tanuki.himself
Active member
Also, I would not have access to all the metal fab tools I will need for this project.
Craigslist is your friend for specialist/single use tools. Buy used (as long as its not stolen) - do what you need - sell used. Probably won't even cost you depreciation.
I'd aim for coastal Oregon/Willamette valley - it may be rainy for much of the year, but you probably won't lose too may build days to sub-zero temperatures, or sweat your assets off too much in summer - may not affect most fabrication tasks directly, but if you end up doing anything with fibreglass or adhesives then a reasonable ambient cure temperature becomes important. Reasonably large population centres in Portland, Salem and Eugene for craigslist and specialist suppliers, and Tacoma/Seattle are also not that far way if you need to pick up the right thing. I believe there are actually a couple of high end RV manufacturers in this area if you really need something special doing....
I'd look at farm/rural settings with a barn to work in, and as you mention if you need to spend a year as trailer trash in a mobile home/travel trailer/fifth wheel living on site its doable and probably works out cheap - again, buy used, sell used, no sales tax.
Or for the winter advertise for a house sitting job for some snowbird RVers who are heading south to Palm Springs for a few months and who are leaving their RV garage/porch empty....