Text 3825, 66 rader
Skriven 2006-07-26 17:26:42 av Carol Shenkenberger (6:757/1)
   Kommentar till text 3795 av Ruth Haffly (1:396/45.28)
Ärende: Re: From NYT Magazine 81
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*** Quoting Ruth Haffly from a message to Carol Shenkenberger ***


RH> down for good.  We have no idea where that will be, even tho we've got
RH> several preferences.

 CS> It's easier for me.  I have a home, rented out.  I dont want to sell
 CS> it but move back there.

RH> We never had our own place after Steve went into the Army, renting on
RH> the economy or using military housing.  We've always been leery of
RH> trying to sell a place on short notice, figuring (wrongly) we'd only b
RH> there for 3 years.  Some tours have been longer than that, some shorte

So were we, but finally the bug bit when we were in Norfolk and the housing
market and prices were decent enough to make a go of it.  I was terrified when
I got orders to Japan (when we bought, they were promising homesteading at
last with no more than 3 tours out of your area and since we'd never been one
place or even *coast* more than 6 years at a run in either of our careers, we
were considered 'unmovable'.  obviously that changed....)

We didnt want to sell so found an agent and had good luck.  Same tenant all
this time.  Housing rental market is now close to 1,200$ for a place like ours
in that area and we are charging 850$ so they are happy and we are stable. 
Thats a little tiny bit more than our monthly payments so we are just building
equity harmlessly and if we decide to sell, the worth of the house is now
almost double what we paid for it in 1996.

Dont get me wrong, we've had bills too that we just had to 'eat' like roof work
and things like that.  All appliances were left with the tenants but we said
if they die (other than hot water heater and the central air/heat) we wouldnt
replace hence we did *not* add those in as a factor of the rent.  That made
them and us happy.  We've had to have several central air/heat jobs done and
the hot water heater replaced.  The fridge, stove, and our big chest freezer
are still going strong as well as the dishwasher and while the washing machine
and dryer may not be 'perfect' we gather both still work.  The lawnmower I
gather died but they had free use of one as long as it lasted (went out about
a year ago?).  The roto-tiller I am not sure about but the weed whacker is
still working.  We also left curtins or blinds on every window though they
were not fancy, asking only if they replaced the curtins, to tuck the old ones
in the attic for us so we'd have something temporary when we got back.  Left
some oddiments of furniture with complete agreement that if it wasnt there
when we got back, 'no huhu'.  Left lots of little oddiments like windex
bottles and mops and such.

I'd say all in all, a good deal for us both.

RH> lamb shanks done in osso bucco style; I had jaegerschnitzel.  All meal
RH> come with soup of the day, salad and mixed vegetables.  Our meats also
RH> had spaezele, on a very big (about 11" diameter) plate.  Probably a go
RH> thing this place is off our usual run around route or we'd be spending
RH> lots of money and be fat as hogs. (G)

Oh sounds like fun but what is jaegerschnitzel?  A sausage thing?  Spaezele I
seem to recall is a type of pasta?

Me, I'm hoping we get to OZ again before I leave.  I'd like to have lamb again.
When I left the states, a little trickle of it was starting to arrive in
affordable prices and i gather that got better but I've been in japan all that
time and lamb just doesnt suit the people here so almost impossible to find. I
think I've seen it just once at the commisary for example but wasnt at a time
when I could get it.
                                       xxcarol

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