Fortuitous Coincidence

If I were superstitious I would suggest divine intervention, or karma, or some such beneficent intervention of the universe on my personal mandala. It happens often enough in my life to support the hypothesis if I were not aware of how random and confirmation bias actually work.

I still do not know whether I have a job, and therefore a home, after June this year. I know my employers want to keep me, but up here in the Kimberley where most people are poor and the ratepayer base is thin in the first place, everything depends on Government funding. Without funding, nothing happens, including employment.

With this in mind, I have been thinking through what my possible exit strategy might be, and how I might manage my life in future. I am now mere months shy of the retirement age of 65 years. I had planned to work on until I could work no more, or at least until I had enough on which to manage.   As if that were likely.

A contingency plan was to offer my services as a relieving EHO to remote shires where the incumbent EHO is usually unable to take more than a week or so off without things falling badly behind.  If he or she needs extended leave, then there may be an opportunity for me.

This would necessitate me having a car and probably the means to cart my possessions around with me. Something in the form of a caravan or camper trailer. It also means I must get rid of a load of accumulated stuff.

I could not see a motorcycle fitting into this scenario too well. Given the amount I have ridden the Silver Lady since I came to Halls Creek, it seemed logical to sell her even though it breaks my heart to do so.  I made arrangements to get her down to Perth, where she is more likely to be bought.

Having made that decision, I thought I should start looking for a reliable but not too expensive 4WD. This basically means a Toyota Landcruiser; something like the Series 80 which has an excellent reputation, is old enough to be cheap, but not so old as to be a problem to maintain or find parts.

This is where the coincidence comes in. A colleague at work is about to retire overseas. A week or so ago he noticed that a Nissan 4WD was parked outside my unit and asked me if I had bought it. I told him no, a neighbour had parked it there, but I was thinking I should probably buy a Landcruiser soon. I told him why. He offered me first dibs on his 1992 series 80 Toyota Landcruiser.    I inspected it this morning. It is in excellent condition. He has looked after it beautifully, almost obsessively.  He is the second owner.  It goes well, feels good, and is fitted with all sorts of extras including second battery; lift kit, second fuel tank, 2-way radio. It has been really well looked after and is certainly worth more than the price he is asking. After a test drive this morning we shook hands on it.

At least now if I end up sleeping under bridges I will be secure.

This is not the one, but looks the same, except “mine” has bull bars.