Blog #27

June 7-29

Well, a lot has transpired between last blog and this one. Yes, we saw that property that is more than we could have hoped for. And we signed the contract to buy it.

It is a large Mediterranean style home on 26 acres.  It’s a big switch from our 1790s colonial on Long Island. We traded our view of the bay for a view of the mountains. It has a pond (as did our last house) and is surrounded by creeks.  Most of the property is mown fields. We negotiated the mowing equipment into the deal, so now I spend my spare time watching YouTube videos on driving a compact tractor and attaching auxiliary equipment – also a big switch from this born-and-raised suburbanite. 

If you read the last blog, you already know it has an airplane hangar. We don’t fly and don’t want to learn. We would work something out with the neighbors who presently house their planes that take off on the private grass airstrip next door. As long as David has a place to store his cars and the antique fire truck, he’s happy. There is plenty of room for the Airstream. Most people confuse it with a Jetstream which is a plane so I guess this is an appropriate storage facility. Now if only I can get David to say airplane hangar instead of aircraft carrier…

We passed photos around of the property to family. The house is the right size for us – if you don’t include the basement — and checks a lot of our boxes.  Airport, healthcare, colleges and hiking all nearby. I was talking to my mom about the property. In the past six months or so, she’s realized that her farm is a lot for her to handle.  Since only my sister Linda in CA is settled, mom was looking at downsizing to an independent living-community there.  As I was describing the property to her, I realized that the walk out basement is actually its own apartment. It has a couple of bedrooms and bathrooms and a full living room/kitchen entertaining area. Maybe Linda suggested it to me first, but the lightbulb went on. “Mom, would you like downsize into our house?” She said yes! We’re all so excited! Right now, my mom is healthy and has more mental acuity than most people my age. Still, we would plan for the worst by installing an elevator (there’s a perfect spot for it!) making the bathroom more accessible and updating areas so it will work for my mom’s continued independence. It’s a win-win situation.

There is so much more to say about this situation. I know Linda and Anne would both love to have mom in their home and vice versa.  Linda is already taking care of her mother-in-law and has a lot on her plate. Anne runs her own business and may retire in the next 5-10 years. We’ll always have room for them to visit so this will work out well.

That weekend, before we visited my mom, we went to an Airstream Rally with a club in the Carolinas. We met some great people and went to a local place with a fish fry for dinner.  They had a bluegrass band playing so that was a ton of fun. We stopped for local strawberries and peaches. There is nothing like fresh produce!

At my mom’s house, we discussed the living situation and asked if she’d like to see the house on Thursday with us. David drove back the dogs and Airstream and I drove mom back in the Subaru I’d been storing at the farm since December.  We had lots of fun that week, stopping by the beautiful Sierra Nevada brewery, exploring Asheville a little, and of course eating. Our friend Anthony came down to look at the house on Thursday as well, since he is a licensed home inspector and could see what might be missed by the professionals who were coming by to inspect the well, house, septic system, etc. Both my mom and Anthony were wowed by the property. Mom flew back to Raleigh and Anthony to Long Island.

We drove up to Long Island for an engagement party and some annual doctors’ appointments. I managed to get in a long training walk for the Susan G. Komen 3Day event that is coming up at the end of August. 10+ miles around Bethpage State Park ought to fit that bill. We visited with some LI friends and made a beeline back to Asheville for some more house stuff as well as work. 

David’s sister Amy came down to get some work done with David. She stayed for a few days and was able to see the house as we had a visit with an estimate/feasibility study with an elevator company. Mitchell and Nancy, my in laws, were also supposed to come, but had some transportation issues, so they came down late Saturday. They got to see a little bit of the outside today.  And the airplane hangar. 

I’m still loathe to put photos up of the property until the closing. Maybe I’m being a bit overcautious/superstitious, but I don’t want to jinx the sale. And if you’re reading to the end, you need to say if you want us to continue this blog even though we’re not really on the road any more.

I really do want to load a photo of the driveway though. Someday soon. It actually is a long and winding road. Does life imitate art?