Blow That Dough - 2022

[corn18]

Bought a keyless entry lock for the RV. Total unnecessary, but nice to not have to take a key with us when we go for a walk or bike ride.

 

[Teacher Terry]

Skip pro, I really admire your attitude!! My parents also looked forward to traveling but didn’t get to do much because my dad had a bad stroke at 59. Every year my mom took a 2 week vacation with my sister and I took care of my dad. We didn’t want her to miss the travel she had looked forward to.

I mentioned this because you might want to encourage your wife to take a nice trip every year or two with a friend or relative. I am sorry that you can’t travel any longer. Wishing I best for a long and happy retirement. Luckily you live in a beautiful area. It’s one of my favorite places to drive to.

 

[NW-Bound]

Bought a keyless entry lock for the RV. Total unnecessary, but nice to not have to take a key with us when we go for a walk or bike ride.

A good idea. Getting locked out of your RV can ruin your day.

I read a blog of a woman RV'er who locked herself out of her class C motohome. While in Alaska!

Fortunately for her, she was able to crawl back into it via the skylight dome which she left open. That skylight had to be quite large and she was also skinny.

I had a key to the motorhome hidden on the exterior, where I could get to. Once inside, I had an entire set of spare keys, including that of the toad.

Being locked out of the motorhome in Alaska is not a good thing, where grizzlies roam.

 

[skipro33]

Skip pro, I really admire your attitude!! My parents also looked forward to traveling but didn’t get to do much because my dad had a bad stroke at 59. Every year my mom took a 2 week vacation with my sister and I took care of my dad. We didn’t want her to miss the travel she had looked forward to.

I mentioned this because you might want to encourage your wife to take a nice trip every year or two with a friend or relative. I am sorry that you can’t travel any longer. Wishing I best for a long and happy retirement. Luckily you live in a beautiful area. It’s one of my favorite places to drive to.

Great minds think alike. Ha!
My wife has been able to travel some, and when she returns, I quarantine to a guest bedroom for a few days as that is how I think I caught covid the first time.
My son and his family took her on a 'Sound Of Music' trip to Austria, Germany and then to Sweden where she's from. She got to visit family and really got into the SOM tour with my son, grand kids and DW wearing traditional German clothes from the movie. Ha!
She also travels locally to visit family in Oregon, Washington and Idaho, as well as take trips with her widow sister in her RV along the coast.
She tells me it's just not the same as traveling with me though. Right. Ha!
But we do some local traveling. Quartzite, AZ, Moab UT, Whiskeytown Lake, Boca Reservoir, Union Valley Reservoir just this year alone in our truck-camper. Camping is a great way to get out and still stay relatively isolated. We have our e-bikes and kayaks and enjoy day trips too.
Our youngest son works for the Golden State Warriors, an NBA basketball team that won the Finals. She got to attend home games and walk in the parade San Franciso threw for the team and employees. 5 days quarantine after of course, which ended yesterday and we are leaving today on a kayak camping/fishing trip after my doctor appt. this morning.

 

[Koolau]

Yes, it is a privilege, but these projects are a compromise. Our plan was to travel internationally and spend a few months in Hawaii. Take extended vacations with the kids and grand kids. Get an RV and travel around the country.
After I was diagnosed with cancer and told my immune system couldn't handle that much close exposure to others even before the pandemic, those plans had to be given up. My wake-up call was a week in ICU with COVID-pneumonia even after all the precautions I took to avoid human contact. So now I'm on 'house arrest' so to speak. Ha! So when given lemons, we make lemon aide.

I am reminded of two lines in a movie called, "Passenger" where the bartender offers advice to a patron:

"Don't be so hung up on where you'd rather be that you forget to make the most of where you are."

He also tells him, "Take a break from worrying about what you can't control. "

Words of advice I have found perspective in my situation.

What a great attitude! Enjoy the process and the finished product! Blessings and aloha.

 

[explanade]

Still $100k would be a significant portion of the value of the home and even greater portion of the assessed value, where typically the land is worth more than the building on it.

Contractors are probably sizing up the value of the home, guessing how much equity you have in it, etc.

When I ask for estimates on Yelp, even for the simplest jobs, they want to come out and see the place and give you estimates.

Some of them want a $200 to come out and they will apply the fee as credit to do the job.

They won't give a simple ballpark estimate for things like installing an HVAC filter or a some light switches.

Maybe they're too busy that they only want to take jobs which will generate $$$.

Or maybe they don't get a lot of jobs so they have to cash in as much as possible for each job.

 

[Music Lover]

THAT was the cheapest bid, post-COVID. The other two bids were $125K and $128K for 1,000' deck...

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLVP9KJijHupy-lKm9VfX4T2edpPgQBJu5jXSMhnH6haF0Wo1d477ybsL-yQ3CJd4kovjN9Lunkhm3FwtksF3Fg5x5HSjSrcZwlcNsB4lzkQeg7IIVB2HTFwUgDP1Tp7Kar-MluZqF6gfPZtBLoTGsLQdA=w876-h657-no?authuser=0

As someone who enjoys building decks, I would have been in my glory designing and planning a deck like that. I probably would have built it myself, too.

 

[Teacher Terry]

Skip pro, your wife is very lucky to have you for a husband. Glad you are traveling some by RV and love your Sound of Music story).

 

[googily]

You are defiantly in the right thread (BTD) to post your new purchases. Sounds great and enjoy your new homes!

And yet I consider it all to be great deals compared to my east coast VHCOL other life!

 

[street]

Yes, it is a privilege, but these projects are a compromise. Our plan was to travel internationally and spend a few months in Hawaii. Take extended vacations with the kids and grand kids. Get an RV and travel around the country.
After I was diagnosed with cancer and told my immune system couldn't handle that much close exposure to others even before the pandemic, those plans had to be given up. My wake-up call was a week in ICU with COVID-pneumonia even after all the precautions I took to avoid human contact. So now I'm on 'house arrest' so to speak. Ha! So when given lemons, we make lemon aide.

I am reminded of two lines in a movie called, "Passenger" where the bartender offers advice to a patron:

"Don't be so hung up on where you'd rather be that you forget to make the most of where you are."

He also tells him, "Take a break from worrying about what you can't control. "

Words of advice I have found perspective in my situation.

Those lines are what everyone needs to follow. I remember your posts about your health and happy things have turned out well. I was thinking about my life today how blessed I have been. I was working in a remote area never seen a soul all day. A man can do a lot of soul searching when you are outdoors and all the money in the world can't buy our health.
Please keep us posted that deck and project. Looks absolutely like a work of art on paper.

 

[RobbieB]

Yup.

I bought a tea pot that had a slogan I liked;

"Bloom where you are planted"

 

[skipro33]

Still $100k would be a significant portion of the value of the home and even greater portion of the assessed value, where typically the land is worth more than the building on it.

Today I read that the median price house here in California is $898,967.
I figure mine is worth a little more since it's a custom log home on 5 acres.
It's not about the value of the house and this addition, it's about spending money on something you think will give you enjoyment. If it increases the value, I could care less since I never plan to sell it anyway. The dough blown will give me more pleasure than sitting in the bank for the kids to inherit some day.
I don't think folks outside California have a firm idea just what it costs to live here. Our gas is at least a buck fifty more than anywhere else in the USA. Electricity is 31 to 37 cents a kilowatt hour for the lowest tier. Water is at least $100 a month and severely metered and fines attached if going over set limits. And on and on and on. But the weather.... It's all worth it.

 

[Sunset]

......

From this photo, the deck is behind and below the playground equipment, soon to be a paver patio with gazebo.
.......
I built all that landscaping. 64 tons of stone to build the walls, of which this photo shows less than half of it, all hand carried and set into place. 8 yards of bark chips wheelbarrowed in, the playground set, the lawn, sprinklers, lighting,etc. It's been quite a blow to have to hire out any project, I'm sure I could build the paver patio and gazebo but for my health these days. My advice is to never put off until tomorrow because tomorrow is never a promise. .....

That playground build is fantastic, I'm very impressed as I don't think I would have the thinking to add the wall.

Are you going to keep the wall and put the patio within the wall or does the wall go away ?

 

[skipro33]

That playground build is fantastic, I'm very impressed as I don't think I would have the thinking to add the wall.

Are you going to keep the wall and put the patio within the wall or does the wall go away ?

The walls stay, the bark chips and playground replaced with pavers and a gazebo/pavilion about 16'x22' Plus an outdoor BBQ kitchen with a bar. But that will come later. Next year perhaps if the recession is short lived.
The idea for the wall was my wife wanted somewhere to sit while out there with the grandkids. At first I used straw waddles to keep bark in place, then straw bails to sit on. Then the idea to make it all with straw bails. But they need to be replaced every year. So I thought of something more permanent and the wall came to mind.

The design for the gazebo pavilion is in progress and will complement the log house, but made of timber beam construction with a metal roof. I want to hear the rain on the roof.

 

[Teacher Terry]

Skip pro, your yard is beautiful and your improvements will be nice. I love hearing rain on the roof so metal roof is great. Reno real estate is now more expensive than Sacramento. Like you I feel the weather is definitely worth the price. Plus after being here 25 years I have many good friends and of course my kids have moved here which is priceless).

 

[Koolau]

Today I read that the median price house here in California is $898,967.
I figure mine is worth a little more since it's a custom log home on 5 acres.
It's not about the value of the house and this addition, it's about spending money on something you think will give you enjoyment. If it increases the value, I could care less since I never plan to sell it anyway. The dough blown will give me more pleasure than sitting in the bank for the kids to inherit some day.
I don't think folks outside California have a firm idea just what it costs to live here. Our gas is at least a buck fifty more than anywhere else in the USA. Electricity is 31 to 37 cents a kilowatt hour for the lowest tier. Water is at least $100 a month and severely metered and fines attached if going over set limits. And on and on and on. But the weather.... It's all worth it.

Kinda reminds me of Hawaii. Big difference: RE taxes are lowest in the nation. YMMV

 

[street]

Kinda reminds me of Hawaii. Big difference: RE taxes are lowest in the nation. YMMV

Isn't Hawaii the highest for electric rates in the nation

 

[aja8888]

Isn't Hawaii the highest for electric rates in the nation

........and probably a lot of other things. Everything brought in by ship or airplane, except maybe pineapples and Macadamia nuts!

 

[skipro33]

Isn't Hawaii the highest for electric rates in the nation

Hawaii rates are 34.5 cents per kw hour.
My rate is 31.5 for tier one (no one could survive on only tier1) and 39.5 cents tier 2. Tier 3 is 49 cents per kw hour. On the average bill, my rate is above Hawaii rate

 

[street]

Hawaii rates are 34.5 cents per kw hour.
My rate is 31.5 for tier one (no one could survive on only tier1) and 39.5 cents tier 2. Tier 3 is 49 cents per kw hour. On the average bill, my rate is above Hawaii rate

Holy Moly!!! We pay .072¢ a KWH. And .043¢ on electric heat rate. I'm staying here where we have snow blizzards, wildfires, drought, rattle snakes and bugs!!!

 

[kgtest]

Wow, Disney tickets are crazy.

I heard for extra fees, they will move you to the front of the line on popular rides.

I think I priced out our family of 5 at about $1650.00 to get into 3 parks.

 

[skipro33]

Holy Moly!!! We pay .072¢ a KWH. And .043¢ on electric heat rate. I'm staying here where we have snow blizzards, wildfires, drought, rattle snakes and bugs!!!

PGE was being criminally charged for the fires started by their equipment that included almost 100 lives lost. They settled with the various counties, thereby avoiding criminal conviction. If convicted, they would not have been eligible to recover costs by raising rates, would have come out of shareholder profits. But since they settled, no conviction and they can raise rates to cover the cost.
We now have an electric grid that gets shut off due to high use during peak heat times because they don't have the capacity, in a state that mandates all electric cars by 2035. I sure hope a solution is found by then...
Did I mention no motors under 25 HP by 2025?
That includes generators, water pumps, chainsaws, etc. Even for firefighters and forest fire crews.
Plus no gas appliances, only electric.

 

[street]

PGE was being criminally charged for the fires started by their equipment that included almost 100 lives lost. They settled with the various counties, thereby avoiding criminal conviction. If convicted, they would not have been eligible to recover costs by raising rates, would have come out of shareholder profits. But since they settled, no conviction and they can raise rates to cover the cost.
We now have an electric grid that gets shut off due to high use during peak heat times because they don't have the capacity, in a state that mandates all electric cars by 2035. I sure hope a solution is found by then...
Did I mention no motors under 25 HP by 2025?
That includes generators, water pumps, chainsaws, etc. Even for firefighters and forest fire crews.
Plus no gas appliances, only electric.

Very interesting skipro!!!

 

[NW-Bound]

We now have an electric grid that gets shut off due to high use during peak heat times because they don't have the capacity, in a state that mandates all electric cars by 2035. I sure hope a solution is found by then...
Did I mention no motors under 25 HP by 2025?
That includes generators, water pumps, chainsaws, etc. Even for firefighters and forest fire crews.
Plus no gas appliances, only electric.

Does the above mean no more grilling? Can you get an electric grill that puts out as much heat, without upgrading your electric meter to a 3-phase industrial one?

Oh well, nobody dies if there's no grilled meat. Just boil everything.

I can see firefighters using a large generator to get over the 25-HP threshold, whether they really need it or not, then use the generator output to run smaller electric pumps as needed.

 

[skipro33]

Does the above mean no more grilling? Can you get an electric grill that puts out as much heat, without upgrading your electric meter to a 3-phase industrial one?

Oh well, nobody dies if there's no grilled meat. Just boil everything.

I can see firefighters using a large generator to get over the 25-HP threshold, whether they really need it or not, then use the generator output to run smaller electric pumps as needed.

I haven't heard anything about grilling. The language in the law talks about fossil fuel sort of thing for motors and appliances such as water heater, stove, home heating, etc.
Starting with no new appliances sold of that nature,then likely the fuel surcharge will price out those grandfathered appliances and small internal combustion motors.
They did much the same for wood stoves and fireplace, air quality poor, no fires tonight. Eventually home builders quit offering and the state or county offered rebates. I got a real nice Makita lawn mower from our local air quality department by trading in my gas mower for about 50% off through Home Depot