Joy,

Perhaps I should have been clearer.

"you could want to avoid breakdowns when out of cellphone reach! Or out in the desert where you're not going to see anyone else pass by for 

three days. That kind of risk we don't need!"

My point exactly.

But then ... there is no "One size fits all".

We all have to do what we feel comfortable with.

lar

- - - 

Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2005 04:26:16 -0500

From: Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>

One comment on what you've said, Larry - living in a Vanagon is not high-tech manufacturing. In the business world it's all about money, and 

you can't afford the risk of a breakdown. Traveling in a Vanagon is about seeing the world, meeting people, and having a good time. 

Hopefully without too many deadlines or obligations, and with a fair degree of flexibility.

So living in a Vanagon you can afford to take a bit of risk - you don't need to invest everything in all efforts to prevent performance 

problems on the road. That might be less so for the folks taking a quick 2-week trip with their limited vacation, but when you're not 

working and just on the road, what's the cost of an unexpected breakdown? Some inconvenience and annoyance, yeah. But not the huge financial 

loss of a high-tech manufacturing plant being off-line for a few days.

Living in a Vanagon is partly about adapting to unanticipated changes in plan.

That being said, you could want to avoid breakdowns when out of cellphone reach! Or out in the desert where you're not going to see anyone 

else pass by for three days. That kind of risk we don't need!

Joy