The OBSESSION

[mike802]

Ok, I really need some feed back on this one.  We have been working on the bus for what will be 4 years this fall.  I admit that their have been times when I did not work on the bus, like all last winter and the guilt is overwhelming, but lately the push to "get her done" has been weighing heavy.  Am I alone, or have others experienced the same symptoms of obsession.  Like letting daily house chores laps, the law grows tall, the house needs paint, burdock's grow up around the garage doors, I spend to much time on bus forums, oh I just noticed my wife is talking to me, is there any help?  Add your experiences to my list I could us the therapy!

[Oonrahnjay]

   Mike, yeah.  I think it's all attitude.  And balance.  Sometimes you have to take a break - at that point, you need to let up on yourself; you're doing what you really need to do.  Other times, you'll get really wrapped up in the bus and you need to make yourself look outside (do home jobs, listening to the wife, etc.) but you have to give yourself permission to let that be OK.
   And think of us old guys.  You're young, a couple of years doesn't mean much to you.  I'm 65 - how many years have I got to be crawling around under a bus?  It's easy to get really mentally wrapped up with that on your mind.
   Nobody can be perfect.  Do what you can, get the balance right, and get your mind right.  It will all work out and that's the best you can do.

[pabusnut]

12 years and counting on mine!  I work on it when time and money collide 

Currently delayed for the 2nd time on an all expense paid trip from the US Government to an exotic location for 6 months    , which I can blame some of my laziness on 

Steve Toomey
PAbusnut
(currently suffering from PTBWD syndrome)

[bevans6]

I like thinking of the project in terms of small, manageable chunks.  Do a chunk, finish it, do something else.  by breaking it up you get to focus on it for a short while and avoid the obsession.  You tend to get obsessed when you look at it as a big picture, seeing everything that needs to be done and working on it all.

Brian

[Dave5Cs]

2-1/2 years but take it out when wheels were on faithfully at least 50 miles on most months just to keep her lubed up. Some months ended up attacking big projects like the air system but like Brian said little bits and finish each helped me to keep focused. Heck I bought our new inverter and still haven't installed it because when I started I found more PO wiring I needed to fix and then got into that and it still didn't get put in. I will have to do it soon because the wife is wanting to start vending on Treasure Island flee market and we will need to be staying in the bus for the weekend while there each weekend. There are no hookups there so other than running the generator the whole time.
Finally got the toad hooked up and ready to go this Sunday up north and that is what makes it all worth it. First Vacation we have had in 3 years.
The Bus is my therapy and keeps me from joining a gang ( the Geritol gang)!.....
Dave5Cs

[lvmci]

But then you take it on vacation and everything works the way its supposed to,  your wife asks you to open the window you've never opened, to enjoy the sea breeze, and it opens, properly, the new fans you installed cools the house as advertised,  the house batteries last beyond what you expected, you can take showers, hot showers boondocking, the generator fires right away and when your at a park, the tv is great, the AC cools the bus in the heat of the So Cal days and best of all the wife has enjoyed the time in the bus! And you sigh it was just as I planned it...

[Brett G]

I've been working on the bus pretty hardcore (for someone with a full time job)  for the last 4 months leading up to mid July.  We just purchased our first bus this last winter and our first trip was to the Black Hills with my wife and 3 young girls.  Things went great and everyone had a wonderful time.  All that work was worth it, but of course it's never done.  Shout out to Gumpy.  He helped me find and fix an issue with my headlights in which they would just shut off after about 45 minutes.  I didn't really get to test them out until on the way back in which I drove 10 hours and a lot of it at night.  Can't wait for the next trip.  North Shore (MN) / Grand Marais in mid September.

Brett

[mike802]

Thanks Guys for all the "therapy"   

And think of us old guys.  You're young, a couple of years doesn't mean much to you.  I'm 65 - how many years have I got to be crawling around under a bus?  It's easy to get really mentally wrapped up with that on your mind.

Oonrahnjay: I sure do understand the age thing, my dad is in his seventy's and every year drives his class A to Myrtle Beach for 2 or 3 weeks, I don't know how many years he has left and I really would like to get the bus to the point where we can make the trip together.  I think thats kind of pushing me at this point.  But a little push is a good thing, I really don't want a white elephant sitting in my driveway.

[Seangie]

Mike -

I had to mae a list of everything that needed to be done and then split the list into small manageable chunks.  Put the list on the wall somewhere you see it all the time.  Then pick one thing a week to get done.  Sometimes it takes two weeks or even three but you will be motivated if it is written down and you are looking at it all the time.

Don't beat yourself up.  And remember....you'll never be done.  When you do finally finish you die.  So don't be in a hurry

-Sean

[grantgoold]

I look at the bus like my children. The work is never done and I am always looking for ways to make them both better and more beautiful. Sometimes I can go months (or weeks) without any need to "work on my hobbies" then other times the need to work is fast and furious. I get to enjoy my obsessions as time, money and motivation dictate.  I am convinced the only time I will stop working on my obsessions is when oxygen fails to enter my system in sufficient quantity to sustain me. Until that time, I am just content to have obsessions and the health to work on them. The alternatives are both sad and all too common!

My 2 pennies!

Grant

[oltrunt]

I just arrived at my 70's and am doing the finishing touches on my bus--just been 4 years in the build.  I can hardly wait to get started using the bus.. I can see your pop sitting in his r/v tapping his fingers and thinking " why hasn't that son of mine gotten his $-it together and finished his bus so we can go camping together?  ------How's that for putting the monkey on your back!!!  Chop Chop-- just my .02 worth.

[BeastMaster]

We joined a local Good Sam chapter that goes out every third weekend.  As stated earlier,  I have my list on my white board and work them off with next outing as my goal. My wife is happy and she adds to the white board also. (I watch them carefully). Still driving a school bus at 63, pays for white board projects!

[solodon]

Grant, thanks for the suggestion.  I have a habit of doing a little on something then letting myself be distracted into working on something on something else that needs doing, and don't get anything finished.  Got to make the list(s).  Thanks again.

Don

[Oonrahnjay]

Thanks Guys for all the "therapy"   
   Oonrahnjay: I sure do understand the age thing, my dad is in his seventy's and every year drives his class A to Myrtle Beach for 2 or 3 weeks, I don't know how many years he has left and I really would like to get the bus to the point where we can make the trip together.  I think thats kind of pushing me at this point.  But a little push is a good thing, I really don't want a white elephant sitting in my driveway.

      Yes, a little push is a good thing -- just don't get pushed "too much"!

      Best wishes to your dad - yes, if an older person has people who can take care of the "heavy lifting", he can enjoy a great many things as years go by.