I spend a lot of time here. A. Lot.
The majority of my business life for the past 17 years has been spent reading, monitoring, administrating, nurturing and fussing over this online community, and the thought occurred that maybe my site consumption methods might be similar to one or two out there. Having worked decades in the ‘real’ business world before this, with a lot of that time spent staring at cubical carpet, I thank GOD every day I don’t do that now.
So my rig? Usually one of following three.
Method 1:
The current main office of VAF (global HQ). A chair, a stool and a laptop. New window 37 years in the making.
In 2024 the original, 37 year old windows in the master bedroom were replaced with what you see here (you could hardly see through the old ones). This glass represents several King Air 350 SIC side job day trips. It was worth it. Every few months, after a few more trips, we work on another window or two. Many more to go. Back in the day I turned part of one of the spare bedrooms upstairs into an office of sorts, but since the new glass arrived I haven’t left this spot. Dictation software, cloud storage, smart phones and laptops have kind of made my traditional office go the way of the full size desktop computer, if you want that. I want that. Took nearly 60 years to get this office view. I like it.
We’re thinking of turning the previous space into a dedicated yoga area for Susie to host her free Zoom-based classes for cancer patients (www.yogabridge.org).
A throw pillow in the lumbar, legs up on the bar stool, blanky over said legs and laptop in the spot it was named after - whole apparatus positioned to whichever direction gives the best sunlight. Usually north in the morning, west afternoon. The Cypress tree visually explodes with bright green when the sun gets near the horizon. We tore down the rotting deck that used to be out there a couple of years ago, and that should explain why there is a sort of misfit forest of strangely shaped trees and bushes. I like them just the way they are. And that includes the lopsided cedar that is our creek-facing Christmas splash. It has a patina, like our two decade old RV, and is beautifully flawed.
I usually leave one browser tab dedicated to ForeFlight Web so I can see what traffic is being vectored onto the inbound course of 18R at DFW. They appear in a gap between the trees and fly over the top. The occasional Lycoming always gets my attention.
When the work cycle gets heavier and more intense than usual, this lon/lat and FOV does a wonderful job keeping the mental gyros aligned. Hours don’t seem so much like hours.
The other guys at work who have checked in so far (www.audubon.org/app):
The laptop is also the method of choice most evenings, sitting in the reclining chair winding down before going to bed.
Method 2:
When VAF HQ switches from tower to departure, the rolling annex Doig* comes into play. Model Y - Texas made (11th digit of the VIN identifies build location). When parked, I have a driver profile named ‘LAPTOP USE’ that lowers the seat as low and aft as possible. Same with the wheel, only IN and UP. The armrest ends up being a pretty perfect mouse/trackpad. Browser on the central screen for additional reference. Tethered iPhone hotspot. Surprisingly comfortable, climate controlled, heated seat, podcast playing and able to take/make calls over the speakers. At 52F I can usually be found parked somewhere with a view of the runway. Friends in RVs hopefully in the FOV.
Method 3:
Panda Express enjoying the Orange Chicken it's the iPhone 14. Safari app wrapper (open site in Safari on iPhone/iPad and click ‘Share’, then ‘Add to Home Page’). You get some useful, additional buttons at the top and bottom of the screen that don’t normally appear when viewed through the browser only.
Impressive technology all.
28 years in on this version of a RV-focused website, 17 full time. Hopefully 28+ more to go, Good Lord willing.
Got a picture of your VAF viewing setup? Looking forward to seeing it if you feel so inclined. I’m sure somebody has a better rig, with a view of a runway or snow covered mountains, but I’m pretty happy with my spot. The trees are turning and there’s a nice sampling of color. The bluebirds should be swarming here in a bit.
Reporting from the Sagittarius arm of the medium sized galaxy ‘Milky Way’…mostly dictated…over Wi-Fi…watching a bird…thinking about the oil change I still need to finish. It’s cold outside. Leave me alone. Get off my lawn.
v/r,dr
PS: Transport. When the VAF office goes from chair to Doig*, or on a contract trip side gig, it’s in a Maxpedition Condor backpack. The current one they sell is apparently a little improved over my 10+ yr old version, but this is really close. Pert near indestructible. I’ve treated it horribly. It mocks me.
PSS: My airplane came to life during a time when laptops really weren’t in the shop. I’m looking forward to maybe seeing some pictures in this thread of people who have computers near where they build their RVs.
*wife misspelled my name on a text and it made her laugh. Doig it is.
The majority of my business life for the past 17 years has been spent reading, monitoring, administrating, nurturing and fussing over this online community, and the thought occurred that maybe my site consumption methods might be similar to one or two out there. Having worked decades in the ‘real’ business world before this, with a lot of that time spent staring at cubical carpet, I thank GOD every day I don’t do that now.
So my rig? Usually one of following three.
Method 1:
The current main office of VAF (global HQ). A chair, a stool and a laptop. New window 37 years in the making.
In 2024 the original, 37 year old windows in the master bedroom were replaced with what you see here (you could hardly see through the old ones). This glass represents several King Air 350 SIC side job day trips. It was worth it. Every few months, after a few more trips, we work on another window or two. Many more to go. Back in the day I turned part of one of the spare bedrooms upstairs into an office of sorts, but since the new glass arrived I haven’t left this spot. Dictation software, cloud storage, smart phones and laptops have kind of made my traditional office go the way of the full size desktop computer, if you want that. I want that. Took nearly 60 years to get this office view. I like it.
We’re thinking of turning the previous space into a dedicated yoga area for Susie to host her free Zoom-based classes for cancer patients (www.yogabridge.org).
A throw pillow in the lumbar, legs up on the bar stool, blanky over said legs and laptop in the spot it was named after - whole apparatus positioned to whichever direction gives the best sunlight. Usually north in the morning, west afternoon. The Cypress tree visually explodes with bright green when the sun gets near the horizon. We tore down the rotting deck that used to be out there a couple of years ago, and that should explain why there is a sort of misfit forest of strangely shaped trees and bushes. I like them just the way they are. And that includes the lopsided cedar that is our creek-facing Christmas splash. It has a patina, like our two decade old RV, and is beautifully flawed.
I usually leave one browser tab dedicated to ForeFlight Web so I can see what traffic is being vectored onto the inbound course of 18R at DFW. They appear in a gap between the trees and fly over the top. The occasional Lycoming always gets my attention.
When the work cycle gets heavier and more intense than usual, this lon/lat and FOV does a wonderful job keeping the mental gyros aligned. Hours don’t seem so much like hours.
The other guys at work who have checked in so far (www.audubon.org/app):
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The laptop is also the method of choice most evenings, sitting in the reclining chair winding down before going to bed.
Method 2:
When VAF HQ switches from tower to departure, the rolling annex Doig* comes into play. Model Y - Texas made (11th digit of the VIN identifies build location). When parked, I have a driver profile named ‘LAPTOP USE’ that lowers the seat as low and aft as possible. Same with the wheel, only IN and UP. The armrest ends up being a pretty perfect mouse/trackpad. Browser on the central screen for additional reference. Tethered iPhone hotspot. Surprisingly comfortable, climate controlled, heated seat, podcast playing and able to take/make calls over the speakers. At 52F I can usually be found parked somewhere with a view of the runway. Friends in RVs hopefully in the FOV.
Method 3:
Panda Express enjoying the Orange Chicken it's the iPhone 14. Safari app wrapper (open site in Safari on iPhone/iPad and click ‘Share’, then ‘Add to Home Page’). You get some useful, additional buttons at the top and bottom of the screen that don’t normally appear when viewed through the browser only.
Impressive technology all.
28 years in on this version of a RV-focused website, 17 full time. Hopefully 28+ more to go, Good Lord willing.
Got a picture of your VAF viewing setup? Looking forward to seeing it if you feel so inclined. I’m sure somebody has a better rig, with a view of a runway or snow covered mountains, but I’m pretty happy with my spot. The trees are turning and there’s a nice sampling of color. The bluebirds should be swarming here in a bit.
Reporting from the Sagittarius arm of the medium sized galaxy ‘Milky Way’…mostly dictated…over Wi-Fi…watching a bird…thinking about the oil change I still need to finish. It’s cold outside. Leave me alone. Get off my lawn.
v/r,dr
PS: Transport. When the VAF office goes from chair to Doig*, or on a contract trip side gig, it’s in a Maxpedition Condor backpack. The current one they sell is apparently a little improved over my 10+ yr old version, but this is really close. Pert near indestructible. I’ve treated it horribly. It mocks me.
PSS: My airplane came to life during a time when laptops really weren’t in the shop. I’m looking forward to maybe seeing some pictures in this thread of people who have computers near where they build their RVs.
*wife misspelled my name on a text and it made her laugh. Doig it is.
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. The monitor is the one extravagance from the 2023 AMZN Prime Day, and currently shows your picture of Desert Rat's picture of your picture. Wallpaper is sunset at our friend's place on Cat Island, on our 25th Anniversary...another smile 
. On the road, I'm on VAF on a 2012 MacBook Pro...the PC below the monitor is for my logbook and JPI EZTrends...my only two PC-based apps. Merry Christmas amigo!
. Reusable glass & tools 
