One Load Packed & Trepidation

We leave Wednesday morning for our new place. Have one truck load packed and will pull a small trailer with two wood stoves.

Sweetie, the usual confident, well-thought out planner, has become Mr. Worry. He wants this new place so much he's worried some thing's gonna go wrong at the last minute. He's even decided that we will drive 387 miles one way with the pickup packed but NO U-Haul or trailer in tow for the closing. "What if we haul all that up there and we don't close?" he says. So we'll spend more time and gas money staging the move his way.

By July 1st maybe we'll have everything moved - including his Case 570 tractor, the John Deere garden tractor, the riding mower, the tiller, pails and pails of spare parts, two tractor tires, some sheets of steel siding, and MORE.

Part of this gradual move can be excused by his medical condition. Yet, he refuses to ask anyone for help, though our active, healthy 43 year-old neighbor has offered twice.

This is all an exercise in patience for me. I've moved a three bedroom house in one day with three kids and two pygmy goats in the front seat of the U-Haul. Granted, that was 20 years ago but I can still hoist boxes and pack like a maniac and have yet to have anything break in all my moves - more than 30 since 1974. So he stresses about "really getting the place" and I stress about cherished things getting broke as he throws boxes into the truck. After that I calmly told him to go inside. I'll load the truck. When he objected I gave him one of my looks.

Ah...to be sitting on our new deck watching the sunset and joking about "the move."

Reflecting on this move and our good fortune, I'm reminded that it's not all about me, my needs, my perspective or my desires. This is a huge move for Sweetie. Three years ago I arrived here, knowing no one. Now he's about to experience the same thing.

So, as of yesterday our mantra became, "Day by Day, we'll get there."

Reactions to Our Purchase

If you've hung around my blog for any length of time, you know I have three grown children and five grand children. Plus a huge attachment and concern for my 80-year-old father. They all live within 30 miles of our new place.

Now word has spread to all of them that we're moving north. I thought you'd all be interested in some of their reactions.

Dad: "it will be nice to have someone else to visit." And, "I know you'll be happy there; it looks just like what you two have wanted."

Daughter: "What in the Hell are you going to do way out there?" And, "Who's going to drive out there to see you. Oh, I forgot. You two could care less if you see anyone."

Oldest Son: "I always liked that area." He once rented a cabin one mile past the place we bought. "So, when are you buying a pontoon boat and a grill for that deck?"

Youngest Son: "You think it's nice now but wait 'til winter. And what are you going to do way out there when you get to be grandpa's age?"

And to think last night I was thinking about where we'd stash all of them if the area had a prolonged power outage - especially in the winter when they're all totally depended on electricity to operate their furnaces.

Dad, would be in the spare bedroom as we've already told him it's his room. A few kids could crash on the living room floor. Maybe we should place bunk beds in the spare bedroom but my Dad is tall. I can see him hitting his head every time he gets in or out of bed. Then I thought of a trundle bed. Sounds good to me.

Then Sweetie asked what I was thinking of.

His exact words were: "They think we're nuts so I think the pole barn would have plenty of space. And we have two camp toilets. Sounds good to me."

From There to Here

On May 3rd Sweetie and I will have known one another three years. From the day we met, it's been continuous confirmation of how much we have in common.

Within a week of meeting we discovered we both wanted to "move north," our passion for gardening; our mutual goals to declutter our lives; and how much we enjoy staying home. We both wanted to live near the water. We both happen to like living in mobile homes (sounds crazy I'm sure if you live in tornado alley). We both like pines and birch and maples and wild blueberries and wild strawberries. We both wanted a pole barn and a deck with a hot tub. A sauna would be frosting on the cake. Neither of us like looking out our windows at another house. We live curtain free. Our new place has all these things except the sauna and wild strawberries.

As the months passed we dared to believe that our dreams would come true. Sweetie was the go-getter; the man who believed that in spite of circumstances (and there were plenty) we could accomplish our goal. Opportunities and give aways just seem to come to him. Good Lord, he was given the mobile home we live in now - and it's not a piece of trash. I was the sceptic. I was still recovering from having lost everything so it took awhile to believe in possibilities again.

We took our first trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula three months after we met and drove around looking at "possibilities." Sweetie met my family and Dad gave his approval. I took him on a nostalgic tour of my old school, my childhood home, and my favorite restaurants, parks, rivers, beaches and art galleries. He was impressed with everything but the galleries. He's not an artist. That's okay. People are similar but they do have their differences. Yet today, whenever anyone enters our home he always points out my paintings. Gotta love him!

In three years we've made eight trips north, each time looking at real estate. To reach our goal we had to juggle multiple projects. We simultaneously saved money, we paid off debt, then established the homestead here on land he'd owned for 30 years. All the while we sorted, itemized, and repaired/replaced our combined possessions. Through it all, we've had our false starts, a few disagreements, and challenges with our health.

The key is, we've persevered.

Soon, we'll pack up the last of our STUFF, turn the keys over to someone else and pick up the keys to our new place. Our first few days in the new place will seem surreal. After all, we never expected to have what we've been blessed with.

How we live our life will not change much; except that we'll be more relaxed because we're no longer restless and yearning; we've arrived. All the scrimping, saving and selling what we can while repairing things and "cutting back" has been worth it.

When we arrive at the new place, we'll have no savings; no side jobs for extra income; no winter wood cut (average snowfall 200-300 inches); a truck in need of repair and a 500 gallon propane tank to fill. We'll also have the utility bills from this place due and the hook up fees and new round of bills for the new place - all due in the same month.

The cool thing is our preps will sustain us. I cannot stress this enough. I've read many a blog and forum about whether or not to "stop prepping" when preparing for a move. Overall, they seem to recommend NOT continuing to prep because it will cost so much to move it. I disagree. It will cost more to NOT have sufficient preps once you arrive at your new place. Call me a tin foil hatter if you like but, I'm the kind of gal who worries that the "just in time" delivery system will lock up the day after we move. I know from 40 plus moves that unforeseen expenditures crop up after a move. For me the last time it was a fractured elbow and a new muffler.

Out of curiosity, I had my son measure the square footage of our preps (primarily food) stored up north. I added that figure to what we have here. It will fill a 24x18 foot room, floor to ceiling. In other words, that's 432 square feet of food - not including what we'll have in our garden this year. That my friends, is security.

Even the Criminals Are Trying to Look Better

Found this on Yahoo News: MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – A cartel engaged in Mexico's deadly drug wars has told its members to avoid heavy drinking and using narcotics and live a clean family life as it tries to build a well-run criminal organization, police say.

Rafael Cedeno, a leader of "The Family" cartel based in the western state of Michoacan, told police after he was arrested at the weekend he had trained several thousand cartel members with courses in ethics and personal improvement.

"The indoctrination of this group consisted of courses they considered to be for personal improvement, values, ethical and moral principles of the criminal gang. The objective was for the subordinates to avoid drugs, hard drinking and maintain family unity," the federal police said in a statement.

Cedeno, 47, was picked up at a family baptism on Saturday with 43 others after a raid by police in helicopters. Accusations against him include ordering the murder of rivals and running prostitution rings of young girls.

Now, isn't this like the preacher telling the flock not to sin while he's having an affair; or the IRS guy cheating on his taxes while badgering others to pay their taxes. This will certainly be on Leno and other late night talk shows!

I Have Some Monopoly Money

Just talked to some moron from the beloved IRS. I owe back taxes. Think I've mentioned this before. The caller was particularly abusive and couldn't seem to get it through his head that I will pay when I damn well feel like it - which may be never. Not that I couldn't turn up with the cash (under $1,000 now) but we're in the midst of this house thing so every dime counts.

I finally got exasperated and said, "Tell you what, I have an old monopoly game sitting here. How about I send you ALL of the monopoly money?"

The IRS guy did not think that was "a very good choice." Neither is picking on me over $1,000 when certain officials and big shots can not pay hundreds of thousands in taxes - yet they're considered for government jobs.

Hope you caught the interview about 401K's on 60 Minutes last night. Imagine the panic Wall Street would be in if EVERY person holding an 401K account at least tried to cash them in. Remember, companies loved offering 401K's because it was cheaper for them to offer to match or contribute to them then establishing their own pension plans. As usual, people's first mistake was entrusting someone else with their money.

Excuse me a minute.....

Well, it seems that we "had no business" contacting the Sheriff's Department regarding the twerp. An officer just knocked on the door asking that we "simmer down" because the twerp has been "off his medication." So his parents ought to be having him on his meds and NOT allowing him to have access to ATV's and race cars! Dumb asses.

This visit was followed by a call from our realtor here. We have another land contract offer. Some lady with a nephew stationed in Iraq wants to buy the place for $5,000 down, $400 a month at 7% with a 10 year balloon. She told the realtor her nephew makes $2,000 a month in Iraq and she's "got plenty of money to guarantee the note." So buy the place outright lady. And where's he spending $2,000 a month - in Iraq? He's single with no dependents. So our realtor countered for us: $20,000 down, $500 a month, 9% interest, 10 year balloon. You want to propose silly; we'll do likewise.

I am so sick to death of stupidity and bullies and bullshit. I'm thinking of using a permanent marker to write on one of Sweetie's white t-shirts: "I'm an Extremist. Want to Make Something of It?"

One Bully After Another

I've so much on my mind today, I don't know where to begin. So I'll just spew forth and ya'll can sort it out.

Our so called government does not represent me; not even remotely. It does oppress me, lie to me, swindle me, ignore me (until I break one or more of its various laws) and it damn well disappoints and discourages me. Enough of their bull keeps coming down the hill and I truly will be a "right wing extremist."

And the bastards wonder why people medicate themselves with illegal drugs, cigarettes, booze, porn, credit card debt, over eating, "reality" TV, Hollywood gossip and other such things that pass for "The American Way."

It doesn't matter what the news source, it's ALWAYS more confirmation of Business As Usual. Waterboarding will go unpunished. No surprise there. Bush and his cronies probably have enough dirt stockpiled on the new administration to leverage their way out of any situation.

60 Minutes does a show on wrongly convicted people getting out of prison and not being able to find work. Again, no surprise. And please note, the ass hole prosecution team who withheld information in one woman's case were NOT prosecuted. Despite being exonerated of their crimes, employers wouldn't hire someone with a record. Yet how many Administration, Wall Street and other corporate criminals go on to lucrative careers? Anyone who bothers to buy a book by Karl Rove, Cheney or Bush is rewarding bad behavior - AT THE VERY LEAST.

Here in Michigan, Detroit's former mayor gets a new career in Texas! And our local politicians stay in office despite a few discretion's. And the District Health Department official threatens us with "extensive review" of our property because we had the gall to speak up at a county commissioner meeting.

It all reminds me of a former classmate who just died. He was the bully tyrant on the school bus from kindergarten through 12th grade - with full knowledge of the bus driver. When the bus stopped at the local gas station awaiting the arrival of another bus, this pig roughed up anyone not willing to contribute to his candy bar fund. Well the bastard is dead at 57 of a diabetic coma and I for one am not shedding any tears. The bus driver was of the same cloth: whenever an animal was in the road he aimed for it, even if it meant crossing the center line. He died young too bullying people until his last breath.

The chubby twerp in our neighborhood who speeds through everyone's fields and forests on his 4-wheeler at all hours, is back with a vengeance. This time he's behind the wheel of daddy's race car - unlicensed driver and car - late at night with no muffler. When we complained his father said we have, " a lot of dry timber and brush laying on our land." And, "It would be a shame to see another fire in the neighborhood."

Another? About five acres of our neighbor's field was blackened while we were up north. It burnt within 10 feet of our land! We called our neighbor to ask about it and were told he was alerted to it in the middle of the night by his dog. He had complained about the twerp's driving habits. We got mad as hell and called the Sheriff's Department. Guess who daddy works for?

I'm wondering how dry that guy's timber is.

Like I said long ago, we can't get far enough away from the madness. It's everywhere. And it's one of the first things we asked about at our new place: any asshole neighbors? Here's a hat tip: do not ask this question of the seller. ASK other neighbors.

On a positive note, we found a garage door on Craigslist for $150 in the color we wanted. At our new place we're the largest land owners in the plat. According to six neighbors, boundaries are respected. Still, we're fencing off the south boundary which separates us from all the other owners. The original plat was 100x100 foot lots but nearly all owners bought groups of lots to have more than an two -five acres. Half the homes are seasonal. Surrounding this area are farms of 40-280 acres.

We preferred 11 acres in the middle of no where but couldn't afford it. So we're thankful to be on the edge of the plat with acreage on the north side of us that will never be developed.

Well, I'm done spewing for awhile. Time to do some cleaning around here. No outside work today. It's raining, which we desperately need. Later, Treesong

I Thought We Had Downsized & We Have a New Home

Until we started packing for our move north, I didn't realize how much stuff we still have. Come summer in the north woods there will be one huge yard sale!

And, I haven't missed a single thing we've packed!

Our backhoe sold today so we're one step closer to our dream - 11 acres with shared lake access 200 feet from our property line; the ground covered in pines, birch, a few maple and thousands of wild blueberry bushes! Yum!

Sweetie will have his long-desired pole barn in his favorite color - deep green - and I'll finally get my wood burning kitchen range hooked up, once we build a chimney. I was browsing Etsy about two weeks ago and found a Griswold #8 waffle iron for $17 plus shipping. Yahoooooo! It arrived while we were up north and miraculously didn't break during shipping. It was wrapped in newspaper, placed in a grocery sack and laid in a huge box where it could rattle around to its heart's content!!

My favorite Sunday morning breakfast is waffles and sausage. I can hardly wait for cold weather to set in next fall!!! Crazy huh?

Our new place is another mobile home with two bedrooms that are larger than we have now but less closet space and nearly the same layout as this place. The owners tore the original siding off, insulated, then covered it in chip board, house wrap and then vinyl siding. They built a steel roof with wide eves over the entire place. There are two decks - one about 8x12 and another that's a whopping 16x24 - each with a slider for easy access. A small storage shed will become my garden shed and we'll build a hot house on the side of it for starting seedlings.

Best of all, we cannot see another home from our new home; the drive is 300 feet before it turns another 60 feet to the pole barn; and we're 11 miles from the nearest small town.

To anyone dreaming and yearning for a place in the country do not give up!!! We had looked at this place online dozens of times but always told ourselves we couldn't afford it. Being broke and living on $654 a month we had very low expectations, so we were always thinking, "we've got to find something cheap."

All the while I was saying: "God, you know what we want - to move north near my family - and you know we don't have much, so you'll have to make it happen. So, God, I'm asking for your will in our lives."

While we were up north, we looked at two really cheap places and all we saw was WORK. Late one afternoon, we looked at one another, and realized we were both thinking about "that place near the lake." So, we decided to go for a ride.

As soon as we caught a glimpse of the place we said, "This is it." We got out of the truck, walked around the front yard, ventured onto the back deck and looked in a sliding door. I walked over to the back entrance door and turned the handle - it was unlocked!!!! Of course we couldn't resist walking through the place and then LOCKED it up. We returned to my Dad's and called our realtor and told him about our tour and it being unlocked. Then we asked to meet him there the next day. We took my Dad with us on our next tour and he said, "I see the two of you here. This looks like a place you would own."

Since then we've made an offer; had our offer countered; made a counter offer; and finally settled on a purchase price. What seemed impossible is now possible. Once we stopped placing limits on what we could and couldn't do, things began to move. I could write all night about the things the unexpected and interesting things that have happened since Tuesday morning. I'm in awe and so cognizent of how our thinking determines our life experiences.

Tomorrow (Friday), we relist our home with our previous realtor and she's scheduled to show it Saturday. Every time she showed a certain client a place, she said she thought of our place! She thinks it's the best of any she's shown him and would fit his needs perfectly. So, once again, time will tell!

Well, it's late for me. I was awake at 5 a.m. with visions of wood stove cooking dancing in my head! Take care and we'll meet again soon. Treesong

We're Home

We arrived home at 11:30 p.m. last night. We're still tired from the trip. At least neither of us got sick this trip!

Had a great visit with my Dad and took him by to tour all the places we looked at this time. Made an offer on 11 acres with mobile home, pole barn and 200 feet of shared beachfront access. Once again, time will tell.

Saw lots of deer, especially on the drive home as we left for home at 4 p.m. Had two near misses and decided to stay behind another vehicle whenever we could. Better they take the hit than us; cruel thought, I know.

The grandkids were all "bored" and everything except the ham and mashed potatoes was made from a box, a microwaveable bag or take out. Yuk. I lost my appetite before I started eating. Then my children brought up the fact that none of their kids know how to cook! You think maybe that has something to do with their parents not taking the time to?

When we looked at the property we made an offer on, we showed my Dad "his room" and he cried. "At least maybe if I stayed with you two once in awhile, someone would listen to me when I open my mouth," he said. We told him we feel the same way. Aside from the perfunctory questions (how are you? Great to see you!), the kids and grandkids basically talked to one another or text messaged. Guess we've joined the "golden years."

We've had lots of calls on the backhoe and three people scheduled to see it, so we're hoping it goes down the drive quickly.

Have not read much in the blogs. No energy. Maybe tomorrow.

We always stop at Sweetie's brother's home on our way to and from up north. This time there was a note on his sliding glass door. He's hospitalized with liver failure. He's 74, a widow for 19 years and has drank every day since then. Sad to watch and we know we're helpless to change the situation.

Sweetie fired up the woodstove (it's 38 here) and then fell asleep with the damper open! It's now 82 in here and I'm gonna strip down and throw on a cotton robe. Exciting huh?

Take care all, Treesong

When You're Thinking of Someone, Act On It

When we head north tomorrow, I had planned to introduce Sweetie to a friend that I've lost contact with.

Too late. Lana's obituary was printed in my hometown newspaper today. She was 55.

I am sick. God, why didn't I listen to that still, small voice inside me that urged me to call her - for the last three months!

We weren't childhood friends, or friends who meet for lunch or talked on the phone a few times a week. In fact, we were what I call distant friends, an oxymoron for sure. We were the kind of friends who seldom have any contact, but who, when we meet, have a deep connection and affection for one anther. Much of it was unspoken yet we understood one another. We didn't have to recite our life histories to one another. We appreciated and marveled at the discoveries we made about one another. There was always an exchange of jokes, hugs and laughter whether we met for five minutes or an afternoon.

I knew she had been ill though I can't recall what her diagnosis was. She stopped working about eight years ago and lots of people missed her presence. She was every one's favorite bartender - a job she took when she could no longer get hired in a "professional" environment. Her illness cost her lots of missed work and her looks changed to the point where her former boss felt it was a distraction.

Lana had a knack for talking to anyone about nearly anything. When you met her you felt you'd known her your entire life. Her wisdom and perception of situations were uncanny, though just now, through my tears, I can't describe why this was. Suffice to say, no one ever forgot Lana.

Every winter she had her choice of vacation spots as various customers had invited her to their homes in Florida, Arizona, California, Hawaii and the Bahamas. She always took one or two people up on their offer and invariably came home with them in tow because they just wanted to be around her.

She was a daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, niece, friend and lover and today the tears are flowing and friends are gathering. Her funeral is tomorrow and I'll miss it because we're leaving here in the morning. I told Sweetie maybe that's best. I want to remember her they way she was the last time we met in a resale shop.

But, darn, I wish I'd called her. I've thought plenty of times about things she'd say. And over time, I realized she exuded an uncommon wisdom and grace. And oh how I wish I had paid more attention to it.

For all her suffering, pain, poverty, battles with insurance companies and various other disappointments, she never angry or complained.

I miss you Lana. And I hope you read this.

Packing Tips

Here's a few of the things I've learned over the years of packing/unpacking for a move.

1. Label all boxes AFTER you have taped them shut for the last time. And if you're like me, keep a notepad next to you to list WHAT you have already placed IN the box! Nothing like looking for the heating pad in the box labeled "BATHROOM" only to find it in the box labeled "SHEETS" or to find the coffee pot in the box labeled "RADIOS."

2. Pack a few "first day" boxes. These boxes include one with cookware,dishes, utensils, plates, silverware, etc. One box with the essentials: for us that's coffee, coffee pot, mugs, a dish towel or two, dish cloth, dish soap - all sitting inside the dish pan. We also pack an overnight bag with a few changes of clothes, toiletries, and medications. It comes in handy when you're in the midst of unpacking and decide to clean up, leave the house, and find some sanity or solace at a friend's home, the local coffee shop or wherever.

3. I try to time the last load of laundry (usually bedding)in the old place so that it is finished and slipped into pillowcases for easy unpacking at the new place. These pillowcases are old ones I store just for this purpose! And, they are the

4. One to two weeks before moving day(s) stop buying anything for the freezer and use up what's inside. Of course, if you have a separate freezer to empty you should have been living off of it's contents for awhile before the move.

5. We store out of season clothing in huge plastic containers, so at this time of year we're making the switch from fall/winter to summer/spring and sending the fall/winter totes up north.

6. Likewise, we pack seldom used items or decorative items and leave them packed for a few weeks or longer after moving. Take time in your new home without everything out. It saves having to move or repack items if you end up remodeling. If you settle into your new home gradually you'll realize where you really want certain items located and how you'll "live" in your new space.

7. Fragile items should be double boxed: pack an item in newspaper, packing beads, or appropriate material and place inside a box which is placed inside another box with newsprint or other material packed between the two boxes. These boxes are placed on top of all other boxes and marked "FRAGILE" and underlined with RED TAPE.

8. All important papers, computer disks, coin collections, etc. are packed, labeled "IMPORTANT" and stowed in the car/truck which is always locked whether we're inside it or not. We've already repositioned much of our little used or out of season items and about half of our food/toiletries preps. The location is secure, is checked every couple days and thus far we've had no problems. Keys to this location are hidden in TWO other locations and ONE trusted person - aside from my attorney -know their location. In the event that my children/grandchildren were in a SHTF scenario, they could access the food, clothing, bedding, etc.

9. In yet another location we have stashed duplicate copies of all of our important papers, some money, and duplicates of our drivers' licenses, social security cards, wills, etc.

10. Nearly everything I own in the way of furniture, paintings, pottery, and books I have owned for well over 25 years. I've lost count of how many times I've moved but I know that the left top door of my Hoosier cabinet needs to be taped; that the top board of a walnut cabinet needs to be tightened after every move; and that it's worth it to double box my yellowware bowls, my Roseville vases and my Norwegian plates.

Real Estate News

Our offer was rejected on the five acre place - and we are currently feeling grateful! How's that for a change in attitude?

At about the same time I called a friend up north and she asked if we'd looked at the "little house" next door to her. Told her "no", we completely forgot about it when we were there last November. We had stopped to visit her and her hubby and joked about "our future home" when we drove by the "little house."

Well, things have strange way of developing.

Sweetie's health is worsening and the more we thought about it, the wiser choice seemed to be locating closer to town with easy access to the hospital, friends, and the doctor's office.

The "little house" is 800 square feet with one bedroom, bath, kitchen, dining, and 13x23 foot living room. It sits on a triple lot with 153 feet on the road and 80 acres of vacant land behind it. So happens I know the owner and, if we purchased the place, we'd be able to buy additional land from him. The house is one of two homes on the section of the road, the other being my friends' place. They're retired too and we share similar interests and perspectives.

And, the property taxes are currently $150.00 a year. The home does need the bath rebuilt and the kitchen updated. Furnace is nine years old, electrical was recently updated, and the place does not have another house in its view!!!

So, we're looking at it next week. The price is CHEAP. In fact, if the backhoe sells this weekend (two different men coming to look at it Saturday), we would be close to having the asking price!!!

So, once again, time will tell.

It's hard to let go of a dream but one must make adjustments as one ages; even a cantankerous old biddy like me!

Local Government in Action

Well today we saw proof that our local government is about as pea-brained as the state and national level.

Our county commissioners have opted to join the 10-county district health department in a Point of Sale ordinance involving septic tank inspections and pumpings. In their infinite wisdom ALL home sellers (land contracts excluded) will now have to pay for said inspections and pumpings prior to closing on the sale of their property - if it has not been done within the last three years - at a cost of $300-$1,000.

Our former realtor alerted us to this, so we attended the county board's finance committee meeting at 8 a.m. today.

Here's what we learned:

The ordinance state inspections/pumpings must have been done within two years prior to the sale of a property. The Health Department representatives claimed it's three years. Wonderful example of mixed messages.

There are no provisions/exceptions for homes that have stood vacant for two to three years and had a septic inspection/pumping done just prior to their vacancy (Sweetie's mom's place comes to mind as do ALL those foreclosures out there).

And no one took the frost laws (road restrictions) into consideration. So, if you have a signed purchase agreement in January, you can't complete the sale until May or June when heavy equipment is able to travel roads. "In other words, selling real estate has become a six month a year job in this county," said one realtor.

Another realtor noted that of the 211 homes sold in our county last year, more than 65% were $50,000 or less!!!! As difficult as it is to sell a home in this economy, sellers now have an additional expense to incur and try to pass on to a potential buyer.

Several people mentioned that the Purchase Agreement of any real estate contract is the place where a Buyer and Seller can negotiate what inspections/conditions they want in their transaction. But, once again, the government has to meddle in the public business!

This ordinance effectively prevents "As Is" sales!!

Sweetie and I looked at one another and said, "Guess we have until September to sell our place!"

To complicate matters, our county now has to go to each of its townships and get them on board to state they want OUT of this ordinance - and then the county has to go to the District Health Department to try to get out of it. In other words, the numskulls gave away their local power when they signed on to the district wide ordinance.

One of these days we're going to be taxed/metered for FLUSHING into a private septic! I am sick to death of government.

Self-Administered Tyranny

Found this on Coyoteprime's blog:


"The ideal tyranny is that which is ignorantly
self-administered by its victims.
The most perfect slaves are, therefore,
those which blissfully and unawarely enslave themselves."

-Dresden James

So what are some examples of "ignorantly self-administered" tyranny that come to your mind?