Just-in-time inventory is a concept that industry embraced back in the 90’s or so. Instead of stockpiling hoards of parts they let their suppliers inventory them and had them delivered just before they needed them.

I am trying to perfect this technique myself. I used to collect all kinds of stuff that I expected to come in handy…someday. Occasionally one of these parts would come in handy for a project and of course that reinforced the hording instinct.

When we went full time traveling things had to change. Everything had to fit in a 17 foot trailer and weigh less than 7,000 pounds gross weight.

The other argument for just in time inventory is that you can easily waste a whole day trying to find that gizmo that you know you have…somewhere. The good news is that while you are looking for that gizmo you are likely to come across something else you misplaced some time ago, so the exercise is not a total bust.

So here is today’s adventure: We got ready to move this morning and there is this small puddle on the floor under the kitchen sink.

Stop me if you have heard this story before.

As I was saying, a small puddle under the sink. I assured Judy that I could fix it once we got parked this afternoon. When we got to our new camp in Mojave, California we went to move the kitchen slider out and now there is this largish puddle.

A quick inspection allowed me to identify the leaking fitting on the hot water heater. This did happen before and I did a jury rig fix that time because I didn’t have the correct parts to fix it then. Now in the interim period I did go to the hardware store and lay in some real just-in-time parts for the inevitable second failure. Only now I can’t find them. They are somewhere in the drawers, or in the cargo bay, or in the trailer or maybe in the junk box…

I removed every likely bin and box and tray and looked thoroughly for those gaskets without any luck at all. I did, however, find a bag of crutch tips that I bought just-in-time to fix the feet on one of the camp stools a few months ago. I was unable to find them when I went to do the repair.

All was not lost, however. In my search I located a bin of old parts from the garage on Bonneville Drive in Scappoose from six years ago. It had a collection of plumbers washers that I had stockpiled long ago. One gasket was just the right size.  It turned out to be too old and brittle, it split when I slid it over the fitting.  One was over-sized but still pliable.  I slipped it over a mandrel and chucked it in the drill press and turned it to the correct size with a rasp.

Yes it worked, no leak. Now I will stop at the hardware store and buy another set of gaskets and put them where I first looked this time. That way I will have two chances of finding one of them when I need them.

Oh yes, I got the legs on the camp stool repaired as a bonus.

As I finish this up I am looking out the windscreen of the motor home in the waning daylight. Just showing up through the trees are Venus and Mercury, side by side in the dusk. They are such a glorious sight. Look to the west just as the sun is setting to catch them tomorrow evening. Venus is the very bright “Evening Star” this month and Mercury is to its right and it is fairly bright. They will be side by side for a few more days and then Mercury will be lost in the glare of the sun again.

Love to all

Gary and Judy