Fund a camper van or small RV for us to live in

Hi, I'm, peggy.

The first goofball is Jinx. Shes a 9 year old Southern bell. Jinx is a husky/shep rescue I found on a next day euth list in South Carolina. She's been with me for 8 interesting years.

(Tore the stuffing out of their mattress trying to get treats!!)

Sammy's my 15 yr old black lab. She's been with me all 15 years. Sammy has hypothyroidism she takes meds for & she's prone to tumors, had a huge one removed a couple of summers ago. Rough!

(Loving the cool grass on a hot, humid day!)

We are currently living in my dying 05 Trailblazer. (Currently will not pass inspection & is in dire need of wheel bearings & both axles to the tune of $860). We survived our first winter last year living in it. Spent a good part of the winter in Vermont taking my youngest to work when his car died. Cramped, but reasonably warm & dry.

Bet you're wondering about the why..well, I'm on SSDI (844/ mo)...all kinds of health issues (ongoing battle with diabetes, triple bypass the summer of 2020, icky sores on my legs due to the swelling from congestive heart failure, & cuz that wasn't enough, lost the sight in my left eye due to a blood clot & walk with a cane). SSDI just didn't cover the bills, rent, food, vet care, etc., when we lived in a place, got behind & were eventually evicted.

In reality, I'm too poor to be "homeless". Oh yeah, I'm on housing lists, but even though my dogs are my ESAs (emotional support animals), I've faced discrimination because both dogs are over the weight limits, the wrong breeds or I am told I have to choose one by various property managers. So I have kinda been forced to choose living in the truck to keep my family together. Those with animals will get it..So before you go judging the crazy lady over getting rid of her senior dogs, please understand these will be my last. I'm too old, too many health issues. I couldn't do that. Not fair or kind...

(Sammy's the melloest dog ever!)

(Jinx was trying to hide from a storm)

The three of us are getting old (me, 61 this year). My girls are cuddle bugs & that just doesn't work in the truck, they have the back, I have the driver's seat. I desperately need to get my legs up to reduce the swelling.These beat up old legs have landed me a two week stay in the hospital, with cellulitis & encephaly after I was found on the ground outside of my truck, in a very confused state.

Sorry these are so gross, but it's what I'm living with....I'm lucky they don't usually hurt.

So there you have it, the down & dirty. Asking for financial help is not a skill I have, I've spent a lifetime advocating for others. Friends keep saying I need to do this, it's time we get help. My attitude has always been there are others who need it more than us, but honestly, I don't know if I have another winter in me, living in the truck..I thought that last year . Lol..& we made it.

So, I am looking to invest in a camper van, something that has space for a bed, sink, fridge, toilet, you know, the usual, or a small RV . A stove to cook on, out of the weather would be heaven. I love to cook/bake & that is one thing I truly miss. A space where I can crochet, do other crafts, read, store food so jinx doesn't get it.I'm not looking for fancy, don't need a great sound system or a tv, would love solar, but not a requirement. It does need to be mechanically sound with no leaks. I can do some things, (if I can reach, 4'10", ) build easy stuff. I'm a simple person with simple needs just trying to outlive my dogs. I can't imagine how Sammy would fare at the pound. Jinx came out of one, but I can't imagine the trauma after having a home for so long...

Keeping my family together is the most important thing to me. I don't know how to express my gratitude for any help, words just don't seem adequate!

$10,000 is an arbitrary number. I've seen Van's for a lot more & a lot less. Figured if I found a cheaper van/RV, the extra would go to registration & any increases in insurance & to cover any necessary repair costs.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I can answer questions you have, read other ideas/options. Please spread the word..I appreciate it...

peggy, Sammy & Jinx