First time, I was moving from Port Hueneme to San Diego on orders around 1985, and a shipmate was selling his banged up, barely running1976 Chevy high top camper van cheap - $500. I spent another $500, got a transmission tune-up, replaced the carbonator and radiator, all the seals, replaced the brakes, front u-joints, the propane fittings, the interior marine batteries and the plumbing.
It was pretty decent, 22ft long x 7ft wide, that a 6'2 person could comfortably stand in, with a "loft space" in the back; 6 x7x3 ft that could double as another sleeping area, a swamp cooler in the middle of the van, lots of storage, a wet shower/ toilet, a comfortable kitchenette table/bed with a mini-fridge/freezer and I updated the mounted toaster oven. And it had...an 8-track player.
An ugly gas hog, but comfortable 6 months living for a young NCO who could park it in a new co-worker 's driveway for a "mailing address" while waiting to get BEQ approved (you had to get permission and then move off base before you could apply at that time) and enough for a deposit saved up.
And I was easily able to sell it as soon as I could get into a new apartment; there was a waiting list for single NCOs looking for a place to live while waiting for BEQ approval. Over the next five years, I saw it had at least that many different owners (or users) before someone actually bought it as a camper van for his (or her) family.
The other time was losing a roommate the same time I changed employment, so I moved out, put the stuff I wanted in storage, and couch surfed with a Reservist buddy who had to deal with a temporary furlough (fire damage to her employer's shop and they were rebuilding) and needed help paying her rent until work picked up again. Win, win - I could save money for my own place again, and she could stay in her little apartment she had spent the last ten years in.
It wasn't scary, but there were those other times working as a contractor where work was way too slow for several months in a year, rent (later mortgage) started getting paid late or it took two payments in a month to pay the rent in full plus late fee, and a lot of savings disappeared while waiting for that good paying work to pick up again.
Haele
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