10.9.5 Mac - IDE 1.0.6 - avrdude: stk500_recv() not responding

Hey there,
I've had this problem for a few months now. I can install a new version of the IDE and it will run fine for 5-10 uploads. After a seemingly random amount of time I get this error when trying to upload:

7.app/Contents/Resources/Java/hardware/tools/avr/etc/avrdude.conf"
         User configuration file is "/Users/xyz/.avrduderc"
         User configuration file does not exist or is not a regular file, skipping

         Using Port                    : /dev/tty.usbmodemfd1241
         Using Programmer              : arduino
         Overriding Baud Rate          : 115200
avrdude: Send: 0 [30]   [20] 
avrdude: Send: 0 [30]   [20] 
avrdude: Send: 0 [30]   [20] 
avrdude: ser_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude done.  Thank you.

It just seems odd that it happens right after I successfully upload a sketch w/o any problems and I don't modify any settings between attempts. I tried the hold reset after you click upload for a few seconds fix and that doesn't work for me. I also downloaded the the old FTDI at - VCP Drivers - FTDI. No luck there either.
I tried searching the forum but didn't find anything. Any permanent fix for this?