It is stories and days like this . . .
It was in the afternoon, and I was getting started on resetting some boundary markers on the road frontage of a tract in a rural subdivision. I was focussed on the work before me and not the road behind me.
It was a private road serving just the 20 or so lots of the 500 ac. subdivision so I didn't think much of several large, late model cars that eased up alongside where I had the total station set up.
By the time I realized what was happening, it was too late. I was boxed in by members of the so-called "real estate profession". One held a roll of orange plastic flagging menacingly.
"Are they getting ready to put this on the market?", the leader of the group began as another leaned over to try to look through the telescope of the total station, steadying himself by grabbing onto the tripod. My guess was that they had just come from a three margarita lunch.
Before I could answer the first interrogator, the second picked up, rapid fire. "Boy, this new technology is great," the older member of the pack piped up. "You just 'shoot' all the corners from one place, huh?", he said, waving an unsteady hand toward the densest cedar thicket the Texas Hill Country has to offer.
Not to be outdone, a third chimed in. "You know, my regular surveyor charges $50. Do you think he's getting to me?"
I was looking for a way out. It was only moments before the inevitable. Unfortunately, my exit was blocked by a determined looking woman with the look of an unsuccessful Mary Kay cosmetic distributor. Her mouth opened and mouthed the words in slow motion with fierce deliberation. My life flashed before my eyes. It was THE QUESTION.
"Tell me," she asked accusingly, "why is it that if a property has already been surveyed you have to do it again?"
I pulled a handful of small bills from my wallet and tossed them into the air. In the melee that ensued, I was able to box up and retreat to the truck. As I drove away, I could see that the smallest member of the pack had been knocked down by the Mary Kay distributor and the other two were arguing loudly about who deserved the larger share.
It was a close shave.
That I see a real benefit to something along the likes of the Segway Centaur...