Not every week can be exciting. Our lives are made up of mostly small details and projects, worked in as time permits in the hours left to us after commuting and holding down full-time jobs.
So it has been with us this week. Although we always seems to be busy, not much is newsworthy. For example, one of my weekend projects was to replace the LP tank cover on The Box. Not exciting stuff!
The old cover looked like this:
Old LP tank cover
The new one looks like this:
New LP tank cover on The Box
Some assembly required. Not a big job, just one of many that get done on a typical weekend. Pam also has projects; this one involved cleaning up some of Toby’s old sandbox trucks that are going to be shipped to a family member. Blondie and JoJo had to come up from time to time and check on Pam’s progress.
Pam wire brushing old Tonka toys
I replaced the other front axle on the Honda then washed the car. Took a short motorcycle ride. Walked the recycles over to the recycle dumpster located a few blocks away. Pam started cleaning the inside of The Box, and ironed work clothes in the evening. We both did some yard work. All stuff that keeps a person busy and makes up everyday life.
Today I replaced the skylight on The Box as I did not get this done last fall before the weather turned cold. After that I will begin to check the underside to make it rodent-proof; we don’t want mice getting in this year. Later this week I should receive an adapter cable I ordered; it will form a link between the generator and The Box. (RV trailers take an unusual 3-bladed plug known as a TT-30 which is standard for trailer parks but is not used anywhere else.) Our goal is to get The Box up to the Sanderling lot by about the first week in May (depending on weather).
Old skylight, left, and new skylight, right
Jerry on the roof of The Box, replacing skylight
April Taxes – We paid taxes this last week, federal and state. I wouldn’t mind if I thought we were getting our money’s worth, but I don’t think that’s the case. We don’t have “enough” federal tax withheld (hard to believe after paying thousands already). Pam prefers to keep some tax money throughout the year, which means we always end up paying a chunk to the feds at tax time. We expect to pay additional state taxes annually, as my small pension from the State of Wisconsin (where I worked for 11 years) does not withhold Colorado state taxes, so something is always owed to Colorado at tax time. (Next year there is some discussion of “pot tax monies” being distributed to Colorado residents.) Oh well…done for this year.
Small projects, small details, the stuff that makes up a pretty normal life.
That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!
Pam’s Two Cents Worth:
A most interesting discussion around here involves an exploration of possibilities. If we decide to limit development up at Sanderling, then, where to live in the State of Colorado during our retirement? Always with the proviso of considering our budget. This week I’ve done internet searches that turned up potential properties in the Vallecito Lake area near Durango (also a campground for sale right on the water – not in our price range sadly). I also happened upon a gated community built by Steve Forbes near the Colorado/New Mexico border with pretty spectacular views of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains and within driving distance to Taos. I found the cutest “Grandma house” along the I-70 corridor in Silver Plume, just outside Denver. And I located a [rather dumpy] cabin on the Peak-To-Peak Highway on the road to Estes Park/Rocky Mountain National Park.
As my bro Larry observes, in Colorado a person is always driving. And so it is with the properties we like. It always seems to be at least a half hour drive to shopping, medical, services, vet. Any more, we just accept at least 30 minutes commuting distance as a given. Since I don’t need to factor in proximity to employment, however, the range of possibilities expands each week. I pour myself a glass of white wine, pull up realtor.com or FSBO (for sale by owner) and just cruise.
Happy Trails.
that little stuff sure adds up though! improvements look very nice–fun to see the before and afters!
good to get stuff all sorted and organized–i swear I could take a month off just to do that and never run out of things to do!
the joy of realtor.com–what ever did we do without the internet! happy surfing 🙂
Locating a non-Sanderling retirement property has self-set constraints.
I just did a “street view” of Durango, a small city that I could easily live in, though it would be difficult for you. I liked the “Southwest” feel to the “main” areas, and the considerable amenities for a city of less than 20,000 people.
Housing — self-standing appears to be “way overpriced”. I did note several modestly priced condos, but they are in a more modern style that doesn’t fit (your) previous housing choices.
They also don’t have room for sizable numbers of pets, “toys” (ATV’s, motorcycles, small-engine-repair, etc). You’d have to “build a bunker” at Sanderling to house that…
If you want amenities in close proximity, you can find them, though it would be virtually “pet-less” and within a city. Country-living generally means a mountain or two between “you & civilization” within Colorado.