The Odd Long Weekend

So, here it is the odd long weekend, as in this is the one long weekend where you get the Friday off and not the Monday (unless you work in government, which means you likely get both).

Anyways, this means that this is “Friday-Lite” as in it is the last workday before the long weekend.

So while this is nice it means that this short week feels both shorter and longer.

This is due to the fact that you know that it is a short week, so every day feels like Friday-Lite, yet it is also frustrating when you realize that it is not.

In any event, I will not be going anywhere, but I will be enjoying the nice weather by my “lake” in my Eastern Home.

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive, and keep moving forward!

Getting Used To Electricity

So, today is day three of having solar panels in my trailer. So far, things have been going well.

I use power in the evening and in the morning, then, during the day, my batteries charge back up to full. It’s great.

I am starting to get used to the concept that I can use electricity without the guilt. As in, wondering how much faster this particular usage of electricity will drain my batteries.

This is always worry because the only way I could charge those batteries is to either plug into a forlorn power outlet (at campsite or stealing power) or to run my generator.

Running the generator would cost me fuel.

As it is now, I don’t need to do that anymore, as in all I have to do is hope for a sunny day. Heck, even a partially cloudy day will still give me electricity. 

I was still getting power as twilight neared (okay, it was 0.2 Amps) . . . but I was still gaining power at around 7 PM last night. 

I have no idea what will happen come winter with the shorter days. Nor do I know how the cold will affect the performance of my batteries.

The unknown has not stopped me before, and like all problems and challenges, I shall solve them one by one, over the long course of the endeavour (as in life and/or this lifestyle).

I am just thankful that (so far) things are going well with my solar panels, but more specifically, that I can simply use electricity guilt free. 

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive, and keep moving forward!

All Hail The Mighty Ra!

To be clear, all hail Ra, the Egyptian god of the sun, not Ra the Goa’uld System Lord (Yes, that was a Stargate reference). Seriously, though, my solar system is working well.

So, I went to work yesterday with Wanda’s batteries at 71% charge and I was curious to know how the new solar charging system would fair.

What level of charge would be in the batteries when I got home? In essence, was this large expense a huge waste of money and hope?

Well, I came home to find that the charge was at . . .

   

Yep, that’s right 100% charge!

This means that I can actually enjoy electricity and have the sun charge Wanda’s batteries up while I am at work.

I know that there will be overcast and grey days, so there will be evenings and mornings of me using no power at all. 

Me conserving energy and using no power out of Wanda’s Batteries is not exactly a new concept to me. 

It is for this reason that I have not gotten rid of any of my battery powered devices. (Radio, flashlights, etc).

I am just thankful that I can use electricity and not have to worry about having to run my generator again. 

I also know that at some point I will buy another generator, as it is prudent to have one, just in case. For now, I am just enjoying not having one, and not having to run one.

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive, and keep moving forward!

Solar System Installed!

So, I have some big news to announce, I had a solar charging system installed in Wanda. 

We shall see how things go, but for now, I am relying on the sun to give me all the electricity that I need.

Let me say that this really a fiscally responsible thing to do, as it is cheaper to buy and run a generator to keep Wanda’s batteries charged.

How much did it cost? Well, let’s say that it cost me one month’s worth of savings (plus a bit).

Why did I do it? Well, to be honest, it was the fact that I was living in my trailer yet not using any electricity in it. 

I mean everything other than the logic circuits of the fridge was powered by battery or was charged at work.

The main reason why I did this was to give myself the luxury of using electricity. Like turning on a light, or listening to the radio, or yes, charging my laptop in Wanda.

All without feeling guilty or wondering how much sooner I will have to run my generator again and in so doing risk annoying my neighbours. 

Okay, so as to what I had installed, I had three 160 Watt solar panels installed 

   

There is enough roof space to have another smaller panel, perhaps a 100 Watt panel, up front there. Yet, if I did that I would have to upgrade the middle of the road Charge Controller that I got. 

I also had the batteries upgraded to ones that have the same footprint as my previous ones, yet were twice as tall, so as being effectively twice the battery as the previous ones.

This means that I now have 480 Watts of solar panels feeding twice the battery capacity that I had before. 

We shall see what happens and if this really does more than meet my electricity needs.

The one thing I know how to do is to conserve electricity, so there may be days or where I use no electricity other than the fridge, just to charge the batteries up. 

I don’t usually mention vendors or what have you but I was so impressed with not only the knowledge, experience and expertise of the installer, that I feel compelled to tell you who did it. 

I mean, look at the attention to detail that he went through when installing the panels. 

   

So, here is who did it, he came out in his van. . . 

  

Parked behind Wanda and set about installing the system all from where I was parked. His name is Chris and he has been working on RV’s and with solar systems for at thirteen years but been in business for himself for ten. 

Again, top notch work and if you are thinking of getting a solar system installed, drop him a line.

  http://www.empyreal-solar.com

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive, and keep moving forward!

Faith in Uncertainty

Every so often Boss gets frustrated with this or that at work and lets out, in the midst of a rant, the musing of “shutting down the company.”

This, of course is not what an employee wants to hear, as you are left wondering how long you will have a job for. 

I understand that Boss is a person and so has frustrations and aggravations like the rest of us, yet as a leader, I don’t want to hear that from Boss.

Since I cannot force Boss to keep the company open, as it is Boss’s company and so, Boss can do whatever Boss wants to do with it. This include shutting down a (as far as I know) profitable company.

So what can I, as an average employee, and cog in the machinery that is the company that I work for? Have faith in myself and my skills and ability to survive and thrive, no matter what, that's what. 

In reality, all I can do is be as prudent and fiscally responsible with the funds that I do receive. As in put as much cash as I can into savings as possible, for as long as I do have a job.

So, that is what I will do, keep my head down, master my cash flow and keep working my Grand Savings Plan, all in the midst of corporate and global insecurity.

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive and keep moving forward!

One Month Healthy

Okay, so it has been one month since my health scare, one month exactly today. I am doing fine, I am feeling good and I am getting into the swing of things.

I am finding ways to enjoy the warmer weather and looking for ways to keep myself in a good frame of mind and keep a positive attitude around me.

Again, this is easier in warmer weather than in the dead of winter. I will take it where I can get it, as I always like myself better when I am in a good mood.

But seriously, I am finding some success in looking for the little things, the little joys and happinesses are the key to a lasting good mood.

There are so many things in this world to be concerned about, so much uncertainty and unpredictability, both economically and politically. 

They can and will drag you down and stress you out if you let them. All you can do is keep doing what you are doing and hope for the best. 

So, I will continue to move myself forward and try to find ways to enjoy the process and they journey. 

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive, and keep moving forward!

Embracing Peace

I am still working on finding the peace and happiness in the moment. 

It is a simple philosophy of taking a brief moment to look at your current situation (in the moment) and recognizing the good in where you are at in life.

For me it is taking the time to be thankful that I am employed and that I have the job that I have. Again, it could be better, but it could also be worse.

I also take the time to recognize that I am thankful for Wanda and all that she has given me and enabled me to do.

I am debt free and building my savings in a way and at a rate that few others can do.

I am working towards owning land and a house, but doing so without debt.

I also must take the time to be happy in the moment and be at peace with my current situation. 

During the warmer months this is relatively easy. It is during the cold winter months that this is more of a challenge. 

I hope to establish as a habit by then so that I can use the momentum of that well established habit to carry me through the cold winter.

For now, however, I will continue to make peace with my current place in life. For me, my own happiness and yes, my own peace of mind.

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive, and keep moving forward!