I don't know how many of you are in my shoes... but I've got no money to lay down for a down payment on buying a house.  Even though now is the time to buy, if you can pony up 10 percent or so and have decent credit... I'm not there.  I could sell all my Jeeps and still not have 10 percent down on a house.

I don't know if you know this, but I moved to So Cal to take the newly created Associate Editor posistion.  I was active on forums and had a buddy, Don (ZestyCJ7), who agreed to let me crash at his place for 6 months or so.  Well, 6 months quickly became 3 years, and it was long since time for me to find somewhere.

Every spare dollar I have goes to my Jeeps, so coming up with money for a deposit on a place was rough... and, face it, you can't work on Jeeps and write about it if you are living in an apartment... there will be no lack of people wanting to shut that down.

So, I needed a house.  I was basically renting a room in Don's house, and a storage unit where I kept my parts for testing, and my C-101.  I knew I needed a place with at least a 2-car garage, and out of the LA smog.

Well, I'm happy to say I'm now renting a place in Green Valley, CA, which is not only 20 miles closer to the office, but a much less congested drive to boot.

The downside?  While I was more than able to fill the garage... (and then some) I don't exactly have anything to speak of for furniture... and on the peanuts we are paid... it looks like it is camp chairs for my guests for quite a while.