Economics

Years ago I complained -- after four months of calling the neighbor at 10:30 at night to please quiet his dogs -- to the city. He's been taking revenge ever since. To avoid the harassment, both vocal (derisive yells, barks & "mews") and minor vandalisms (nails in tires), when visiting Michelle I stay in motels.

This time I lucked into a series of bungalows owned by Charey Fox who -- tho I had to move a couple of times when they were let to AirBnb tenants -- rented them to me at rates almost as low as Motel 6. The neighborhood is quiet and has a friendly ambiance much diff from the drug dealers who'd taken up residence at the Extended Stay Inn where I stayed before. But finding parts for Phoebe has become problematic and once found they have to be shipped. In the past my visits have been a week to ten days, an expense, but not THAT bad. However, this "extended stay," now over a month, has resulted in a significant increase on the VISA.

Yesterday I took a long drive out to one of the new suburbs west of Bernalillo. I noticed a rumble-with-vibration that indicated Phoebe's new u-joint wasn't happy. Daniel at By The Book said to bring her by and as we neared the shop her temperature gauge climbed toward the red, the problem that took nearly four weeks (we thot) to solve. Finding new parts that fit, in this case a heater core and radiator (Daniel tried four radiators), is part of the challenge of maintaining an older vehicle.

Anticipating departure, I've spent the last few nights at Michelle's. Last night it rained all night and into the morning.  The dog's owners, apparently not completely uncaring of the dog, kept it in. So we had peace THIS morning.

I've been leaving in the mornings with Michelle to help with the cat-sitting so am away while the dog barks all day and also get to miss out on the cat-calls and car alarms. Although I'm grateful for their partial incentive that helped encourage me to nomadicism, I can't say as much for the nearly $1,000.00 in rent for this extended stay. I'd hoped to leave today or tomorrow.

Awaiting Phoebe's Repairs

Poor Phoebe; by the time we got to ABQ both sides of the cockpit floor were soaked with coolant and she was running hot within minutes of startup, even with the radiator topped off. The heater core had begun leaking a few weeks earlier and it took a while to discover. We're shooting for Friday afternoon to be ready to ride, but, of course, won't know for sure until we're there.

The new heater core was $1,000.00 (installed) and while waiting for it to come in they -- By The Book -- bypassed it and found a leak in the radiator. It wasn't repairable and the dealer wanted $1,500.00 for a new one. Daniel found one for $500.00, but it's gonna take several days to be shipped in.

In the meantime I've been moving from house-to-house as each became available. Charey, my therapist who owns The Source , also manages several properties and fortunately, so far, there's been a vacancy in one or the other. Not only kind, she's also generous and has been letting me rent them for below market price.

On Anderson Street Southeast (SE), the homes are two and three-bedroom bungalows built in the thirties. It's at the periphery of Ridgecrest, the neighborhood that, in the 1940s and '50s, was the toniest of tony. Lovingly cared for, their gleaming wood floors have renovated bathrooms and kitchens that rival four-star hotels.

A duplex.

We have two Honda FITs, this 2015 and a 2008.
Both were gifts from the brother of my lawfully-wedded spouse.