Home Ownership

Okay, Condo living only lasted a mere eleven months, before we found ourselves back in a house. The past week has been a whirlwind of unpacking, organizing, hanging, arranging, deliveries, purchases, planning, purchases, contractors, installers and did I mention purchases.

It was only eleven months but home ownership was totally wiped from my memory. Condo living we only had to worry about the inside of the condo and the small patio out back.  Now we are back looking at taking care of a house again.  Yes, I know we are in a new construction with an exterior that is basically maintenance free but I do have to plan on winterizing exterior plumbing and water sealing the deck.

Plus for the first time in over twenty years, we had to purchase a lawn mower and weed eater.  Yikes, I have to do more in the yard than take care of a flower bed and fish pond.  Presently, I have to purchase more grass seed to assist the back yard, ensure the sod in front and side yards are fertilized and purchase border brick for the front flower bed. Notice that word Purchase keeps popping up, well that is part of being home owners.

We are also having 2 man caves completed over the next few days then we can reclaim the garage for its true purpose of storing automobiles.  What a concept the last garage I had was a work room /store room and this one is even large enough for two vehicles, a motorcycle and still has room to spare.

The D Suite (Dad Suite) looks more like a fine Hotel Suite than a guest room. Coffee pot, 40 inch flat panel TV, pub style table and chairs, rocking chair with reading lamp, and once the wall hangings, plus dorm size frig are added it will be complete.

We have created what we are calling the E suite which is the main guest room, Antique furniture, King Size bed, Antique wall decorations and just waiting for the plantation shutters.  Guest will have a nice short stroll down the Cruise Memorial gallery to their large yet cozy bath.

Yes, moving from 1000 square feet condo to what will eventually be 2200 under environmental control has been a great adventure. It actually is great to be back in a house where we have room to spread out and even room to grow. 

It is great to be home owners again and look forward to many years of happiness here. I am hopefully that the purchases will subside once we have obtained all the necessary tools and items we need to complete the house.

Till later LB

Yahoo!

New Beginnings

Yahoo!

Nearly 11 months ago, Paul and I made the decision that it was best for us and family to relocate to Clarksville, TN. After much discussion and mental anguish, I approached my boss to request a transfer and was rewarded with the knowledge that she was not about to lose me to another State or office. So with the security of being employed remotely, we put the house on the market, thinking we might have to leave and deal with a long distance sale. Fortunately, that was not the case and the Florida house sold in two days.

So with a month to pack, deciding what went with us in our two vehicles and what would be placed in storage, our path was clear to make the final move to Tennessee. We had purchased the Little Condo on the Bluff a couple of years prior as our getaway location and now it would be our new home.

The Condo is a great little house, quiet and peaceful but the goal of moving to Tennessee was to eventually convince Dad it was time to retire and that we wanted him to live with us. Dad is the only surviving parent that my sister, Paul and I have and it is our goal to ensure he takes care of himself. So even though we loved living in the condo, it was not going to be our ultimate location.

After spending months roaming Montgomery County, we looked at multiple re-sells but no matter what we liked it was going to take thousands to make it suitable for ourselves. Our wonderful realtor passed on a link regarding a new subdivision approximately 3 miles from the condo. After touring the spec. homes in the community we found the perfect model. It had a Dad Suite and a bonus room that we could convert into 2 man caves. Plus starting from the ground up we could make all the modifications that we wanted from the start.

So after 5 months, we are now in the Orchard Hills house. We have spent the week moving, unpacking and purchasing to our bodies and credit card are totally exhausted. We are now awaiting the delivery of the Florida Storage and few items that we had to order to arrive. The Dad Suite is nearly complete and now the real work of convincing the Old Missouri Mule to think about retiring will begin in earnest.

Clarksville has become our new home town and we could not be happier. A new home, new neighborhood and starting Monday September 10^th; Larry B resurfaces with an International Line Dance class at the Clarksville Athletic Club. It is always stressful starting out on a new beginning but having family and support from friends it has been a great adventure. Granted it is one we do not plan to do again, Clarksville is the final stomping ground.

Till next time, LB.

Labor Day 2012

Depending on whether you count from the first Labor Day or from when it became a Federal Holiday. ThisLabor Day is the 130th or 118^th. It was originally intended that the day would be filled with a street parade to allow the public to appreciate the work of the trade and labor organizations. After the parade, a festival would be held to amuse local workers and their families.

In later years, prominent men and women held speeches. One of the reasons for choosing to celebrate this on the first Monday in September was to add a holiday in the long gap between Independence Day and Thanksgiving.

It is largely a day of rest in modern times. Many people mark Labor Day as the end of the summer season and a last chance to make trips or hold outdoor events. This year I will be celebrating Labor Day by moving into our new home and helping my sister prepare to move into our condo. 

Seems like it was just a year ago that I was packing up our house in Florida and getting ready to move to Tennessee. Oh wait, it was a year ago.  It has been a great year and we have definitely established Clarksville as our home. So yes in one year we have sold a house in Florida, moved to our condo on the bluff and had a new house built.   

The funny thing is I wrote 2 years ago here in my blog about how the Condo on the Bluff was my place to get away to a slower pace of life.  I talked about how tired I was of the metropolitan area of South Florida and how when I was here I slowed down, became more productive and creative.

It is a slower pace of life here but this year has not been that slow paced for us. Perhaps once this move is complete we will be able to slow down and enjoy our new home and the surrounding area.

It feels like we are starting over just as it did a year ago.  This time I know it is the last time I am going to pack up totes.  Luckily instead of 18 hours of driving, it is only 5 minutes from door to door.

Till next time LB