Dear So and So

[SheFly]

For right now, though, we have no desire to become homeowners again anytime soon. We see all the headaches my folks are having with their home and their vacation cabin -- like crankin's experience, there always seems to be something major needing repaired or replaced. And then there's the yard upkeep. We've done extensive work in my folks' two yards and my DH's folks' yard this year to help them out as they've all gotten nearly too old to keep up with it. At least as long as we have parents still living in homes with yards, we have NO desire for our own. We'd rather be riding our bikes, hiking, sightseeing, or doing pretty much anything else.

Yup - we own three homes (that we do not rent out). I wouldn't have things any other way! Our primary home is a 1950s ranch that we have had quite a lot of work done to, and I love. Our second home in Maine is a 1980s chalet where we have also done a bunch of work (ourselves on that one). We love it so much we have decided that we can't possibly sell it - too much of us in it. And our third is a three season camp in VT built in the 70s. That one needs A LOT of work, but we enjoy that sort of effort.

Funny story. Two years after we bought the house in Maine, we were building a reasonably significant addition. It was to have a cathedral ceiling (14 feet) with a center ridge beam. We were setting the rafters with DH on the ladder and me passing the rafters up to him to set. He set one, decided he didn't like the way it fit, and asked me for another. The next thing I remember, I was sitting on the step of the shed with my hand on my head, which was GUSHING blood. The rafter (a 10x12) had fallen from 14 feet and hit me in the head . It didn't knock me out, but did require 9 staples to close (that is another story). So, that house, literally, is our blood sweat and tears .

Different wants/needs for everyone! I am lucky that despte trying to kill me once, DH and I can do those kinds of projects together (and live to tell about it!).

SheFly