Buying a bit more stow space
For over a year now, we’ve been van-free. After careful analysis, we realized that the need for seven seats and sliding side doors had disappeared. A question of changing demographics.
What to do, then, with the cargo question? Our little Versa isn’t “versatile enough” to allow transport of large objects; say, a couch. We turned to the local rental agency to get around the sudden need. And so, unable to reach their office by telephone, we dropped in and cut a deal. In return for open-ended fees, we could have a newish van with stowable seating. Twenty-four hours worth of driving time. Etc.
Yesterday was a perfect road-trip kind of day. Bright sun, little wind, hours of time. Down the winding road to the lakeside retreat, where we lugged and shoved the couch into the rear of the rental. A quiet family lunch and then back to the big city. A short stop at my local surplus store assured me that my basement didn’t require any empty ammo boxes, or rolls of web belt. Ditto for the cheap unmatched socks.
I collected trip data with the GPS, because I don’t trust those who charge by the kilometer to have accurate metrology. Truth be told, their reading was with 100 meters of mine. We still paid an overage, but I put that down to retail practices that don’t bear argument. Think of it as a backhanded manner of extracting a tip.
And now we’re back to being a small car family. The punctual need for carrying capacity was handled with money. Like everything else in life.
