The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[1muttsfan]

Cyn, you were in real estate so you know that every day there are new properties listed. My only advice would be make sure any home is single storey, with minimal or no stairs to get in and out, and not far from shopping and medical services. Attached garages are a bonus. Having gone through the process of having 2 houses built, and a huge remodeling project at my office, I have no interest whatsoever of ever building anything again.

 

[speckledhen]

My worst problem is that I cannot live near close neighbors ever again, which makes it difficult to find suitable homes-acreage is more and more scarce, it seems. I'd sooner slit my wrists than have to see neighbors on a daily basis and have them watch my every move. And a closer location to our current doctor, who is an hour away and the closest we can get on our more and more limited military medical plan, is way too expensive. You just can't get acreage down there without paying far more than we want to pay. I found a few nice, very private houses, but they are up in the price range-don't get me wrong, we can probably qualify for way more than we want to spend. I'm not a fan of a larger mortgage than we have now.
This one just came on the market, has about 3 steps, but could easily have a ramp if need be, since it's fairly close to the ground, unlike ours, has just over 2 acres, but nowhere to grow food that I can see.
http://www.realtor.com/realestatean...nnes-Gap-Rd_Blairsville_GA_30512_M68576-86572
It's over 2000 ft elevation, slightly higher than we are, which is good.


If I had some real money, I'd take this in a heartbeat. I saw it. Has gorgeous 100% private acreage, sold for $234K less than a year ago, but needs new roof and siding and the decking needs replacing. Had beautiful stone walls and planters and a humongous open pole barn. It would take another $70K at least to fix up the outside and maybe needs something inside, too.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/296-Loving-Rd-Morganton-GA-30560/105428707_zpid/

You drive up to it at a 2 car garage so the steps are deceptive. I wish the realtor would have taken better and more photos of it. It's a great property, but needs too much work for us, though the price generously reflects all that.

 

[speckledhen]

***ETA: Well, dang it, upon further research, it says there are covenants attached to the house on Stennes Gap Rd. May drive up there anyway to check it out. I like that area.

No thanks on the covenants. Don't want those and no shared anything, including well or driveway. I want a private property so no one decides to show up to welcome me to the n'hood. I realize that sounds odd, but I'd rather be a mystery to any neighbors.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

We don't like visitors either, and neighbors are too close to us despite us owning 40 acres. The closest were town folk who built their house as close to ours as they could get for some odd reason. Thankfully there's a pretty good hedgerow between us so I don't have to see them, just hear them.

 

[1muttsfan]

I would say the first home is a two story - nope. And the second one is nice, but not my idea of lower maintenance than your current digs!

 

[getaclue]

I'm going to offer my unsolicited 2cents. Cynthia, I'm not trying to offend you, just give you food for thought, and things to consider. First off, old age is going to force serious changes, and you are not going to like most of them. None of us do. We can foolishly think things are not going to change too much, and be miserable the whole time as it happens. We also have the option of accepting it, preparing for it, and being a lot more content as it happens.

You've already mentioned that your husband is unable to get around, and do as much as before. It's going to get worse over the next 12 years. What happens when in 6 years he can't get around without a walker? Or simply getting around the house, and out to the car is about as much as he can manage to do? Or in 10 years, when he has to use a wheelchair, and/or motorized chair to get around. Sadly, you too my friend, will not escape the ravages of time either. What happens when he has to go 2 times a month to a couple doctors, and once to the lab to have blood work done, go to the pharmacy several times a month? You too will most likely need medical care on a regular basis 8 - 10 years from now.

While it's wonderful living so remotely, and providing most of your own food, age will eventually severely hamper, or end your ability to do so. By severely hampering your ability, I mean that keeping up 5 acres will be next to impossible. Keeping up 2 acres, in all reality, will become a challenge. Yes, moving closer to town means that you will have people living closer to you. So? It's not like your the local meth lab. As to "neighbors looking at you", don't kid yourself. I've lived both remote, in the suburbs, and even in an apartment. You will find that once you've settled in, your worth no more than a passing glance.

While pondering what to do, you might want to talk to your son. What are his thoughts on what he can, or can not do in the event you need help caring for your husband, or if you need help caring for yourself. Would he move into your place, and get work locally, so he could care for you guys? Would you have to move near him, so he could help take care of you? Are you on your own? Don't assume. Talk to him.

Again, I didn't write this to offend you. The old saying "can't see the forest for all the trees" applies. Sometimes it's very hard for us to envision that much change in our own situation, and someone outside looking in can offer some perspective worth considering.

 

[speckledhen]

I would say the first home is a two story - nope. And the second one is nice, but not my idea of lower maintenance than your current digs!

The first one has a two bdrms and two baths, one each on each floor, so no real need to go upstairs if we don't feel like it, but we drove out there. It has a fence topped with barbed wire all around it and the gate was locked, but it is in a n'hood that feels like a n'hood. There was a bunch of little bantam chickens on the road in the street when we first turned in, some Cochins, seabrights and OEGBs, very cute, but we think they may have belonged to the guy who lives on the road that is not part of the subdivision. It's a private place, but not for us and too pricey. The one on 11 acres is more of a dream for a younger me, I think.

I'm going to offer my unsolicited 2cents. Cynthia, I'm not trying to offend you, just give you food for thought, and things to consider. First off, old age is going to force serious changes, and you are not going to like most of them. None of us do. We can foolishly think things are not going to change too much, and be miserable the whole time as it happens. We also have the option of accepting it, preparing for it, and being a lot more content as it happens.

You've already mentioned that your husband is unable to get around, and do as much as before. It's going to get worse over the next 12 years. What happens when in 6 years he can't get around without a walker? Or simply getting around the house, and out to the car is about as much as he can manage to do? Or in 10 years, when he has to use a wheelchair, and/or motorized chair to get around. Sadly, you too my friend, will not escape the ravages of time either. What happens when he has to go 2 times a month to a couple doctors, and once to the lab to have blood work done, go to the pharmacy several times a month? You too will most likely need medical care on a regular basis 8 - 10 years from now.

While it's wonderful living so remotely, and providing most of your own food, age will eventually severely hamper, or end your ability to do so. By severely hampering your ability, I mean that keeping up 5 acres will be next to impossible. Keeping up 2 acres, in all reality, will become a challenge. Yes, moving closer to town means that you will have people living closer to you. So? It's not like your the local meth lab. As to "neighbors looking at you", don't kid yourself. I've lived both remote, in the suburbs, and even in an apartment. You will find that once you've settled in, your worth no more than a passing glance.

While pondering what to do, you might want to talk to your son. What are his thoughts on what he can, or can not do in the event you need help caring for your husband, or if you need help caring for yourself. Would he move into your place, and get work locally, so he could care for you guys? Would you have to move near him, so he could help take care of you? Are you on your own? Don't assume. Talk to him.

Again, I didn't write this to offend you. The old saying "can't see the forest for all the trees" applies. Sometimes it's very hard for us to envision that much change in our own situation, and someone outside looking in can offer some perspective worth considering.

Cheryl, you are never offending me by bringing up anything to discuss. I understand all you've said. My own father used to say that. But, even at 94, having lost a leg, he refused to move out of his house or give up his gardening and his hoochie-mama wife moved out into her own house and left him when hers was much more elderly-friendly. I guess I'm an independent cuss like he was. I cannot live with either of my sons, ever. That can't happen. The closest thing would be for us, or me, to build a small cabin on the extra lot and my younger son to buy or rent our current home so he's nextdoor, but I'd have to ask if he'd ever want to -he's about to do a Master's program in Ireland to come back to teach here, but I have no idea where that would be since he'll be teaching English as second language. My older son I don't want here. Honestly, I don't want either, but my older son has baggage and he can just keep waaaaay over there, if you get my drift. My younger son has his issues, but he's matured a lot over the past few years, thankfully.

My husband says he will never live in a wheelchair, that he's rather just pack his figurative bags and exit this life and if you knew him, you'd believe him. I wanted a lift here for groceries and so he could lift himself up onto the deck when his knee/back were out, and that still may be something to do. It doesn't help maintain the 3.6 ac we still have to deal with, though.

I realize much will change. Much already has in the last 15 years. That's why we're having these discussions now, something many refuse to talk about until it's too late and they have no clue what to do.

Adding that you see what I'm finding on the market-stuff that is in a neighborhood, too close to other folks, covenants, or unsuitable condition or layout (steps, steps, steps), small lots, etc, etc. If we build something, it will suit us. I found this rendering of a house that is, on the outside, built exactly like ours but not up on a basement. Two or three bedrooms, even if the 2nd and 3rd are small, plus one-and-a-half or two baths and a decent size kitchen open to the greatroom like we have now would be awesome. The footprint/foundation of a house with all that on one level is more pricey than one with a loft arrangement, but I agree with you guys that we may regret it if we don't just put it all on one level, or buy something with all on one level. Am also considering a steel barn home as well (no outside maintenance, low fire danger).
Our roof is exactly like this one, wraparound porch, which is my favorite feature of our house.Just put it on a slab with no or only one step and voila, perfection!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I want that house.

 

[speckledhen]

I want that house.

I know, right? It's basically the same as mine, though mine is more square, same exact roof and wraparound porch.

We went driving and went into a log home subdivision that has been much more built out than the last time we were there a year ago. I just wanted to see what they were building there, would NEVER live there. I was disgusted! It was not logs, just stick built houses with log siding, so you did not have the thermal mass of a true log home. The smaller ones had only ONE bedroom on the main floor (one story on finished bsmt) and a bath and a half. The master bedrooms had only a big shower, no tub at all. The other bedrooms were down 18 stairs to the basement, EIGHTEEN!

They were all built on precarious perches close to the street so they could all see the same long distance mountain views, mostly 1 ac lots, but the house and any usable land took up only about 1/4 ac of that acre, if that. The massive stone fireplaces were way too large for the size of the greatrooms. The prices for these 1200 sf houses (not counting the finished basement) were all about $350K. They tried to distract you with fancy finishes and huge stone fireplaces, but the overall size was lacking.

ETA: Funny, but true story from today: We went to Dairy Queen and my husband ordered the Alaskan Cod sandwich for me. The girl says, "Is that the fish sandwich?"

I had to turn my head to chuckle. I almost said, "NO, sweetie, it's a new kind of cow with GILLS!" What the what? Maybe I should have asked her what the change was for a $20 bill without looking at her computer! Bet she couldn't do it!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

wow, way to learn the menu where you work, right?

I say keep looking at houses, eventually you may come across exactly what you want, even if it takes a few years to find it, and definitely don't settle. If you don't love it, keep moving. The right house is out there.