More Garage Cabinets

[hddecker]

Originally Posted by Pirate

she promptly responded "and don't you forget it"

Pirate

Funny, that's exactly what my DW said, as I was picking myself up off the floor, dusted myself of and straightened my broken nose. My response, "yes dear, anything you say dear."

Just one of lifes little lessons, sure am glad it only took once to learn that one. Now I know what them little whiffs of smoke coming out her ears mean!

[Pirate]

Jim,

Let's see, I have a pre-nup that what's hers is hers and what's mine is hers.

When I got back to living after the TBI she gently reminded me of my wedding vow to love, honor and take the blame. Can't say I remember that one, but after the wreck, well...lots of things changed, so she must be right.

Pirate

[sundancer 87]

I guess I AM missing something by being single but I don't expect that state to change any time soon.

[hddecker]

Pirate,

I think I got the same pre-nup. In the overall scheme of things, I think I came out on the plus side of the ledger.

The Cowboy Code says, "you get one good woman, one good dog and one good horse" in your life.

I've had a good woman for 46 years, I had my good dog for 9 1/2 years before she went to the Rainbow Bridge and I've had my good horse (iron horse that is) for 23 years.

[Pirate]

Jim,

No doubt I'm on the plus side of the equation. So what if I don't own anything. I get to live here! Get to have my shop and my toys and my BOSS.

I'm married for the second time. This time 18 years come July and going very strong.

On the sixth good dog. The previous two were a pair of miniature dachshunds that had a wonderful 15 years, but the declining health...went to the Rainbow Bridge. Thought about not getting another for some time. Then found a rescue dog, Randall, 15 pounds of energy that is just unbelievable...that's my boy Randall!!

I've had six real Iron Horses, Harleys, but three got wrecked an boy did I get wrecked each time. Just in the wrong place at the wrong time. So came the Polaris RZR...and thus the Voltage Toyhauler.

And have to stay engaged...so the cabinets, the D-rings, now starting in on the 3rd electric waste valve, making up custom length, high quality hoses for getting things hooked up in RV parks...and of course...more to come!!!

Pirate

[wahoonc]

I am on marriage number 2 and I have to admit is is a huge improvement over the first one

Funny part is we went to jr high and high school together. "Met" at our 20th high school reunion and are still together 18+ years later.

I have had a lot of great dogs along the way, each one came along when they were needed most. Current one is a Jack Russel Terrorist/Walker Treeing Hound mix. Fifty one pounds of fur covered fun.



FWIW the RV is "hers", my name ain't on the title But I get to drive it and keep it up.

My "horse" is a bit different. I have a 1970 Raleigh Sports Standard bicycle that I have been beating the crap out of since 1982 when I picked it up at a pawn shop for $25. That was during a low point in my life and that bike kept me sane and gave me an outlet as well as got me back and forth to work for several years. It is still in my stable and doing yeoman's duty as a beer bike. I have a bunch of other bikes but it is still my favorite after all these years.

Aaron

[Pirate]

Hmmm...same boat. First marriage was 3 months less than 20 years. My choice to end...and wonder why we ever got married in the first place. Things went to pot when I finished my Mechanical Engineering degree, went to work for the Electric Utility I had summer jobs with, went to work in the Power Houses. So I didn't graduate and begin wearing white shirts, tie, slacks and polished shoes. Nope, did 25 years, up in management, and never wore slacks or polished shoes!

Got home from Sturgis in 2006, hadn't been on a date for over a year due to work. So picked up a copy of the West Word, Denver's underground newspaper. Looked a women looking for men. Susan, "make me smile, likes motorcycles, works in the telecommunications industry, interested in the paranormal" and the rest is history. I can make her smile, loved to go on rides, became an Oracle Security DBA, and has more saved episodes of Ancient Aliens than you can count!!!

Now its the Polaris RZR, the Toyhauler, bucket list, and enjoying retirement!!!

Pirate

[lcv800]

Originally Posted by Pirate

Hmmm...same boat. First marriage was 3 months less than 20 years. My choice to end...and wonder why we ever got married in the first place. Things went to pot when I finished my Mechanical Engineering degree, went to work for the Electric Utility I had summer jobs with, went to work in the Power Houses. So I didn't graduate and begin wearing white shirts, tie, slacks and polished shoes. Nope, did 25 years, up in management, and never wore slacks or polished shoes!

Got home from Sturgis in 2006, hadn't been on a date for over a year due to work. So picked up a copy of the West Word, Denver's underground newspaper. Looked a women looking for men. Susan, "make me smile, likes motorcycles, works in the telecommunications industry, interested in the paranormal" and the rest is history. I can make her smile, loved to go on rides, became an Oracle Security DBA, and has more saved episodes of Ancient Aliens than you can count!!!

Now its the Polaris RZR, the Toyhauler, bucket list, and enjoying retirement!!!

Pirate

Good story Pirate. Made me smile.
Rusty

[hddecker]

Originally Posted by wahoonc

I have had a lot of great dogs along the way, each one came along when they were needed most.

Aaron

That's the truth! I was about to blow a gasket when Decker came into my life. She made me get of my backside and get more active. If not for her I probably would have driven myself into an early grave.

Everytime I went to the doctor my blood pressure was through the roof and medication wasn't working. Three months after Decker adopted me my BP was almost back to normal.

She was 2 1/2 when we met and 9 1/2 when she passed. The little lady to the left is another Amstaff, she was 9 1/2 when she adopted me. I just couldn't leave her in the shelter, she had been there 122 days when I told my wife we were going to town to bring her home.

[Pirate]

Rusty,

Dang, one typo... put in 35 years and then retired!!!
Pirate

[hddecker]

Pirate, your a better man than I am.

I put in 31 1/2 years, my boss ticked me off so I said screw it.

That was the best thing my boss ever did for me, 12 years later and I'm still having fun. Gonna be able to take longer trips before the money runs out.

[wahoonc]

31...35... y'all got it made! I have had a regular job of some sort or another since I was 14 years old. Still working 40+ years later. Unfortunately too many of the companies that I worked for over the years moved on and left me without a place to work and not much to show for it, and these were big national companies too. But I have been at the same company now for 17 years and probably will retire out from it. I have at least another 5-6 years and may stay 10 more if they behave. Unfortunately the markets have changed and a guaranteed retirement is a thing of the past. I will never really stop working, but I would rather work at what I want than what I am told.

Aaron

[Pirate]

Aaron,

I'm lucky. My Dad coached us to get a job with a big company where we could move around some, put in our 30 years and retire.

I also listened to my Dad when he told me, "my Dad was a Mechanical Engineer, you're good with your hands and machinery, you're going to be a Mechanical Engineer." Did that!

Dad had a farm for his stress relief, as a Doctor, and I worked out there for 6 years moving a mile or so of 4" aluminum pipe in 30 ft lengths with a riser and rainbird sprinkler at one end. And did that every day Spring, Summer & Fall. Gads the mud, bugs...ugh! But Dad kept saying "one day you'll be glad you did this." Uh-huh sure. But in one class prof asked if anyone had experience with irrigation systems there might be a Summer Engineer job available. Sure enough, went to work for the state's largest electric & gas utility testing irrigation wells for efficiency. Did that two summers, then one summer in the gas dept, graduated and took a position in the power plants.

Moved all around the state either working in or managing projects in those power plants for my 35 years. 401K was great, pension turned into "defined contribution" so got an annuity from that. Retiree medical, vision, dental went away so having to pay for that until Medicare. Wife this July, me another three years.

Prepped for retirement by building the Toybarn and equipping it with everything you can imagine. So always, always have something to do...like cabinets in the Toyhauler garage!!

Some just luck, some planning and hoping for a long retirement!!

Pirate

[wahoonc]

Right time, right place. My brother is one of those guys. He went Air Force right out of high school. Currently lives in Highlands Ranch, CO and works for a national software/app company, does very well.

I worked for Western Publishing, they cut a bunch of employees, then subcontracted our jobs out to the lowest bidder. I was pretty low on the seniority list so didn't even get a chance to work for the no benefits low pay subcontractor. Went to work for Black & Decker. Got about 4-5 years in when the outsourced all of our jobs. Worked for a big hospital, but couldn't take the politics and games that went on there. One guy that started the same time I did retired out this year as a department level manager. My problem is I have a very low tolerance for BS and don't hesitate to call a spade a spade, just do your damned job and quit screwing around! Another problem with this area is that an awful lot of the civil service/corporate jobs are filled by retired/former military so civilians seldom get a chance because they don't have enough points or experience level. It is what it is.

I prefer to be outdoors in jeans, boots and t-shirts vs sitting in an office. Company I am with now respects that and has done a decent job of keeping me in the field and moving around. Another odd quirk about my current company is that your pay doesn't have much to do with your specific job, it has more to do with longevity and value to the company. They describe our company as a big bus; as long as you are on the bus you are good, just have to find the right seat. And people switch seats until they find the best one for you at the time. Currently I am working in EH&S as a Construction Risk Specialist I guess I managed to not kill myself or my crews so they figure I know what I am doing. I am the only EH&S guy to come up through the field so I KNOW what the teams are dealing with on a daily basis and to best help them stay alive as well as keep them heading in the right direction.

We live on 40 acres that belongs to my wife's family, she is the last of the line and I don't see us ever leaving this place. Our long term plans are to retire and travel for a few weeks at a time, then come home for a while. I am guessing our longest trips won't exceed 6 weeks if that. We both currently travel extensively for a living so coming home is always a good thing!

Aaron

[hddecker]

Getting married was the best thing that happened to me, made me growup fast and settle into the real world work force. Say good bye to my "Then came Bronson" dream for the next 35 years.

I am one of the lucky ones, I get a defined benefit company pension, medical/dental/vision care, life insurance. Over the 12 years since I've been retired, the company has clawed back most of benefits and totally rewrote the pension benfits. My pension is indexed to inflation, so we don't have to dip into our lifestyle money to live. I also have a lifetime Workers Compensation disability pension that is indexed to inflation. That to has been gutted, there are no more lifetime pensions and once you hit 65 the WCB pensions stop. It was that injury that got me into the paper pushing side of the business.

I have got to say I was very, very lucky, I can't count the number of times I fell into the outhouse and came out smelling like roses. Of course I had a good motivator and have to credit my wife for getting us to now.

Now we are living the "Then came Mr and Mrs Bronson" lifestyle.

[sundancer 87]

The three of you are prime candidates to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. Two weeks stints wherever you choose when there's a build, travel to different locations, free to cheap hookups and happy hour every night.
Not to mention the satisfaction of helping build a home for someone. It's fun, wet, hot, cold and very satisfying.

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by sundancer 87

The three of you are prime candidates to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. Two weeks stints wherever you choose when there's a build, travel to different locations, free to cheap hookups and happy hour every night.
Not to mention the satisfaction of helping build a home for someone. It's fun, wet, hot, cold and very satisfying.

That is on my list. I have done some work with them on the local level when I wasn't running the roads quite as much as I am right now. My dad was still working on the local site up until his vision went bad a couple of years ago. Not to shabby for an 80 year old guy. There is another RV based group that does something similar to the Habitat for Humanity, but they help renovate churches, group homes, convents and such. I have some friends that did that for a couple of years.

Aaron

[sundancer 87]

That might be the Nomads group. They come into Tahlequah a few times a year and do projects. They actually installed the 12 spot RV hook up in the Methodist Children's Home in Tahlequah. Full hook ups with 50 amp and the most I've paid was 10 bucks a night. Usually it's free but they do take donations.

[hddecker]

It would be nice, if I ever get my arthritis back under control. I don't know what your doctor situation is, but we have a real problem in the small communities. Our doctor left two and a half years ago, so we have been relying on walk-in-clinics just to get our prescriptions refilled. Different doctor every visit and no follow-up.

We finally got a doctor in the next town, so we're getting the referals and follow-up. I've been on some pretty heavy duty drugs to get the inflamation under control.

It'll be nice to get back to the point where it doesn't take me 4 times as long as it should to do things. Been sitting on 2000 sqft of flooring for over a year, finally got half of it down and only took 2 weeks.

I did a bit of Habitant of Humanity stuff when I could still swing a hammer.

[CDWatkins]

Originally Posted by Pirate

OK, here we go...final effort and success!!

Got the cabinet over the Garage walk through door mounted by using screws through the "mounting bar" on the back of the cabinet, to the wood framing I've installed. Got the cabinet up...and "oh crap", open the right door and it hits the light fixture.

So take a measurement and the cabinet needs to come down 1 5/8" to clear the light fixture and provide extra clearance for the left door to clear the speaker grille.

Determine that if I lower the cabinet that much, I can simply use sheet metal screws and attach the cabinet to the aluminum structural tubes. Well cool! They won't come off the wall then!!!

So I put the cabinet back up on the wall, using two supports from underneath and Irwin clamps to hold it to the existing cabinet. determine that lowering the cabinet just a bit more I can put the bottom of the new cabinet even with the bottom of the end panel of the existing cabinet. The end panel extends below the bottom of the existing cabinet. Not sure why, but perhaps just for looks. The end panel has a black plastic trim on the edge all the way from the ceiling down the front and along the bottom to the Garage wall. So I put the bottom edge of the new cabinet just above the black plastic trim.

Voila, three screws across the top mounting bar, three across the bottom mounting bar, and six from the inside of the existing cabinet into the side of the new cabinet. That'll hold it in place! Oh, and I did cut a piece of 1/4" plywood to fit between the two cabinets so the screws would put tight. The face of the new cabinet extends 1/4" on each side. So the plywood fills the gap. Painted the bottom of the plywood with black satin spray paint so it can't be seen.
Here's the first cabinet in place:


Looks very nice, clears the speaker grille and light fixture. And realize the framing of the new cabinet extends 3/4" above the top cabinet panel, and being 1 5/8" down from the ceiling...a neat little stash place.

Here's a pic, looking up, of the speaker grille and light fixture that are potential interferences.


For those of you that have Voltage trailers and are considering the project, here's two drawings I made of the garage structure:



And yeah, took me three days to get the first cabinet installed, what with all the rework. And yeah, it took me 30 minutes to have the second cabinet attached to the wall.

Got any questions...ask away!!

Pirate

Pirate,

Do you have pictures? Did i understand that you added studs to mount to?
The DW wants more cabinets in our 2013 Voltage 3950 we don't have any at the present time, so I'm not sure where to begin.