Things Are Happening.

If you haven't already figured it out, I work on the Roving Home during my weekends, thus my somewhat regular schedule of updating on Sunday evenings or Monday mornings.  Last weekend went rather slowly, so I opted out of posting in favor of quality over quantity.  Besides, isn't it true that "absence makes the heart grow fonder," or something? 

I'm currently finishing up what I hope will be the last appliance, so that I may start on the structural assembly.  I keep postponing the framing because I keep coming up with more stuff that needs to be planned out before I solidify where all the walls are going. 

This week, the toilet! 

The toilet has proven to be a fairly complex moving part, since it will slide away when I want to use the shower.  I know, call me crazy.  I just hate the tiny showers in vans that force you to contort yourself while bending around the base of the toilet bowl. 

Here's my solution.

Seriously, I need to patent this puppy.  

Now, for those of you reading this whose first language is not English, please, don't be alarmed.  You can't patent puppies here in America.  "Puppy," is slang for something tight and cool. 

That's one of the nifty drawer slides, able to carry loads of 500 pounds!  My girl said that will come in handy during her retirement years.  I failed to see the humor.

I learned a bit about bolts last week, too.  These are made for automotive applications -- good for stress under vibration.  Leave it to Ace for lessons in hardware. I love those guys! 

Add some wooden supports....

...and glue up the cosmetic cover.

Rather than watch glue dry, my girl and I took an opportunity to spend some quality time together.

Here's the view from our table.

Brings a tear to my eye.

I convinced my girl to take the van out to lunch.  I said she needed the experience, to which she agreed, albeit with slight trepidation.  I think she was a bit embarrassed to be seen in it.

Now, a word about metal fabrication.

For those of you who, like I, have never worked with metal, I'll say that you'd better be spot-on precise with your measuring when drilling holes. 

,

The graveyard of waste!

All of those holes were off by some ridiculously small increment.  Working with an organic material such as wood, one can always strong-arm into place a slightly off-sized piece with the tap of the hammer or some clamping and gluing.  Not so, grasshopper, with metal fabrication.  Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way.

But, I muscled through it.

The final fascia. 

And, voila!

Hear me out!

I know it looks weird, but there's a method to my madness.  Obviously that box beneath the toilet seat isn't the last stop for waste, so please, bear with. 

But first, look how cool it is that the whole thing will slide out from under a counter top.  

 

The oak box will be stained dark and will be illuminated under a pin-point of bright light, so the drama will overshadow any preconceived notion you may have merely by looking at this picture. 

Just stick with me before you give up on the Roving Home.

The best is yet to come!  I promise.