POPPED FROM THE LABYRNTH

I ADMIT THAT MY HEAD IS STILL SPINNING at the speed at which this house is becoming mine! On Tuesday, we closed on the new home base for Roberto and Robert. If you want to Google Map it, check out '74 Sterling Street, Corning NY 14830'.

In a previous post, I told of making an offer of a fair market price for the house that was accepted by the four sellers (heirs to the couple who previously lived in the house) and was not matched by a previous offer. Before leaving for Chatham, my agent and I had arranged for an building inspection that revealed several structural problems, the major ones being problems with the electrical circuits and some black mold in the attic space (due to inadequate ventilation). Last week the sellers accepted the quotes that we had obtained for this work and agreed that this should come off the selling price. So the last business on Friday for me was to draw the check ('cheque' for Aussies and Brits), making the way clear for closing on the sale for tomorrow (Tuesday).

While this is a bad time for the US dollar (vs. the Aussie dollar) it has been good for me since the money has come from my Australian accounts at just a little more than 5% better; the icing as it were on the cake.

I hope you have had your ball of string working all the way with me on this labyrinthine journey as I went all the way back to Australia (thinking I would settle there), being surprised by that this was neither possible (economic reasons) or desirable (cultural considerations). Then I was full of intention to build a home for myself whereas now I have purchased one. Often there are several ways that might lead to one's desired destination and it becomes a matter of finding the one that works best. My desired destination is to have an energy efficient home in a community where I feel at home, close to services that I will need more as I age, that minimizes the need for a car, and where I can contribute to the life of the community, keeps me active through cycling and skiing, and has me in the garden most weeks of the year. I appear to be arriving at this destination.

This final approach came via a consideration of several economies. The first was the cost of living in the US vs. that in Australia. Now that I live on a more or less fixed income, this is an important factor. In US dollars, I consider the COL in Oz to be about 30% higher. This especially applies to the cost of land and housing. Most likely due to the resource boom Australia is in a housing bubble and anyone from outside that bubble faces formidable barriers either to entering or re-entering the game. I had to live there for several months to figure this out. Next, there are the costs associated with building vs. buying a home. Including purchase of a lot, at best these would come to around $110 per square foot of floor space. On the other had, it is possible to purchase an established house in reasonable condition for around $50 per square foot here in Corning. Mind you, there will be significant additional costs to bring such a house up to energy efficient standards and to make it one's own. Then, Corning area meets most or perhaps all of my other criteria, given that I re-discovered my preference for living in a small community (vs. a large city) and I have been able to purchase in an area that is convenient in that I can walk or ride to all the facilities I use.

Despite that the house is in good order, there is a lot of work ahead inside and in the surrounds. There is very little garden (apart from lots of lawn) so a lot of planning has to be done in respect to landscaping.

So, my good friends who read this Blog, I think you may gather in the string and emerge with me from this winding path, turning this way and that. My Corning home will be featured in a separate Blog. Meanwhile, here, you will have to endure other journeys with me. As ever, I invite you to:

WATCH THIS SPACE

BACK TO CORNING

I CANNOT RESIST DINERS. The one at the left is in Duanesberg (NY) and has be open since 1930. Wishing to avoid toll roads and ready for adventure, I allowed Richard (aka: GPS) to direct my homeward way from Chatham. Probably, the Diner is the most remarkable thing about Duanesberg. However, it is a town with a history going back to 1823, which history is celebrates every year.

In the event you are curious, I had the day's special: Boneless pork chops with sauerkraut and potatoes. I am still not too sure where Duanesberg is, after miles of back roads and beautiful scenery. That is the problem with GPS, it keeps one on track but, in the larger view of life, one looses track. Somewhat like not seeing the forest for the trees.

I had a fine week with the other Richard (Green) and family, meeting and making new friends and helping keep the local brew pub in business. I also removed quite a bit of unwanted ornamentation from off their new (built c. 1890) home-to-be beside assisting the sheet rock team. During this week the weather finally gave up Winter and presented itself as Spring, celebrated by an impressive night of lightning and thunder. Lots of fun experiences like getting water from the local spring, attending the weekly practice of Richard's group (considerably enabled by the liberal serving of cocktails, a hobby of one of the band members), getting to know the local community gardening group, shopping for items for the new bathroom (plumbing, as it were, the deep mysteries of crappers). I hope you know that the modern flushing toilet was invented by a Londoner named Crapper.

While on the topic of weather, while I was over in Chatham, Corning actually had a tornado alert on April 27. Absolutely unheard of! Not only did we have a warning but an tornado really happened in a nearby town, mowing an impressive swath for several miles but not actually damaging much property.

Back in town, the purchase of the Sterling Street house proceeds, with inspections and quotes. If all goes well, closing will be just prior to my birthday (29th May). I expect there may be a bit of haggling related to necessary repairs along the way. I am very excited about planning the garden. Lacking my own house, I have spent a couple of days Spring gardening for a close friend. I have also rejoined the Master Gardener program (an extension of Cornell University), and the local Gardening Club. On the subject of membership, I renewed place at the local Brew Pub (my own mug, #75, and discounted beer). I must be settling in.

On Sunday last, I attended the United Methodist Church in Richmond, just over into Massachusetts and took this photo. It is not too bad, as my photography goes, and the unpaved road descending and then running off into the distance I find quite inspiring. It makes a great background for my laptop screen.