house hunting

I have bought exactly one house in my life and it did not turn out well.

The lot where my house house sits was part of an inheritance and I built the house in 1976, 38 years ago.

Shar has bought and sold dozens of houses. Idaho, Washington, New Mexico, and those are just the ones I have heard her talk about!

So we are looking for the prefect house for us. Unfortunately we don’t have a perfect budget. But we look.  We see all sorts of interesting and even intriguing houses. But, so far, none have been right.

There is one around the corner from my house. It is a bit larger, on a corner lot, good parking spaces, a double garage and a shop in the back yard. It is being auctioned to the highest bidder, but there are dozens of ways the bank can make that last a long time. At the moment we have the high and only bid. But the process could take a long time, and success is not guaranteed.

Shar bid on one house last year. It was as close to perfect as any house we have seen. The bank said it was hers. Closing date was set, then the bank magically canceled her bid and sold it to someone else for less money. Obviously someone had a friend.

It is a crazy project, this houses buying thing.

My request for the new year

The last few years have been way to eventful.

In 2011 Miriam and I moved from the houses I built to Washington State to be closer to daughter 1 who was to help me care for Miriam as Alzheimer’s slipped deeper into her body.

In 2012 I thought I had sold our house in Idaho, but when the sale fell through I decided to not sell because “There may be time ahead that I cannot possible see when I will wish I had the house.” Then in May that year the storm sewer overflowed and dumped 30” of water into my house. The insurance company (State Farm) came through. They paid me more than the house was worth!

2013 My beloved Miriam lost her battle with Alzheimer’s. I moved back to our house and began the slow process of rebuilding: electrical; sheetrock; paint; trim; cabinets; floors etc.

2014 I met Shar and nothing has been the same! 

So with all of that drama I’d like 2015 to be a bit boring, but with Shar I know it won't be!

Please.

I didn't take this one last week!
I look forward to spring!

Happy Happy

2015

I have to wonder how this one will work out.

Last year was a year of change and not all good changes. I was holed up in the smallish master suite at my house. I was lonely and sad. This year I am not lonely and not so sad. That is good.

But as is my habit I am constantly analyzing everything. Shar says I am excessive about that one and she is right.

I used to start a long essay on new years day, evaluating my basic beliefs and wondering if they were still valid. Haven’t done that for a while.

This year may not have as many big changes, but there will be definite changes, maybe ore than I anticipate.

But it will unfold a day at a time and meanwhile: Happy New Years day.

May 2015 be a banner year.

This was our honeymoon castle, all 1
96 square feet of it.
The tower is abandoned now. This picture was taken almost 20 years ago. By now it probably is just a pile of rubble.
But we spent a good summer there.

the dance

I am old hippie.

My kids call my house (I designed it and built it and then rebuilt it) “Dad’s Hippie Hut.” That is a definition that does not bother me.

My hippie credentials are a bit squishy when you remember that I was (and am) monogamous, that I don’t do drugs, or even alcohol. So I don’t fit into categories easily.

When I was in my early independent days I spent 3 summers living in a 14 by 14 house that sat right on top of a mountain. Sometimes we were in the clouds, but more often we were above the clouds. It was exhilarating.

I eat simple. Close to the dirt. Home grown as much as possible. Lots of color. I am a vegetarian. I adore small spaces and small houses. I lived a year in a 300 square a tiny house.My art work is quite minimalist. I drive a 23 year old car that I bought new as a gift for my beloved. As I said, I am simple person.

Sixteen years ago my sweetheart contracted a terminal disease and I lost her last year. I lived alone, but that was not working out well. But finding someone who shared my lifestyle wishes and was fun to be with was and is a challenge.

I used to tell my students in college: If you can hit the ball two times out of ten, and strike out the other 8 you will have a decent career in baseball. If you can hit the ball 3 times out of ten, riches will follow. It works in baseball.

So my new woman and I are at the educate and adjust stage of our dance together. Earlier this week I made Oatmeal for breakfast and the pot boiled over. She told me I was not to cook any more. So the next day I cooked Polenta! I’ll not stop.

And, the dance continues.