Appreciation of "Manufactured Housing"
"Home Sweet Trailer"

Understand my intentions are not to discredit or shame living quarters that are "titled" and not "deeded". Our first home (see the pick)was an 800 square foot two bedroom Manufactured Home (politically correct description, trailers are for boats). It still serves as part of the infrastructure (I know Lane hid it somewhere) of the rambling monstrosity it has become (see the Arial pick). Coming from these humble roots, and surviving the first summer without shade or air-conditioning, I consider ourselves seasoned experts on "Trailer Trash". My selection criteria consist of but are not limited to:

Safty:
Some folks out here in the country are a little skittish about people hoping out of a pick up truck and photographing their trailer, rebel flag, race car, youngn's ,etc... For those really risky shots we do a "drive by shooting"! Lane drives the truck by our unsuspecting "potential stars" while I set up & focus. Then we circle back for the shoot out! It's netted some good shots but does burn up some film. ( I shoot with two cameras, a 35mm Contax w/motor drive & a Pentax. )

Color:
Two toned with the exception of solid silver, only found in pre '65 models (you remember the Ricardos & the Mertzes trip to Florida). Imagine a trailer park resembling a complete set of "Fiesta Dinnerware".

Architecture:
Spare Tire. Intact towing tongue and hitch. Wings or jets over the rear bedroom windows with turn signals and brake lights below compliment this historic piece of dirt road nostalgia. The closer the overall silhouette resembles an inverted legume (Kidney Bean) the closer to "Nirvana" we're a gittin! Do I have to draw this?

Location:
In a "wet county". On a hilltop, ridge, or any high ground that is NE of a squall line! (I don't think we're in Kansas any more?)

Esthetical Enhancements:
Combination Christmas Lights/Pipe Defrosters. Custom stone work, specifically dry stacked concrete block front steps, not recommended for intoxicated visitors. Heatn' oil tank (kerosene tank shaped somewhat like a long Spam can with rounded corners)in the front yard. Fiberglass satellite dish with a diameter exceeding the width of the home. Lawn furniture, last Christmas's Helige Myers living room suite (payments start this month).

Lawn Ornaments: (yes it's a category)
Ancestral rebel flags. (We ain't talkn' rainbows here!) Flamingos are acceptable but considered "too queer" these days. Those realistic "Geese" from Wal-Mart. Buckmaster Tripod huntin' stand converted to a tire swing for the young-uns. Scalloped tires painted white and planted with petunias and weeds. Plastic Bambi. Four our more sets of Malibu walk lights (with above ground wiring) for that "runway" effect. Fiberglass "Rock" cover for well pump (wishing wells are out). Busted trampoline.

Wildlife:
Dogs and more dogs. Possums (for reminding you it's time to haul the blue garbage barrels to the dump).