It's an odd (but satisfying) feeling to drive around a neighborhood in a vehicle that evokes grins and waves more than an ice cream truck does.

My new/old vehicle is a blast from the past -- a 1974 Type 2  Volkswagen Campmobile. It's a little daunting at first to be sitting out ahead of the front tires, but you quickly get used to it. There also is something gratifying about having a manual transmission, feeling the gears shift smoothly.

As would be expected from any 37-year old vehicle, a little rehabilitation is required. After blowing a tire on the freeway drive home immediately after buying it, I replaced the tires. Much better ride, much less stressful. Now we work on the brakes.

We've cleaned the interior, and with the exception of the subsonic horn, everything else seems to be working well. Except for the radio. And the refrigerator.

And yes, finances were a factor. With a lot of what we've earned on the road going to transportation and hotels, I figured this might actually save money. We'll see soon enough, I guess.

In the meantime, Zoom Zoom!