Superplow--An INCREDIBLE Product...Unfortunately, Not For Us

 For the past two winters, my family has had a side gig...snow removal. Last year - not a big deal. I think we were called out four times...

This year, however, we've already got that beat and we're not even into February.

Because this year has been so tough, our family has discussed options for next year. We've decided we've got to get some help...some mechanical help, if we want to continue the gig. Not only are my wife and I getting older, but the neighborhood, in which we've been hired to remove show, is growing. We could have an 20% increase in homes by next winter. We can't keep up with what we're currently doing.

So, I took to the internet and checked out some plows for sale. That's when I happened upon an incredible product, an amazingly wonderful product called the Superplow.

Basically, this thing hooks up to any trailer hitch and you pull the show from behind. I asked several questions to the seller...is my little Subaru powerful enough to use this? Is it okay to pull snow into the street and what do you do with it afterwards? Is there a lot of parts that can break down?

The seller answered them all. He even allowed us to hook it up, take it home, and try it out, which we gladly did. We drove home--it was weird having a 200-400 lb plow hanging on the back of my car. When we got it home, it was obvious we could not use it on our own driveway because my car is so low. Had we a 4x4 truck, it would be no problem. We then went to the neighborhood and tested it out on two driveways. The thing was amazing. I was a little worried about my car handling the snow, but it did okay. But, unless we bought another vehicle to use the Superplow, we'd not be able to use it on 1/3 to 1/2 of the driveways. 

This morning, after weighing the pros and cons, and discussing it with the family, we decided it's not for us. We're taking it back tomorrow. 

We're not sure what the future will hold for us. For the price of the Superplow, there are some quads with plows that we might look into--we're not quite sure. I don't know who invented the Superplow, but I think they did a great job. So much so, I'm surprised there aren't more of them out there.

Shoveling Snow...Nature's Way Of Burning All Those Holiday Calories

 Relatively speaking, we dodged a snow bullet. That isn't to say we didn't some snow from this last wave of storms. We did, but not as much as others. And to add to the fun, our family is contracted out to shovel eighteen homes in our neighborhood when the snow reaches a certain level. 

In the last seven days, we were called out twice.

I'm beginning to not mind shoveling show. As long as it's not feet deep, I can clear a driveway and sidewalk relatively quickly. I must be doing something right because (so far...), I've not suffered any major back injuries or anything else. Yes, I'm sore after a few hours of shoveling, but I usually feel better the next day. Of course, the older I get (now in my upper 50s...) that may not be the case in the future.

As I returned home from a shoveling adventure the other day, I thought about the physical workout I've been doing with shovels and snowblowers. I know many of us disregard their diets at the holidays and enjoy all the delicious food that seems to be everywhere. 

I thought maybe shoveling is nature's way to burn some of those quickly-amassed holiday calories.

Doing some rough math, I've got to shovel a whole lot more driveways and sidewalks to break even--we had a lot of goodies this year and I partook.

I suppose there's a bright side to all this snow, other than it's desperately needed in our drought-affected areas, and that is burning all those calories. Good to look on the bright side every once in a while.

Traveling...At Night...In Cars

 At my side gig, when I tell people where I live, I first see shock in their eyes as the do the math in their heads.

"You drive from there?"

"Yes."

The thing is, if they commute from anywhere south of Sandy, Utah, there's a good chance it takes them just as long or longer than me to get to work. It's all about perspective.

I never really notice driving in the dark, until it gets darker earlier. I guess we're all like that. Usually, when it gets darker it also gets colder. And when it gets colder, I like being inside...preferably at home. It's not that I don't mind driving at night, per se. 

Some of my earliest memories come from being in a car traveling at night. I remember driving the same road over fifty years ago in the backseat of my dad's early 70s Buick Electra 225 as we traveled to Idaho to visit family. I know I slept on those trips, but I also remember looking out the windows at, well...basically nothing. Not much to see on I-15 north of Ogden at night back then.

Because I'm keeping my side gig, I've accepted the long commute. I'll continue the commute every weekend between now and the end of October. It means, traveling...at night...in cars. 

Thankfully, I enjoy that long commute.

Looks Like We May Be Getting A Side Gig...Or Sidewalk Gig

 Due to a strange turn of events, my family might be doing something extra this upcoming season. And I don't quite know how that will affect us.

What is the side gig, you ask?

Shoveling snow.

We live in a new neighborhood, so new, that they're still building homes and they will continue building homes until the land is gone. There will be hundreds of structures joining us within a few years. Personally, I think people getting homes for their families is a good thing. Now, we haven't been asked to remove snow from everyone, but for a specific neighborhood.

Because of labor shortages, a snow removal contract was canceled for the neighborhood to the west of us. This is a community of older residents and they did have contracts in place to have snow shoveled from their driveways, but that has ended, and they need people to help them out when the snow flies. We talked to our boys a few months ago when the community first came to us to see if we would be interested in the job and the boys thought it would be a good way to make money. It's possible we'll become the snow removal service for several homes.

I must admit, I'm a little apprehensive taking on this responsibility. What if we get hit with a bumper crop of snow this winter? Will we be able to do it? Will we get yelled at by dissatisfied customers?

Possibly.

But, it's also a chance to start something, something that could end up being a business for one of our kids, something that can help build positive attributes for all of us. Yes, it might be more trouble than it's worth, but we don't know that yet and will only find out if we take the plunge. As with most things, time will tell.