freebird5825
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Mi casa bonita...
First off, the climate here is awful from Dec-Mar. It snows here. A lot.
I live out in the country, as in a dairy farm is very close by. East Nowhere is dull, but it has its charms in other ways. Fresh air, low crime, very little road noise. A small lake within 5 miles and a nice little boat club with walk-up slip for my powerboat. Once the snow melts and goes away for good, it is fabulous here. Lush green, very few critters to contend with, nice cool nights for sleeping.
Did I mention fresh air ?
I live in a 1977 vintage raised ranch, approx 1700 sq ft, that was purchased and moved into in 1984 when I was 25 years old, a fresh newlywed (5 months to be exact). The price was right...gravel/dirt driveway, lawn in terrible shape, back deck starting to rot, really awful magenta carpeting and rooms full of that wild large print design wallpaper from the 70s.
Hubby and I were happy to start out with a nest that wasn't rented, without wierd neighbors.
Over the years, each room has been redone and/or painted, the kitchen and bathrooms overhauled, a dividing wall removed and replaced with a peninsula, and red oak wood flooring put in by hand (yes by hand by a friend who is also an excellent carpenter). That small open air deck was replaced with a roofed screened in room (used Apr-Dec) and a lower large open deck.
If this house could be transported to a high rent district, it would be very desirable to own.
After I was widowed in 2004 at age 46, I really thought about selling and getting an apartment. I'm glad I didn't give in to that impulse. No mortgage was the main reason to stay put. 100% equity is a nice thing to have.
I have often thought of downsizing to a smaller house...however I know what has been repaired/upgraded here versus buying into someone else's history. It ain't broke, so I ain't fixin' it.
When the upkeep gets too tough on me physically, I will most likely buy a condo in a larger town. Where? Who knows?
For now, I await the catalyst to change my zip code.
I'm having a ball exploring upstate NY.
First off, the climate here is awful from Dec-Mar. It snows here. A lot.
I live out in the country, as in a dairy farm is very close by. East Nowhere is dull, but it has its charms in other ways. Fresh air, low crime, very little road noise. A small lake within 5 miles and a nice little boat club with walk-up slip for my powerboat. Once the snow melts and goes away for good, it is fabulous here. Lush green, very few critters to contend with, nice cool nights for sleeping.
Did I mention fresh air ?
I live in a 1977 vintage raised ranch, approx 1700 sq ft, that was purchased and moved into in 1984 when I was 25 years old, a fresh newlywed (5 months to be exact). The price was right...gravel/dirt driveway, lawn in terrible shape, back deck starting to rot, really awful magenta carpeting and rooms full of that wild large print design wallpaper from the 70s.
Hubby and I were happy to start out with a nest that wasn't rented, without wierd neighbors.
Over the years, each room has been redone and/or painted, the kitchen and bathrooms overhauled, a dividing wall removed and replaced with a peninsula, and red oak wood flooring put in by hand (yes by hand by a friend who is also an excellent carpenter). That small open air deck was replaced with a roofed screened in room (used Apr-Dec) and a lower large open deck.
If this house could be transported to a high rent district, it would be very desirable to own.
After I was widowed in 2004 at age 46, I really thought about selling and getting an apartment. I'm glad I didn't give in to that impulse. No mortgage was the main reason to stay put. 100% equity is a nice thing to have.
I have often thought of downsizing to a smaller house...however I know what has been repaired/upgraded here versus buying into someone else's history. It ain't broke, so I ain't fixin' it.
When the upkeep gets too tough on me physically, I will most likely buy a condo in a larger town. Where? Who knows?
For now, I await the catalyst to change my zip code.
I'm having a ball exploring upstate NY.
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