After 175k nearly-troublefree miles, my trusty '97 Dakota is being
retired from service as a daily driver.  A small, more fuel efficient
car has taken over as daily driver.  I have elected to keep my Dakota
though, since it's paid off and I still need a truck from time to time.

This will be the first time I've ever really owned a vehicle that
didn't get driven regularly, and I'm concerned about how to best
approach this in terms of keeping the Dakota in operable condition.  I
would like to ask this group for input on this topic.

I do realize the battery will go dead in a vehicle that sits for long
periods of time, that's common sense.  I'm more concerned with things
like this:

- Keep it outside, or keep it in the garage?  I have the option to do
either.  My concern is, if I leave it outside, like for most of the
winter, will I increase the chance of things "aging" faster, than if I
kept it in the garage?  I'm talking about things like gaskets, seals,
rubber hoses, electrical components and connections, etc.  Knock on
wood, my truck doesn't have any fluid leaks (yet), the bottom of the
oil pan and transmission are totally dry.  Common sense tells me the
best thing here is to keep it in the garage for these reasons and also
to keep rodents out and prevent sun fading, but I don't know from
experience just how bad it really is for a vehicle to sit outside for
extended periods of time.  Is it considered "ok" to leave it sit
outside, or would that be a big mistake?  I do check the condition of
my antifreeze with a hygrometer or whatever you call it, to check the
freeze/boil point.

- What about the fluids, like engine oil?  I've changed the oil in the
Dakota every 3000 miles religiously, but it'll probably get driven less
than 3000 miles per year now.  Should I still change at 3000 miles,
regardless of how long it takes to rack that many miles up?  What about
the antifreeze and other fluids, how well do they age?

I have thought this through, and I hope these don't sound like stupid
questions.  I do know that I shouldn't ever just start it up, move it
ten feet, and then turn it off.  I plan to drive it and let it get up
to temperature *every time* I start it, now more than ever.  I also
plan to try to drive it at least once every couple weeks, cycling the
A/C, keep the tires aired up, wash the salt off if I drive it in the
winter... common sense stuff like that.

So with all that in mind, I guess in a nutshell I'm asking this:  What
should I expect from the Dakota, and what are the best practices to
ensure that it will start up next time I need it to?  It's a 1997 4x2
3.9L 5-speed.

(sorry for the long post, and thanks in advance!)