Fingers Crossed for the GMC: Chasing Free Lumber and Freedom

You know what feels like real freedom? Not a fancy vacation, not some new shiny car — just the thought of getting my old 2003 GMC Envoy back on the road.

I’ve got a new computer for it, and a guy’s supposed to come swap it out today. If it works, that’s not just fixing a vehicle — that’s fixing my independence. Right now, I’m stuck waiting on my neighbor to make the Thursday run to the lumber yard for free wood. And every week, they roll in late. By the time they get there, the good stuff is long gone, picked clean. I’m left with scraps, if anything at all.

But if the Envoy fires up today? You better believe I’ll be there at 7am sharp on Thursday, ready to load up whatever they’ve got. Bricks, planks, pallets, hardwood — doesn’t matter. I’ll take it and put it to use. That’s how homesteads are built when you’re running on grit and free finds.

The timing couldn’t be better, either. I already scored a box and a half of big square tiles, and another buddy’s dropping off more tiles, some hardwood flooring, bricks, and blocks — all free. It feels like the pieces are lining up. And if I can haul my own lumber every week, that’s a steady stream of building materials to keep this place moving forward without draining my wallet.

Because let me tell you, nothing kills a dream faster than depending on other people who don’t show up when they say they will. I’ve been there, stuck waiting on promises while the work sits half-done. I’m over it. This Envoy running again means I don’t have to wait. I can grab what I need, when I need it, and keep pushing this homestead ahead on my terms.

So yeah — fingers crossed the computer swap does the trick today. If it does, you’ll know exactly where to find me Thursday morning: first in line at the lumber yard, hauling home free wood while everyone else is still asleep.

Because sometimes freedom doesn’t look like a big life change. Sometimes it looks like a beat-up 2003 GMC Envoy, loaded down with bricks and boards, finally back on the road.