A/C, skylight, and one fan down

Long weekend was a relief because we got to both work hard and rest hard. Peter got a jump on me getting to RI, so the A/C was 98% removed when I rolled in Thursday night. There were at least 25 screws and most were so badly rusted that he turned them into flat-head screws with the diamond blade. He set up a ratchet inside the Airstream, pressing on the inside bottom of the A/C unit to give it some tension, so when the last three screws were done, things happened fast! We slid the A/C off the roof onto the scaffolding and then Peter gave it the old heave-ho.

Friday morning we got to work on the left-behind sealant with scrapers and mineral spirits and Goof-Off. Peter got impatient and put a wire brush on the drill (we had used for getting rust off the frame) and BOOM, like magic, clean mounting surface. We enlisted some help to lift the new A/C onto the roof and four giant bolts later, tada! It was like, too easy? Ease of installation is the reward for what a pain the demo and prep is.

I put sealant and Flexseal in the old screw holes and shortly after that it started pouring, so we went to Home Depot and bought some #12 and some #14 wire. Our external indicator LED lights came, so we popped the orange ones off and installed those. They didn't come with ring terminals for grounding to the shell, so we bought some of those, too. Most importantly, we bought some Plexiglass, weather-stripping and jigsaw blades so Peter could make a skylight cover. I drilled out rivet stubs in the frame to prep for skin reinstallation while Peter tested and installed his handiwork.

Our Fantastic Vents had arrived also, and I was anxious to leave the Airstream as watertight as possible, so our last project for the day was to drill out the old vent and install the new fan. This task we actually felt the most prepared for, thanks to all the installation videos available on Youtube, this one being our fav. Peter's tip: be sure to drill the rivets all the way out the first time, not just the heads. He ended up having to drill twice. It took us approximately 90 minutes--our weekends feel so short, I am more cognizant now of the need to work quickly.

So pleased that the two major holes in our roof (the skylight and the front fan) are now plugged! And thankful for all the rain we got after the A/C install to test whether the sealant and Flexseal tape actually worked--it did! I still want to patch the hole left by the TV antenna mount (it has flashing tape over it at the moment--watertight but not longterm) but Peter is hoping to invest in an Olympic rivet grinding tool, and wants to avoid using pop rivets on the roof for the time being.

Next time: second Fantastic vent, external powerwashing and final leak inspection, wire mapping and running additional wires, and maybe beginning insulation??? I didn't inspect whether two weeks sitting out on the lawn had done anything to speed the remainder of the paint removal on the interior skins--but we bought some Citrastrip for next time. We also have clecos and, whoops, the tool you need to use them. The guy we were hoping to hire to weld the lift kit, axels, and outrigger repair sustained a tragic injury, so Peter may be tackling that task all by his lonesome on a more distant future date.

Paint removal and A/C installation prep

Lots of invisible work accomplished the past two weekends. First, we've started spending serious money. Bought an A/C unit! We chose the Coleman Mach 8 Cub with the heat pump. Peter pressed me for a reason I wanted this one over the Domestic Penguin II everyone else uses, and, I don't know. It's a little lighter and a little shorter and a little cheaper. It does not have a condensate pump, but we aren't planning on polishing our Rhody Stream, so that should be fine. 

The last of the subfloor went in while I was off having coffee with a friend. Peter discovered that the u-channel, the banana wrap and the shell were actually NOT ATTACHED in that corner. On a hunch he drilled out the outside trim after fitting the last subfloor piece, and lo and behold, it protruded past the shell by half an inch. It appears that the PO did some repairs along that back corner, and for some reason the banana wrap was reinstalled to nest over the shell instead of under. We had corrected this on the other side when we patched the hot water heater hole, but now that the subfloor was in, we didn't have that access to the u-channel any more. 

Peter sliced off the bit of protruding subfloor and re-riveted the banana wrap to the shell like the PO had, using about half a tube of sealant in the process. U-channel still needs to be reinforced to the shell, and subfloor needs a few more bolts into the u-channel. We will re-rivet the entire trim, but on the back part we may add a gasket of some kind to help repel water from that backwards seam. 

Various and sundry: We found the keys to the utility doors! Polyurethane went on the subfloor. WD-40 went on the window latches and they are smooth operators now! Peter build a scaffold to help us remove the old A/C unit and get it off the roof without breaking anything. The fact that his dad just had scaffolding hanging around is just another reason why I am so thankful we have the farm to be doing this project at. It would be a very different story in my parents' cul-de-sac or in the parking lot outside our apartment. 

The Fan-tastic Vent 1250 is on backorder because of coronavirus, which is a bummer, because one of two major leaks is coming from the old fan, so we were hoping to replace at the same time as the A/C. The other major leak is from our missing skylight cover; Peter's improvised Rubbermaid lid is not impregnable. We want a clear cover that can be cranked up and down like the original, but can't find such a thing available on the internet right now. May end up going with a Maxim skylight just for watertightness.

Speaking of, we leak-tested with a powerwasher once we had the A/C shroud off and still no drips aside from previously identified. Really impressed. PO clearly took a lot of care in sealing it up. We have been wanting to start on outside sealing, but the winter gave us a ton of mildew and even black mold on the outside, so it needs a good powerwashing. We have borrowed one from the fam, but turned out attention first to the inside skins. Peter removed all the remaining rivets and screws from the skins while I started scrubbing and paint-removing.

They had been sitting outside since we removed them last fall, which I had hoped would assist in the paint removal process. There is a layer of Kilz mold-killing primer, and under that some blue latex paint, and it does NOT want to come off. I alternated powerwashing and mineral spirits, but have 4 rounds the skins still have 60% of their paint still adhering. I didn't want to use anything too powerful because we are wanting to leave the vinyl on, and we are doing this in the yard, and the thought of toxic stripper draining into the well or the pond concerns me. We will try vinegar next, and if that doesn't work, Citrastrip. Dish soap has worked fine to get the grease, grim, and leaching glue off of the vinyl-only skins. 

Next visit: A/C installation, wire mapping and taping, external powerwashing, preliminary external sealing, and please, oh, please, completion of interior skin scrubbing. Peter is beginning to research door latch repair since we locked ourselves out one night. Getting quotes from electricians and attempting to map out our electrical system. Electric feels like the next big hurdle to getting the skins reinstalled, so I am anxious to start chipping away at that task. 

Rhody Stream Subfloor

Two weekends ago I walked into our Airstream shell and felt sick with dread--what to do next? Peter popped a cover on the broken skylight and propped the back belly pan into place, and then he suggested we go buy subfloor supplies. I so admire that my guy is a doer.  

When cutting out the subfloor last fall, he had left a narrow strip of plywood in the c-channel to prevent collapse, so while he worked on cutting the bolts to free those pieces (combo of a multitool and a diamond blade), I vacuumed out the grime and leaves that had accumulated during the winter, and started applying sealant (DAP polyurethane) to any little screw holes in the belly pan. We are attempting to go all-electric, so I also used aluminum tape to cover the propane holes. Water-tight for now, but easy access if we change our minds. 

Peter successfully extracted the front curve of the subfloor intact, so he was able to use this to trace the cuts without having to do any scribing. We used Dryply sheets that were slightly thinner plywood (I believe the original was 5/8, and we used 23/32) and I could not believe how easily it slid in. Peter did do a little banging into place, while I pushed on the c-channel from the outside, but after the horror stories we had read about shell-on subfloor replacements, we were both pleasantly surprised. 

I noticed a lot of people do the front all one piece, running the boards side to side instead of end to end. Doubtless there is a good reason for this, but we felt there was more rigidity and structure in using 6 pieces long-wise, and we used 1/2 plywood the reinforce the seams. For the back of the Airstream and for the side bath, we chose pressure-treated plywood in hopes that this will stand up better to any water exposure than the Dryply might. Peter also sprayed the edges with Flexseal. We put 3.5" mineral wool insulation below the floor. We also ran a conduit pipe from the area of the fresh water tank to the black water tank, just in case we decide to run any pipes or wires through the floor, we will be able to access either end even with the floor on. 

We did hit a bump with the screws. Since we were doing this shell-on, bolts were not an option, except in front of the door. The 1/4 stainless steel screws we had purchased kept breaking, even with meticulous pre-drilling and we were momentarily stumped. Turns out there are these 1/4 wood-to-metal self-drilling screws that are, unsurprisingly, called trailer screws. We got two kinds, 2 3/4 and 3"--the former worked much better, whereas the 3" needed a little pre-drilling. Those joined the c-channel and frame, and subfloor and frame, and we used wood screws on the seams and additional stability in the c-channel. 

The back curbside (right) subfloor installation was the worst because (1) Peter cut a slot for the black tank dump valve, which did not give us a lot of wiggle room to bang the floor into the c-channel without misaligning that slot, and (2) the c-channel had collapsed a bit AND pulled away from the skin, in part due to an accident that side apparently sustained, and in part due to wood rot near the hot water heater. Peter ended up shaving the bottom edge to give it a thinner, gradual edge, and I used a screwdriver to wedge the c-channel open while he banged it into place. 

While subfloor installation was underway, a few other things were addressed: we did our first rivets! We patched the hot water heater hole and ended up adjusting the belly wrap on that back corner, inadvertently banging a dent out. We also reattached the back belly pan and built a platform for the black tank to rest on. (No idea how it used to fit in there, did it really just rest on the two bars across the back frame???) It was pouring rain outside one of our work days, so we were able to find and patch a few leaks--though I have been extremely pleased with how water tight the outside shell has remained all these years! 

Memorial Day was rough because Peter's back was in bad shape, so once one half of the back was screwed into place, we called it a day and will put in the last piece next weekend. This decision also allowed us to delay figuring out what to do about the bird who built a nest in the interior of the old A/C unit. She still has access to her babies through the back belly pan, but that access will be gone when the last of the subfloor is in. We think the birdies will be old enough to leave the nest by then, but we will see. 

Our next priority will probably be electric and A/C installation so we can continue interior work without suffocating as the weather warms up. Sorry, no photos here! For visuals of the process check out @rhody_airsteam on Insta. 

Beginning our Rhody Stream renovation

We finished demolition in October, removing all built-ins, appliances, the subfloor, inner skins, and insulation. We grinded the rust off the frame and painted with Rustoleum before we packed up the project for the winter. Now, spring has sprung and it is time to start putting things back together.

Things I am encouraged about--the wiring appears to have been updated by the previous owner, so probably we won't have to replace it. Frame had shockingly little rust and only needs welded reinforcement in one spot. And my baby used to work construction (and also helped his family build their own house growing up) so he knows a lot of things that I don't know!

Things I am worried about--we are going to try to replace the subfloor shell-on. Everything I've read indicates that this is a pain in the rear. Also, I imagine the axels and tires need replacing, and maybe also the hitch, but I haven't the foggiest idea how we will be able to tow to a service center that can make said repairs.

When I feel overwhelmed starting a new project, I like to focus on what I've learned already. During demo I learned . . .

• How to drill out rivets
• How to use a power washer
• What a c-channel is
• The water tank layout and capacity for our rig
• What a p-trap is
• How to test rivets to see if they're sealed
• How propane-powered fridges work and why they need to be vented
• That there are these things called scrap metal yards and they will pay you money for your metal!

I comfort myself with the knowledge that it is possible for me to go from a blank slate to experientially educated. And the learning has not stopped just because the work has! Since quarantine and reno hiatus I learned . . .

• It's important to use a polyurethane (as opposed to silicone) sealant on your Airstream
• It's not smart to tool polyuerathane sealant with your finger
• What R-value is and the merits of various types of insulation
• The merits of various kinds of subfloor materials
• What a lift kit is and why we should probably install one

The goals for this weekend are, (1) to make a dump run with all the demo'd junk we left in the yard, (2) to inspect, grind, and Rustoleum any rust that may have accumulated during the winter, (3) to assess and procure materials for repairing the center skylight, and (4) to commence sealing the outer shell. The latch to our door also needs to be repaired (it locks us out when fully closed), but I don't know how to do that, so it may need to wait for a future weekend. I have never caulked before, so wish me luck!

I have been consulting the following resources: The Greatley's Airstream Remodel, Drivin' and Vibin', Running from Ordinary, Restoring a Dream by Tim Shephard, Tin Can Homestead by Lawyer and Bashaw, and of course, the Airforums.

Preliminary Thoughts on Marriage

Today we will have been married for three (3) months.

It feels like maybe we are just a dating couple that is cohabitating, in that we are still very polite and gentle with each other. (Still, in a warm and respectful way, not in a shy way.) I only know we are married because we are so much happier than when we were dating. No longer long-distance and no longer insecure. We are bonded to each other now, and so we live with the comfort of this assurance--this person will not leave me alone.

He went to the grocery store on Sunday morning, and I stayed behind out of consideration for the store's capacity rules. I looked around the apartment grasping for some way to spend this rare time alone. I found that I missed him! After three months of non-stop togetherness, all day every day, I discovered I had no suppressed activities waiting in the wings for his non-presence.

I find butter and crumbs and coffee dribbles and mysterious sticky spots all over the kitchen counter and cabinet handles, and I smile to myself. He is like my dad this way, and also, if my dad is still doing this at 59 years old, I cannot have high expectations that my guy will cease this low-grade messiness during our marriage, so I might as well learn to accept it.

Then I wonder, what if it's actually me??? Do I leave butter and crumbs and coffee dribbles all over the kitchen? No way to know . . .

There is something we grieve about. I have not taken to sex half as easily as I expected I might have, and while I was not naive enough to think there would be no learning curve there, the challenge is not at all what I expected it might be. Our efforts to progress have not really met with any fruition, and in our helplessness and disappointment, we are unsure of how to proceed.

Still, it is touching to me that we grieve together. 

It is a blessing to be together.

Drama

My sister confronted me on Easter about my neglect of our relationship since quarantine started. Thinking of my previous post pricked my conscience. 

I made me feel angry and defensive, because if you look at the facts, I had done nothing wrong. I had not neglected her. But my defensiveness was shadowed by guilt, because I knew she was nevertheless correct, because I knew I was going through the motions, that my efforts were not sincere. And regardless of who is "correct," her feelings are still there. 

What do I do with that? I asked my husband. His advice was so good. Don't be bitter. Keep reaching out. Reach out in a way that can be sincere for you. And bless his heart, he was even more concrete. Send video messages on Instagram, boom. 

I think my sister wants me to bare my soul to her, and this is a good desire and it is possible to have this between sisters. I want to be close to her, too, but how can I trust her to extend me grace for the things on my heart if she cannot extend me grace these other grievances of distance and inattention? 

I know I can't be petty and bitter. I know I have to forgive and extend her grace for her insecurity. But it is also painful to be judged by her. I imagine she feels a similar pain in the distance. So she and I, we are trying to parse that pain and get closer, but maybe we have different ideas about what that looks like. 

I thought maybe I distanced from others in order to protect them from me failing them, but maybe it is also possible that I distance from others in order to protect myself how uncomfortable it is to be humble and soft-hearted and forgiving. 

Confession

I have avarice. I did not know this was the word for it. I did not know how to describe my fear of connecting with and investing in others. 

But it is true that I want to direct how I spend my time. It is true that I am uncomfortable with the expectations others make of me. It is true that I worry about letting people down, and instead of working tirelessly to make sure expectations are met and people are affirmed, I withdraw, I resent their needs, I resent their claims on my time and emotional resources, or I feel no guilt in setting boundaries that are too firm and too conservative. Too many texts and calls go ignored because, "I just can't." 

It is avarice.

And it has failed to protect me from the guilt and pain of not being there for others, because the more I distance and resolve to meet my own needs, the more needy I feel. 

But I have heard, that in His great mercy, He has promised to turn my guilt into innocence. He has promised to fill me with His infinite resources. He will make me enough for others. He will cover me when I fail them. He will heal the pain that inevitably crops up in the midst of closeness. He will make it possible for me to start anew, every single day. 

He commands me, do not be afraid. I cannot fear hurting others. I cannot fear being drained of my resources. I cannot fear burnout. I cannot fear their expectations. I cannot fear being tied down. 

If I can count on Him, He will make it possible for me to reach out. For me to build others up. For me to be there for people. For me to have friends that give life and not pain, guilt. 

He is infinite. He is everlasting. He is a well that does not run dry. Drink as much as you need, He says. Your weaknesses are not a problem. I can make goodness from your feeble and fractured attempts. I believe He really will take care of me. 

runDisney Redoux

I have chronic feelings of restlessness. I like to be working towards something, because it brings structure and discipline into my otherwise self-indulgent existence. So because I'm an achiever, I decided to run a marathon. And after I ran the marathon, I thought, okay, I'm done now.

But it was the weirdest thing.

I missed running.

I like what training my body to do something hard had done for me. I hated that my marathon completion didn't feel like a real victory. (I walked the last five miles feeling like I was going to puke and barely clocked a sub-five, soooo.) I thought, I can do better. I registered for a half-marathon. I broke the sub-two threshold. I thought, I might be a runner. But I won't know for sure until I finish another marathon, this time the right way.

I started training on September 5. I'm using the Hal Higdon Intermediate I plan, which is new for me because I have never worked out six days a week before. I asked my cousin--a Higdon devotee--why there were so many junk miles in the plan, and he rhetorically inquired what a junk mile was. I'm still in the shiny and enthusiastic phase where nothing hurts too much yet, I'm seeing immediate gains, and the mileage isn't so long that I can't have a social life. The temperature and the light outside is perfect. I know it's about to get harder, and then much, much harder.

Support makes running easier, though. My mom and my sister came to cheer me on last year, and I could have cried when I saw their faces on Main Street USA. This year I recruited my brother to run, and he texts me his running diary. My boyfriend gives me wake up calls to make sure I get going on time for those early morning workouts, and he always listens attentively when I am droning on about plyometric exercises and injury worries and how I think I'm getting faster. "You are getting faster!" he texts me, with a bicep emoji.

If I'm a runner, I'm still a relatively new one. I feel like there's so much I don't know. How long and at what intensity should I bike on my cross-training days? What rep and weight goals should I have for my strength training regimen? Is it okay if I don't do my long runs slowly so long as I'm doing a speed and intensity that feels good? Is it really necessary that I use protein powder if I'm consuming 50 grams of protein a day anyway? I don't own a foam roller--am I actually really a runner?

When I don't feel like running, I listen to Kelly Roberts' pep talks. She reminds me that running is not complicated, but it is still important, because it is a tool to help us understand ourselves and strengthen our character. I listen to podcasts about history, or culture, or technology, or faith. I listen to hymns or worship songs. Sometimes I run without anything in my ears, and I breathe deep and look at the sky and focus on my footfall. Sometimes I pray.

How running helps me work out my faith is a very strange thing. I don't feel like it's accurate to call myself a runner. I feel like I'm never far from breaking the routine I've created: I skip one run and that's it, I've fallen off the wagon. But it's funny that I don't feel it's inaccurate to call myself a Christian. I've been trying to be one my whole life, after all. And yet, for the month of September, it might be accurate to say I've been more faithful to my training schedule than my daily devotional. I am hopeful that learning how to discipline myself to be a runner will help me discipline myself to be a better Christ follower. Much good running advice is also good faith advice: don't try to do more than you can, remember your why, push yourself to your mental limit, acknowledge your limitations, rest and refuel, keep trying and don't become discouraged.

I think running is good for my body, and my mental wellbeing, but I think the most compelling reason to stick with running is that it seems to be good for my faith.

runDisney remains prohibitively expensive. Because of my work schedule, I am flying in late Friday night, cheering on my brother Saturday morning, picking up my bib Saturday afternoon, running Sunday morning, flying out Sunday afternoon. Because my mom is a genius, we are staying at Hilton Bonnet Creek, where their marathon rates allow for late checkout at 2pm. Also proximity to Disney Springs should give us something fun to do Saturday afternoon during our down time. Flight + ground transportation + hotel + race registration means this weekend will cost approximately a grand per person--yikes!

But I'm a little boujie, and everyone needs their carrot on a stick.