This story begins in January 2018. It is, of course, only the beginning of a new chapter. A new chapter in a moderately interesting life. Think of this as one of those annoying times when you load the first episode of a new-to-you series on Netflix only to find out they don’t have the first two seasons available for streaming. Well, kind of like that…. but hopefully less annoying….occasionally funny…..and I’ll definitely be doing flashbacks so everyone can understand the inside jokes.
January 8, 2018……….
Google: syncro westfalia ………………. results: nope, nope, nope-ity…..
hold up…………..
TheSamba – 1987 Vanagon Westfalia Syncro Price: (let’s just call it reasonable)
…..click….. and the race is on
Quick flashback from last season……(keeping with the Netflix theme for now)
Last season we watched John finally end up having a Westfalia join his family after decades of coveting the little German box of freedom. Followed by the inevitable divorce brought on by the things that happen when one person in the relationship is disorganized, forgetful, reckless, impulsive, and generally pretty bad at getting stuff right the first time; and the other, despite her many qualities, hasn’t the patience to deal with that guy’s (read:my) shit any more.
There is much more to it than that, but that’s not the episode we’re on. I just think that some contextual flashback is in order regarding the Westy.
particularly chiché wavy transition back to the present…..uh…..ish
So, here I am in Rwanda. I’m sitting at my desk, which is just a table in my room, in a hotel (the company that I’m contracting for has rented the entire 12 room hotel for our team and as a base of operations), in Africa………yeah, it’s actually as cool as it sounds……
Rwanda………
At my desk….I’ve been saving money for a while and, since I’m me (see flashback), looking at ways to destroy my chances of a normal retirement via therapeutic spending…….and I click “Email This Advertiser”.
[Jan 8, 2018, 10:40 AM] – “I am very interested in your Westy. Please contact me if it is still available. Thank you.” ……send …… and go back to being awesome at what I do.
[Jan 8, 2018, 5:42 PM] – “Yes I still have it, Iain”
And for the next few minutes, then days, Iain and I discuss the various workings of how Maine’s vehicle titles (or lack thereof for older rigs) work, how shipping it to Washington works, payment, and he floods my inbox with pictures. She’s a beaut, has a few flaws, but is really clean in all the right places, and Iain says he’ll replace the fuel lines and do some general tune-up work for me.
Deal.
Now (then now, not now now)……. I start trying to figure out how to handle the logistics of shipping a vehicle I’ve never actually seen or driven…….across the country to a place I won’t be…….and decide whether I’m going to actually pay someone I don’t know……….more than $25k, and how I’ll do that as well.
in our next episode……..I’m dumping the ode-to Netflix crap, I promise
Paypal, the brother-in-law, and the power of global communication……and pictures
“Luck is just statistics, taken personally.” Penn Jilette
vanagabond.com 