If It Isn't One Thing....

[19&41]

I'm one of those people who need a reliable car and a backup to get me the 40 mile round trip to work each day. I do a good deal of the maintenance on each, with the next up being new struts and sway bar linkages all round for the Explorer.

[William]

It's a good thing to be handy and not afraid of tackling jobs. Not everyone has that skill or trait. I'm lucking I do, which has saved me lots of money over the years.

I have a friend who, partly because of laziness, partly from being babied growing up, who can't do a thing. Everything is hired done or family gets involved and does it for him. He is very smart, and always watches as people are doing things for him, but will never try it himself. I have shown him how to do very minimal stuff even having him do it while I'm there. Nope, the next time someone else comes to do it. We helped him move a couple of years ago. He just stood there and watched with very little help. I kind of feel sorry for him, but one needs to try before one gives up. I no longer offer to help anymore, I just get to frustrated.

Bill

[walyfd]

I had a friend like that. Always drove an older Cadillac because he never had money for a new one outside of the '88 he did buy new. Put about 400k (I'm not kidding... replaced the transmission twice, the engine at least once... was totaled twice and both times he bought it back)...

Anyway, he had every book, manual, bulletin, you name it. Couldn't change a thermostat. Couldn't even drain the radiator. But he would swap bumpers and grilles for a big show.

Every spring, we'd hit the junkyards and I'd pull parts while he looked for the next victim. I stress fractured my ankle stomping on a tire iron for a set of wheels once.

He was a bad diabetic and never made it to 50... I miss him. I kinda miss being needed and able to work on cars other than my own, too.

[William]

Don't get me wrong, he is still my friend and if it were an emergency I would be there for him. The only time I hear from him is if I reach out to him to see how he is doing. He rarely contacts me. Very much a loner. It sounds like your friend did have a few skills if he changed out parts even if it was just for looks. I'm sorry you lost your friend.

Bill

[TC Chris]

They were installed in 1973. The evaporator failed. Also. the condensation troughs were about to rust out. The new furnace had to have a new electrical service installed to replace the aluminum wiring feeding it. I had to run a window unit to piggyback the old unit.
[/quote]

Whoa... if you had insurance that covered replacement of a 1973 furnace/AC, I take back all my snide comments about warranties and I'll aslk who the provider is.

Chris Campbell

[TC Chris]

For those of us lucky enough not to have to worry about having to make car repairs or even car replacement if necessary, It's hard to imagine the feelings of insecurity that come from worrying about not being able to get to work to make a living that many of the less advantaged undoubtedly have. The vast majority need a dependable car, and it's not like most people can hop on good public transportation if they need to. And don't get me started on our pathetic passenger rail system. All it takes is a trip through Europe or Japan to realize how convenient and wonderful a really efficient high-speed rail system can be.

KInd thoughts. I try to remind myself of exactly what you describe--how fortunate I am that a big loss can be dealt with. For my clients, poor and largely rural, loss of transportation is a huge problem and a cause for panic. It affects all aspects of their lives. And perhaps as a result of knowing this, they are often far more generous than their wealthier neighbors. They know something about vulnerability and mutual aid.

Chris Campbell

[19&41]

They were installed in 1973. The evaporator failed. Also. the condensation troughs were about to rust out. The new furnace had to have a new electrical service installed to replace the aluminum wiring feeding it. I had to run a window unit to piggyback the old unit.

Whoa... if you had insurance that covered replacement of a 1973 furnace/AC, I take back all my snide comments about warranties and I'll aslk who the provider is.

Chris Campbell
[/quote]
American Home Shield.

[electra225]

I learned something. American Home Shield advertises all the time on TV. I figured they were one of the worst. Good for you, glad it worked out for you.