Almost 5 years-ago, while still recovering from meningitis, I set out to buy a big sturdy car that would feel safe and protective. This might be a normal reaction to nearly dying, I don't know, nor do I care, it was mine.

I decided to spend about $5,000 on a Jeep Cherokee or something similar but nothing felt right. Then I spotted an ad for a Land Rover Discovery that was in my price range. I didn't know anything about Rovers except that they were cool looking, big sturdy vehicles. If you'd have asked me the difference between a Range Rover and a "disco," as they are often called, I couldn't have told you. This was a strange day all of the way around. The car was located about 3 hours away and was close to the home of a woman who had stolen my dog, Casey. I hadn't been able to get down to get her back and this seemed like the perfect day to do just that and then go get a new car. Off I went.

The dog re-napping went well and she was ecstatic to see me. Next stop was to look at my new Rover. We went for a drive and she felt right. I dickered on the price and got it down below my original budget and then went to the bank, withdrew the cash and handed it over. And back to Taos we went.

Anybody will tell you that buying a used Land Rover means you will immediately put $2000 into it in order to get everything just right. I spent about $1500 and was happy to do it. It didn't occur to me that this wasn't a car for someone on a limited budget because maintenance and repairs are costly. But then I've been optimistic about getting back onto my feet for 15 years and am sure it was the same right then.

It never occurred to me that people would assume me to be rich just because I drove a 10 year-old Land Rover but they did. The thing about my Rover was that she just never looked old, unless dirty. She cleaned up, and still does, well. Anyway, this was just a fact about this new relationship that I found to be amusing.

When I moved up to Washington, money began to get tight. At one point, while working, I'd planned to get a new car but just before there was enough money saved, the job was gone. So I lived on borrowed time with Rover and began learning much about the mechanical details involved in keeping her going. Most people think I should have gotten rid of her by now but I didn't have a way to get another car - besides, I kind of like her. She suits my personality. The last year has been tough with one thing after another breaking. I've learned about the cooling system, the power steering, the CV joint, bearings, brakes, plugs, steering, wires, wiper switch, door handles and now shocks. Oh, I forgot the oxygen sensor, the idle and guys who will tell you that they know something about cars if that is what you want to hear. Yep, I'm old and just now figured out that guys lie. They make themselves important to you, find your weakness, which in my case was keeping Rover going, and pretend that they know all about the things that ail her. I had an actual mechanic in Olympia, who was flirting with me, charge $300 to loosen my door handle and he made it so much worse that it eventually broke. Rover door handles are $200.00 but I got one for $40.00. I have now learned about shopping for Rover parts. Another guy, who I did have a relationship with, was always going to fix my car but then would never show up to do it. He was all talk - he is all talk. I discovered that it wasn't wise to believe a word that he said about anything. And then the last one actually did work on the car but we didn't have a relationship, except for trying to be friends. He left a wire on the starter hanging free and no one can figure out why it works. The spark plugs weren't tightened down and the wires weren't fastened, did body damage trying to ram it up onto a trailer that wasn't wide enough and I won't even go into what he has done to my doors.

So now I know. Men will tell you anything you want to hear in order to get what they want. I suppose that women do that too but I don't. The trick is to be educated enough about your vehicle and know what is going on with it. That is what I recommend, if you are single, not real well off, and want to own a Land Rover, educate yourself about how they work and where to get parts. And by all means, find a trustworthy mechanic and PAY HIM to do the work. I've been lucky because there is this guy in town who really does know how to work on cars and he makes quite a bit of money by keeping our cars going. And he always does a good job. If you shop around it is possible to get good deals on some of the parts. They wanted $275.00 to do my catalytic converter and I got the part for $67 and had it installed for $25. And that door handle was awesome. Finally the engine is running great - better than expected - but now she needs shocks, a turn signal switch because the high beams don't work, an oxygen sensor and possibly rear brakes. A car angel shining over you helps a lot too.

My trip might be off because the trailer owners are concerned about my car's performance. I don't blame them. We'll probably know tomorrow after we get some new shocks put on and go for a test drive. I just can't afford a new car right now. Things will work out just like they are supposed to.