Skip to main content

Survival in a Rural Area (Repairing a Van Door's Hinge)

Every year I become more interested in how animals 'make a living' in a land that is nothing but rock, aridity, bark, and pine needles.  There are lots of rodents to eat -- maybe that keeps the food chain going.

If a city-slicker lands in a small town, and sees none of the big box retailers they are used to, they probably think they can't survive.  But then they discover there are more possibilities than they thought, initially.  Besides, these days all you need is a post office and you can buy so many things online.

One thing that rural areas are good at is welding/repair shops.  Recall from a couple posts ago, how my van had a hinge/door bond fail.  Without too much trouble I found a welder.  He thought that hinge was glued to the door; was he being facetious?  Although I strengthened the bond by screwing through the hinge into a wooden block installed inside the door, something more permanent seemed desirable.

Here is the welded door hinge.  Not too pretty.  If it is strong, it was worth the $30 I paid.



It is unusual for this blog to write about the "how to" of being an RVer.  But the price of everything is going up so fast, we have to help each other become more self-sufficient.


Comments

Ed said…
You are so very right. I survived last summer with a post office that functioned very well in a small town, population (2020) 293, and a general story that would order what I wanted. No two day delivery so you must plan ahead rather than live for the moment.

I was even able to get an emergency failed ignition coil and spark plug replaced in that small town. I plan on going back there this summer and get a full tune up.

The summer before that I was served by a post office in a small town, population 1,323, that had a post office with NO home delivery. Everyone had to have a PO Box and I was given one FREE while I was staying there. There was no market in that small town because a larger, population 4,683, was a reasonable drive away where there was a good market; not a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's but adequate.

country folks can survive
a country boy can survive
country folks can survive
A Country Boy Can Survive Lyrics by Hank Williams Jr.
Ed, you survive in even smaller towns than I do! A Dollar Store would probably make a place a real metropolis for you. (grin)
Barb in FL said…
Moved to FL from a small town in WI. (pop 1200) Only had a minimart/gas station. Back then was horrified to buy one pound of cheese for $7. Almost normal price now. As you said, bigger stores available within 15-30 minute drive.

I've been boycotting Amazon for years. First the malls decimated most downtowns/mom & pops. What few survived or started since then, and the malls, Amazon has taken a huge hit at. Looking to get out of FL to find another small town. All I can think is what my Alzheimer riddled MIL would say over and over and over ~ "Where do you think you'll go, Barb?"
Yes, Barb, I hate to see downtown businesses fail, but as somebody who has lived in a small town I get very frustrated with their outrageous prices and erratic hours. Maybe these small stores need to shift to services rather than selling items/goods.
Nice to support the local businesses, but actually carry a small stick welder. I've used it more to help others out.
Be Safe and Enjoy!

It's about time.