Stella's Social Club

[1muttsfan]

Me too

 

[drumstick diva]

Mary, the house is beautiful - is it in a safer area in regard to fires? Ours is just a little over 1200 square feet and about 1/3 acre. and still a lot to handle for someone of a"certain" age.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

sorry to hear this Mary but you have to do what is best for you.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Mary I am glad you are doing what is best for your health and well-being.

Surely you will feel better not having to go up and down stairs a lot, and will be better off with not so many respiratory irritants most likely!

I wish you and your family the best!

 

[chiqita]

Time to come clean and explain my absence.

We are moving, again.

A few weeks ago I had an epiphany. I sat myself down for a long talk and realized that I need to downsize for the sake of my health and my finances. I wasn’t supposed to live this long! I don’t want to outlive my money. This place is expensive. We don’t need 3,200 square feet. I have a lot of cash tied up here that would serve us better in the bank. We bought this house at a great price and the appreciation in 2.5 years is substantial. I am selling this house and my rental, buying a small home, and replenishing my investments.

I also need to get myself into a home with no stairs because I also don’t want to outlive my hips! I said I was going to live just on the first floor here, but that hasn’t happened.

The chores involved in owning this much property and having farm animals is taking its toll as well. I am just tired. My dream was to live and an old farmhouse and be a hobby farmer. I have lived that dream.

Now my dream is to have a house I can actually keep clean.

My dream is to wake up in the morning, wish I were at the beach, and have the ability to go. I can’t do that now.

My son and his family moved to Palm Springs several years ago and I have yet to be able to go see them and their “new” house.

My pulmonary specialist, one of the only in this country who treats my condition, moved to Boston. I have had to essentially stop treatment because I can’t fly out there for heart catheterizations and the other things I need yearly. This should be at the top of my priority list, not the bottom.

Kelly has been a wonderful friend to come feed and check on the animals so we can occasionally get away for a few days.

But, I miss taking off in the motorhome at a moment’s notice. I want to see my grandson play a golf tournament. I want to be there when my granddaughter sets up her first college dorm room. I can't do that now.

I want to sleep past sunup if I feel it.

Difficult as it is, downsizing makes sense. I have cried myself through many difficult decisions in the last few weeks.

This house went on the market two days ago. I will list the rental in the fall.

I am in contract to buy another home. Hopefully this one sells fast! We may be getting an offer today.

Here is where this gets the hardest. I have to re-home my animals. The realtor was especially concerned about the liability of showing the house with the emus. I was too, but it actually worked out better than I expected. Chica and Louis went to a great family with a bunch of kids. They have been looking for an emu pair for over a year. They have a big piece of property, had done their homework, and were thrilled to take Chica and Louis home.

Loca and Stuart went to an equally great family with six boys. They own a lovely piece of property and are collecting an assortment of species for an exotic animal ranch. Loca and Stuart have two acres to themselves with seven foot high fencing! Both families also took emu eggs to try and hatch.

The emus have been a big part of our lives and I was sad to see them go. Knowing they have good homes has helped.

We are hoping that the goats and donkeys can just stay on the property after it sells. If not, I have people that want the goats and I think I can find a good home for the donkeys. My hope though is that they get to stay here.

Lastly, my chickens. I have sold most of them. I only have seven chickens left, the least I have had in 6+ years. I am hoping to take them with me. I thought I was ok with the house I an in contract to buy, but maybe not. It is on 1.6 acres and that was well within the zoning ordinance for chicken keeping. I have since found out that the CC&R’s may prevent me from keeping chickens. I am hoping to be able to keep them since the CC&R’s are from the 1960s and may not be enforced. I am doing my research. If I can’t take them, hopefully they can stay here too.

None of this has been easy for me, mentally or physically. We have worked our butts off to get stuff gone that we won’t be needing, and getting the property in condition to show to its fullest potential. I have made more trips to Goodwill in the last two weeks than in my entire life. I donated the seramas and a lot of chicken stuff to the local 4-H. The seramas are being used in showmanship classes for young 4-H’ers. I donated hatching stuff for their new embryology program. I am so glad that kids will be able to benefit from many of my impulse buys!

So that’s it my friends. I am not going away. I will still be food blogging and using up BYC’s storage with my food and Tucker pics!

Love to all,

Mary

My grandma was also told she had very little time to live when she was in her ealy 50s.. she was running and icking for another 30 years Its good to downsize to fit yourself rather then running around trying to go crazy dtuffing memories into the time you ahve. now you can do both. I have been msotly lurking, but i will miss the animal stories too, but be happy with the food blogging!
Im excited at your new chapter!

 

[The Sheriff]

Mary, the house is beautiful  - is it in a safer area in regard to fires?   Ours is just a little over 1200 square feet and about 1/3 acre.  and still a lot to handle  for someone of  a"certain" age.                

I am a "certain" age for sure. Most of the areas around here are at a higher fire risk. Because this house is a new build it has overhead sprinklers in every room. There is also a fire station close by and hydrants down at the main road. I am more likely to die falling down the hill than in a fire. Although the kitchen does have a gas stove. Stay tuned!

 

[The Sheriff]

Thanks for all the kind thoughts. It really means the world to us. Yes, Michael has been reading them too. We apparently got beat out on an offer on this house by a couple who toured it yesterday. They were torn between this house and another and were choosing one and making an offer today. I think the age of this house, 120+ years old, scares a lot of people. We've only been on the market for 2 days so it is too soon to worry.

 

[drumstick diva]

I don't think Diana and Jack liked them anyway..

 

[mlm Mike]

The possible new place is nice, Mary. Love the landscape.

 

[drumstick diva]

I will miss Laverne and Shirley