My Odd Car Buying Experience

We recently bought a 1984 Volkswagen Vanagon, and we had an interesting car buying experience.  

It started out pretty typical.  Then it became not so typical.  


Let's begin:

Step 1.  Arrive in Kalispell, MT.  

Step 2.  Spend two hours at Vanagon sellers house, checking out the Vanagon and talking about the Vanagon.  

Step 3.  Next morning, back at Vanagon sellers house, getting to the nitty gritty of Vanagon buying.

...was kind of thinking that'd be it...we'd pay the guy and be on our way...I was wrong.  

Step 4.  Vanagon seller realizes we need a notary.  He also realizes we have time to kill before the notary opens, we hang out in his living room for a while and he starts raving about Cosco.  

Step 5.  Vanagon seller asks if we want to go to Cosco.  

We say why the hell not.  

We go to Cosco.  (Spend an hour eating samples and buying things we hadn't realized we needed.)

Van of My Dreams

The Westy Fund

We started a westy fund a few months ago (along with our house down payment fund, our emergency fund, and our swear jar-just kidding, we don't have a swear jar).  

After searching for a Vanagon on the typical sites, Samba.com, BusDepot.com, and GoWesty.com, we found one on CraigsList.  Go figure.  

That time I kicked the ceiling (or, Long Jumping into Bed)

Story time.

So I couldn't sleep the other night and I was just laying there and laying there, tossing and turning, playing on my phone, and laying there some more.  Finally I decided that if I wasn't going to sleep, I might as well do something productive.  

Being an Oilfield Camper Wife

With hiring signs everywhere, you may be surprised to hear that I don't have a job yet.  However, there is a very good reason why, and here it is.   I haven't applied for anything.  

I will soon, I swear, but I am really enjoying being a camper wife!  I could totally see myself being a stay at home mom, maybe even doing a little home schooling.  ( I say that now.)  I honestly don't think I've ever been this domestic.  I'm making breakfast, packing lunch, and making dinner.  Throw in some cleaning, laundry, taking care of the finances, and a little relaxation, and I'd say I'm pretty good at this.  

However, making money is the whole reason we're out here, so, I will have to start working.  Soon.  I promise.  

Bella's Big Adventure

Part of my entertainment on the drive to Williston, ND was our dog, Bella.  Chris and I drove two cars out here, so Bella got to hang out in the passenger seat of my car the whole time.  She had been used to 3 hour car rides to see our families, so 12 hours (even broken up between two days) was a lot.  I wasn't sure how she'd do, but she was a trooper and did great!  Take a look for yourself.  

Helping load the Uhaul in Duluth, MN.  

Whew!  Packing is exhausting.  

Visited my family before we left.  Here I am wearing a Turkey hat.  

Here I am helping sort through things in the storage unit.  Again, absolutely exhausting!

On the road!

My first hotel room!  I did so well, didn't make one peep.
  

Even got my own bed.  Yea, I'm that cool.  

How I spent most of the 12 hour drive.

We're seriously not there yet?

Here!  Found my new nook.  

This bedroom's kinda small guys.  

Ok, I guess I could chill here for a while.

The end.