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I was overseas and had a sales guy sell me a fund from Invesco but was based on the isle of Jersey, apparently beyond the reach of information demands, I later found. Totally the wrong investment vehicle as I wasn't trying to hide funds. I finally got my money out after it losing for a couple of years. It wasn't much but was my principal anyway.

Some good advice there 5Wood.

I bought custom bed mattress and cabinets, as well as leather recliners custom med in a few days from Hilo industries in Chanute Kansas. They make all the furniture for NuWa HitchHiker trailers. They custom make furniture, window treatments, and cabinets for any RV. Great quality. You can visit and in a week drive away completely redone at relatively inexpensive prices. http://www.yellowpages.com/chanute-ks/mip/hi-lo-industries-inc-2169184

He bought the one he sold me a long time ago. And he has no fiver as he sold that too but that's god info. I'll pass it along when he comes out to do the sheetrock work on our new place whenever it dries up enough to build the pad and pour the concrete. Like I said if I get to use mine I'll post here. If you are first I'd be interested in any actual use tips you might have too.

Hey all, I have bought one for less than half price and the one I got was used because the guy had a welding flatbed on his truck and the gooseneck ball was below the deck. Fine for Gooseneck trailers, but the Andersen needs the ball level with the bed to even install. So it was new except for a heavy coating of dust on it. In any event, don't everybody go out and buy one for their short bed from my post because I have not talked to anybody using one yet. I have corresponded with a new member here who did an unboxing video but seemed to want me to go look at the sales videos. I want to correspond or talk to someone who had a 6.5' short bed and has used it on the road. Or at least did a 90 under his fiver with it. I hope it works as advertised. I am going to go down to the local dealer and see if he can give me references to anyone with one locally. I don't normally buy without seeing new stuff in action, but this one was too cheap not to buy. If it works on a full size bed and is as stable and strong as they claim I'd install a Gooseneck Hitch in my long bed that turns over od can easily be removed. If any of you with long beds disregarded the video for that reason check them out. If you don't have the bandwidth for the video oh well. But for those who do, the 12 minute one shows them collapsing the aluminum one in the press, then hitching an 18 wheeler full size trailer to it, with two sand buggies in it, and travel to the dunes at 65 mph or so for a half hour drive. All on the crushed hitch. I gotta tell ya it is impressive, and at the same time I thought testing on the open road to be a bit over the top with a damaged hitch. You gotta see the video regardless. https://www.youtube....h?v=qMW-ynhTatA

Or this, like I bought but have yet to try as I'm looking for the fiver, used, now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJDZrmzBa3c And check out tossing one around in their new aluminum one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMW-ynhTatA

I only wanted two stocks, Apple at 50 in 2005 when they announced they were switching to Wintel x86 chipsets, and I chickened out, and then Tesla, which IPO'd just after I retired again at 58 and had my business account doing nothing and making nothing in a preferred USAA savings account. We too have Tricare and her USAA funds 401k, coupled with our retirement, real property, and some liquid and we don't even need to take anything either, all dividends are reinvested. We can live on my retirement and she has SBP for 50%. No bills but utilities, food and fuel. But you guys were two officer retirements. My wife tried to come in but was deaf in one ear from a childhood infection. She just read recently that that has been changed and in some cases even taking deaf folks? But if she didn't say, no one could tell as her hearing is excellent, if not directional. Now that still po'd her because she was turned down in 1975. It doesn't matter how someone retires or what they do to another, all that counts is they are happy. I was actually trim and active but gained 50 pounds when I quit smoking, and my back injuries from the military and paid VA service connected also got pretty bad. I have finally decided on the neck and lumbar surgery before I get any older in January. Military life is tough on our frames. Got my bucket list done as we went fulltiming for 7 years on retirement at age 45. Now that was good timing in hindsight. I hope to be back on the road in another month or so part time. I bought my truck to tow with a couple of weeks ago. I am an optimist about the Laser Spinal surgery folks. Well met Karen.

Karen, My younger brother who never drank much, stopped smoking decades ago, and ran three times a week without anyone even chasing or threatening him. At 56 in 2010 my SIL heard a thump when he went to bed upstairs, and thought he dropped something. After a minute she wondered if he was OK and went up to check and my kid brother was dead by the side of the bed. Massive MI. But his doc and wife were shocked as he was always the healthiest, like Jim Fixx. My point is that I am the one who smoked three packs a day, and two packs/day most of my life not quitting until the month before he died. Drank my share overseas and in military functions when we toasted the entire chain of command from the CIC down to members of the mess. I am the one healthy as an ox. He didn't even get to 62. I am glad I planned for the best, meaning not worrying about the worst. Reality, what a concept.

Us too! My SH won't be eligible for two more years at 62, but she has no other retirement we have just mine, and now my SS. However my retirement continues at 50% for her but most importantly the health benefits remain the same for her should I kick the proverbial bucket before she does. Our plans were predicated on 0 bills and paid for property/home/vehicles and no other liabilities. We buy one to four years gently used and also save the finance charges for all vehicles and real property, which in a house can double the cost over a 20 year mortgage.

In reading back through this thread that started in 2011 by Cindona I'm struck by my original and maturing attitude to investments, the stock market, and those who invest in it. Early on I was a newbie, but a newbie who came to the stock market after following Elon Musk for years, especially when he started Space X with his money from selling PayPal to eBay, then when he got involved in Tesla. There were many more bitter folks here who lost big in the post economic meltdown of 2007/8. I was new to it so the valuations folks and the "stock experts" calculating said Teslas was a fraud, can't be done,and was a pump and dump, in the years I wrote about them here from 2003-2007 when they had no car in production, and came in with their plainly stated goal. They were going to rid the world of fossil fuel burning cars. The Model S, the Model X in 2015, the megafactory to bring down the price of batteries, and then the lower priced consumer car. These are American cars in concept design and even parts. American workers, American manufacturing from the ground up, because of American innovation. Any one who listened, and bought say $50k into it at 22.50 the three times that happened, would find today it would be worth today, four years later, $627,000.00. The markets have recovered, and the new focus on renewables is providing multiple opportunities to invest in addition to the blue chips and emerging technology. I am really happy with the market and my late in life decision to invest in stock. I think I'll leave it at that, and the rest in property and USAA managed funds.

Thanks Smitty, Sounds like you, while ahead of me by far in investment experience have the same results from buying low when everyone else is running to sell too late. And selling high off the top should it become necessary. I did not wait for full retirement age and took my first deposit last month as I turned 62 this past May. My SH is going to draw at 62 as well. We already lived on just my retirement when we fulltimed for seven years on retirement from the AF at 45. I believe the extra cash from a full second career would have made me miss a five year professional stint to earn enough to catch up to my goals for now, and not have netted me any more. It would, however, have caused us to miss out on the seven years land yachting when very young and able to physically handle whatever. I am so happy for you guys! I also bought my property when it was very low and just before the fracking gas boom here. It's worth three times what we paid for it in late 2003. Don't be too impressed, we took advantage of a sell cheap and save their credit rating liquidation, and it was worth twice what we paid then. We weren't going to touch our nest eggs, but did take a five year position for high compensation low job security that paid off. I could have stayed but my funds were enough and I pumped most of my salary into funds 2007/8/9. Then stayed with them, retired again and used my petty cash fund to get into Tesla on IPO in 2010. I was going to use $30k of that to build in solar here but then used it too as now solar is 20% what it cost then for components. And then I'd have bought grid connected, rather than wait a few years more for storage solutions just now coming into focus as a direct result of Tesla's impact on both land and space transportation. I don't time these things they just fall into place sometimes. It has been a good 16 years for us financially and personally, since retiring from the AF.

Welcome aboard Karen! We think very much alike I see. Good for you guys!

Wow! Popeye, that second link to the article on AV sending personal files back to the vendors is news to me. I thought I was aware, but I had no idea. I no longer use products from the manufacturers listed in it, haven't for years except on some new or test systems before loading them up with my personal files. This is because I can use email and my Internet until in a three week period I decide the new system is worth keeping. That way if returned very little to no data can be recovered even by forensics . And if I were under that much scrutiny I'm sure the "they" doing it could hack into all my data. I use the default Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Pro on my Windows 8/8.1 systems, and MSE on my Windows 7 systems and on setting up Windows on each new computer, or when I'm doing a factory reset, I opt out by selecting customize on those screens in addition to the same opt outs in setting up my AV. At least MS allows the opt out. No word there on Malwarebytes or Comodo. Thanks for that important info bud! Forewarned IS forearmed.

For those still reading here is a great in depth article about why I'm still in. http://marketrealist.com/2014/06/incredible-stock-whats-big-deal-tesla/

I can attest to Avira free being excellent in being quiet and auto updating as well as being top rated and free. I returned the Lenovo 8" tablet with Win 8 Pro and full Office. It was a one week test that told me none of the problems that Bitdefender had, or that Avast has according to your test of them Popeye..

Bitdefender's last answer: "Dear Derek, Thank you for your reply. We apologize for any negative experience you have encountered with our products or our support. Your feedback is appreciated, and will be directed to the appropriate team for review, to enable us to improve our support and services. Thank you for taking the time and please do not hesitate to contact us if you need further details from us. Have a nice day, Derek! Best regards, Valentina Dima Bitdefender Support Team"

I finally got a response from Bitdefender. I had written this to them: "I downloaded the free edition from your website. After it locked up my computer on install during downloading and locked me out of restart I finally got back in and all seems well. Now I get a screen telling me ti login and create an account. I do not want an account. Is that why it says 29 days left? I thought I downloaded a free AV and am testing this out for our group that previously used MSE. We can go to Avira free if this is a scam and says free but is really trialware. So what happens in 29 days, and if I do create an account does that remove the 29 day thingy? Thanks. Derek" They replied back with this non answer: "From: Bitdefender Support Team Sent: ‎Thursday‎, ‎March‎ ‎20‎, ‎2014 ‎6‎:‎18‎ ‎AM To: RV@rvroadie.com Dear Roadie, Thank you for your interest in our security solution, Bitdefender. In order to answer to your inquiry, we recommend you to repair Bitdefender Free Edition. In order to do this, follow the path from the Windows start menu: Start → All Programs → Bitdefender Free Edition → Repair or Remove. A new window will appear. Select the action you want to perform: Repair Installation - to re-install all program components. If the issue still persists, please send us a screenshot for being able to further assist you. Please follow the steps below in order to generate one: For windows 8: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/take-a-screen-shot Looking forward to hearing from you. Have a nice day, Roadie! Best regards, Valentina Dima Bitdefender Support Team" I sent them this response today: "You did not address my question about having to register a free program? Every person in our tech forum had severe problems installing it on, updated, infection free, systems running Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1. We have all already moved on, and now recommend all our friends and readers stay away. Avast free and Avira Free are being tested now with none of the problems e had with Bitdefender, as our possible candidates for endorsement on all of our websites including posts on Windows Secrets and all the RV forums. One thing I found ironic. Your removal tool worked faster than your installer did, and caused none of us problems. See our reviews here in several threads on this computer forum: http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=109694 http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=109873 http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=109873 http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=93503&page=5#entry684610 I won’t be back. RV"

Popeye, I told you it's been awhile since I had Avast on a computer! It is a circle with an a in it @. Ok update here. MSE and Windows Defender have been getting some bad press. So I checked the AV Comparatives Labs and AV-Tests results after reading that Kaspersky which is paid only, and Bitdefender were rated tops with Bitdefender was also chosen AV product of the year by PC Magazine. I checked and found that both Bitdefender, and Avira which came in third place had free versions so I posted the research and said I'd be testing them and recommended them based on the test lab results. Well all of us starting with Popeye then Wes and me, then we found Roger as well, all had the program crash, freeze up, mess up registries, and other issues on install. I thought it bricked my new tablet. Fortunately all of us got it off and didn't lose anything but time and stress. Soooo scratch Bitdefender. I had already tried Avast which was rated right in the middle of the top half of the AV Security products. Popeye is trying it again as none of us writing here have used it in a couple of years on our computers. I loaded up Avira Free and it loaded much better than Bitdefender. No problems yet. One thing I did notice about both Bitdefender and Avira is that both withhold some services until you open an account online and log in. Well, that kind of sets me against them. I went to Bitdefender support online and opened a support ticket on it asking about the account requirement. That was several days ago. I did the same for Avira today. We'll see. So far, as far as free programs go, it is Avira and Avast free programs that seem to be well rated and load safely. I am seeing some slow downs on the tablet running Avira on loading webpages. Checking to see if it is causing it or not. Seems to run fine so far.

Hey catfish! How are you feeling about it today at $259.00 a share? http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=tsla I've been outlining exactly what was going to happen to the fine folks here since before Cindona started this thread in 2011, about three years ago. And on these forums since 2003! My investment was not beginners luck. I knew what was coming. Elon never lies or brags, he just goes ahead and does what he already knew he could do. I am no longer playing with small money. Morgan Stanley just raised their target to$320! Don't sell until mid to late 2017 when we will know the final details of the megafactory for batteries and the Model E. We are well past the tipping point of changing the world. Most still won't accept that until it is far too late. Some folks still don't believe what is real. Some just resent being so wrong, so long. Is this market great or what?!

Don't feel alone Jim, I felt that way about Windows 8 a year ago before I had touch. I think I am going to sell the big 27" new desktop and get the 18" portable desktop and charging stand or similar. And pass along my great deal to someone who will use it. I realized being slightly nearsighted the quad HD is no good without sitting back enough to need my glasses! I don't need glasses to use my computers, kindles and analog readers with organic based reading panes. Anyway, they are coming out with a major revision to 8.1 in April, and while I like 8.0 it may get more confusing while they respond to the folks that won't change, buy a touch screen for their desktops, or make sure any new Windows 8 laptop has touch too. Anybody want a 2720 for less than half price email me. My email is in the clear and on my website. I love it on my tablets but I only had the Androids no iPads so I can't compare the two.

Yeah Avast does not have a bunch of spyware but lots of previously clean sites do. Use Bill's link. Also remember to avoid CNET downloads and that Major Geeks is always clean http://www.majorgeeks.com/ as is Filehippo http://www.filehippo.com/ but regardless always look for boxes that allow you to not download free offers. Read every part of every page, uncheck what you don't want and then you will likely be OK.

woohoo! Congrats! It was trading today at 74.53 - 79.86 so if not today, very soon it will be double what you paid. Any doubts it will, long term, double and triple? Then read this that just came out today. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2014/01/16/elon-musks-five-insights-into-solar-energy/?wprss=rss_technology&wpisrc=nl_tech Most folks won't read that link, it is too long, and like my early almost IPO investment in Tesla, most would have feared buying another block at $135.00 or so last month like I did. I almost bought more SCTY and now realize I would have doubled my money there instead of just 30%or so gains. Just proves I only know Musk and his companies. I am no investment guru. I do know we are about to have another Tesla short squeeze in the next month or three. I am thrilled for you. After reading the article perhaps you'll see where it is as long term as my Tesla stock is. You are going to get accused of being a tree hugger like I have by the deniers who hate to be the only ones left behind. Now if SCTY can, like Tesla, just keep up with demand, which they will, there are going to be a lot of folks not making fun of the investments, but still negative because they still won't understand. We are investing in the actual future as the tipping point has been reached. If I miss anything about them let me know.

Yep! But while it was trading @ $75.00 at noon, it didn't close at that. It closed @ $76.80

Last May I posted this in this thread: http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=93326&p=621313 Today it trades at $75.00 http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=scty&ql=1 I hope some of ye of little faith realize it isn't a fad anymore Toto.

Bob, That is not my entry. I bought in at IPO in 2010 for 17, then two more large blocks at 22.5. I took my original investment plus 5k profit off the table at 90 so even though a tidy sum at this point, it is all house money not mine. My goal is to leave it in there very long term now, at least to the Model E, which should be out in 2017, right after the Model X in 2014. This was just adding back in a block I had in cash earning nothing. Our other investments are our land and home all paid for, and USAA funds in abundance, as well as a military retirement and other assets. It will at least double or triple by then. On edit: Bob, if you haven't been following go to the page one and just read a few of my posts on the first two or three pages. That was 2011 well after my initial entry into Tesla.