during my university days in the late ’90’s. I can walk to all the services I need and the variety of restaurants is staggering.

Here are a few pictures that I’ve taken during my walks about the neighbourhood:

coloured houses

coloured houses

close up of the coloured houses

close up of the coloured houses

palm tree!

palm tree!

crocuses

crocuses

daffodil

daffodil

mallards

mallards

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard out for a walk

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard out for a walk

I like how they have an observation platform jutting out over the Willamette

I like how they have an observation platform jutting out over the Willamette

Willamette River

Willamette River

Willamette River

Willamette River

cinema across the river

cinema across the river

the murky Willamette

the murky Willamette

various fowl on the Willamette River

various fowl on the Willamette River

My appointment with AM Solar, located in nearby Springfield, is on Thursday, first thing, and not wanting to overstay my welcome, I will be heading out of town after. I’d like to do five to seven days on the Oregon coast, then start to work my way back to Canada. I’d have two weeks to get there, so there would be no rush.

Now that I’ve experienced life in the States, I cannot view my RVing life in the same manner as before. Everything has changed. I’ve crunched the numbers and I can do six months here for the cost of four months in Canada, and that includes health and vehicle insurance and an internet set up.

So, what does this mean? Well, I need to start earning more money in Canada and spending as little of it there as I can!

And I’ve decided not to return to Yukon this summer.

Instead, I’m going to go into Alberta, even if it means facing the brutal dregs of winter. I simply cannot afford to set up residence in BC. I want to get over the border and find work as close to the Montana border as possible.

Up until a few months ago, I just didn’t see myself being able to work for someone else again, but now I would welcome a steady stream of income. I could get that in Yukon, of course, but it’ll cost $1,500 to get up there, money I’d rather spend exploring this part of the US that is new to me.

I’ve been growing increasingly bitter about Canadian rules that dictate how I can live and now I have something else to focus on: enthusiasm for learning what I can do to conform to US laws so as to be allowed the continued privilege of vacationing here.

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Paused

Nothing much to report at my end. The week or so of cold weather we had was conducive to finally getting some real downtime at home and my days have pretty much been filled with cat cuddles, movies, and embroidery.

Without going into too much detail, a large payment from a client is very long over due so I’m having some cash flow issues. Resolution is in sight, but I don’t expect to get much more done here in Blaine except for perhaps a day trip.

It feels like I just got here, but incredibly enough, I’ll be pulling out mid-day on Tuesday! And I’m heading south, into Oregon! And it will be in Oregon that my RVing life will change forever. Da da da dum.

(I won’t be offended by the eye rolls that result from that last bit. 😀 )

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On a Distant Shore

I have a standing contract with a UK company. I triple verified that because this contract was set up in Canada and is with a non-US client, it’s okay for me to continue with it during my stay in the States. It’s not steady income. Some days I make nothing, other days I cover rent for the day. I usually check out the task list first thing in the morning, while I have my coffee, and work at it steadily until I either run out of work or need to get started on more pressing projects.

I’ve been on an early schedule since I left Osoyoos last Monday, something that is likely going to keep up so long as it’s sunny out. So, I was in the office at 8 this morning and was able to put in two hours of work before running out of tasks.

Due for a break, I headed down the hill to the beach and discovered a little café that’s open in the winter! Most of the other business are shut tight, so this gem was a sight to behold! The owner and I had a good gab about the weather while he prepared me a mocha (a real treat since otherwise I never have sugary coffee drinks). I wouldn’t want to get in the habit of going there for a mid-morning coffee every day ($$$), but a few times a week when it’s so nice out will be great. They also make sandwiches and sell ice cream, so the café offers me a place that’s super close by to duck to when I need to get out of the rig. If I have to drive to go somewhere, I’m more likely to stay shut in when I’m in the groove of my day.

Standing on the beach, looking at White Rock in the distance, I had to laugh, remembering standing on its beach and looking out towards what I now know is Birch Bay, Washington. You really never know where your life is going to take you. And now that I realise just how close I am to the Canadian border, having seen it, I can understand better the US customs officials’ bewilderment that I wasn’t go very far into their country!

White Rock, BC, in the distance

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Slowly Drying

Progress in the loft continues to be very slow, but I can see that it is drying out. I’m pulling out about half a bucket of water a day from the dehumidifier. I went up there and blasted a section with the hair dryer on high and was startled to see an immediate improvement. I know that’s just surface drying and I expect to see moisture seeping back up, but at least I know that having the hair dryer on a section while I work on another is worth the power being used.

Tonight, I pulled up most of the top layers of paneling and insulation to see how far the wetness extends on the bottom layer of paneling, which is about two thirds of the way across. Thankfully, the wet section is not rotten or mildewy, just wet, and definitely not spongy. Now that it is exposed, I’m sure it will dry well. I’m going to look for a wood hardening product to apply to the wood that got wet but which isn’t being replaced.  The wood hardener product would also prevent new damage from wetness. Probably overkill, but I’m not taking any chances.

At this rate, I don’t anticipate being able to do any real work up there for at least another week. Moreover, I’m waiting on an order for a 50′ roll of Eternabond from Allan at A.J.B. Distributing in northern Ontario, upon the recommendation of several Canadian RVers. Once that roll arrives I’ll do the bottom seam at the front to guarantee that I’ve got the leak sealed. So, I really need to be patient about this.

I might be pulling out of this park at the end of January, which means I have six weeks left to get the renos all done. I really want to leave here with my tools stowed away for good, so as soon as I can get going again, renos are going to be my top priority. I’ve decided to use credit if I have to in order to get things done right, and completely. I’ve made an incredibly detailed list of what needs to be done and in what order so that I can start blasting through things as soon as the loft is secure without wasting time looking for a strategy. I’ll be finishing with the kitchen even though I’m SO tempted to get it done right now.

In the meantime, I’m focusing on my work projects. Between the furnace and the leak, my budget took a serious hit and I’m not pulling in anywhere close to what just bled out. So I think it’s good to have a week to step back and work at bringing in some money. Thankfully, I reeled in a couple of new translation contracts this morning, so I have plenty to keep me busy!