Saturday, May 7, 2016

Next Chapter



      The squirrels who have spent the year creating tiny craters all over the front yard have nothing on me.
Just as they’ve been packing away acorns for future use, I’ve also been collecting with an eye to the future. Some of my storehouse is new – curtain rods, pillows, beach chairs – but most of it is second-hand. From me. 


          My basement and kitchen are goldmines of the duplications, discards, and all the extras that build up over 45 years of marriage. (Yes! I was in fact an eight-year-old bride, thanks for asking.) An extra colander here, a duplicate crock pot there, and now I have a use for them.
     Since last March, the porch has seen a growing Mt. Everest of boxes, end tables (thank you daughter and golf partner Judi), and lamps. An added bonus is the newly discovered real estate in the linen closet and on the kitchen shelves. 


          Fifteen months ago, with absolutely no idea we were going to do this, we bought a second home in Florida. That’ll teach our kids to be independent and employed. At least we’re not frittering away their inheritance on sky-diving lessons and mediums. And when we go to that final retirement village in the clouds, they’ll either have a place they can sell or the entertainment of negotiating which family gets to spend Christmas vacation in the sun. 


          We finally have a closing date, so very soon we’ll be tying the mattress to the fender and enjoying the thrills of pulling a UHaul trailer through seven states at 60 miles an hour for three days.
        If that’s not the test of a good marriage, I don’t know what is. 


         

15 comments:

  1. I'll be looking for you and your mattress on I-95.

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  2. I absolutely love traveling by car but not sure about the pulling a trailer idea. When we moved from Texas to Oregon we had sold our home and moved everything we own so consequently went with one over the long distance moving companies. We then traveled by car, without a trailer. Sounds like you're in for an adventure. Where there's a will there's a way. Sounds like you want this adventure enough to pull it off. Florida, not for me. I don't like to sweat.

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  3. That last picture reminds me of the Beverly Hillbillies. :) I can't wait to hear how it goes, and about your setting up housekeeping down south!

    (I'm laughing at Mac n' Janet's comment -- it's a well-known axiom of Florida living that I-95 in South Florida is littered with mattresses.)

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  4. You're brave! :-)

    Greetings from London.

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  5. Some days here a trip to the grocery store tests our relationship. I am not certain it is up to the challenge you have set.

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  6. How lovely to have an extra home to house all your extras.
    I rehoused a few things into a plastic bag and left it at the end of the drive, labelled free stuff. For me, much easier than buying another home, although I do sometimes wish for a cabin by the sea.

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  7. Yes, you are facing an adventure. Towing can be taxing. That is how I got to Arkansas. Have a safe and fun trip.

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  8. Wow! This is an adventure I look forward to hearing more about. Yes! :-)

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  9. Two homes would do me in. Good Luck to you! :)

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  10. Good grief! I am a little late seeing this post. Congratulations! Oh my, there are times that I would LOVE to pack up and go to Florida. I am so happy for you!

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  11. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  12. Do you have any video of that? I'd care to find out some additional
    information.

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