Did you notice Mercury was retrograde in late April and early May? We sure noticed! Everything went to hell in a handbasket and now we are feeling the effects of the aftermath. I’m trying to process what happened, because now it’s affecting our Alaska winter plans (and not in a good way).

Rolling with the Full-time RVing Punches (Again)

Our full-timing Nomadiversary is next week, marking 16 years on the road. We are in the teenage phases of this full-time RVing lifestyle, and lately we are seeing our share of tantrums and growing pains.

The shitshow started when we left Fountain of Youth. After being there for the whole winter season, we were quite settled in our comfortable lifestyle. Leaving is always a little stressful because after that length of time, you just never know how your rig will adapt to moving again. By the time we got to Oregon, we found out.

I got a new transmission and a water pump for my 26th wedding anniversary present!

On our way north for the Eugene Marathon, we knew something wasn’t right with the Dodge. Whenever the truck shifted from park to drive and started rolling, an audible screech sounded from the rear. Judging by the look on Jim’s face, I knew it wasn’t good.

We got lucky, and made it to Eugene. Then we headed south to the Escapees Timber Valley Co-Op in Sutherlin. There’s a good auto shop just down the street, and they previously worked on our truck. We barely made it into their driveway.

After 240,000 miles on the original transmission, it was time for a new one. And as anyone who’s ever bought a transmission knows, they aren’t cheap. That, along with a dying water pump, put our bank account five figures in the hole. Ouch!

The snowball effect on our Alaska winter plans.

Earlier this year we committed to spending winter in Alaska, but making it happen has been more challenging than expected. The snowball effect of buying a new transmission while paying for renovations to our duplex and trying to find housing up there is impacting everything.

Finding a caretaker gig or even a rental is a tougher process than I anticipated. No caretaking gigs have turned up, and there are zero rental options right now.

Like many places in the U.S., Alaska has a serious housing shortage problem. Back in February we secured a six-month Air BnB rental, with a monthly cost of more than double of what we could normally afford from our regular income. I was OK with the price then, because we had saved up funds for the trip and the rent included everything, even snow removal and internet.

Buying a new transmission and the housing shortage have thrown a wrench into everything.

Because of the transmission hit, we need to start building our savings back up. And right now, neither of us are comfortable taking more of a financial hit. I’m bowing out of that expensive Air BnB, and we need to find a place we can afford on our regular income. Ideally we will get a no-rent caretaking gig. But it’s not looking good. One almost sure-thing caretaker gig fell through. I’ve had no leads from our Caretaker Gazette ad, which is disappointing.

And finding a rental with heat and indoor plumbing in the part of Alaska where we want to stay is proving impossible. Feeling anxious about our timeline, twice now I almost fell for Facebook rental scams. It’s hell being a renter anywhere right now, but especially in Alaska!

Now we are working with a property manager to help us find a place. We are willing to rent for a year so we have more options, but if nothing turns up by June 30th, we just have to give up on our Alaska winter plans. If we don’t get housing by the end of June, there just isn’t enough time to outfit the truck and ourselves to spend winter up there.

Am I bummed because of this reality check? Of course. I’m still doing everything to make this happen. But if Alaska falls through, it’s not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. These are first-world problems after all.

And besides, I’ve already thought of a Plan B for next winter’s uncomfortable and adventurous Project M experience!