Career Path > Outages

Outages on the Cheap

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darkmatter:
Alright, lets hear your stories of working an Outrage on the “Cheap”. Some of the newbie’s to migrant nuclear work might be inspired:

I pulled a tag-a-long RV for years and witnessed several innovations, I once saw a couple guys pull into the RV park with a Pop-up camper- they set up a picnic table and awning. They did all their cooking and living on the outside and just slept in the Pop-up. I would always beat them to the park at end of shift---they had to stop for ice and a case of beer each and every day, I was impressed.

I’ve also seen several versions of Tent camping for the outage.

I remember the guy living in a panel truck in the utilities parking lot, when the sun hit the side just right, you could make out the “Guys Potato Chips” emblem that had been painted over.

Then there was this tech at a northern plant where they had parking lot plug-ins for engine block heaters. He had a camper on his pickup and had run an extension cord up through the frame and out the front like it was a block heater cord and powered a heater and microwave with it.

And your story is?

RRhoads:
19 yrs ago, being at the same outage as Getz!
nuff said! ;)

darkmatter:
I should be ashamed of this one. My second outage I rented a motel room for a week in Manitowoc, Wisconsin and talked to the crafts at work about a place to stay. A crusty old fart told me about a sports bar that rented out rooms above the bar. I checked it out and ended up paying $10/week for the sleeping room with the bathroom down the hall---shared with the other renters. When I went down each week to pay my rent, the first beer was free. I was working 7-12’s back then and really cleaned up for that outage. I usually ate at the "Bud Williams" greasy spoon downtown for less then $3 a meal.

Cainnibl:
I have a few… prob not as cool and interesting as other could offer… and some stories are more convenient/efficient than “cheap”.

When I was working decon I traveled with 3 other friends that were also decon. We would usually find a place to share. Things got cramped sometimes and we often joked that not all of use would make it home from outage alive but we were good friends so we always forgave and forgot. Point is, rent was always cheap. Usually between $200 - 400 a month each.

Another fun one. The “Wal-Mart Rental program”…  So your staying at a “cheap” hotel/cabin/room for rent and it has a 13” BW TV… no problem… go to wal-mart and pick out something you like. Keep the receipt and return it at the end of the outage. Once “rented” a mini fridge from Home-Depot too.

My car has no passengers seat. I find I can even out the weight load front to back. The car handles better, I get less wear and tear on the rear suspension and don’t have stuff stacked up to the rear window blocking my view. Also my 12v DC Colman cooler keeps my Monster/RedBull/Gatorade/water cold for my 1000+ mi. trips AND is easily in reach while driving. Also the cooler has a 110 AC adapter and can stand up like a mini fridge.

I used to travel with a PS2 game system because I could play games or watch DVD’s. Served 2 uses and was compact. Now I don’t play the games  and spend more time online.. But my laptop had an S-video out connector… now with a couple patch cables I can use my laptop as a DVD player connected to a hotel VT. I also condensed a box of DVD’s (in cases) to a binder of 300 movies .

I’m sure I’m forgetting something…

Chimera:

--- Quote from: darkmatter on Oct 24, 2009, 01:44 ---I should be ashamed of this one. My second outage I rented a motel room for a week in Manitowoc, Wisconsin and talked to the crafts at work about a place to stay. A crusty old fart told me about a sports bar that rented out rooms above the bar. I checked it out and ended up paying $10/week for the sleeping room with the bathroom down the hall---shared with the other renters. When I went down each week to pay my rent, the first beer was free. I was working 7-12’s back then and really cleaned up for that outage. I usually ate at the "Bud Williams" greasy spoon downtown for less then $3 a meal.

--- End quote ---

Hey . . . I stayed there in 1981.  I think it was called "Ummys".  The guy that operated the barbershop downstairs also fixed up my baseball gloves while I was there.  And the space between the inside and outside windows in the room was just big enough to store milk and orange juice to keep it cold.

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