Of course, there were other trips planned for the coming weeks, and what better opportunity would I have to prepare for them? Pretty quickly, my tackle was assembled, batteries were being charged and the hubs on the trailer we re-greased. But a few years ago, I had switched the trailer's rear lights from incandescent to LED; why not complete the job and go Full LED? Why not complete the job at this time?
I know Why? This trailer is a veritable Cadillac among trailers and OEM Parts are difficult to find. Finding, fitting and installing the rear LEDs had ultimately gone just fine, but I had some continuing reservations about tackling the various other running lights and markers.
Long Story, Short: one man, one trailer, two days, three trips to the store and a surprising amount of satisfaction later, Numenon's trailer is 100% ready to embark on its next 32,000 miles. I had to make a couple of compromises along the way (let's just say that electrician's tape and zip ties were not part of the trailer's OEM design), but I'm okay with that. Once we get to wherever we're going, she'll still fish the same!
***
This might be the most boring topic and entry in the entire blogging enterprise, but this task kind of symbolizes (at least to me), that things are going well. Perhaps I have simply grown up, but I actually embraced this "chore" and immersed myself in it. Instead of fighting it (trailer lights are on par with Christmas Trees, Plumbing and hosting Cousin Eddie when it comes to the Reward:Effort ratio), I chose to focus on not only on the simplicity of the mechanics, but also the valued investment, reward and kaizen of the task. I didn't even resent the missed fishing opportunity; I chose to spend my time in the manner that I thought it could best be utilized; and I'm pretty sure I was was right!
But I am also reminded that the concept of "boring" often resides at the level of What? instead of Why? Writing about trailer lights; probably boring. Thinking about why this task was satisfying; possibly interesting.
