A failed experiment... possibly

[Pax]

Thanks, Catrin. It is such a strange thing, the thing that makes life tolerable, also makes it harder. I guess I'm lucky to live in an age where out of control asthma is moderately fixable, even if the cost is a bit extreme.

[emily_in_nc]

Man, Pax, that really stinks. As if the asthma weren't bad enough! I hope the trip to Illinois is a very successful one and the condo rocks!

[OakLeaf]

Hang in there, Pax. Enjoy your trip and good luck with the condo.

[Pax]

Update:

Just got back to FL from our trip home to Illinois, we looked at some apartments and condos that had me mentally screaming "NO WAY IN HELL!!". I mean who puts their place on the market and leaves it so filthy that prospective buyers are afraid to touch the light switch or counter??

So, we rented our old apartment (exact same unit) in the upscale fancier place... it costs a little more but I guess I've become snobby in my older age, I don't want to live in a dump. We'll be moving back to IL by the end of August.

We're going to rent for the first year while our FL condo sells and then make some decisions about a more permanent place. And after owning a condo for the last two years we're putting freestanding houses back on the list of possibles, the drama here is a bit over the top, I'd prefer not to deal with it again.

[Crankin]

Good decision, Pax. Congrats!

[emily_in_nc]

That's wild that you're going to be in your same apartment! I agree, I'd rather pay more for something a little nicer. I'm too old to live in a total dump.

I also get your idea about possibly going for a single-family home instead of a condo this time around. After living in and/or renting several condos over the past few years, we've pretty much come to the conclusion that we are not condo people. It would take a very special place to get us to try again: no one over top of us and an end unit townhouse would be probably the only way we'd even consider it.

[Pax]

Thanks, Crankin.

Thats where we're at, Emily. Condos are fine if the involved parties have the same basic viewpoint regarding money and behavior, but so far we're finding that to be rather rare. No, I don't think it's a good idea to spend tens of thousands of our reserves on boat docks used by 15 of 75 units, no I'm not thrilled with people giving out their pool and clubhouse keys to local "friends and family" numbering in the 100's to use the facilities night and day. Mostly I think we should all be polite and respectful, keep an eye on "our" property and help out our elderly neighbors... these points we seem to differ on. *sigh*