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BISMARCK, ND — In what experts are calling a bold, yet oddly practical move, Joe Rodriguez, 43, has decided to abandon his three-bedroom home to live full-time in the cab of his LiuGong wheel loader. Rodriguez cites the machine’s quiet interior, reliable air conditioning, and distinct lack of his cheating ex-wife as the key reasons behind his decision.
“I spent years building that house, but I can’t spend another second in it with Sheila,” Rodriguez said, leaning out of the loader's cab with a half-eaten Hot Pocket in one hand. “She doesn’t even deny it anymore. I caught her FaceTiming that Zumba instructor, and now she’s ‘finding herself’ while still using my Netflix account.”
Rodriguez’s new residence boasts several features he claims rival his former home. “I’ve got a heated seat, Bluetooth radio, and an unmatched 360-degree view of the dirt pit,” he said. “Plus, when I wake up in the morning, I don’t have to listen to Sheila telling me I ‘don’t recycle properly.’ The loader doesn’t judge me—it just works.”
Despite its compact size, the LiuGong loader has become a cozy sanctuary for Rodriguez. He’s outfitted the cab with a mini-fridge, a beanbag chair, and what he proudly refers to as “an upgraded toilet system”—an empty Home Depot bucket in the corner. “Sheila always said I wasn’t creative. Well, look at me now, Sheila!” he added, pointing to his makeshift curtain made from an old tarp.
LiuGong Wheel Loader: Neighbors Are Divided
Rodriguez’s unconventional living arrangement has drawn mixed reactions from the community. “At first, I thought it was weird, but then I realized it’s kind of genius,” said neighbor Carl Thompson. “I mean, who wouldn’t want to live in a piece of machinery that costs more than their house? Plus, it keeps Sheila from wandering over to borrow my tools.”
Others are less enthusiastic. “It’s an eyesore,” said Diane Perkins, who lives two houses down. “Every time I drive by, he’s sitting in there shirtless, blasting country music and eating canned chili. But then again, his ex is worse, so maybe we’re all better off.”
Sheila Responds
When reached for comment, Sheila Rodriguez, Joe’s estranged wife, shrugged off the situation. “Joe’s being dramatic as usual,” she said, lounging on the couch in their shared home. “He thinks living in a glorified Tonka truck makes him some kind of martyr. Meanwhile, I’m just here living my best life, streaming The Crown and not caring.”
Sheila also noted that Joe still stops by occasionally to use the laundry machine and raid the pantry. “He keeps saying he’s ‘off the grid,’ but I’ve seen him microwave Hot Pockets in my kitchen,” she added.
Rodriguez’s Future Plans
As for what’s next, Rodriguez says he’s considering driving the loader cross-country to “find himself” and maybe a new job in another state. “I’ve got everything I need: the open road, a reliable machine, and a playlist full of motivational podcasts,” he said. “It’s just me and my LiuGong against the world.”
Rodriguez claims his decision has also inspired others. “The guy at the gravel pit says he’s thinking about moving into his excavator,” he said with a proud grin. “I might be starting a trend here—a movement, even. Heavy equipment as a lifestyle.”
A New Kind of Freedom
For now, Rodriguez says he’s happier than he’s been in years. “I wake up every morning to the hum of the engine, not the sound of Sheila’s passive-aggressive sighs,” he said. “This loader might not have a mortgage or Wi-Fi, but it’s got something she’ll never have: my peace of mind.”
As Rodriguez revved the engine and slowly trundled off toward the horizon, one thing was clear: sometimes, the path to freedom is paved in dirt, steel, and the sweet hum of a diesel engine.
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