Getting Down to business

This is a first for me in may ways, I have always been an entrepreneur at heart but I have never gone into business with someone else. And finding someone who knows what the Law Requires in way of keeping New Mexico as our home base while traveling all over the county is something else entirely. I have been told so many different things my head is spinning and I honestly don't think much of it holds true to what needs to be done.

So as of right now we have decided to list the business name as "The Widner Way" and affiliate each division of what we will be doing into separate names. Chalies leather goods and sunglasses will be called "Hogtastic", Cody's temporary tattoos will "X Marks the Spot" and my photography will be called "Promo Photo" the graphic art will be "Cross Road Cameos" the crosses and jewelry will be "Wire Attire" all divisions of The Widner Way.

It seems kinda iconic having a mastermind business under us but for this traveling trade show plan to work out there has to be more than one way to turn a dime. And having one Quickbooks file, one tax ID number, one tax fee and one quarterly report to file seems more logical than trying to divide it all up.

RV Imperfections

When I left the house Sunday morning I was really looking forward to driving the RV home. I had my insurance card in hand and a pocket full of money itching it's way out. 

The 1988 Holiday Rambler Alumi-lite was listed on Craigs list For Sale by owner. A single woman and her daughter had traveled between Florida and New Mexico making a living stopping along the way drawing for wages. Which is kind of what we are planning to do. 

She told me after 3 strokes and a possessive boyfriend she had decided to go back to Florida to be a caretaker while the owners were out of town and her daughter was going to ride there horses and keep them in shape. She was so nice and kept telling me how much they enjoyed traveling and how the motor home had been just perfect for them. So as you can imagine, I was hooked.... line and sinker!

We'll now... where do I start? I can say it was an interesting trip, Melinda, Chris, Cody and I had a nice lunch in Ruidoso we got to walk through a few of the stores in Mid-town, and Cody found a book he was looking for. As for the RV, it was not what I expected.

So heres the listing http://roswell.craigslist.org/rvs/2239813209.html
I noticed she changed the listing from the time I saw it to this ~
1988 Holiday Rambler Alumalite XL Motorhome. 30 feet...Not gorgeous, but runs good.. Needs fan relay for roof A/C, and fuel filter for generator....Couch folds out to bed....has twin beds in back...two way fridge, stove/oven, microwave. Holding tanks are good.....No roof leaks...Serious inquiries ONLY!!!!!

Take a look at it and form your own opinion before continuing ~

I'm sure the seller was upset I decided not to take it but she described it as cosmetically imperfect which was what I wanted something we could put a little elbow grease into and personalize. Unfortunately the "cosmetic" was the entire front fender being mangled at one time. The previous owner had patched the aluminum with fiberglass and lets just say it was not appealing.

Our pictures - Front fender

Looking back now I see that the photo in the ad had been taken a long time ago and looked cropped to make sure no one saw the damages. I would have never, and I do mean NEVER made the trip if I had know it had been wrecked, even if the repairs had been done correctly. She just kept saying it doesn't hurt anything, I told you it wasn't pretty and it drives fine. Like it was no big deal!

Our pictures - left front

But it was a big deal, there is a major difference between "cosmetic - not perfect" and "structural damage" and the more I talked with her the more I found would have to be done. She told me the refrigerator needed work but then she realized it needed propane so it was okay after all, the generator needed a tune up but we couldn't get it started and the fan on the air conditioner needed a sensor switch but she had been using a window unit. She left out the part about doodling a mural and business name along the side.  I had to bite my lip when she said "theres some house paint inside just slap a coat over it if you don't like it."

At least I knew about most of that, I already had the fix-it fees estimated and the costs merited the asking price. The reality was a body shop would have charged more than the RV was worth, the sensor on the fresh water tank said the level was fine but she said the tanks had been emptied. The battery was toast, and so where the 2 auxiliary batteries. All the tires where in terrible shape and every time I asked her about something like the radio, antenna, CB, fans etc. she didn't know if they worked because she never used them.

I didn't know weather to laugh or cry all I could think was 'how could you have traveled in it for a year and not know if these items worked. 

My uncle, bless his heart kept saying "offer her less" but I could see the money pit road ahead, trimmed in duct tape, it was already everywhere you looked. The front windows had even been trimmed out in it, then it had been removed leaving all the frail broken seals exposed, the back panel to the refrigerator had a piece of insulation instead of a door and.... never mind I had better stop there before I tell you how I really feel. 

Needless to say walking away from it was the best decision we have ever made.

And yes we are STILL LOOKING :) the right one will come along.

Less than a day away

Well it's been a really long week and now it's finally time to get some sleep so we can go to Ruidoso in the morning and pick-up our RV...................................................................... FINALLY!!

Father Knows Best

Me with Dad 2010

It's a wonderful feeling to know that my father thinks our venture into the world of RVing is a step in the right direction. It's been a long time since I felt so excited about doing something so crazy, it's not backpacking with a nudest colony but it will do. Just joking by the way!

When we started looking for RV's I asked my dad to help me find one. I didn't realized until tonight that I left out a few of details. Maybe it was because I didn't want him to know, or maybe I was concerned that his reaction wasn't going to be as enthusiastic as I wanted him to be. Honestly I have been telling everyone, I can't believe he didn't have to listen to one of my rambling sessions, until tonight.

Hearing him tell me to do what makes me happy made me feel all warm and fuzzy.  Thanks Dad

Giga-Bite-Pack-Rat

I have know for a long time that I tend to keep things for no apparent reason, I always becomes more apparent when we decide to move or rearrange furniture. During this sell out I have realized I could be one of those people on the show Horders although my mess is somewhat organized. I have junk stashed every where! I'm telling you there are so many things I have saved for years, just in case and I've never needed it or gone out and replaced it not having it handy or remembering it was there waiting. Most of it is for inspiration per-say but worthless to me as far as inanimate objects go. And odley enough I have found a rather obvious indulgence, my camera. After all I'm not really getting rid of it, if i still have an image of it RIGHT! I may never need the inspiration, but my backup drive won't know the difference. This way I have no clutter, no storage, and no boxes of dusty trash. Well not as much.

M. Widner

Jumping into RVing

We just sent money to someone for an RV to buy it sight unseen! How many times have I told people NOT TO DO THIS! Lora really SOLD me on the condition of the unit and gave me piece of mind knowing she and her daughter have been traveling in it. So here we are jumping in head first! I keep telling myself to breath, which is funny since I was the one that couldn't wait. Now I'm so excited! Sunday is a world away, especially since we have only four pictures to look over. I was lucky enough to stumble upon the same unit in Hereford yesterday so I know a little more about the floor plans as you see, I have a rough estimate at best. But it has everything we wanted, it's the right size to live in and pull our truck, it's an Alumi-lite so hopefully we will be able to afford to drive it, it's super nice inside and old enough that I can remodel it the way we want! Now I have to wait! I hate waiting! I really, really do ~

Est floorplan for 1988 Holiday Rambler

These are two of the four pictures we based our decision on

.

SELLING OUT!

Bed of Roses Master Bedroom set $1500.00 SOLD


Sewing machine cabinet $35.00 (sewing machine does not work) 


Antique Closet $250.00


Man Cave TV- PC setup $3000.00 OBO


Rooster plate set $125.00 OBO


3pc Western candle set $15.00


Couch $450.00 


Yard cross $15.00


Golf clubs $20.00


Remington 22 $100.00


Freezer $75.00 ON HOLD


Kawasaki 650 $1800.00
(needs battery and the carburetors cleaned to get it running again, has not been started in a year)


Wine rack $5.00 SOLD


Wicker chair $30.00 SOLD

Stained Glass Candle holders $20.00


Queen bed set $50.00 SOLD


Outdoor pond $50.00 SOLD


Click here to Ask a Question ?

see all item albums here
 << CLICK HERE>>
MAKE AN OFFER!!

WE ARE SELLING EVERYTHING! KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR MORE LISTINGS!

All comments go to my email or msg me on FB all messages are time stamped so items are first come first serve so if you interested call DIBS on it 1st!

If you have purchased something from us please post a comment  :)