Our version of retirement: Living a childhood dream

[RadishRose]

That's for sure , Gary.

They both are older,4 wheel drive trucks.
Hope he parks them out where they are seen by passers by.

Decorate them for Halloween. A couple of leaf-stuffed pumpkin headed farmers, etc.

 

[Gary O']

Still not getting the sunsets at our new place
Just like at the cabin
So, gotta settle for the morning coffee on the deck, looking over at the cemetery neighbors yard in the back

Can't complain
They keep their yard well trimmed

Good coffee this morn

Still getting smoke from the wild fires

Makes for a pretty cool sun

 

[Meanderer]

Gary, I'm glad to hear that where you are.....the Sun also rises!

 

[Aunt Bea]

Still not getting the sunsets at our new place
Just like at the cabin
So, gotta settle for the morning coffee on the deck, looking over at the cemetery neighbors yard in the back

Can't complain
They keep their yard well trimmed

Good coffee this morn

Still getting smoke from the wild fires

Makes for a pretty cool sun


View attachment 127283

Might be a good place to get a little part-time job when your repairs and remodeling are caught up!

 

[Gary O']

Took a trip to the cabin yesterday to move more stuff
Took a few breaks between hauling stuff to the truck
As the cool fall breeze whispered thru the pines, I got a little twinge

But

I'm very happy

content

My lady has her big kitchen
Her hobby room
Her proper bath

aaaand, I picked her up a small chest freezer
She's a food hoarder
(I think there's some squirrels in her family tree)

She's ecstatic

Does this ol' heart good

Mighty good

 

[Meanderer]

Gary, I have never been up in a hot-air balloon, but I can imagine that your 5+ year "Cabin Adventure" was a similar experience. I hope it feels good, to have your "feet on the ground" again! I believe that you both are where you are to be....where you can remember fondly the " High Places".

 

[Meanderer]

Gary, this Thanksgiving it will be easier to invite old buddies over for Dinner!

 

[Gary O']

I hope it feels good, to have your "feet on the ground" again! I believe that you both are where you

You got that soooooo right, Jim

Everthing is quite handy, and only a few minutes away.

.....and the shower, with the hand held shower head....whoa
I could camp in there

Yeah, it's time
We could do it, but why?
We've done it
We were fortunate in many ways up there
My premise for survival.......give yerself a good chance
But a falling tree from a winter storm can wipe out what you planned all summer in a matter of seconds

Gonna enjoy town from here on out

Yessir

 

[Meanderer]

Gary, next year you will be able to plant a patch of corn, and put up a scarecrow!.....or just put up a scarecrow for the birds!

 

[Meanderer]

Hey, Ol Pard....you city Slicker, you!

 

[Gary O']

Whoa
I've been neglectful

Hope to post some pics tonight
Right after I do the last 100 things on my list
Covering up crawl space vents for winter right now

 

[Gary O']

Our plain (plain ugly) little place in town;
(I guess I just hate hip roofs)

The challenge......to give it some sorta charm

Not gonna be easy



Even the garage has a hip roof



Converting the garage to a shop right now
It'll come together, but, still pretty much in a pile

Had to run elect to the garage
So happy now to just flip a switch for power tools

It will never have the charm of the shop at our mountain place
but
Hey
It's a shop

and
there's a side room

I quickly built some shelving

and finally a place for my shop desk that won't collect sawdust

The neat thing about this place (pretty much the only neat thing)
is, the back yard has the view of the cemetery

I know, some folks get creeped out about cemeteries off their back yard,
I don't
I love the deciduous trees
Especially this time of year

I'll be planting six or eight fruit trees (dwarf or semi dwarf) in this area next spring
(once I true up that listing chain link fence)

A grape arbor will go here

Of course a large veggie garden

It's gonna be work
Lots of work to make this place into something

But, I do love challenges

I'll need to beat out that final sunrise....

 

[Meanderer]

Gary, as I recall, you began your cabin adventure, the first week of your Retirement. Now its almost like your "Second Retirement" has come round, and you are beginning your "Hip," Townie adventure! I just know that you both will put your own unique imprint on the buildings and property, making it into a mellow oasis of sorts! I just know it. Enjoy the comfort and more laid back rarefied air of the "low peaks", that you breath in as you shape your "labor of love", together.

 

[Meanderer]

Or mebbe............

 

[Gary O']

I just know that you both will put your own unique imprint on the buildings and property, making it into a mellow oasis of sorts! I just know it.

Jim-
I gotta tell ya
My lady is still pinching herself
Her hobby room
An actual tub for bathing
A kitchen large enough for most anything
A washer and dryer (big ticket for her....especially in winter)
A place for her books (she rivals most libraries)

She's sitting right beside me as I type,
crocheting a throw rug for our living area

It fills me with happiness
Yessir

Yeah, we'll surely put our imprint on the place

Enjoy the comfort and more laid back rarefied air of the "low peaks", that you breath in as you shape your "labor of love", together.

You got that soooooo right

You bet

 

[Lizzie00]

It looks fantastic to me.
Just ignore the roof if hip doesn’t float your boat, def not a deal breaker....as evidenced by your purchase
The fact that you have the skills to turn it into exactly what you & your bride are looking for is an extraordinary blessing.....you gooooo, boy!

 

[Gary O']

Just ignore the roof if hip doesn’t float your boat, def not a deal breaker....as evidenced by your purchase

What sold me, is it's quite solid
Yeah, we'll do our best to put some charm to it

 

[Kadee]

I’ve been sitting here reading this entire thread for 2 hours @Gary O' i was so relaxed reading your
adventures of building your cabin and the wonderful photos of the snow ( I’ve never seen snow )
Im a Aussie who was born in the dust in one of the most arid places in Australia ( we’d get rain once or twice a year )

I just loved reading each and every page ,the photos of the toilet took me back to my childhood days where we had the old dunny down the back yard ( but we only had newspaper squares )

I’m sure your new home will have your wonderful talented editions both inside and out real soon
but from what I see in the
photos it’s a very nice clean / solid home but it’s got to look and feel like ”your home“ to you and your bride
looking forward to updated photos . Gary

 

[Aunt Bea]

Our plain (plain ugly) little place in town;
(I guess I just hate hip roofs)

The challenge......to give it some sorta charm

Not gonna be easy

View attachment 129784

Even the garage has a hip roof

View attachment 129785

Converting the garage to a shop right now
It'll come together, but, still pretty much in a pile

Had to run elect to the garage
So happy now to just flip a switch for power tools

It will never have the charm of the shop at our mountain place
but
Hey
It's a shop

and
there's a side room

I quickly built some shelving

and finally a place for my shop desk that won't collect sawdust

The neat thing about this place (pretty much the only neat thing)
is, the back yard has the view of the cemetery

I know, some folks get creeped out about cemeteries off their back yard,
I don't
I love the deciduous trees
Especially this time of year

I'll be planting six or eight fruit trees (dwarf or semi dwarf) in this area next spring
(once I true up that listing chain link fence)

A grape arbor will go here

Of course a large veggie garden

It's gonna be work
Lots of work to make this place into something

But, I do love challenges

I'll need to beat out that final sunrise....

I like the neat no-nonsense buttoned-up look of the house and garage just the way they are!

I would leave the buildings alone and focus on a little landscaping to anchor the front stoop and blend the house's foundation to the front yard. Maybe a welcoming deck along the side and around the back.

In ten years you and Mrs. O' will appreciate the simplicity of this snug little home.

Let the house and Mrs. O' tell you what they need to make them both happy!

"A man's home is his wife's castle." - Alexander Chase

 

[Meanderer]

Let the house and Mrs. O' tell you what they need to make them both happy!

"A man's home is his wife's castle." - Alexander Chase

 

[Gary O']

focus on a little landscaping to anchor the front stoop and blend the house's foundation to the front yard. Maybe a welcoming deck along the side and around the back.

We're on the same page.

Yeah, not gonna do much to the house until the garden, grape arbor, and mini orchard are in place next spring.
I'll have to turn a blind eye for awhile.
The shop will keep me busy this winter
...and of course the avian abodes

 

[Gary O']

I’ve been sitting here reading this entire thread for 2 hours

That's considerable reading

I just loved reading each and every page ,the photos of the toilet took me back to my childhood days where we had the old dunny down the back yard ( but we only had newspaper squares )

Yer welcome to print a copy for the dunny
(sorta dual purpose)

 

[Meanderer]

That's considerable reading



Yer welcome to print a copy for the dunny
(sorta dual purpose)

The Dunny: a History (LINK)

 

[Gary O']

The neat thing about this place;
Interest rate is 2.875%
of which is a mortgage payment (PITI) of less than renting the cheapest of hovels
We're able to sock away considerable each month and yet build this place into a cozy abode

It's pretty much all we've wanted

Yes, there are much cuter, cozier places here, but we like (as has been said) putting our stamp on it
Do a little cutifying and warmification

 

[RadishRose]

Gary, I think it's great the way it is. But I understand personal taste in roof styles is also important.

I'm with Aunt Bea about some foundation plantings. They will soften the change from house to ground; that's the first thing I thought of.

One other thing; from the angle of the photo it looks like that tree branch is dangerously close to the roof. Otherwise I think the place is great!

I love the property and being able to have a garden! This is a good move for you both. I wish you many happy years in your adorable home!