I made a good decision

[catherine]

I don't think this will copy very well--it will certainly not do the experience any justice. But still had to share. (Anyone have any ideas on how to best upload photos these days?)

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[iris lilies]

Nice!

[razz]

Ah, Catherine, you poor thing having live with such images all around you. It must be really tough!;)

[JaneV2.0]

Nothing like a good lake view to soothe the soul; now you can watch it change with the seasons.

[rosarugosa]

Beautiful! I think it's a pretty decent image once you click on it, although still far from full screen.

[Sad Eyed Lady]

Beautiful!

[Float On]

Nice!

[dado potato]

Great pic. Keep them coming.

Are there 3 fishermen angling for panfish out there?

[Teacher Terry]

That is beautiful! One of the places we are going this summer is Northern WI which is really pretty. My folks had a summer resort right on a lake and I want to show it to my husband. He has never been up there.

[freshstart]

did you move in my absence?

[catherine]

did you move in my absence?

Haha! Well, while you were away, in September, DH and I happened to find a tiny cabin in VT, 30 minutes from my kids who live in Burlington. My BIL's house was in the process of selling, and we paid off our substantial IRS debt with the lion's share of DH's proceeds and used the rest as a down payment on this house. A questionable financial decision, but it fulfills a lifelong dream for both DH and I to have a place by the water (he and I both enjoyed summers with our aunties at beach cottages). And it gives us a home base near 3 of our kids. And we have always LOVED Vermont--we took summer vacations up here for 20 years.

Part B of our plan is to confirm that we enjoy life in VT and then sell our house in NJ, which has a market value of twice as much as our home, so that would enable us to pay off the mortgage on this little house and put a little cash in the bank. Or put all the cash in the bank. Depending on the best strategy at that time.

[freshstart]

I remember you wanting to move to Burlington, congratulations on making it happen! That all sounds wonderful. My dearest friends live there and whenever I visit I just feel like this is where I belong. Maybe someday.

[SteveinMN]

I think I could maybe manage to live there for a day or two. :laff:

Very pretty.

[Gardenarian]

Lovely!

[JaneV2.0]

A cautionary tale: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44215648

I can't understand people like this; I would do whatever it took to be independent.

[catherine]

Wow!!

I agree on the independence thing.

What a horrible situation. Funny thing is, that house could be in my neighborhood. It's not EXACTLY my model but very similar, and there are houses in the development that look exactly like it. So the story literally hits a little bit too close to home.

I came back to NJ for a presentation, and BIL has kept the lawn nice, and has laid out June's "rent" on the table (in quotes because in effect he's only paying for cable, gas and electric). But he texted me that he has an appointment and won't be here. Is he trying to avoid me? Hmm.. The house smells like someone has been smoking which he is not supposed to do, but DH has smoked in his office for years, which infiltrates the whole house, so I can't really blame BIL entirely, but I HATE the idea of the house being coated in tar and nicotine. Because DH and his brother are sneaky smokers, I considered getting one of those devices that can remotely tell you if someone is smoking in your property. Neither of them understand that smoke is not just smoke. It's chemicals that ruin all the surfaces of the house.

Rant over. Jane, thanks for raising my blood pressure this morning. :)

[Teacher Terry]

If I was those parents I would have changed the locks:))

[JaneV2.0]

If I was those parents I would have changed the locks:))

He lost the first round; I doubt that will get the desired results.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/22/us/judge-rules-son-must-move-out-new-york-trnd/index.html

[iris lilies]

If I was those parents I would have changed the locks:))
They may not have legal right to lock him out.

I have seen enough roomate situations go bad here, even when the “roomate” pays no rent, that I know the police dont remove people from premises when there is ambiguity about who is authorized to be there.

[catherine]

I made a good decision.

Met neighbors last night that share the common land at the lakefront. First impression, they are all very nice. I think DH found his tribe. Seriously. He grew up in a little beach community at Rockaway Beach where the community was filled with Irish/Scottish police and firemen. His uncles shoveled out a basement of their tiny bungalow with their bare hands (and a shovel) so they could fit more family in on the weekends. Everyone there was like that. And the same is true here. All the homeowners seem to get by by cobbling their resources together, including their community resources. We brought in a half a cord of wood for the fire pit last night. Our neighbor's teenage kids stacked it for us and in return they asked if they could have some wood for their fire pit until they get some.

I love my little house. The wooden Boos butcher block table that I was going to cut in half is instead a center-of-the-home way station to prep food, drop off mail, pull up a stool and have a cup of coffee, and throw a towel on and iron clothes. Technology provides me with instant music that floats easily through all 700 sq. feet via Alexa on my Echo. We found plates and glasses at "Granny's Attic," the local thrift shop.

And my son and DIL had their first child on Thursday (I'm now a 3-time grandmother!), and I'm only 35 minutes away. I bought 3 lbs. of grassfed beef from the nursery/beef producer that's a 10 minute walk from my house and so I'll make up a big stew and bring it to the new mom and dad.

This whole tableau is almost a cliche, but so is this: Life is good.

[rosarugosa]

That sounds delightful, Catherine! Would love to see picture updates as your interior evolves!

[Tybee]

Oh Catherine how wonderful. You found home!

[razz]

Congratulations Gramma! It all does sound a perfect fit. How many of your neighbours live year-round?

[catherine]

Congratulations Gramma! It all does sound a perfect fit. How many of your neighbours live year-round?

Zero.

In fact, one of them made a point to tell me that the previous owners of my house--the only ones who have winterized their cabin--"froze their a$$es off" in the winter. Several have said "You don't want to be here in the winter." We'll see.

[Teacher Terry]

That sounds great! Is your long term plan to move into town for the winter?

[catherine]

We brought in a half a cord of wood for the fire pit last night. Our neighbor's teenage kids stacked it for us and in return they asked if they could have some wood for their fire pit until they get some.


Update on this story. The 16 year old boy who helped DH stack the firewood was showing DH his fishing lures. Last weekend this same boy caught a big pike. DH asked him to show him them, and was asking him questions about each one. Then the boy said, "These are what I bought with the ten dollars you gave me (DH had paid each boy $10 for the work).

I teared up. Honestly. DH gave the boy $10 for work that saved DH a heart attack, probably. But on the same token the $10 meant a lot to the boy because he was able to purchase something important. Here's a picture of DH and the boy, in DH's new "man cave"--an outbuilding/work shed.

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[sweetana3]

That boy shows some interesting initiative that needs some mentoring. Will mean a lot to have other adults to "shadow" or talk with. Your husband is a nice guy.

[Teacher Terry]

How wonderful is that!