Considering buying a condo! Costs a lot, but it could be a good next step in my life. I was waiting for the prices to go down, they never did, and I realized (a) the Fed just keeps pumping money into the housing market to prevent a crash and (b) around here the class of people who buy and sell houses are deeply insulated from the pandemic.
With a roommate (in a very spacious 2BR2BA, so still a measure of privacy) and tax deduction (woe be upon it), it wouldn't be much more expensive than my current rental; more security; and maybe I get into this price appreciation thing I've heard so much about.
Also, much closer to BART than my current place.
I read the first sentence and thought this was a spam message.
Honestly, the tax deduction isn't that great of an improvement over the standard deduction in normal states.
2: The exclamation point at the end of the first sentence was suspicious, but at least it wasn't a question mark.
I wish I could live near BART. I do live fairly close to the Washington Metro, but I'd rather live near BART.
I own a house. A tree fell on it. After nine months, we are scheduled to move back in next week.
That's the weirdest metaphor for impregnation I've ever read, but congratulations!
If it happens again, you have pissed off an ent.
5: I'm already itemizing with state income tax plus charitable contributions.
I have been trying to come up with an explanation. An enraged ent is better than anything I have devised so far. This was a beautiful, gigantic red oak. When it fell -- on a fine, sunny day -- I absolutely knew that the prior night's storm had loosened the dirt around its roots and that it uprooted completely. There was no other possibility. But no, it snapped at the base.
I have a couple of other beautiful red oaks within striking distance of my home. I have chosen to believe that they will remain sound sound. (And like the tree that fell, these could just as easily hit my neighbors' houses. They have chosen not to move out, so I guess I have to maintain confidence.)
I once knew a man with a big red oak in his front yard who until he was today years old was happy it wasn't something like a silver maple.
(I actually had a big white pine fall against my house some years back, but it was *so* close to the house that it was not until the next day I realized it was leaning against the side (and almost no damage).
We've been married 38 years. I took the day off yesterday, and we went up to the Flathead to see if we could find a snowy owl. Saw where he'd been photographed on Tuesday, but no luck. Did manage to see some short-eared owls in the Mission valley on the way home, and went out for a dinner that felt awfully safe. Tonight, though, the new camera system that the wife's been wanted for a long long time has finally become available. I'm told that picture quality will take a great leap forward.
1: We were also always waiting for prices to go down, and assumed we'd never be able to buy in the East Bay; but they never did, and one day we could. Good luck! The feeling of security is a real change after decades of renter's anxiety.
Oh, nice. I have basically the Nikon version of that, and like it a bunch. You can make some amazingly detailed large prints.
My mother died this morning. We'd been with her for 15 hours but finally went home at one. The home rang at 5:30.
My deepest sympathies nw, keeping you in my thoughts.
So very sorry, NW. I think sometimes people wait for their loved ones to leave the room. My condolences.
Nworbie, I am so sorry. Keeping you in my heart.
My condolences, NW.
Charley and Minivet, congratulations and good luck.
condolences, nw. It's tough, that one.
I'm sorry, Andrew. Hopefully soon you'll be able to remember her as she was when she was healthy and happy, rather than while she was dying.
My wife and I talk about moving to a condo sometimes. We are coming at it from the opposite direction - as homeowners that hate having to deal with the responsibilities of home maintenance. But we're not sure we could afford a condo we would like, and also moving would be a lot of work.
NW, thanks for sharing bits of her here. I'm sorry the last few years were so hard on both of you.
My condolences, NW. I somehow feel sure that she was proud of you, and that you were a comfort to her.
I'm sorry for you loss, NW, and I agree with 36.
Thank you all. I am still askew but trying to write something about her in the intervals of dealing with the practical stuff and just going on, which can seem an exhausting effort. But her life was a wonderful thing for those who loved her.
There is a cheap and saleable aspect to her life -- Bletchley Park kitsch -- and also an inner, more difficult and in some ways more important story of what happened afterwards.
In any case, she will get a small funeral in the cathedral, which was entirely uncovenanted but one of the canons offered spontaneously as a friend of mine and someone my mother knew.
Also, I laughed spontaneously this morning when a friend apologised for sending me something in other circumstances funny and interesting when he didn't know what was going on. I said not to worry - "the torturer's horse is always scratching his innocent behind against a tree", knowing that he, a poet, would catch the reference. Quick as a flash he comes back with the observation that's he's never so gracefully been called a horse's arse before.
31: there is an odd superposition of memories which makes a picture that won't fit in this comment box.
40.last: It's such a pleasure having people you can toss references like that back and forth with. Also, Ume just posted a picture of your street at the other place, and wow is it attractive.
So sorry, NW, and glad that you have shared here.
That's really rough, NW. So sorry to hear this.
42: the picture skilfully telephoto'ed and then cropped to show the view from ou bedroom window but not the convenience store, car park, and street* immediately outside. But, yes, it is a wonderful sight in the mornings.
*"Bodie I <i>cannot work</i> in these intolerable conditions" [ajay]
O NW, I am so sorry for your loss. I'm glad you were able to be with her for those 15 hours shortly before her death.
Your mother sounds like a remarkable person.
And if you have a drone, the cathedral looks like this which is frankly amazing.
A couple of weeks ago, I commented about my Democratic friend in the end stages of pancreatic cancer. His wife called me today: he passed this morning.
Not before, however, our county commission had declared Feb 16 as his day, in a proclamation that listed his various political accomplishments are spoke well of his character. He was thrilled.
Sad but expected, as the widow says.
Went to the clinic near me to sort their screw-up. They shortlisted me. Two hours later got a text for an appointment for my first jab of the Pfizer on the 14th!
54: I remember the comment, Charley; sad that your friend's time has ended, but glad that he had a full and fulfilling life. We'd all like a bit more of that, wouldn't we?