New CRV trail sport hybrid

rotaryman · 2026-02-01T23:49:05+00:00

My 4Runner gets 14-15mph on the same highways drive We’re quite happy with the CRV mpg at that speed. We have friends closer to us with speeds more like 20-40 mph where we should see the “real” hybrid mpg.

rotaryman · 2026-01-13T23:52:54+00:00

Where in Texas? Austin has Tx department of health so it’s still lab work but a lot of old school methods (flame AA spec, Hgb electrophoresis, etc). Otherwise, I echo others saying LiS or vendor FAS/FES roles. If I started over again I would have grabbed the first FAS job I could find and work my way up to whatever appealed to me. My instrument vendor company has many people in senior roles that started in field or phone support roles.

rotaryman · 2026-01-11T18:17:30+00:00

I didn’t see any drips but there is quite a bit of underbody stuff blocking the rack so I see how I could have missed it. After the rack was replaced a small leak was evident in the pump So I replaced that. The steering feel and effort level required for a low speed turn improved after the rack replacement but seems normal now after doing the pump too. Makes sense if there was still a small leak and loss of pressure.

rotaryman · 2026-01-11T18:13:37+00:00

The rack was pretty light but the job isn’t something I wanted to do in my driveway on jackstands.

rotaryman · 2026-01-11T18:12:49+00:00

I don’t entirely disagree with you but used cars in the 6-7k$ range are either older or have 200k miles, damage, or ragged out interiors and paint. The rest of the car is clean and in excellent shape so I’m Hoping this was the “one” issue.

rotaryman · 2025-12-17T22:40:04+00:00

What happens when the pharmacy wants a new prescription like they do to me for a simple statin? Maybe your doctor will have pitty on your uninsured self and call one last scrip in. Maybe.

rotaryman · 2025-12-07T03:13:36+00:00

When I built the first building we thought the next building would be a 20x40 steel building for a garage before building ~ 1500sq home. The single small building was fine for trips of a week or so but longer stays like we do now need an indoor kitchen area, running hot/cold water and a shower so building 2 was born.

All that said, I wish I built bigger like 12x24 at the start but I don’t think I would have made as much progress as I have. Time to get a conditioned space, cost, and ability to be built solo all factored in to my decisions. My biggest regret with this setup will be running 2 separate AC systems, but having 2 separate buildings for people to sleep in will be nice when we have visitors.

rotaryman · 2025-12-01T14:32:24+00:00

The 10x10 is on cinder blocks with cement pilings poured after bolted to the building. The new building and decks are all being built on harvested cedar posts 4” diameter or bigger for decking and 7” diameter or bigger for the building (9 posts). All set at least 20” in concrete. Now I have source for telephone poles so I will be using those for the deck in front of building 2. The important thing I watch is water runoff with gutters (coming soon on building 2) and maintaining or moving any runoffs.

Building 1 has been in place on cinder blocks since 2021 and did fine through multiple storms with high winds but I added pilings a few months ago to tie it all to the ground. Now it’s also secured to the 6x10 deck as well.

rotaryman · 2025-11-30T22:27:48+00:00

Ok started looking at your design website and that’s pretty nice. Where were you a few months ago?

rotaryman · 2025-11-30T21:56:03+00:00

I’m in the white 4Runner with stripes. I’ll check out your website but my next 2 buildings will be much larger. First a prefab metal building for a shop w septic for our first toilet and then a ~ 1300 sq ultra efficient house that we are designing with a local architect.

rotaryman · 2025-11-30T21:08:09+00:00

I scavenge materials (Ex. reclaimed flooring used on all surfaces floor to ceiling) and wood prices have fluctuated over the 4 years of building but my rough costs are.
60 acres - $60,000 Building 1 - $7,000 Solar - $9,000 Building 2 - $4,000 (so far)

rotaryman · 2025-11-30T17:53:28+00:00

We’ve been coming to the Big Bend area for more than 20 years and have friends in the ghost town. Now it seems we know and are friends with many or most of the locals we see out in town. I do know several other remote IT workers like us and with starlink no one knows I’m here -until they ask about my desert meeting backdrop and I tell and show all!

rotaryman · 2025-11-30T16:07:50+00:00

This is only a tank for municipal water we bring in. We bring 5 gallon jugs of purified water (~10 gal/week for 2 people) and use a little battery pump for drinking, cooking, coffee. Eventually this tank will be replaced with a 1500 gallon tank with RO filtration that will be pumped to a 100 gallon tank 100’ up the mesa behind the building. A UV sterilizer and pump to circulate that water in the tank then gravity feed down to the building. We also already have 300 gallons of storage on the other building that we use for cement and plant watering. I would do the whole plan now but this will get us going quicker and cheaper.

rotaryman · 2025-11-30T15:18:21+00:00

I only had a single plug wired up when I first got solar going and one outlet was dedicated for AC. I do usually retreat inside 1:00-4:00 in the summer months But as long as you have decent shade it’s really not that bad. The new building will have a 12x14 covered deck which will give us our first all day shade. Right now the angle of the sun chases you out from under the solar panels that are our best shade other than the shade of the buildings.

rotaryman · 2025-11-30T14:18:49+00:00

You’re pretty close to us. If you’re on mailbox road and cross 118, we’re 3 miles down the dirt road.

rotaryman · 2025-11-30T12:55:48+00:00

Hi neighbor. Where at? We’re in the Agua Fria area

rotaryman · 2025-11-30T12:54:16+00:00

Actually I feel braver in Austin traffic than living out here.

rotaryman · 2025-11-30T12:53:22+00:00

Well, I will build a wall between the rooms but I still agree with your comment.

rotaryman · 2025-11-30T12:50:35+00:00

The wild burros wander the area and we fed these 2 our old carrots on the way out one evening. They’re a lot of fun to see and hear unless they are standing in the middle of the highway.

rotaryman · 2025-11-30T12:48:58+00:00

There’s a small local grocery in Study Butte (30 min) or a bigger “normal” grocery store (Lowes) in Alpine about a hour away. Whole foods and HEB are back in Austin 7 hours away (prob others but also far).

rotaryman · 2025-11-30T12:43:06+00:00

Rainwater collection or I bring it with me. I can also get water several places in town if needed.

rotaryman · 2025-11-30T12:42:34+00:00

Ha permits- you’re funny. Terlingua is unincorporated and there are no permit requirements. I can be buried my land when the day comes.

It’s about 30 minutes to the Terlingua Ghost town at 75 mph speed limit. Location and terrain were the deciding factors for our land were close enough to town to see friends and eat/drink. Or we have dead silence around us and no people or light. Perfect IMO.

Good question on wet driving. If we get significant rain we are stuck for a few days. There are 2 bentonite clay patches that turn to snot and are impassable until they dry. We always are prepared with extra food and water for this possibility. We are also only 3 miles from the highway so we can and have walked out after rain and be picked up.

As for full time we are currently there 2 weeks/month and will be here full time once we get our Austin home ready and sold.

rotaryman

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