Long time no see..

We apologise for not keeping up the last 4+ months, its been so busy since the beginning of March. And, to be quite honest with you, we're been a little off our game with this process of selling our house. It can really turn your world upside down having to leave your house every time it shows. After 58 showings, we finally have a solid contract.

We have been under contract now for a couple of weeks. We've made it through all the inspections and the buyer's bank appraisal, the loan approval for buyers, and are set to close on August 19th. We had to prior cash offers from bottom feeders and we are actually happy not to have to deal with those people. The couple buying our house are really nice people and absolutely love the house as much as we do. I know that "green is green', but somehow it makes me feel better knowing that we are selling to people who appreciate all our hard work and design.

After closing, Rod will continue to work until the end of August and commute to work from our daughter's house. Sam and I will be up in the woods in the RV scouting out properties in the area for our next home. Over the past several months we have put 1,000's of miles on the truck trying to narrow down our search area. I don't care how good it looks on the Internet, it's all about the neighborhood and area surrounding it. We eliminated tons of properties after getting in the car and actually seeing it for ourselves. What an eye opener that was. lol

Our trailer will be in the general area we are looking so we intend to visit neighborhoods at different times of day, check into crime in the area, loud or offensive neighbors, and really get to know the neighborhood once we find a house before we make an offer.

We are also taking into consideration, the nearest grocery store, medical facility, restaurants, taxes, types of insurance needed i.e. windstorm, flood, etc. Our primary goal is to within two hours of our daughter and her husband, of course the grand kids and our friends. Ultimately, its going to be all about the property, we can do a bit of fixing up if we have to and will if the land is right for us. Finding the right house on the perfect property is not an easy task. We really want to take our time and do this right. After all, it will be our last house. Our plan is to get a small place and still travel as much as possible.

The emotional part of this transition hasn't hit us yet. We've lived and worked here for 20 years and will truly miss this house, our friends, and the island with all of its charm and amenities. But...

its onward through the fog to a new adventure and lifestyle. We know in our hearts that somehow it will end up even better for us than we've planned.

Take care,

Connie

We're being invaded...

The house has been on the market for a little over a week. Not only are Rod and I plumb wore out from preparing the house, we've been invaded with realtors and clients, which is a good thing.

Yesterday was open house for area realtors. We are getting really good feedback and keeping our fingers and toes crossed that this whole process is over soon.

I guess I never anticipated leaving my house everytime someone wanted to show it. Friends of ours have allowed us to go over to their house which is just across the canal to wait out the showings. It's a little unerving watching people look over your property inch by inch. It's also interesting to come back into the house and see little things that indicate where they look. One of the things is a metal cannister next to my stove that reads "Boat Fund", I keep kosher salt in it. I've found the lid adjar a couple of times. I bet they were disappointed. LOL They also love my pot filler over the stove. I'm waiting to come back to a mess one of these days from someone opening the tap without a pot under it.

On one ocassion, a realtor came without an appointment. She pulled in the driveway with clients right behind her and came charging down the driveway. She said "I called your agent and she said it was okay to show the house". I extended my hand to introduce myself as the homeowner. It was like she had no regard for us or our privacy. However, since it was our first showing, I thought...hmmm this dosent' sound right but we'll show it, then I'll call my agent. Rod and I had just finished mulching the flower beds and were relaxing with a beer. It was about 6:30 last Friday night. They looked at the house, of course the clients asked Rod and I all the questions since the realtor didn't have any more information than they did.

I promptly emailed the realtor and told her we didn't like how this all went down and demand at least 15 minutes notice to show the house. She said she never spoke with this other realtor and was highly upset about it. That all showing have to go through their office. Anyway, we got all that straightened out. Having your property listed at 60 different internet sites through MLS brings in realtors from everywhere. This one wasn't with our listing agency.

This is an unsual process. Your property is on display 24/7 and your privacy is invaded daily. I don't mind the pressure as far as keeping the house ready to show. I get it all done before 9 a.m. each day so I'm ready at any time. I just hope this whole process is over with soon so we can move on to the next phase of our lives.

Take care everyone.

Connie

Finally We Are In The Next Phase!

The house is on the market and the waiting game has begun.


We've been working non stop since New Years and finally we have the house finished. It's not done the way we had envisioned it way back when we started remodeling but retirement plans have changed since then and there's no sense in pouring money into what will hopefully be someone else's house shortly.


We have some landscaping and general cleanup to do outside but nothing we don't do every spring anyway.


I have great memories of this house and will be a little sad to leave it. That sadness will disappear as we get started on the next phase of our life together. I can't wait.


Other than the work on the house our lives have been a little boring.  Breaking pipes and a commode was a little exciting though.


Two weeks ago Connie was laid off from her job. We figured it was coming sooner or later but had hoped for later. She was pretty down for a few days. Once she realized that selling the house and moving our plan ahead is where she needs to spend her energy her whole attitude changed. She's been working like an illegal every day since.  We wouldn't be ready yet if not for her hard work. 

I'll keep working until we have the house sold. I let my boss know of the updated plan last Monday and he seemed pleased that I would probably be around a little longer.


Sam is very happy having Connie home every day. Maybe following her around all day instead of napping will get a few pounds off of him.


We had a realtor come by Saturday. Her reaction upon entering was quite encouraging. She said the house was "the most unique on the market right now". She went on and on about all the work and finishing touches we put on the house.  Her comments made me feel like all the hard work was worth it.  I can usually tell when someone is blowing smoke up my butt.  I don't think she was.


She seems to think that we have it priced right to get a sale sooner rather than later. I hope she's right. I would sure like a closing by April 29th. That would give me time enough to turn in my paperwork and retire May 31.


I called a friend after the realtor left and told him to keep an eye out for anyone who was interested in a used boat. He replied that one of his long time buddies was in fact looking for a used boat. Long story short, they came by yesterday and he wants the boat but wants to make sure his wife is totally OK with it before committing to the purchase. So I'm just waiting for him to call.


Selling the boat is going to be a big emotional shock for both of us. We've had it 8 years and I can't describe the wonderful times and exciting adventures we've had with it. Seeing the "Emma Too" go down the road is going to be hard but she just doesn't fit into the retirement plans.


That's about it for now. Hopefully I'll be able to post more often and add some pictures soon.


Adios for now, enjoy life.
--Rod

Got "Pot" ?

Thats right. For the ocassion that both bathrooms are out of commission at the same time due to tearing out everything you need to do your business, you might just need a pot.

And yes, that is a Home Depot bucket

For three LONG days and nights this week, our nightime potty was a bucket. Our early morning, after coffee potty (you know what I'm talkin 'bout) was the tiny little bathroom in the garage. I mean to tell you that temps in the low to mid 20's and winds in the 30's this week made that a very uncomfortable daily constitutional.

Back to the matter at hand, the bathrooms (both of them) now have working commodes with all new guts. I never took the time to appreciate a toilet before. I do now I can tell ya. I just thank God that the showers were operational this week.

Our thinking was that by doing this and getting the floors tiled in both bathrooms at the same time we would save about a weeks worth of of time. Right now we need that week since we are determined to get the house on the market the first of March. So now that the tiles are down, pottys are back in place and working (oh yeah), the walls and ceilings are painted, we can finish up these two rooms. By the end of the weekend, we'll have the vanities back in place with new hardware, the crown-molding and baseboards in, and hopefully caulked and painted so we can check this off the list.

This renovation stuff makes it hard to keep your house clean. Seems like the bedrooms and office keep getting filled up with nail guns, paint and paint brushes, everything you moved out of the room your working on and all the new stuff you will put into that room. This type of environment makes me a little nuts (not that I needed any help.) I can't find anything, and feel displaced and unable to get ready for work in the morning. I took my flat iron, half my makeup and all the other things I need and used the ladies room in my office to look halfway presentable this week. Performing this where I don't normally just sorta messes me up in the head. My routine of how I go about this everyday and how I am able to get it done in record time went totally out the window.

I'm really looking forward to finishing up this weekend. We'll get a little break today attending our grandson's school play "The Outsiders" tonight. He has two parts in it and has been working on this since early September. We're really proud of him and can't wait to go.

Now where I'd put my makeup and hair stuff, I have to look good tonight?

Asta LaPasta,
Connie

WOOF!!

Hi everybody! Sam here.

Mom and Dad been busy so I'm posting a update.

Chase turned 13. Dad said it made him feel older than when he turned 60. We went to Chase's party and had fun. I met my new cousin Sebastian. We sniffed our butts and figured out I was boss but that got me in trouble. Dad says I need to be more polite to him. I guess trying to beat him up isn't polite. He just better stay away from my Mom. She's mine.

Mom & Dad have been working on our house. They move stuff out of one room into another. Then they smear stuff on the walls and ceiling. Then Dad nails boards up around the top and bottom of the walls. I don't like that pressor thingy that makes noise when Dad is nailing. It scares me. Then they smear stuff on the boards with brushes. Not brushes like they brush me with, another kind.

After that they move everything back. Then they move everything out of another room and start again. I don't think it's fun 'cause they spend all night talking about how much their backs hurt.

I try to help but they keep telling me "get out of the way Sam". Dad keeps going up and down stairs to get stuff and I go with him every time. If he thinks he's gonna sneak off for a ride without me he's crazy.

They keep talking about selling our house. I hope that doesn't mean we will be homeless. I see homeless dogs on the Seawall and they look sad. And skinny. No treats for them I guess. Hi, I'm Sam and I'm a treat addict.



It's been cold here all week. Dad plugs Mom's truck in at night. It looks like a big funny appliance. They put a heater thing in the garage for Scooter. It's no fun being a tortoise in the cold I bet. I get to stay in the house and sleep in my warm beds, not under a rock. In the cold garage.
 
Dad and Mom get to stay home with me today (yay!) 'cause everything is covered in ice. I went out to do my business and all my feet slipped out from under me. I landed on my belly on the cold deck. Mom laughed but I didn't think it was funny. I couldn't get downstairs. We'll see how funny she thinks it is when I pee on her leg. I can only hold it so long you know.
 
Adios for now, enjoy life.
--Sam

Procrastination

Are any of you procrastinators?


I have been a procrastinator my whole life. I have always had to battle the urge to put things off until another time. It seems like there is a guy (I call him Mr. P.) whispering in my head telling me to goof off.  I feel guilty about it sometimes but usually not too much. It has never caused me any serious problems but has come back to bite me in the butt on occasion.

When I get started doing something I like to work at it until finished. It is the getting started part that has always been the problem. I eventually get around to doing whatever it is I am supposed to do but usually not in a timely manner.

Luckily I married a fellow procrastinator so it hasn’t caused any serious marital problems. She’s only an amateur procrastinator compared to me but she definitely has the tendencies. We’re so bad we put off getting married for five years. Connie tells a slightly different story, something about wanting to make sure I was going to hang around. The truth is we were meant to be together and we both eventually realized it.

Why am I talking about procrastination you ask? The reason is we actually accomplished what we planned to this past weekend! I was able to lock Mr. P. up in a cell in my head and start on our plan to finish up the house.

We got up Saturday morning, had coffee, read the paper and a few blogs and then got after it. We spent most of the day sorting through the office. We went through several boxes of pictures, assorted keepsakes and other “stuff” we have stored there for years. We tried to separate everything into keep, sell or throw out. I numbered the boxes and made a list of everything that went into them.

After everything was boxed up or put in garbage bags it was time to carry it all downstairs. Nothing was particularly heavy but multiple trips up and down stairs gets to be a P.I.T.A. I will sure be happy when we live on the ground again. Next came the antique kitchen hutch and an antique table. Even after taking them apart as much as possible there were sections that were a little heavy. Connie hung in there and was able to help me carry everything down to the trucks. She paid for it later when her back started hurting.

We took it all (except the trash) to our new storage unit. Sam, as usual, was sitting in the back seat of the truck supervising. We returned home and when I walked into the office I realized we had actually started the process we had been talking about for so long. The only things left in the office are the computer desk and my large format plotter. The echo sounds great, I can’t wait to hear that everywhere else in the house as I make my final walk through.

It was about four o’clock and Connie’s back was barking. I told her pop some ibuprofen and lie down on the couch. My plan was to drive into town to pick up a scraper and some plastic drop cloths. That’s when my old friend Mr. P. escaped his cell and started whispering in my head. His exact words were “get a beer and relax, you can go to Home Depot in the morning”. I succumbed to his influence and was soon sitting in my chair enjoying a cold beer. That was the end of work for Saturday.

Sunday morning we got up to heavy rain and 40+ mph winds. It was storming so bad it looked like a tropical storm. We loafed around having coffee and reading the paper and blogs for awhile. Connie made me a nice breakfast. By about eleven o’clock it had simmered down some so I got dressed and went into town.

I got back home about one o’clock and noticed the front tires on the truck looked a little soft. I aired them up and then had a chat with myself about getting started scraping the “popcorn” texture off the office ceiling. Who ever thought that crap was a good idea anyway?

Connie helped me tape the drop cloths along the walls and across the floor. It took a little time but sure made cleanup a lot easier later. I was able to get the whole ceiling scraped clean by four o’clock.

I am ahead on the project schedule!!!! I had figured I would get part of the ceiling done Sunday and have to finish during the evenings this week. Now I can get it painted during the week and be ready to start the trim work next weekend.

Thanks to Dr. King we have a three day weekend coming and I hope to have all the trim up at the end of it. Some of the painting finished would be a bonus. We shall see. I plan on letting Mr. P. run loose all week at work so he’ll be too tired to distract me on the weekend.

Sam from Dardenne Prairie MO. (samdonna-5thwheelvagabonds.blogspot.com) asked for pictures from the vault so here are a couple from “back in the day”….

Connie the day she learned to ride my Harley.  It was Feb. 1977 and cold as hell in New York.  We loaded the bike into my pickup and drove straight thru to her Dad's place in New Bern, NC.  I had never met him before.  We showed up at his door with no warning at about 5:00 AM.  He was polite but I don't think he was too happy.

Jackie, Connie and I on a visit back to NY.  Not sure where it was but it was about 1986.

Every Saturday I cleaned the bike.  This was prior to many modifications to it. Circa 1977.  Genesee beer was part of the ritual. 

This was our Christmas card in 1985 or 86.  She is smiling in the picture but let me tell you that was one pissed off little girl.  I'm surprised she didn't turn us in th Child Protective Services for making her take that picture.  It's my favorite card.  I think I'll have a bunch made again and use them every year.

Adios for now, enjoy life.


--Rod

Look Out 2011 Here We Come

Thursday night last week Connie and I reviewed our plans and talked about the best way to get where we want to be by the end 2011.

First on the agenda is selling the house. We have some molding to put up, painting to be done and two bathrooms to update. Our original plans were to completely renovate the baths. We have decided for the sake of expediency and expense we are just going to refinish the vanities and showers and replace the hardware, faucets and flooring. I think we can get all that done by March 1st. The house will be ready for the market just in time for the spring break buyers.

The next thing we discussed was my retirement date. The plan now is to retire when the house sells. I had been figuring on May 31st but I guess it would be foolish to retire before we sell the house. Maybe I'll get lucky and the house will sell right away(fingers crossed).  My retirement income is certainly going to be a lot less than I make working so why give up the extra money prematurely. Connie will still be working so Sam and I would just be hanging out waiting for her to get home every day anyway.

Finally we discussed what we are looking for in a home base. I think we are both pretty much in agreement as far as what is important and what is less so. We both want to be in the country, wooded acreage preferably with a stream or pond. The actual house doesn’t have to be that much as long as it has good bones. One thing I’ve learned in all the moves we have made is that we will change things and upgrade things no matter what we start with. 

Connie, Sam and I spent the last day of 2010 on a road trip. The kids want us to look for a new home base closer to them. We drove all over west Galveston County and Brazoria County looking at some properties and looking for areas that we might be interested in.

It is all coastal plains and although it is beautiful in its own right it is just not what we want. It is flat, the trees are scrub oaks or tallows. We want rolling hills and thick woods. If we were planning on raising livestock the coastal prairie would be perfect but neither of us is interested in a new career as a rancher. Veterinarians are expensive enough for dogs and cats I hate to think about what it would be for horses or cows.

So I think we have decided that as much as we would love to be close to them the kids are going to have to get used to the idea that we will be a couple of hours away.  Jackie seems to think we're invalids already and she will have to look out for us.  Not the case yet sweetheart.

Saturday we started sorting through “stuff”. It quickly became apparent that we had a problem. Since we don’t really know how big or where the new home base will be we don’t know what "stuff" we will want to take with us. We have "stuff" we know we will sell and "stuff" we can donate or throw out now. The problem is we have no place to keep all this "stuff" until houses are sold and bought and garage sales scheduled. We want to stage the house for sale but there is not really anywhere to store anything. The attic is full and the garage isn’t far behind. They both need to be purged also.  You don't really realize how much "stuff" you accumulate until you start trying to purge it.

We made the decision to rent a climate controlled storage unit and buy a bunch of storage bins. Monday I was able to find a small unit (5x10x8) about a mile from the house. It is cheaper than I expected at only $59 a month and is a month to month deal with no long term lease. Now we can sort by keep, sell, donate and box it up and store it until we’ve gone through the whole house.

It feels good to have a solid plan and now we have a set direction with which to proceed. Let the fun begin!


Adios for now, enjoy life.


--Rod