Home: Ohio has its points. (pics)

[Tobin S.]

I live in a small condo community in Dayton, Ohio. Well, I guess I live out on the road now and my condo has become my vacation home. I've had this place for sale since March and only one person has looked at it and I haven't had any offers. So, I may just keep it. It's cheap and I can't spend 100% of my time out on the road.

I've gotten a lot of stuff done today. I had a pile of mail that took me a half hour to go through. Got my laundry done. Got my taxes done. Bought some new clothes. I've still got a few more things to take care of and I still need to decide whether I'm going to buy a trailer or not, but I'm mostly set for the next 6 days just to goof off and do whatever I want to do. We all need to take it easy every once in a while.

I snapped a few pics of the homestead here so you could see the nice view I have of the common grounds out back.







And of course, being in take it easy mode can be enhanced by the following.



I'm going to mix a drink, grab my guitar, and go out on the patio and enjoy this nice summer day. The next time I'll be home the leaves will likely be brown and the temperature much cooler. I hope you all are having as good a day as I am. Peace.

[kayakjohnny]

1. Peace to you too, Tobin. I'm glad you get a few days off the road.

That's a nice little zone out the back there.

You sure deserve a breather after all you've done lately.

Enjoy that wonderful first sip of your refreshing cocktail.

Thanks for checking in.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear Tobin!

What a nice backyard you have! I love all the trees...

You have more than earned your rest, and recreation!

Enjoy your quiet end-of-summer day, sweetie!

:hug:

[Forkboy]

3. The best thing about Ohio is my ex wife.

:thumbsup:

[zabet]

4. The one time

I traveled to Ohio....I was awed at the beauty and the countryside. The farms!

[elleng]

5. A fair part of my life related to Ohio

(college, 'stranged husb + family=Dayton), and what you've posted is one of the best!

Certainly keep the place, and enjoy it!

[Flaxbee]

6. Lovely grounds. I hope you enjoy your "down-time"

And it can be really nice to have a place to call home that is all yours, even if you're not there frequently. "Home" is a great feeling.

:hi:

Any more thoughts on getting a dog?

[Tobin S.]

7. No I haven't really thought a whole lot about a dog

since the last time I posted about it. The desire to get one is simply gone for no reason that I can put my finger on. If I do, though, I still plan on rescuing one from the pound.

[MiddleFingerMom]

8. Nice to hear that you're getting a nice long stretch of good down time, my friend.

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It sounds like things are going EXCEPTIONALLY well.
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That is SO nice to know.
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Is this going to be a regular, hoped-for type schedule -- a certain amount of time
hustling and bustling on the road with a full week of decompression?
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I would LOVE that.
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When able to (such as part of my time in the Army and certain jobs), I always was
happiest BUSTING my hump for extended periods of time, getting a TON of stuff done,
and then just kicking back with the equivalent of an umbrella-garnished tropical
drink in a hammock on a balmy, breezy day.
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How about some stats from your latest road trip (where, mileage, types of cargo,
expenses, income)?
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This trailer - new or used? Price ranges? Life expectancy? Repair/maintenance
expenses? Advantages of owning vs leasing(?)?
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You open up an interesting world of knowledge that the vast majority of us
didn't even think to wonder about until you let us in.
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On second thought -- I guess I'm sayin' "ENOUGH DAMN DOWNTIME, GET BACK TO WRITING!!!"
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[Tobin S.]

10. lol!

I plan on staying out on the road as long as I can tolerate it and then getting some home time. That appears to be about 6 weeks at a time. I started this gig on the 10th of July and in that time, before now, I was home for 2 days. That was a bit much I think, at least starting out after being a local driver for a while. But I plan on staying out as long as I can.

I'm averaging about $1.40 a mile. After expenses it comes to about 50 cents a mile in my pocket here in the early going, but I've had a lot of maintenance issues so I plan on my wage going up a bit as I get things sorted out with the truck.

I've been hauling what's called LTL freight which means less than truck load. Basically, the terminal loads up a bunch of freight going from anywhere from 2 to 5 places. I take it and make the deliveries. Cincinnati is my home terminal. From there I generally go out to the west coast, either Seattle or L.A. From there I catch another LTL load coming back to somewhere close to Cincinnati and around and around we go.

As for what I haul it can be anything they can shove in the trailer. Hazmat, fake flowers, paper, vault doors, clothes, dry goods, and anything you can put in a box- literally anything that you can fit into the confines of the trailer.

[Angel]

9. Ohio has many beautiful points..including yours

Winter with the beauty of fresh fallen sparkling snow , and to be the first to walk upon it. To snuggle under blankets with mugs of hot chocolate and hide from the outside world. The smell along with the beauty of fall. The foothills of the mountains blooming with color. Crisp weather inviting you inside for a cup of warm cider and fresh baked pie. Spring with it's earthy smell and green beauty promising you warmer days yet to come. Summer..with temps below 100 degrees ( unlike Texas where I am now), enjoyable weather where cooking on a grill does not send you into a massive sweat.

I enjoy reading your OTR updates along with the photos. A Buckeye, born and raised, I will return there as soon as I sell the house here, thank you for a glimpse of home for me.

[Tobin S.]

11. You nailed it

:thumbsup:

Here's to getting that house sold quickly. :toast:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

12. peace

Tobin.

:)

[TZ]

13. As a native of Ohio let me be honest and say

While there are certainly some nice areas (down towards the Ohio river for instance) the state itself is rather boring and flat in my opinion. I HATE HATE HATE the drive from WV to Cincinnati, god knows I've done it enough. Snooze fest. I think you are rather lucky getting to drive all over the place.
You have a nice view though. Better than mine (and I live next to a state park but overlook a parking lot, d'oh!)

[Enthusiast]

14. I love the

heavily forested portion of Ohio to the Southeast. I'm crazy about the majestic old trees. And I love my Buckeye football and basketball teams.