Donstar

I bought the Haloview wireless system with 7" monitor/recorder and camera for behind my trailer. I added their licence plate mount camera for my front view.

Some words spark a strong reaction. I worked in the elementary school system and found some children would use the expression, "I'm bored" to define every moment there weren't clowns present. Around my house when I was growing up you wouldn't try claiming boredom more than once. My father had layers upon layers of "activities" to combat idle hands. I passed the knowledge on to my own children that the remedy for boredom isn't always fun!

I no longer benefit from the versatility of a pickup so I refer to my truck as a poor man's Suburban. My wife also thought a Suburban would be easier to drive and we could save money as a one vehicle couple. I took her Sunday shopping at our local GM dealership last week. When we got back into the truck after kicking some tires, she said, "You really like this truck and it is nice, you should keep it". She saw that the business part of the Yukon/Tahoe is very similar to the pickup. The significant difference is the sticker price. A Suburban/Yukon XL is the ultimate vehicle for a family if finances allow. We purchased a new '86 when we had a young family. It was a very happy day when we sold the Suburban and bought a mini-van for family and a pickup truck for everything else! FWIW, I've had several extended and/or CrewCab pickups. I always have a secure aluminum box behind the cab that serves as a large trunk. It keeps luggage dry secure and out of the cab! It is also light and easy to remove if required. I also have a cap/canopy now but that is to save me climbing in and out of the back of the truck. My climbers are worn out!

I did something similar with a wireless camera from amazon. It was part of a camera setup I installed for towing my travel trailer. After I sold my trailer, I also gave up my dependence on cameras. Pickup trucks have always been a challenge to park but with practice (and perhaps a few bumps ) you can get pretty precise with the placement of your front bumper. I'm not adding this as a criticism to camera technology as my next vehicle will have 360 view! When you watch the coming and going of trucks in a crowded parking lot you'll see some drivers park their trucks like it was a smart car. Others, need two stalls and several attempts to dock their trucks. I like to challenge myself to park quickly and precisely using only my windows and mirrors.

FWIW The aftermarket, under dash controller offered by your dealer will work well and will disappear from sight when the novelty wears off. I no longer tow a trailer with brakes and could easily remove my "plug 'n play" controller but it's not worth the effort..

"Me time" takes on different forms, for me, and I don't have to be alone to enjoy Me (we) time is a huge part of retirement and perhaps this gave us an advantage during the initial Covid19 lockdowns. When I was at the "peak" of my career my biggest personal responsibility was to get myself to work every morning rested and ready. Once I was in the building, other factors consumed my time until I needed to go home and refresh myself to report to work the next day. My work took up the most profitable stage of my physical and mental abilities. After 3-4 decades of this, I was rewarded with a tired body, comfortable pension and a lot of additional "me time". I initially replaced my workday with other work type projects around the house. By the time the lock downs came, my "me time" agenda was filled. I never feel bored or experience, "having nothing to do".

Cameras certainly make this task easier! Take your truck in for warranty repair if still available. The image should be clear.

Saturday morning my wife shared her day's list of tasks along with her running record of things that need to get done before borders and travel open up. In turn, I shared my list which was to go to Walmart and buy air & cabin filters for the truck. This contrast in expressed workload/responsibilities would have sounded hilarious to the untrained ear. We may have different ways of dealing with issues but we both had very busy days. The amount of daily routines, chores and obligations we expect of ourselves can be overwhelming. I like to think of at least one thing I will enjoy and focus on it for the day. Sometimes, I have to do a helluva lot of stuff to make time to achieve my target but I strive to keep my goals achievable. I say all of this to get back to the topic of retirement. Don't ignore or postpone planning for it just because it is so far away, or your financial needs are immediate, or you think you don't have the time. Move on it today!

I spoke to a new neighbour from in his late 40's who took some time off after closing his previous business. He said over the past year he has developed a strong appreciation for a retirement lifestyle and is looking forward to doing it fulltime He is currently starting a one man landscaping company to fund his path to retirement and predicts 8-10 years should do the trick. I saw him wheelbarrow loads of topsoil yesterday as he single handedly prepares for a new front lawn at his house. He may be in good financial shape when he retires but his body may be on a different path! Kudos to him for having retirement in his sights. Grumpy reminded me of an excellent point. Your retirement plan is just a plan. Crap happens. His doctor had him retiring 12 years early and my retirement was 10 years early. (We all know people who were much less lucky.) Like, Karnut, my father didn't take well to retirement, He set a good example with his financial planning but couldn't accept this stage in life. I know that too many are struggling to meet their daily basic needs. If you are fortunate enough to be able to make choices between non-essential items/activities or banking for retirement, seriously consider the latter. Odds are in your favour that you will live well into retirement age and you're going to want funds to maintain quality and dignity in your life.

Money, eating, drinking, smoking and exercise are common topics that come into greater focus for many, including me, upon retirement. The excuses and distractions diminish and you become more accountable to yourself. Focus became particularly acute for me this past year. I sometimes wonder where I'd be today if my current brain was with me 30 years ago! (wealthier and healthier!) I try to make sure my kids also grow from my poorer choices. I'm very careful not to preface comments with , "When (or If) I was younger (or your age)..." I wish I had tapped into my parents, and grandparents' wisdom much, much more in-depth. I know now that they were often telling me but I wasn't always listening! I lived and worked on First Nation reserves for several years and the culture's reliance on elders is outstanding. The reason for this is much clearer for me now than when I was younger.

Many years ago my daughter use to go with me regularly for morning coffee. One morning was particularly unsettling because I was heading out of country for six weeks. (Six weeks is an extraordinarily long time when you're a tween) On this particular morning I said let's come up with our own unique code word. (This was before passwords were an everyday part of our lives) We did and she forgot about that conversation until we sat down for morning coffee six weeks + 1 day later. I said the word and the emotions exploded! It was like I said the secret word and the six weeks disappeared. I was reminded of this yesterday when I visited a senior friend in her independent living retirement home yesterday for the first time in 13 months. We have visited her outside of her home regularly but this was the first time she could host a guest. Upon my arrival I asked if I could fix her TV? This was intended as a joke because before Covid she was calling me regularly to fix her TV. She beamed, said yes, and it felt like no time had passed!

I agree that there are such situations where a louder horn can be advantageous. Air horns used for amusement would have exceptionally limited application unless joy is derived from hurting others. I do remember in the late 60's an attention hungry guy in my high school often announced his departure at the end of the day in his air horn equipped '57 Chev. We'd all stand around, watch and laugh (at him)!

I've owned a few trucks with the three on the tree which was once upon a time the base transmission. (Automatic and 4 spd. were relatively expensive options). My '96 F150 came with the 5spd manual which provided a much less desirable (car-like) experience, imo. I do a lot of vehicle "shopping" in my spare time and recently found a flawless '78 F150 SuperCab 4X4 with a 460V8 4spd. I didn't get past the first picture with my wife before she expressed how little she shared my enthusiasm! (A glimmer of her enthusiasm is critical in the shopping process ) The size and powertrain would make for a totally impractical DD but it would be an absolute blast to drive!

I also would only buy a collector car that I intended to use and I'd visit car museums to see the others. However, I'm delighted that some choose to preserve these antiques for future generations. I have always loved to drive and the pandemic has found me increasing the frequency and length of a favorite pastime, "going for a drive". One of the appeals of older vehicles for me is the opportunity to be more of a participant in the driving process. I am fine with features like power steering and air conditioning but a truck with an inline 6 and 4spd manual (1st gear stump puller) is on my bucket list. During our decluttering last week we stumbled upon this picture of my new 1980 F150 SuperCab. It was my first truck with an automatic transmission, didn't like it, and I went back to manuals until '00.

You, like me, are of the age where Zoom seems to be the next best thing to being there! We remember when isolation by living far away was on a whole different level! I organize a regular group meeting on Zoom with all of my grandkids. When we are together again in person, there will not be the gamut of surprises previously associated with earlier forms of "long distance" communication. I miss them terribly but I'm now a significantly bigger part of their daily lives than I was with my long distance grand parents. The obligatory letter exchange with nana and grandpa didn't keep maintain the same level of closeness!

Yes, one of the early signs of spring around here is the old and/or custom vehicles emerging from hibernation. This past week I watched three evenings of Barrett-Jackson with an eye to what I'd choose if money wasn't an obstacle. The problem would occur if I had to choose only one! I truly understand why some celebrities and/or wealthy people have personal warehouses full of classic and custom cars. I usually gravitate to pristine versions of vehicles I owned or coveted in the past. I know that five minutes after I sell my current truck, I'll be wishing for one just like it!

Congratulations on your success! It is always great to hear good news and stories about people giving back to their communities! Thank you!

Also, location is a factor when it comes to house buying. The pandemic has seen a substantial increase in property values in rural communities, though there still are some significant locational differences. If I drive about an hour south I will be able to buy an old, small fixer upper shack or one bedroom apartment for $500K. If I drive the same distance north or east, the same money will get me a good sized property and a nice house! I'm currently in the middle for location and price. Moving to another town is not a barrier for us as this past year has proven that adding or subtracting an hour of travel time for visiting family is a minor consideration. I noticed that with respect to supplies, there is a difference in pricing in big box stores in our area. Yesterday I was shopping for a sheet of pressure treated plywood for my trailer re-build. There was a $15 price difference for one sheet between two major stores!

We recently went through a period of planning for an addition to our attached garage. After receiving quotes, we considered a new house. Our logic was that if you add the value of our home to the cost of a renovation, we're in the price range of a significantly more substantial home! However, all of the houses on the market are enjoying inflated sale prices and our logic is out the window! Then, the reality about being house rich and cash poor takes over the discussion. Basically, we can have the space for toys but we wont be able to afford the toys! We truly appreciate what we have but it's a great pastime to explore options!

This sounds like a perfect truck, imo. At one time a 4X2 regular cab with the base engine was the most common pickup configuration. Now they're very special and rare!

may be fighting a losin' battle But havin' a lotta fun tryin' to win.

There are definitely some complex issues and challenges impacting everyone. Sometimes the ones that appear simple to explain or solve will create other, larger problems if the simple solution is chosen. However, it is important that we all put on our own oxygen masks first and enjoy what we can do with the time and resources we have at hand. I am not to be doing any strenuous physical activities for awhile so today is a day to thin the herd of hand tools found in my tool boxes. In the past, an over crowded tool chest could be fixed by buying a bigger or another tool chest. The problem with the simple solution was now my floorspace is over crowded. A few months ago we were actually making plans to expand our garage to accommodate my "stuff". The money saved by not doing this project would bring me much more joy than more tools! My goal is to free up wall space to clear floor/work space. Please share how your projects over the past year have progressed.

You share interesting points and perspective. The conversation is important even if it is uncomfortable. "Racism" is a broadly used term and no harm is done or intended when discussed in a civil and respectful manner.

I appreciate my example wasn't clear. I was describing the situation and the ethnicity of the individuals had no relevance to the story. Besides, for all I know, they both could be third generation Canadian born just like my kids! I'm pretty certain that if the employees were caucasian my story would not have included such a detail.

I heard a comedian on TV last night (Brian Regan) make a joke about someone making a strong political statement online and the first comment below this strong statement was something like, "I use to think the opposite but now you changed my mind." I didn't need to think about the source or the context to get the joke! People generally favour an opinion stated by a person they respect / admire and will look for the negative from people they don't. When I feel overly challenged on my views, I do my best to research opposing opinions. Hot topics like Covid19 protocols, election stuff, and racism received an inordinate amount of my screen time this past year. Terms like "new normal" and "systemic racism" have also been dissected so I can confidently use other words to express these tired terms. I suspect everyone is racist and as long as we recognize opportunities for change then we're making progress. Yesterday I came home and began to describe to my wife about a negative, yet comical, incident that happened to me at the grocery checkout counter. It involved two store employees. I described both individuals and I included their ethnicity in my description. This added detail had absolutely no relevance to my story. I felt my mistake immediately which shows my efforts have not gone to waste. This research has truly been a Covid19 spare time activity and I feel confident to move on to new interests. My 5:30 am to 7:30 am computer time is now dominated with the new EV's by Ford and the Hummer from GM. I think the Mustang E would be an easy sell to my wife. I'd love one too, except low cars and my personal mobility are a poor mach match!