July 2003, Retired from high-tech.

 

December 2004, Suggest to DW that we investigate full timing.

 

June 2005, DW gives the go ahead to plan our next phase of life.

 

July 2005, First of many RV shows to start the education process.

 

September 2005, We need a 5th wheel, not a DP.

 

November 2005, Figured out that we will have a Texas address. We will use escapees as our connection to the rest of the world.

 

November 2005, I thought that the battery bank was the center of the RV electrical system. Not true. The center of the electrical system is a combination Inverter/Charger/Converter unit. Select Xantrex MS3000

 

January 2006, Three days in Tampa and it looks like a custom unit from SpaceCraft is coming.

 

Jan/Feb 2006, Floorplan from SpaceCraft finalized.

 

February 2006, We're getting a 2002 770 with 615k on it. Delivery planned for April 1, 2006, no joke.

 

March 2006, Visited SpaceCraft to execute contract.

 

March 2006, Fly to TX, pick up Red Thunder (The Volvo 770)

 

May 5, 2006 First Trip with Red Thunder (Later becomes Optimus Prime) - Bath NY

 

June 2006, First week long trip. East Coast HDT Rally in Myrtle Beach

 

June 2006, Second Serious Mechanical, Front Brake Failure

 

Oct. 2006, Major Truck Reapir Month. See Repairs page for details.

 

Feb. 2007, Travel to Concordia to install floors in trailer.

 

Mar. 2007, Travel to Concordia to pick up trailer.

 

Mar. 2007, First Pull !!!

 

May 2007, Purchased Home Base in TX

 

June 2007, First Trip w/ Trailer - Gettysburg PA

 

July 2007, Looking for Summer Home Base in the finger lakes

 

August 2007, I'll snowbird, while DW works another year.

 

Oct 2007, Clean bill of health for puller

 

Oct 2007, Close on TX homebase, work begins.

 

Dec 2008, Purchase a piece of land in NY finger lakes.

 

March 2008, Construction begins on Camp Agnolo with weekend trips to cut trees for most of the summer.

 

June 2008, Ecomony and housing crunch will force me to take a job, and derail plans for at least 5 years. It was the perfect storm of personal finance, but we have a strong foundation to rebuild.

 

July 2008, Decide to manufacture my own RV components.

 

Oct 2008, Host the 2008 HDT Rally in Hitchinson KS and move the trailer to TX

 

Oct 2008, Come off the road to work so we have Medical Insurance.

 

Dec 2008, Use the trailer as emergency shelter while the NE Ice Strom decimates the MA house. Decide that Camp Agnolo, the RV Base, and the RV are priorities, jobs and the house in MA are all secondary. 

 

Dec 2008, Send MagnaSine back for 2nd time.

 

March 2009, Spring thaw creates drainage issue with Camp Agnolo

 

May 2009, NYSDEC decides Camp Agnolo is an environmental hazard

 

July 2009, SpaceCraft goes to bat with MagnaSine.

 

July 2009, Fix all issues with Camp Agnolo and NYSDEC

 

Sept 2009, Wall reconstruction more than 1/2 way done. Barn secured.

 

Sept 2009, Power to 1st RV Electrical Outlet