Last night Mer had mostly convinced me that, with the way fuel prices are heading, buying a truck is the wrong move. She let a little air out of my dream of finally owning a truck and a dog. But I’m still fighting for it.
One rationale that I hang onto is my need for collecting firewood off the beach. Tough to do it without a truck. My woodshed could use another filling right about now. The other alternative is to buy a cord or two from one of the local suppliers. There’s Smokin’ Joe, Ken 2004, and Harmonie to choose from, and the odd other freelancer (I seem to recall a young guy with an accent, named ‘Hawk’ or ‘Wolf’, or something like that).
I see Smokin’ Joe driving around with his flatbed loaded with split wood and I get as amped as when I was a kid and the ice cream truck would go by. The only difference being that the wood already has someone’s name on it, so really what am I getting excited about? I heard that he also has one of two white stretch limos on-island (and a monster car for driving in the annual mud bog race). Although he doesn’t so much hire himself out as a limo driver with it, as drive his granddaughter out on the beach to go clam digging. Someone also said that they saw him using the limo to tow his truck loaded with firewood when it was broken down.
Early on in the winter, there was a good amount of discussion about the relative merits of the various firewood providers; who delivers on time, who has dry wood and how well it’s split etc. I have yet to order any, mostly because Rich took me out for a couple loads in his truck, but also because of my fear of getting a damp batch. Wet firewood is on par with soggy toilet paper at the bottom end of the fun-o-meter.
I don’t know much about Ken 2004, except for his phone number (yup, the last four digits are 2-0-0-4). Or Harmonie (except that I heard that she’s got a large brood of kids. So I picture them all lined up in descending order of age, splitting wood).
I may still just hold off and perhaps I’ll find that perfect VW diesel wagon with a 4WD conversion and a trailer hitch, to serve as my fuel-efficient wood-getter. Even so I’ll still mourn the loss of my truck that never was.
By the way, I’m having a cabin-warming party this Saturday (potluck early on). Had originally planned for the following weekend but it’s Traci’s birthday bash then and Randy also had a lounge theme party planned. Anyway, if you’re reading this, you’re invited.