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10-03-2007, 06:31 PM
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#1
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Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sarasota,fl.
Posts: 11,447
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How can we downsize ?
Everybody talks about downsizing but as I've gotten older my family has swelled to include sil's ,dil's,and grandchildren .When we all get together it's a mob scene . So why do people think of downsizing when we need more room than ever ? Maybe the perfect set up would be a small house with a hotel next door .
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10-03-2007, 06:34 PM
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#2
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 816
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Are all those folks visiting all at the same time, all the time?
__________________
A todos los amantes del mundo. No importa el color de su piel, la pasion es universal.
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La tavola e il letto non hanno restrizioni.
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Any day your on this side of the grass is a good day.
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10-03-2007, 06:39 PM
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#3
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Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sarasota,fl.
Posts: 11,447
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cattusbabe
Are all those folks visiting all at the same time, all the time?
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My SO has four boys with four wives and four children so far . I have one daughter, one son in law and a grandbaby on the way . All my SO's children live nearby so they frequently visit .My daughter lives farther away but when she visits everybody shows up .During football season it gets a little crazy! Go Gators !
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10-03-2007, 07:55 PM
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#4
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Florida
Posts: 854
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My parents didn't think they could downsize either, but my brother has a hugh house in the same tiown. Short version: they downsized and events moved to his home. Maybe one of the "kids" can take over if you downsize.
I concur: Go Gators
__________________
I would not have anyone adopt my mode of living...but I would have each one be very careful to find out and pursue his own way, and not his father's or his mother's or his neighbor's instead. Thoreau, Walden
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10-03-2007, 08:56 PM
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#5
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,473
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Is all of this hosting something YOU want to do, yourself? If you want to do it, then you will want a larger house to accomodate that - - just as a person who really wants to fill the living room with a functioning toy train collection or with a pool table would want a larger house to accomodate those hobbies.
But if they are becoming a pain in the rear, and you are letting yourself get pushed into not downsizing by that, then stand up for what you want! If you had a smaller house, they would probably enjoy staging the get-togethers just as much as they enjoyed coming over to your house.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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10-03-2007, 10:16 PM
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#6
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Nomadic in the Rockies
Posts: 2,720
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Small house, big yard...maybe a pole barn or some home-engineered canopy over a part of the yard. Throw in cooling misters hoses or portable heaters as climate demands.
Better yet: downsize by a park with a gazebo.
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10-03-2007, 10:40 PM
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#7
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,703
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And for entertainment, your guests can drive the bobcat around the yard. I like it!
__________________
Emancipated from wage-slavery since 2002
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10-04-2007, 03:27 AM
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#8
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 7,968
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Front and back screened porches - those fancy blow up air mattresses like on tv/Plus a 28' Prowler(semi retired)camper out front of the fish camp with power(read A/C) and water run from the pumphouse.
Hell - Some Mardi Grais we had friends or relatives so distant nobody wanted to admit they didn/t remember who they were.
Life is much quieter in Kansas City. My backyard grill/BBQ skills have yet to draw large attendances!
heh heh heh heh heh heh
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10-04-2007, 03:44 AM
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#9
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: No Where for Very Long
Posts: 769
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Moemg
Everybody talks about downsizing but as I've gotten older my family has swelled to include sil's ,dil's,and grandchildren .When we all get together it's a mob scene . So why do people think of downsizing when we need more room than ever ? Maybe the perfect set up would be a small house with a hotel next door .
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If you are happy with your current situation, why "downsize"?
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10-04-2007, 03:47 AM
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#10
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 7,968
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Moemg
Everybody talks about downsizing but as I've gotten older my family has swelled to include sil's ,dil's,and grandchildren .When we all get together it's a mob scene . So why do people think of downsizing when we need more room than ever ? Maybe the perfect set up would be a small house with a hotel next door .
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After about 15 yrs - the Mardis Grais thing got a tad old. So the yearly gather in Reno(most family out West) thing got started with my Mom shopping(they were retired by then) for the best deal as early as a year ahead. That was good for about ten years.
Since my Sister's kids are career military more or less - last year was Pensacola at Thanksgiving. This year will have relatives in DC, Pensacola,San Diego, Seattle - Christmas at ?
Agile, mobile and hostile.
And I stayed single and come from a small family! Go figure!
heh heh heh
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10-04-2007, 05:42 AM
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#11
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,473
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Some more thoughts, after reading Uncle Mick's posts about the camper in the yard - -
I have been looking online at houses in Missouri (and dreaming, I admit). There are plenty of smaller houses that have a guest house or outbuilding with utilities, out back. You could have your small house for most of the year, and have guest quarters as well.
Frank is interested in this type of home up there because he wants to turn the outbuilding into a ham radio station ("ham shack"). I don't see the purpose in it since he lives alone, so he could use a spare bedroom for that. But in your case, you could benefit from not having to clean or heat the guest house when you don't have guests.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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10-04-2007, 08:29 AM
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#12
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: minnesota
Posts: 13,228
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Guest houses are tough in the north where you can get below freezing temperatures. Unless you forgo plumbing in the guest house.
__________________
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No more lawyer stuff, no more political stuff, so no more CYA
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10-04-2007, 08:38 AM
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#13
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Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 6,164
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Martha
..... Unless you forgo plumbing in the guest house.
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Now there's a great way to cut down on overnight traffic!
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10-04-2007, 09:29 AM
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#14
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,105
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Moemg
Everybody talks about downsizing but as I've gotten older my family has swelled to include sil's ,dil's,and grandchildren .When we all get together it's a mob scene . So why do people think of downsizing when we need more room than ever ? Maybe the perfect set up would be a small house with a hotel next door .
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I think this kind of thinking is why people have bigger house and smaller saving accounts - they plan for the peaks in in their lives and all that comes with it. It isn't just the large house but, the furnishing, utilities, taxes, etc that comes along with it that drains your finances.
__________________
Sometimes death is not as tragic as not knowing how to live. This man knew how to live--and how to make others glad they were living. - Jack Benny at Nat King Cole's funeral
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10-04-2007, 01:44 PM
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#15
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Lawn chair in Texas
Posts: 14,183
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Similar to the sign I've seen on RVs: Seats 6, sleeps 2...
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Have Funds, Will Retire
...not doing anything of true substance...
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10-05-2007, 03:51 PM
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#16
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 816
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If you own it they will come. Have a large house? This is the first place people will think to stay when visiting from out of town. Cheaper than a hotel so it makes sense. This is not a problem if you like that. DH and I have a large house but do not encourage over night guests. In an emergency we can pull out the inflatable beds but even with all of the space we have we do not have guest rooms. I agree with Dex. There is no need to hold onto more house than you want or need just for the occasional visitor.
__________________
A todos los amantes del mundo. No importa el color de su piel, la pasion es universal.
_______________
La tavola e il letto non hanno restrizioni.
_____________
Any day your on this side of the grass is a good day.
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10-05-2007, 04:01 PM
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#17
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,322
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Moemg
Everybody talks about downsizing but as I've gotten older my family has swelled to include sil's ,dil's,and grandchildren .When we all get together it's a mob scene . So why do people think of downsizing when we need more room than ever ? Maybe the perfect set up would be a small house with a hotel next door .
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Two words: air matresses
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