Letting Go

Last year was not my best year as a consumer.  Despite careful planning, getting recommendations, and asking all the right questions we were let down many times by those we hired.  We have now joined Angie's List, but even that has not always been satisfactory.  

You probably know that getting someone to show up or show up more than
once to maintain our yard has proven difficult.  I now understand the appeal of condominium living.

I started moving long distances at age 13 and have moved 10 times since.  Never was anything destroyed or needed more than minor repairs in the first 9 moves, but this last move of just 90 miles was a big disappointment.  75% of everything they touched was damaged in  some way.

Then the reupholster that I had used on 5 other pieces of furniture totally ruined a family heirloom.  Thank you VISA for refunding my costs.  I will always charge big ticket items for that service protection feature.

So here's the scoop:  After realizing how attached I am to "stuff" and how I had let myself be appointed family curator I knew I had to make changes.  The pain of having things destroyed was so great that I had to find a way to release this attachment.  My goal is to have nothing behind doors (closets or cabinets) that I don't use at least once a year.   I have given myself 4 years to do this.  I have done well getting rid of items that can be replaced with the "good stuff".  So, gone are the plastic bowls, mismatched dishes and plain kitchen items; now I am using the crystal bowls and pitchers, etc.  No more saving anything for a special occasion.  I have started to give away the items I know will be treasured by the recipient and to sell much of the rest.  It's a long process as with most of these items I can close my eyes and see them in my Grandparent's houses, and then in my Mom's.

So when you stop by for my 70th birthday in a few years I invite you to open those doors and gaze at the vast empty spaces.  And as my Grandmothers' said, my Mother said, and now my children hear me say "Do I have anything you want?"

Auto Insurance - No deals this year.

We have been telling ourselves that we need to go shopping for a better deal on auto insurance.  Then I turn on the TV and see people driving their cars through flooded roads and realize that their stupidity will cause all insurance premiums to go up or stay the same.  Probably no deals out there.  Really, this attitude of "no one can tell me where I can and can't go" has got to stop.  The "aw, I'm insured and the police will rescue me" mentality just shows how dumb people have gotten.

Family Histories

We all know that compared to the rest of the world's nations the U.S. is a fairly young country.  But traveling across the country makes you realize that some parts are much younger than the east coast we are accustomed to.  Not in a geographical, physical manner but in that the settlers came this way at a much later date.

All of my great-grandparents were born within 50 miles of mid sized cities in Ohio and Tennessee.  Today I met a man whose great-grandparents were actual settlers.  Yes, the people that got off a train days away from here and rode horses and wagons and started farming in this rocky valley.  Not really that long ago.  My great grandparents lived in a big frame house.  His, who were much younger than mine, had to build log cabins.

In the late 1800s, after the Civil War was over and the towns and cities east of the Mississippi were flourishing and industries were starting some areas in these western states were just being settled by ranchers and farmers.

The man stood in my yard and said that his father farmed the land under and around me for over 50 years.  Nice to know some of the history of my surroundings.  I was inspired so I decided to pull some weeds and plan some landscaping.  He also looked towards the Teton Range of the Rocky Mountains and pointed towards the peak named for his family.  Wow, what a legacy.

July 4th

We had a nice holiday.  After breakfast we drove into town to visit the Friday farmer's market.  We grabbed a brick oven pizza and headed out for a drive.  First we stopped by the acreage we own on the west side of the valley then we drove to a local historical site where the Teton River dam collapsed in 1976.  It was quite the disaster considering it's rural locale.  The water rushed across and damaged farm land until it reached the Snake River.  It flowed through the Snake River gorges until it was slowed by the dams approaching Idaho Falls.  In addition to the lost crops and the ruined land 14 people lost their lives.

This was an earthen dam that stretched across a very deep canyon/ravine.  We were disappointed that there weren't any sign explaining what we were looking at, but it was still worth taking a look at.  A quick glance will convince you never to build downstream of a dam.  There is a museum in Idaho Falls relating to this event.  Perhaps we will stop in there someday.

Our neighbors had a cookout and invited us along with other neighbors in the vicinity.  It was nice to meet some new people with whom I can visit with while I'm alone here next month.  3 couples are full time residents, the others folks travel, though not as far, as we do.

Scenes of Southwest Wyoming

The first time we travelled across Wyoming all I could think of was the first covered wagon and the people who heard about making a life in the western U.S.  There are some areas that are beautiful but then there are areas so desolate I can't help but wonder why they didn't turn back.  I'm always tired when we reach southwestern Wyoming and ready for a nap, but the rock formations are so unique and interesting that I just stare out the windows.  Then we reach south central Wyoming and I want to go to sleep but the roads and the scenery are so boring that I must stay awake to keep the driver awake.

In the slow lane

Actually it wasn't but an hour slower and that was spread over 3 days of travel.  Once reaching St. Joseph, MO we got off the Interstate highways and went on local U.S. highways.  Yes, there was the occasional town we had to slow down for, but the speed limits were mostly 65 mph and the highway predominantly 4 lanes.  But the most important thing was the scenery and the stress free travel, no trucks, no construction, and no traffic.  We will take that route again and try to add more non-Interstate routes to our trip.

The route through Kansas was Rt. 36 which runs parallel and  between I-80 and I-70.  Then we took another barely travelled 4 lane highway (287) from Loveland CO to Interstate 80 in WY  The scenery on both roads was wonderful;  wheat fields in Kansas; cattle grazing land in Colorado, and some amazing rock formations in Wyoming.

And unlike last year we had some decent hotel rooms.  Though traveling and pets and staying within budget is getting very difficult as most hotels charge excessive fees per pet which can add $20 to $150 to the bill.  And each hotel is different despite belonging to the same chain.

and six months later …….

Yes, I'm on vacation!  Seems like I was just here as the winter and spring went so fast with all that we had to do.  Last you heard from me I told you our house sold.  We departed there mid February and moved into our new residence April 1st.  Have had some challenges along the way, a disappointing mover, a house with some surprising defects, and some consumer issues taking way too much of our time.  

Our move was just 90 miles from our previous home.  We made the move for both financial reasons and to be nearer friends.  Where we lived before was costing us in taxes, homeowner fees, and truthfully, a mortgage.  We also were feeling a bit isolated.  The move solved those issues and we now live nearby to many people we have known for years and have the funds to leave the house occasionally.

The house is very different from our other home, as is the type of neighborhood, but much to our surprise we do not miss the dream home we built 15 years ago.  The new place is the right place to be right now in our lives.

But this is vacation time and chores and changes to our other house are on hold for a few months.  Time to enjoy our "happy place" in eastern Idaho.