I left Lake Tahoe April 10, 2018, taking my son with me to give my ex time, space and silence to complete a grad school paper.
I was in Reno 2 nights at the Grand Sierra Resort. I lost $800 playing blackjack then made $1200 on poker for a $400 profit. I then flew to Las Vegas for a week at the El Cortez. Once I was in downtown Vegas I bought in once for $300 and over the course of 3 days I worked that into $17,500 at the blackjack tables.
I’ve since had a set back of about $5,000 but I’m still hugey ahead.
New things are happening in my life. Great new things! First, I’m in love with a pretty young girl, and she with me. That’s just a joy, love is scary but so wonderful and just so natural and good.
Second I’m now officially living on the road, full time! Yep, I packed my bags and left Lake Tahoe for good, as far as having a full time residence here. I’m on the road to Las Vegas, next destination Philippines!
I’m looking at a view that sums up my situation in a picture:
Chris’s Martin and Stratocaster
Two guitars and hiking boots, that’s me in a nutshell right now. I’m homeless and traveling light on purpose, so I can be free to travel the world.
Well, that sounds glamorous and it is happening eventually, but so far I’ve only made it to the home of my ex-wife and son, 7 miles from my old condo. However, this is working out well right now, because I’m fixing her house and all its many problems in return for rent-free lodging. Which is just how this has worked out, for several reasons.
The primary of these reasons has to do with my ex. I have been paying her child support, but until two weeks ago I paid her directly. She wasn’t reporting all of those because she’s so busy, but last week she filled out and signed an affidavit in front of a notary, her fingerprints and all, stating that I was totally paid up. We sent that to the State of Texas that day, Friday March 23.
Once the state processes it, taking 10 to 12 business days according to them, it should clear a $20,000, over 120 days late note the State has put on my credit report. As you can imagine, that is quite a drag on my credit score – and in the USA c.2018 your credit score is vitally important. How US citizens allowed three private, for-profit companies come to decide whether they can get a job or place to live is s huge untold story I’d like to cover at another time.
The point here and now, is that I can sit here and help fix the ex’s house until the erroneous child support debt that I don’t owe is removed from my credit report, and my credit is perfect. And in fact since I’m not paying rent but only for repairs and food, and I’m not spending really at all, I have paid all debts to zero and I’m putting about $1,200 per week from income into savings for my travels. And I can also even spend a little on some travel items I’d like to have: a macbook or other laptop with recording studio software, a Fitbit Ionic, a “Triple Threat” MIDI pickup/converter for guitar and associated software, an outboard controller and a/d converter.
I get a profit distribution every two weeks. Today is April 4, 2018, the next distribution check is Friday, April 6; the one after that is Friday, April 20. Between the two checks I estimate I can put $4,220 in savings. That’s not much, but it’s enough to move to Vegas and Airbnb and be fine for two weeks until another check comes in. If I stayed another 2 weeks after that, to May 4, I can put another $2400 into that stack. That’s a possibility, too.
I’ve currently got land worth about $730,000 up for sale. If that sold while I was waiting here at the ex wife’s house, that would really make the wait worthwhile, even if I waited all summer! But with ranchland and that much money, you never know when it might sell.
Other reasons I’m waiting here for at least 2.5 more weeks: I’ve gotten my mountain bicycle repaired, which I want to ride here then ship to Vegas. I’m also getting all my guitars re-setup, strung and strobed and straightened, so I can take one of my hotrod electrics on the road with me and play using the MIDI interface I will attach to it (see above: travel toys).
So, staying with ex and son makes the most sense for me right now. It’s just funny how things circle back as and how life’s twists and turns take you.
