I had a nightmarish dream last night. Not a Frankenstein chasing me around my kitchen dream it was one that felt real. Lucid. It wasn’t scary it was emotionally crippling. It’s one of those when you wake up you let out a minute long sigh. You don’t even care about the loss of sleep in fact you fall right back into sleep due to the elation of finding out it only a dream.

I’ve read in my little algorithms of random readings that dreams can be your subconscious shuffling through your other realities. I’ve always pondered on that aspect. I occasionally have dreams of the same places. Some lucid others so obscure that I can only pinpoint certain objects in the room like a disheveled dresser with the top drawer always open. I rarely dream. But when I do they’re doozies. I won’t go into details of this one. It involved the old alcoholic Chad. Guess in the 8 billion realities we can shuffle in and out of that one would be one of my least favorite.

It was only a dream.

My other places I dream about are random areas I’ve never been before. One reality I’m living in a small motel suite, right next to an old 80’s hotel bar. I have a twin bed and clothes all over the floor. I call that the meth Chad reality.

Another I’ve been on this steep winding road in the mountains. High gorge type rock walls. Always descending. I’ve never been on this road in fact it seems a little animated.

Some dreams I’ll walk along a new roadside on my morning walks and feel like I’ve dreamt about the street or if I’m driving on a different road. I call that the one day ahead Chad. I need for him to share his lotto ticket info with me.

Sometimes I just Deja vu.

That dream woke me up. It’s a reminder of how quickly my life can change with adding my old friend back to my life.

No thanks I’m good.

I gave my daughter the day off from counter work at the deli today. Fam scored tickets to the SC/Bama game. Unfortunately I live with Alabama fans. My kid was scheduled to work but she won’t grow up thinking about working that counter as much as she will thinking about that first USC game she went to in Columbia. I never had the opportunity for these days at her age. I worked every weekend.

I still do.

No I’m not filling my head up with self pity I enjoy having days off when everyone else is working. Less traffic, people and lines. I want my child to have and do things I couldn’t. You don’t build your kid’s character by trying to raise them in the same shit stew you grew up in.

I’ve got about 15 feet of customs to do. It’ll be a doozy of a day and then a couple of days off. No adventure to be had this weekend and that’s just fine. My sofa is calling my ass.

I hooked up an amp to my record player with some old school Realistic speakers I bought from Don’s Audio on Laurens road. He used to do audio for Southern. He had an 80’s amp and speakers on cosignment for a gentleman who bought it brand new almost 40 years ago. He brought it to that deli and wired it up for me. He’s one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet his store is right by Costume Curio if you ever need any audio he’s your guy.

I grabbed Beastie Boy’s -Paul’s Boutique album and turned the amp on. My head pinged like it did when I bought my headphones. It was meant to be. I put Led Zeppelin II on and I was in my parent’s basement in the 70’s for two sides. For me listening to a record player on a Bluetooth speaker is like watching a vhs movie on an 8k screen. Love the energy it brings to the deli. I’m a sucker for those Japanese vinyl bars.

I put my trailer up for sale last month. I’m starting to get some traction with it although some of it is “how much for just the tent?”

I love LOVE this trailer. It’s more than I need. I’ve gone cross country with it and without.

Pros? I have a pull out kitchen

A cabinet that opens so I can prep and cook on it like a prep table.

All the storage one could use for long trips. Two additional pull out drawers, another for my generator.

I can park it, unload it and use it as my hub when I find my destination. I can leave my awning and tent open, go hike or explore, come back to my home base and take a nap. If I don’t use the trailer and I forget something then I have to break the tent and awning down before I can go anywhere. If my bed is set up that means pulling my bedding out and starting over. Not a terrible thing but if it’s raining or 30° it’s inconvenient.

Cons

I drive on a lot of gravel county roads that can get tight. Trying to make a three point turn while pulling a trailer can be difficult. It impedes some of my exploring.

Gas mileage is terrible. Tacomas are my favorite vehicles I’ve owned several but their gas mileage is shit. Pulling a trailer I get about 9 mpg. I don’t like stopping for gas every 190 miles and those hilly western roads are going to put a lot of wear and tear on my transmission.

The more storage you have the more shit you bring. The more shit you carry the more you’ll unload at every site. That starts to consume time. I love a solid camping mise en place. My little home away from home but when I’m trying to visit 6 different towns in 9 days it gets time consuming. I only use about 40% of my gear that I bring. I used to sleep out of my truck bed. It was cramped but my set up was ready when I pulled off the road I just didn’t enjoy the head room.

I’ve been researching options for the last year and found what works for me. I was fanboying over Kimbo and Scout campers but $35k doesn’t resonate with me for a hobby. My wife would agree. If I were a single person with no responsibilities that price tag would still make me wince.

Never say never but definitely not right now. Plus I have some little additions I want to add to graze after the holidays.

Found a solid camper top online that extends about 40 inches higher over the bed line and widens about 8 inches on each side. Insulated with RV style windows and an overhead storage bay so I’m not tripping over my gear. Comes with a fold out double or queen bed option that you can stow away or fold into “couch mode”. I can actually pull over anywhere and climb in the back and take my roadie siesta.

It ain’t cheap but it ain’t $35k

I’m looking forward to seeing how this comes together. The only downside is I’ll have to find a cozy place for my camping roommate Shane to enjoy on our roadtrips. He talks in his sleep.

I’m wrapping this ramble up I’ve got a solid day of work and then my weekend.

Cheers yall.