The glue that holds us...

[rayinpenn]

I left my 15 minutes to tossing surface lures at the schoolie strippers in the harbor as the sun went down for a bigger house on an acre, in the great school district where the taxes were around $5,000 a year. It seemed a relative bargain at the time because the tiny cape cod we were leaving on the quarter acre in a so so school district were the same. The truth is while the summers on Long Island can be beautiful, the traffic and insane home prices are anything but. Then there was that annual school budget vote - 3 million for computers?
The truth is the neighborhood was going through a demographic shift and its future seemed uncertain.

Looking back I am well pleased with the results and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I remember my first trip to a local kids soccer club. In addition to a clubhouse I looked out at an unbelievable open vista of perhaps 10 full size soccer fields and a stone Amish farmhouse in the distance. This was a far cry from the overused, thread bare grass, cigarette butt laden fields on LI. My god I was mesmerized.

Well it has been 12 years later and our taxes are now $10,000. If I leave late for work (more often lately) and avoid the highway and take the short way to work (9.5 miles). I'll likely get caught at the light around the corner which can be backed up 20 cars. It was never like that 12 years ago. They've built and built and built some more. The ancient nursery around the corner that was closed well before we arrived is now a mansion - complete with exotic cars parked outside. There are 3 high end grocery stores within 5 minutes. The nearby Maserati dealership still seems unbelievable to me. Geeze who buys those things?

As number 2 will start at Penn State in September and Number 1 will graduate college in a few short weeks. Shortly there will be nothing keeping us here right? Well not exactly. The Mrs and I have our doubts as to number 2s maturity-you know that college it is all up to me stuff. Minimum effort is his mantra. He apparently he has the same math gene as his applied mathematics high cum sister. I'm not sure exactly what differential equations exactly is but I don't want any of it to get on me. So he's heading off to study computer science and we believe parent intervention will be necessary - I'm thinking a well placed size 9.5 but I hope I'm wrong. I'm praying he 'hooks up' with an ambitious lady.

Number 1 will be starting her new job in July as well as graduate school; I don't see her own apartment any time in the too near future.
She knows a good deal when she sees one... "would you like pancakes this morning Honey?"

I'm hoping we can at least snowbird it...

[audreyh1]

Ray - you might as well create a blog site to maintain your daily life musings, otherwise they'll get lost scattered about in this forum. You've got a real flair for this.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 Ray - you might as well create a blog site to maintain your daily life musings,...

+1

[rayinpenn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 Ray - you might as well create a blog site to maintain your daily life musings, otherwise they'll get lost scattered about in this forum. You've got a real flair for this.

I'm coming to that point where I send an email to the boss "I will be retiring.." and this once poor as a church mouse guy is a wee bit nervous... I guess me and a bunch of others around my age have a lot on our minds. Hearing "I'm in the same boat..." helps.

Apologies...

[audreyh1]

What are you apologizing for? I just suggested that you "formalize" your creative contributions a bit so they don't get lost....

I think many people benefit from you skillfully articulating your thoughts as you make this transition.

[REWahoo]

Plus, you won't have any moderators closing the threads you start...

[Fedup]

I LOLed that he hooks up with an ambitious lady.

[aja8888]

It all sounds well written, a bit wordy and some thought provoking stuff, but I have no idea what he is talking about?

Maybe I have been in Texas too long?

[Walt34]

I liked the part about "I'm not sure exactly what differential equations exactly is but I don't want any of it to get on me."

[target2019]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayinpenn I'm coming to that point where I send an email to the boss "I will be retiring.." and this once poor as a church mouse guy is a wee bit nervous... I guess me and a bunch of others around my age have a lot on our minds. Hearing "I'm in the same boat..." helps. Apologies...

Your posts are very good. Adds a lot of value to the forum.
I understood all of it.
Good luck with the retirement.

[aja8888]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt34 I liked the part about "I'm not sure exactly what differential equations exactly is but I don't want any of it to get on me."

I got some of that on me in Engineering College. I would have exchanged it for a dozen root canals if I could have.

[Mdlerth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aja8888 It all sounds well written, a bit wordy and some thought provoking stuff, but I have no idea what he is talking about? Maybe I have been in Texas too long?

Ray is saying he likes where he lives because the evening entertainment features waterfront exotic dancers in plaid jumpers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayinpenn I left my 15 minutes to tossing surface lures at the schoolie strippers in the harbor as the sun went down

[Nodak]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 Ray - you might as well create a blog site to maintain your daily life musings, otherwise they'll get lost scattered about in this forum. You've got a real flair for this.

+2

[aja8888]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mdlerth Ray is saying he likes where he lives because the evening entertainment features waterfront exotic dancers in plaid jumpers.

Oh, I thought he was talking about fishing for striped bass in Long Island Sound.

[Just_Steve]

# 2 got accepted into Pen State and you'r worried?
Wish I had such worries.

[Hermit]

I hope it works out better for your #2 than mine. Mine is still at it going on 8 years. Computer Science in the School of Engineering.

[rayinpenn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mdlerth Ray is saying he likes where he lives because the evening entertainment features waterfront exotic dancers in plaid jumpers.

Would that it be true....I'd probably hurt myself.