This title comes from the 1850s in America and refers to chopping wood. The
woodcutter should concentrate on the target log and not the small chips that fly
randomly. Sometimes the things we do or the plans we have become a matter of
timing and luck.
My plan for the next year includes 4 large goals. The first is to relieve myself of 40+ years of accumulated stuff. I think you have to get old before you are wise enough to categorize your “valued” possessions as stuff. The second goal is to obtain a tow vehicle to replace my currently leased Chevy Cruze. Thirdly, I need to find a small travel trailer suitable for a solo travelor and lastly, I have to sell and leave my house of the last 22 years.
For the last year we have experienced several shortages (I hope everybody is enjoying their mega cartons of toilet paper). One of the most recent shortages is in semi-conductor chips. These little wafers are found in many of the devices of which our society currently depends. A number are found in our vehicles and thus have me worried about the second goal, obtaining a tow vehicle. Specifically, this involves purchase of a mid-sized pickup truck.
My Cruze lease doesn’t end until November. Normally, I wouldn’t worry much about turning it in. But it looks like, due to the chip shortage, pickup trucks are in very short supply and could be for the foreseeable future. I cannot turn in the Cruze and fail to get a truck, as that would severely hamper the plan. However, also because of the shortage, used cars are at a premium right now. Due to working from home, I seldom drive the car more than 5-10 miles per week. So, it is worth more to a dealership now than the total value plus remaining lease payments. This is fortunate, as I can get rid of the Cruze now. That is if I can find an available truck. I found one Friday. It is the exact specification I need, so I made an appointment and headed to the dealership which is about a 30-minute drive from here.
As I pulled into the parking lot, the new truck was sitting up in front so I could check it out. I walked into the show room and asked for my salesmen. He was not at his desk, so they paged him. About 10 minutes later, he showed up. By then, another customer pulled up, saw the truck sitting there, asked another alert salesman for a test drive, and while we sat waiting, he purchased the truck. It was the last one they had.
I missed my goal by 5 minutes. A chip fell. The salesman suggested that they could dealer trade and get another. So he ran an online search. In the states of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, only one truck showed up. He will not know if he can get it until next week. That chip is falling.
Next, I find myself thinking about the fourth goal, selling my house. In this and many areas, right now is a seller’s market. People are bidding for the few houses available. In my area, most homes are going for 15 to 20K over the asking price. I should be selling now. But, I would then have no place to live for the next 12 months and also would run into the problem of getting rid of my stuff. Many are predicting another housing crash like we had in 2009. I have to hope that chip does not fly up and hit me in the eye.
This all makes me wish I could ask my father for advice. Maybe he would not have any. But, just asking him often helped.
Keeping my eye on the log…
Starting All Over 