27 Comments
Barney Ward
12/25/2018 04:46:19 pm
MERRY CHRISTMAS to you. Have a little fun in the desert for me while you are at it please.
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Tom
12/25/2018 05:16:29 pm
I wish I could share my fun and happiness with everyone, because I have more than my share.
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Thomas
12/25/2018 04:54:11 pm
And Merry Christmas wishes right back at you, Tom. Wish I were there.
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Tom
12/25/2018 05:18:29 pm
Well I wish you could be here to, and everyone else that loves boondocking in the desert.
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Tim
12/25/2018 07:17:21 pm
Merry Christmas Tom!
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Tom
12/25/2018 08:43:50 pm
And Merry Christmas to you too Tim. Whenever I've got some project I'm going to work on I always try to boondock someplace close to civilization because I know I'm gonna need some part to finish the job that I don't have. I've installed solar panels at Quartzsite and also at Ben Avery gun range. Both places have easy access to a good hardware store, good weather, and people around that can help if you need it.
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Linda Sand
12/26/2018 11:39:19 am
I remember when Glenn wanted to do some modification to his van he simply moved into a Home Depot parking lot. Everything you might need just a short walk away. I don't think he'd have been able to stay a couple weeks so he could do it a bit at a time, though.
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Tom
12/26/2018 01:37:08 pm
I remember reading that, and I thought it sounded like a great idea. But you're right Home Depot is probably not going to let you move in and live in the parking lot for a few weeks. But then again, assuming there's no city ordinances, Home Depot really has nothing to lose. They're getting the money you're spending on your project, you'll probably buy everything from them so you don't have to pack up and run around town looking for stuff to save a buck, and your presence at night might be scaring off some folks up to no good.
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Tim
12/28/2018 07:32:59 am
The two parts of a project that I have the most trouble with are 1) Getting started and 2) Doing the finishing touches on everything. Once I can get myself started, I usually get excited about the project and put everything I have into it. When I get to about the 95% completion point is where I start losing steam. If I don't have any other projects to distract me, I'll usually finish up that last 5%, but if something more shiny comes along, I'll follow that project. That was the problem with having a big house, there was always many other projects sitting in the wings.
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Tom
12/28/2018 10:15:38 am
When it's time to sign that lease go back over some full timers blogs that are out West, and pay attention to the total lack of snow, and incredible sunsets, and people dressed in shorts and T-shirts, maybe that will help you with your decision.
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Tim
12/28/2018 01:52:37 pm
I think it's the lazy, unmotivated part of me that's keeping me here right now. It goes back to Newton's First Law of Motion "A body at rest will stay at rest until acted on by some outside force" (or something similar to that). Right now, the pattern of my life is relatively easy and comfortable. However, without going into details, I expect an outside force to act very soon and I'll be moving on, whether I want to or not. Which is a good thing, for a lot of reasons. The big question: is that going to happen in 3 months, 6 months, a year, or 5 years? It really is to my benefit right now to stick it out for a little while longer, particularly from a financial standpoint. The issue is going to be if that drags out to several years; then I may be kicking myself, especially if I only have several years and one day to still be kicking in good health.
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Tom
12/28/2018 02:43:22 pm
I'm a victim of Newton's law every day. when I sat down in my easy chair I remain motionless until an outside force like hunger finally causes me to move.
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Tim
1/4/2019 09:09:33 am
It is difficult to walk away from a decent job, that's true. Especially since this is probably the lowest stress I've ever had in this position and in my personal life here (no big house to take care of, close to work, no drama in relationships, etc.).
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Tom
1/4/2019 11:25:05 am
Yes that first hole you drill in the Arctic Fox is a tough one, but not to worry in no time at all you'll be drilling holes all over it.
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Tim
1/4/2019 12:10:16 pm
That's good advice about covering the roof with the solar panels. Last time I was up there, I made a sketch of the roof, so now I need to play around with panel sizes and see if I can get a few more on. I think last time I checked, I had ~ 960 watts, but I think there is still some wasted space. Thanks for the tip about not worrying too much about shading; that was a concern of mine.
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Tom
1/4/2019 01:47:09 pm
If you hinge a solar panel on the back of the Arctic Fox you would need to be darn sure you never gonna put anything else back there like a storage rack for a generator, a bicycle, a kayak, or anything that would get in the way of the solar panel. And the reason I say that is you may not want to go to extremes like that because the solar system needs to be somewhat balanced with the amperage of the batteries, solar controller and solar panels being somewhat in sync. You will get faster charging if you have a lot of solar panels and only four batteries but you won't have any more amps available at night than anyone else that has four batteries. So if you're going to have a lot of solar panel amperage its going to be wasted in less you have a lot of batteries to store it and a bigger solar controller to handle it.
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Tim
1/4/2019 02:12:14 pm
I think the number of solar panels and batteries I'll need really come down to one thing: Am I going to bring my desktop computer with me and use it. The only reason that I would bring it is if I continue to do the flight simulator stuff - everything else I could do with a laptop. The thing has a 850 watt power supply in it (not that it uses that much power all the time) and to do the flight sim there are lots of peripherals. All of that stuff is going to take up space and consume a lot of energy. If I leave it behind and go with a laptop, my energy needs will be much less. It's one of my main hobbies right now, but things change and I think I'll be so busy with other things that I won't have much time for it. But, it would be easier to plan for extra power now that at a later date. I also have the Honda generator if cloudy days hit or just need extra power.
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Tom
1/4/2019 03:27:33 pm
That's interesting about the computer because I have sort of the same problem, the desktop that I built five or six years ago to work on videos was top-of-the-line then and now I don't think it can see the top-of-the-line anymore.
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Tim
1/7/2019 01:04:59 pm
Right now, a laptop just doesn't have the power to run the flight sim that I use (at least not very well), especially since I use the it in VR. However, technology is changing everyday and getting better, so by the time I do retire and go full time, there may be a laptop that can run it. That will probably be my last purchase, just so I can let the technology advance as far as possible.
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Tom
1/7/2019 01:55:56 pm
Since computers used to be a hobby of mine, but no longer, I would be interested in knowing what the specifications are for a computer able to run your particular flight simulator I'm not sure if the VR makes much difference because I use VR sometimes while flying my drone, although frankly it makes me seasick most of the time, and I do that with my cell phone.
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Tim
1/7/2019 03:00:10 pm
The flight sim I fly right now almost exclusively is called Digital Combat Simulator (or DCS for short); more specifically, I run version 2.5.4 "Open Beta" (there are different versions with different requirements). It's mainly military aircraft (the Harrier is my favorite right now) and, as the name implies, you are flying and fighting on a digital battleground. This particular simulator is a true simulator, with lot of buttons and switches that have to be flicked. A HOTAS joystick and throttle are really needed to fly it, especially in VR. It's a great cold weather and night time hobby, but I tend to gravitate away from it in the summer.
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Tom
1/7/2019 03:53:47 pm
WOW!! I was thinking of another hobby like Chinese checkers.
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Tom
1/8/2019 04:04:58 pm
No it was fine, since I had no knowledge of hardly anything you were talking about it just took me a long time to get through it all and look up things on the Internet so I could get back to you without sounding like a complete fool.
Tim
1/8/2019 05:06:19 pm
Yes, those are the specs for using monitors and your system would run it fine. If you downloaded it now, you can fly around in the P-51 Mustang and the Su-25T for free (I think those are the free ones). Other planes you have to buy, but the trick is that several times a year they run sales and slash the prices by 50% or more on most plane and terrain modules. I've had many of my peripherals for almost 20 years now and they still run great, so I got my money's worth. I usually buy one flight sim thing for my birthday every year.
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Tom
1/8/2019 05:24:52 pm
I don't know if I could ever get used to using VR goggles, but mine are pretty cheap and the lenses in them make my eyes go wonky before I even get up in the air. I think you asked before if the goggles control the camera, and yes you can set it for controlling the camera or the flight of the drone. I keep mine set on controlling the camera having found that having the drone fly wherever I look may sound good on paper but is a disaster in the air.
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Tim
1/9/2019 05:42:26 pm
Hey Tom - I'm away on business trip right now and hard to respond, but I hope you do check out DCS. The P-51 is really well done in it.
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Tom
1/9/2019 05:47:58 pm
How ironic, I'm on a business trip myself, cause I'm in the business of having fun.... Have a safe trip.
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