The Best Option

The idea of spending a winter in Craig, Colorado, is really starting to freak me out. I didn't think this through when I accepted the teaching job here. And now I'm locked in.

When I first started calling on rentals after being offered the job, I found a couple of places for $1800 a month rent. One of them even included electric! These were just standard monthly rentals.

Then I started looking at the RV parks. The only campground in Craig wants $850/ month + electric. But they won't have a plug-in space for me until the end of November because all the spaces are rented out to hunters. Remember -- Craig is "the elk hunting capital of the world." Until they can give me a space, I can park in a field they keep mowed for $450/month. There's no electric in the field, so I'd have to rely on my solar panels while praying for a sunny late fall. Down in Rangely, I can plug in right away for the same price of $450/month plus electric. Since I only have to be at the Craig campus three days a week, maybe I could overnight in my van or office sometimes. The only thing is... I have an older RV. They need to see pictures to approve it staying there. I sent pictures. Twice. Even stopped by again to talk to someone in person. But no one's tried contacting me. This has been going on for two weeks.

I drove around town on Tuesday and called every number on a "for rent" sign. The realtor called me back and said to visit the website. A new apartment building owner called back. $850/month no pets. I told him I worked at the college and have a pet. He said he would consider it if she was a service animal. I could (and should) get her certified.

Then today....a gal in the office said she knows someone who rents out RV spaces in his yard. He has the electric and sewer hook-ups and everything. She told me where he worked, so I showed up at lunch.

"The sites are $900 a month and include electric. It's six miles north of town. Usually I don't have people staying all winter, but I can plow the snow so it creates a buffer from the north wind. Last year we got 26 feet."

Then we talked about skirting for the RV and heaters and plexiglass for the windows.

Is it too late to back out of all this now?