quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:
Congrats on getting out of WA.

I am sooooo looking forward to doing the same.

Me too, I'm on track for late spring. So excited

The wife and I made a big jump from New York to Arizona a few years ago. We are in Prescott valley not to far from you. I shoot at Yavapai recreation league- great range off 89 south of Prescott idpa uspsa Icore steel challenge and more. Best range in area I know of. The wife and I got lucky we both increased our wages my wife by almost double. And like you a much better lifestyle than we had back east. Welcome!

Congrats, I just had my bid accepted on a house outside Augusta, GA and will be moving there next month from Maryland. I can't wait.

Is that considered high desert? I've spent some time in Wilhoit, about 15 miles s of Prescott on 89 and it doesn't get near as hot there as it does in Phoenix or Tuscon. Great area but always short of water.

Love the house and you weren't kidding about the low maintenance yard.

Fantastic! So uplifting to hear you've rediscovered life. Amen!

Lots to do in that area. Great memories. I'm summering in the desert myself. Can't wait. 40 days (or maybe seven) camping, and the rest house-sitting.

The area from Sedona to Flagstaff - 89A - is one of my favorites.

That area in and around Sedona is some of the most beautiful country I’ve ever seen. I know you’ll both enjoy it there.

Congratulations ! There is a lot to be said about stopping to smell the roses. I did it at 47 and I have never, ever, looked back and regretted that decision.

Lawn maintenance equipment = roundup, sprayer from Dollar General.

Yep, seems like paradise!

Welcome to the Southwest.

Congratulations on the new way of life and knowing what’s important. Have a blast!

Congrats on the escape. I'm still biding my time here but I'm thinking WA will be in the rear view when I retire.

Your decision to simplify your lives is great to see. Cutting out all the b.s. consumerism and refusing to participate in the rat race is a huge step in getting to experience a little taste of true happiness.

I guess I left out a couple details. I was born and raised here in Cottonwood. So that’s a plus. I know the area and whee to go for outdoor adventures, shooting, hiking and off roading.
The downside to it, is that I know a lot of people from my youth. That’s not all bad, but it’s not all good either.

My wife pointed out something I had not noticed. I don’t shake anymore. My hands used to shake a lot. Like Muhammad Ali. Now I’m as steady as a neurosurgeon. Guess stress does have a pretty great effect on the body.

I also quit smoking almost 4 months ago. As of today it’s been 119 days. I smoked for 27 years, so this is a huge accomplishment for me as well.

All in all, I just feel extremely blessed.

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker: Guess stress does have a pretty great effect on the body.

Yep. The doc had been telling me that for years.

I gave up corporate-managed sales with a BP of 145/95. Within six months I was close to 120/80 and lost ten pounds. Now, four years later, my BP is in the "new" target, resting pulse is lower, and I've shed another twenty-five pounds (with another ten due to evaporate in seasonal adjustment). Plodding through mid-life is a classic setup for heart attack. Casual smoking, junk food, lack of exercise, 40# overweight, I hope I never go back.

Two days ago I finally donated my last half dozen dress shirts to a local church, the best ones I'd been holding back. New-condition, professionally laundered, quality fabrics. And a sport coat. Hard to believe they were once a good fit.

quote:

Originally posted by Woodman:
Fantastic! So uplifting to hear you've rediscovered life. Amen!

Lots to do in that area. Great memories. I'm summering in the desert myself. Can't wait. 40 days (or maybe seven) camping, and the rest house-sitting.

The area from Sedona to Flagstaff - 89A - is one of my favorites.

Love riding motorcycle on 89A. One of my favorites too.

is there lot rent ?

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
is there lot rent ?

No, I wouldn’t even consider it if there was. Chattel Loans and nit owning the dirt is a crazy adventure, unless you’re already lining up at the pearly gates.

Woodman,
I’m in the same boat. A bunch of really great dress shirts that I am not sure what to do with. Save a couple for nice nights out with the Mrs. if that’s in the cards later.
Aside of that, not sure what to do with them. They still fit and I am not 100% sure of the current employment, so maybe I’ll hold onto them for a bit?

THIS IS AN OLD THREAD - OLD THREAD ALERT!!!

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So a few years back we bought a house two blocks away. It was big, and beautiful and really a wonderful home. It was also 25 years old and that comes with its own issues. It was 1800 sq/ft and I built a really nice 350sq/ft addition. It had a quarter acre that was beautifully landscaped.

It was a lot of house. There were rooms that we wouldn’t use. The guest bedroom I hadn’t been in for over three months. The addition, while beautiful, was never really used. The yard was a lot to upkeep with 20 large hedges, a ton of stuff in the front and two huge mesquite trees.

A guy and his wife had seen the house and really wanted to buy it back in November. My wife and I weren’t sure of our plans (after the departure from The Company I cannot mention) and so we declined their offer to buy. Again they wanted to buy and we declined. They came back a third time in January and the offer was too good to pass up, (“full price”, all cash, three week close) At the same time, our daughter was vacating our old house house, so it worked out perfectly.

In February we moved again, two blocks away. Back in the new-old house. It’s just the right size for us two. The yard is small and easy to maintain.

I have removed all the vegetation from the front and back yard, with the exception of the peach tree. The front yard is getting an entire makeover. I already have two truckloads of paver wall blocks to build a wall and level the front yard out. I’ll backfill the wall, lay out landscape fabric and have fresh gravel brought in. When that is complete, we will level the back corner of the back yard, and lay out paver step stones so there will be a bbq and sitting area.

I already replaced the water softener system with a softener and whole house filtration system. Come to find out that only the hot water is being softened. So my plumber buddy will be back out and we will open up the wall to see what kind of a plumbing shitshow I have going on. (He said it should be easy to fix).

All in all it’s great to be back in the smaller home that we love.

Smart move on your part. We don't often think how short life is until one day, it's too late. Well done and a beautiful home.

Congratulations on getting out of Washington State. I was stationed up in Oak Harbor years ago around 911 and it was a good place to be as long as you avoided the Seattle area. Seems like things have gone kinda crazy in the state since then.