Need your thoughts and suggestions

[1Gary]

"I was I my mind beach deprived."

You can say that again... :-k

[mdmead]

I think I'd want to be close to my shop. I'd go for an apartment there if one opens up.

[loopie]

Closer to your hobbies and recreational activities that bring you peace and happiness VS the work space is my vote.
Life's too short.
And you're less inclined to go out if your desired activity is further away.

[1Gary]

I hear you Matt.The apartments look really nice from the outside too.Has in in ground pool in the backyard too.

Still if something where to happen and I had to move,I would loose it all.

It is too late in life for me,but for people who rent,as much as you want to call something home,it really isn't yours.

[chevymaher]

Hey Gary I worked at Lowes to.I quit because you only got 5 hrs in the winter months.Be that as it may.Anyway I read your post last nite and had an idea about sleep time.You in florida dont need heat and a wall unit air would keep ya going on this.Do what they do in New York with warehouse space.Throw up a few walls inside and make a studio apt.Craigslist a sink and bathtub shower.Walls carpet cheap.Save a bunch on rent to.It would be nicer than any apt you could rent because it custom tailered to your taste.For the cost of a few months rent.It just a thought.If you like me your pretty much living in the garage anyway only go home to sleep when you got a project going on.

[LiftedAWDAstro]

Sorry Gary, I don't know the area. Sounds to me like you need to move south to warmer weather. You can work on your stuff year-round and you could sleep on the beach.

To answer the question, if an apartment opens up, I would ask for first dibs. In the mean time, make damn sure you have renters insurance on all your possessions, tools and project vehicles. Keep your RV parked away from both so that if something were to happen to either place, ie a fire, you would still have a place to live.

[1Gary]

Sorry Gary, I don't know the area. Sounds to me like you need to move south to warmer weather. You can work on your stuff year-round and you could sleep on the beach.

To answer the question, if an apartment opens up, I would ask for first dibs. In the mean time, make damn sure you have renters insurance on all your possessions, tools and project vehicles. Keep your RV parked away from both so that if something were to happen to either place, ie a fire, you would still have a place to live.

I will talk to my State Farm insurance about rental coverage when I see them next week.I have been with them for yrs.

Thanks Dean

[1Gary]

Hey Gary I worked at Lowes to.I quit because you only got 5 hrs in the winter months.Be that as it may.Anyway I read your post last nite and had an idea about sleep time.You in florida dont need heat and a wall unit air would keep ya going on this.Do what they do in New York with warehouse space.Throw up a few walls inside and make a studio apt.Craigslist a sink and bathtub shower.Walls carpet cheap.Save a bunch on rent to.It would be nicer than any apt you could rent because it custom tailered to your taste.For the cost of a few months rent.It just a thought.If you like me your pretty much living in the garage anyway only go home to sleep when you got a project going on.

I can't do that.There is no water service to the shop and towns get real upset when you convert to a living space that isn't.That would get my new landlord in a ton of trouble and me get kicked out.Thanks for the thoughts.

Just a fyi.I was regular full time at Lowes and the senior Sales Specialist in my section of OPE in the region.7yrs on the job,top tier paid.The closest to management without being one.Those retail floating hrs and working all the holidays does wear on you.For the whole time I worked no less than 39hrs and often when I started there 45hrs or more.

[chevymaher]

I dont know why but they would not give me hours.People standing when I got there were still standing doing nothing when I left.Call me in to do rough stuff send me home when it over.I was cashier, truck,lumber,assembly.I guess I was not in the easy in crowd.thats why I quit they would hire people full time and never let me have full time.

[Cobra]

Gary I would ask for first dibs on a vacant unit i'd love to have a place close to home that i could work on my hobbies plus if your daily driver breaks you have all the tools to repair it at home ready to go

[1Gary]

One thing for certain.I am still one trailer and load from moving the stuff from the old garage.I have been at this for a wk and haven unpacked a thing yet.There is no way I am moving this again anytime soon. ](*,) I am just sore and tired.

[Cobra]

that'll teach ya for retiring

[astrozam]

I must apologize Gary, I went to quote you but ended up accidently editing you're post into oblivion ](*,)

[1Gary]

No problem.Accidents happen.

[1Gary]

Gary I would ask for first dibs on a vacant unit i'd love to have a place close to home that i could work on my hobbies plus if your daily driver breaks you have all the tools to repair it at home ready to go

Cobra,

I just can't tell you the number of times I wanted to use a tool and yep it was at the rental garage about 45mins away.So that is what I will do is ask for first dips on a open apartment.I'll have to see what he is getting for them and see if I could work a package deal.


Here guys is some advise for you all to consider of a mistake I made.

I am not allowing myself any excuses,but at the time 15 months ago I was desperate for a garage to work in.High top vans/lifted vans require taller garage doors than garage residential doors.EVERYONE should consider that in the course of planning a mod.Dean and Bill works/worked outside which is cool in the summer,but if you need to do anything in the snow belt states in the winter..........well you kind of get my point.

So I looked and looked for almost two yrs to find a affordable garage to work in with a 9' door.The one I just left became available at only $75.00/month,but it was 45 mins away from where I live.I rented that for 15months @$75.00/month as I said and that equals $1125.For 15 months of time and well gas too,all I have to show for it is I tore down a sub frame.That is pretty much it.And that was a horrible decision on my part.The pole barn is 17 miles away and able to swap sub frames,engines,refurbish my trailers,fab parts,etc,all inside.The $1125 + I shelled out for a 1 1/2 car garage which seem to be a great deal wasn't.The $1125 could have been a set of heads I want or so many other parts I need for this project.

So while I was packing up what was left in the garage into the vendor trailer,I had time to think about this and how much I have learned from this site with maybe other member's mistakes.Not being a wealthy guy,this one really hurt and I wanted to share it with all of you guys to think about while planning out a project.

I think it will take me about 4 to 6 wks to get this pole barn in the work space I want,but I am tracking with a calender what I got done each day I am at the pole barn so the year lease I sign I have something to show for it.

Thanks all for your input and advise,

Gary