And just like that, right out of the blue...

... I've found our perfect coach! Top-of-the-line manufacturer, exquisite model, impeccably maintained, tastefully upgraded with all the bells and whistles we wanted and some we'd never even heard of.

Now, I just have to talk my wife into letting me buy it.

Yeah, I know... crazy right? We've been searching for months and when the machine of our dreams drops right into our laps she wants to wait six months? Infuriating? Yes. Crazy? Not even a little. In fact, she's absolutely right: Buying the rig now would be the crazy thing to do.

We're not rich by any standard, but we're pretty well set. Even so, the money isn't just sitting inside a mattress; it's locked up tight in any number of tax-saving accounts, investments, funds, etc. You all know what I mean... we have it, but it's not exactly subject to our every whim and available at a moment's notice.

We can get at it, but it's a pain, and to protect ourselves from penalties and taxes we have to jump through a lot of hoops... hoops we just jumped through to buy our new house because it was the perfect house at the perfect price in the best neighborhood. As worth it as it may have been, my wife is not the least bit interested in putting either of us through all that turmoil again so soon. (Yeah, it was an aggravating couple of weeks.)

So, she's right. We just laid out a huge pile of cash for our new house, we went through hell to get it done on time - we should take a break and a breath and wait to buy the RV. There's no reason to put ourselves through all that again.

Except...

This is one deal that can't be passed up. Pain or not, turmoil or not, it'd be worth it. Because this is the RV that all other RV's we buy instead would be judged against, and none of them would compare. Any money we spend on a rig that doesn't live up to the standard of this perfect RV will feel like a waste, and it will spoil the adventure for me... for us. Just a little bit, sure, but enough.

So, I have my work cut out for me. She bought the logical argument this morning, so I'm half way there. Now I just have to let her get emotionally comfortable with the idea and we're all set.

Any minute now...