[Heineken]

Just wanted to let you know I'm not gone, I'm just continuing to go through a phase of major transitions.

My mother and I agreed to put her in a local assisted-living facility. It's a pretty nice place, as those places go, and should meet and exceed her needs, as I see it. She moves off the "farm" on March 20.

That will leave me entirely alone here, now that my father is in a nursing home and my long-term relationship has been over as of December.

My expenses will rise drastically, since my mother paid for most of the property tax, the property insurance, and the electric bill for her house. I'm engaging in an aggressive cost-cutting campaign in order to be able to stay here on my own on my low retirement income and not go into capital. For example, I'll be shutting off the water heaters (there are three of them, can you believe that?) and living with cold water. I may drop the property insurance, or at least drastically lower the coverage. If one house burns down I can live in the other. (Nothing has burned down since 1986.)

There's a chance I will rent out the apartment over the garage, but only to a PO-type person if I can find one (or two). Even $250/month would make all the difference.

I continue to have good communications with a woman I met online, and we're having our first date tomorrow evening at a restaurant. It would be great if she could move here, but I'm not sure she'd be willing to give up her job in Washington. We'll see how things evolve.

The local real estate market is frighteningly dead, making me feel real stuck here. I spoke with a tractor-repair man this morning and he seemed awestruck by the rapidly deteriorating economic conditions.

Eventually the sun will come out again and I should be able to resume participating more regularly here again.

Heine

[Jack]

Thanks for the report, Heineken. Hope it works out for you.

[Fishman]

Best of luck Heineken. Hope things go well with the relationship you mentioned. A wise woman will realise you have much wisdom and care to offer. This is not the time to spend alone, it gets too gloomy. Go visit that church you mentioned in a previous thread, Hopefully with a few warm breezes, and the dirt in your hands as you work in the garden, things will cheer up a bit. This is one of those seasons of life.

[Pops]

Glad you checked in Henie, I've wondered about you.

Sorry to hear about your Mom but hope she'll be more comfortable.

Good luck with the date and hang in!

[mos6507]

Aren't you only in your low 50s? Any reason why you have to be retired?

[mgibbons19]

Don't get yourself all the way lost. I kind of like you (but not like that).

If there are two houses and a garage apt, why can't you become a feudal lord?

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', '(')Nothing has burned down since 1986.)

[coyote]

Nice to hear from you Heineken - be well and good luck with everything, for you and your mother - and have a great time on your date!

[PenultimateManStanding]

I also hope for your goals to pan out. But I have to say that though life hasn't been peaches and cream for me either I have kids and a good relationship with them. That's been the emotional bedrock for me. We're just humans, mammals, and we need these things. Maybe not kids, but someone. Make it happen Heine. You've left us enough of a profile to know that it won't be easy. Best wishes for you, buddy.

[eXpat]

Best of luck Heineken!! and pay us a visit now and then .

[Quinny]

You need to realise it's basically fubar for everyone - some might not reaise it yet, but you sound like you're in a better situation than most!

[holmes]

Keep reaching for that next rung on the ladder. Just know you arent the only one struggling...your not alone.

[Arsenal]

Good luck Heineken. We will miss your posts but come back when you can!!

[RedStateGreen]

Nice to hear from you, Heineken ... hope things work out for you.

[Byron100]

Good to hear from you again on here. I know times are hard, but just know we're all in this together.

Might be a bit rough to have only cold water though...that's an awfully tough thing to give up, especially in winter. Have you looked into a solar hot water heater system? They're not that expensive to install and are remarkably effective - I had one when I lived in Florida. (Shame on me for being a gas burner for both heat and water - my gas bill was $170 this past month - ouch!)

Best of luck to your mother moving into assisted living as well - glad to hear that it was something both of you agreed on.

[JohnDenver]

Heineken's problems. Fun to watch. Better with hot buttered popcorn!

[Heineken]

Thanks for the many kind comments. They give me a lift!

[eastbay]

Nice to hear good news from any member ... especially from a class of '04 one.

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JohnDenver', 'H')eineken's problems. Fun to watch. Better with hot buttered popcorn!

[wisconsin_cur]

Good luck hoss!

[Mominator]

Even when I'm not visiting here because of limited internet connectivity and because I don't want to be continually depressed or scared I think of you and how you are a really positive part of this community.

BTW, my mom has been off hot water for years and she's 65 now. It's not so bad wuss

I do hope you get the girl BTW.