So, this summer when I head to Colorado for Ouray, I'll be staying there!
My truck as well as myself are both native to Grand Junction, Colorado and I've spent many a family vacation in Ouray/Ridgeway/Telluride/Durango. I even remember driving my first car, an 82 Civic sedan with my then-best friend and our mountain bikes strapped to the trunk down to Ouray unsupervised when I was 16. I also remember my first unsupervised 4x4 trip in my 84 K5 Jimmy to Ouray when I was 17. Blew a radiator hose on the climb to Yankee Boy and patched it with the clear plastic picture holder from my wallet, some permatex and a roll of duct tape! As I sit here alone in this apartment packed with too much furniture and too much crap, looking out the window at a grey sky it's really easy to see I gotta get back to my roots and my family. But there's a lot to figure out and get done before then! I had to kill seven people and hide the bodies to smuggle a 401 out of Colorado, do I drag it back or do I sell it?
I'm in the middle of converting my D44 rear to full float, but it's not too late to axe that project and go back to the way it was, I'm only about $130 into parts/machining but still need shafts at ~$500 to finish it. It's got a new grizzly locker and the original shafts, so I'm not too keen on loading everything I own on top of that axle and driving halfway across the continent. Do I finish the project or go back to stock?
There's also getting rid of stuff! Obviously I have a lot of tools, enough to fill the truck. I'm also National Guard so I have sacks and sacks of army crap. Then i got my dog and my cat. Trimming the load down to fit in a single truck bed is going to be a huge undertaking.
The most compounded challenge I'm facing is that my savings are gone and Money Badger needs some love. Rear axle aside, the trans and t-case both need a teardown and reseal with a few bearings at least, and I haven't tore into them to see if any hard parts need replaced. So I got a lot to buy and still need to save up quite a bit. I will be getting double paid for two weeks in June, so that's $1k to cover gas. Not paying rent the last month I'm here is another $1k for lodging emergency money. Also, I think my grocery expenses will be a lot less only feeding myself. I'm happy with Hamburger Helper and Ramen, know what I mean? I think it's doable, but I have to deal with this first week or two of ALL MY MONEY being gone, and rent is due on payday, so I should be fine.
There's a lot to do these next too months, but it feels good to know I'm going home.
Matt, what can I say. Well situation number 1 is all you. No idea what would change if I was gifted with the words capable of making things happen. As for the other(s), work like you have to and get your stuff in gear. You are a tough dude and spent many moons alone staring at the bulkhead. Enjoy the peace and quiet while you have it. Once you get back to CO things will be much better. I have a feeling that your circle is much tighter than you may thing. Get closer to your family bro. There is a much brighter light shining on you than you can see.
