Fibermania

Researching for Retirement

Thursday 3am Dave wakes me up. He is thinking (it's the meds) about our move. "We are wasting time sitting here watching the birds when we could be visiting the areas we are thinking about buying."

O my.

I was just getting outta the habit of online house looking on a daily basis and trying to live in the now. I was liking it. I can't remember a time when I did so little and felt such peace and tranquility. (I almost wrote tran-quilty.)


We discussed going on another house scouting trip and made the decision to leave on Sunday (maybe). Then we went back to sleep. I had to get my mind back into future mode and devise a plan. When I got up again I began to save the properties we might visit with several criteria in mind.

Distinguishing features must include (not necessarily in this order)
1. great land, at least an acre with woods
2. great house, with low maintenance
3. a water feature of some kind, pool, hot tub, koi pond, river/lake/creek
4. a great kitchen
5. a place for a garden, preferably one that is already established
6. a price at $250K or less


You might think this an impossible task but noooooo! I have around 50 saved that have most or all of these attributes, making it really interesting and tricky to choose.

For example:
This house in South Pittsburg TN has 5.28 acres of wooded land on a hill with a view AND

a matching little house out back which would be perfect for my studio, no? Pretty brand new and with a great kitchen, and hardwood floors throughout. $249K and it has a red metal roof! What's not to love?

But then there is this brand new one in Whitwell TN
A dream kitchen with this mountain view from the front porch. 5 acres for $217,900But what about that water feature I mentioned?

This house has the best already established garden with a koi pond and waterfall and a greenhouse!!! In Cleveland TN for $249,900, loaded with character and an in town location, ready to move into and again, watch the birds. But this Hixson TN koi pond also boasts a hot tub on the 2 acres of wooded property...

with this view

for only $169,900. Confused yet? I certainly am. But wait, that's not all!

Another in Trenton GA: 2.43 acres, great home for $175K, and this chicken house comes with it.

Did I even know I wanted a chicken house until I saw this one? Look at those great chickens!

Just wait til Popeye meets them. But maybe a less grand pool and a smaller yard would be smarter.

Rock Springs GA, 2.53 acres is not exactly smaller, but the price is, at $169,900. No chickens.This lakeside home in Lafayette GA comes with 3 acres and... a pool for $219,900.

But do you decide to buy the pool first or the house?

The house and kitchen with this pool is super, $179K Dunlap TN, 3 acres.

But this Dunlap TN one is closer to Chattanooga, has a super interior, a hot tub, bubble tub, great kitchen, and 1.90 acres for $225K.

I am not even mentioning the homes in the Rome GA environs or Athens GA that await us.

Of course it is all just talk until the house sells, and that could be a long long long time.