I am just beginning the research to see if I can be an owner-builder and am really glad I found The Owner-Builder Book and the website. Gary

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What Was the Name of That Law?

Posted to Dream-site-on-the-Lake by Bobby in La Porte, TX on 8/5/2009

What was the name of that law? Was it Murphy's Law that says something about 'If there is anything that can go wrong, it will'!? 

So the story goes on. We made contact with a couple of water-well drillers, and were NOT expecting to hear what we heard. I was expecting a price tag of $6,000 on services for a well... but actually hoping for considerably less.  Boy, what a surprise! How about $10,000 for a 400' well. I just could not believe it. So, we're shopping around and trying to figure out what all of our options are -- if any.

In the meantime, I decided that I was going to go ahead and take my tractor 'up country' and leave it at a relatives house instead of having it sitting in my backyard doing nothing... I figured it could do that same up there and not be in my way. Now, right after I bought my tractor, I went to thinking that I might need a truck to pull it with, so I purchased a 2001 Dodge 2500 with a V10 Magnum engine... should be able to pull a house down, right? Hey, I've had it for about a month, so I figured it was good to go. So, I went down and rented a 20' trailer to pull the tractor to the country. I was all set to go... tractor is on the trailer, trailer is hooked to the truck, kissed the wife bye, waved bye to the neighbor and everything. So, I pulled out and didn't even get out of the neighborhood before my bumper broke from the weight of the trailer. I eased it back around to the house, said "hello... I'm back" to all concerned... dropped the trailer, and took off for the repair shop. The bolts that were holding the bumper together were of inferior quality -- they broke off. So, they were replaced with 'the good stuff.'  I left out with intent to go back to the house and continue my journey. NOT HARDLY. On my way home, the truck got hot. I thought to myself, 'I'll stop by the auto parts house and pick up a thermostat and install it when I get home... I'll be on the road in 20 minutes.'  Again... NOT HARDLY. The thermostat for a 2001 Dodge V10 magnum is a dealer's item only. The dealer is 40 miles over in Houston! 

So, what can I do...? Drop the trailer, take the tractor and put it back in the driveway, take the trailer back to the rental place, and try to do it all another day.

Where would I find this 'Murphy', anyway? I'd like to punch him in the head!!!

Rachal's Forum Posts: 79 Journal Entries: 30 Interview Answers: 62 Average Forum Rating: 3.82 Rachal's Selected Image 8/6/2009	Maybe you should donate some money to charity or help an old person cross the street.  This may set your luck back on track.  And BOY do you need it! Good Luck!
Bobby's Forum Posts: 0 Journal Entries: 2 Bobby's Selected Image 8/6/2009	I don't know what else I could do. I stay off the cracks in the sidewalk, don't walk under ladders, dodge black cats, and all that stuff.  Reckon I'll just keep plugging along... I'll make it sooner or later!

August 1, 2009

Posted to Dream-site-on-the-Lake by Bobby in La Porte, TX on 8/1/2009

Well, by my 55th birthday I had wanted to be on the lake, house completed, and sitting on the front porch drinking a cup of coffee with some Chet Atkins playing so low that I could hear the birds chirping over the music. It ain't happening!  

The wife and I are retired. She retired last year... I just retired, so we're looking to get out of Hurricane Alley (the bay area just S.E. of Houston, Tx.). We've had all the excitement we can stand. If the gangsters, illegal aliens, or red tide don't get you, the darn hurricanes surely will! So, we're finished. It's been a thrill, but we've been there and done that and are ready to get out of Dodge City!

Our plans are to build a nice little wood-frame house... two bedroom, one bath of around 1,000-1,200 sq ft... just enough for the two of us, and maybe a bit of company once in a blue moon. I had once believed that we could get the ball rolling on this thing and make it happen by mid-August, but it seems that every time you give the ball a little push, some buster wants to step out there and put his foot in front of it. 

The property is 'landlocked' so we have to work on easements... which ain't a cup of tea in itself. We are surrounded on three sides by the Corps of Engineers property. They have declared the entire area a 'Wildlife Management Area', which is fine by me. I mean, that's what we're going up there for, to get back to Mother Nature and see all this wildlife! So, when I go to talk to someone about easement, or getting a utility easement in, or if there is community water, or permits that are required... I get this, "The person you're wanting to talk with is not here at the moment. If you leave your name and number, I'm sure he/she will get back with you as soon as possible..." and, THEY DON'T. So, you have to call repeatedly to all these different places in order to chase someone down who is supposed to have the answers, but when you talk to that person, he/she says, "Oh, I'm sorry, but I'm not the one you need to talk with about this. That person is out of the Dallas office..." Now, Dallas is a pretty far piece across Texas just to go see some old boy about an easement. But, we're working on it. 

Stay tuned for updates... I'll place them when I can...