Geez, another thread turned into the Stunt Girl show. Are there any threads left here that aren't all about her? I really haven't posted in awhile bacause of this. I don't mean to say she shouldn't have a place to post, because Joan has made us all feel like this is our place, but I'd like to see 1 thread that doesn't turn into everybody trying to help poor Jen. And not that she doesn't need it help, either. Oh, I hope you know what I'm trying to say.
I'm very happy for you Nancy B and wish you nothing but smooth sailing ........ have you decided what you're going to do once the sale is completed ? I think you've said you want to downsize but into what? - apartment, condo, assisted living ?? - will you stay in Texas?
We'll probably move to Austin. I know the city (fairly well) and there are some people on this site from that area. I'd love to have lunch with you guys sometime. Gosh! Real People! Even Sonic burgers would be nice...with our DH's in the back seat!
Two grown, married grandchildren live in Austin, Daughter lives in San Marcos about 15 minutes away, and I have 4-5 cousins in the same general locale. But where in the Austin area is another subject. Looked at a highrise last week, (Austonian) Only $1,000 per SQUARE FOOT!!!!!) I had a rather difficult time keeping a straight face!!! One of the upper floor units that was about 3000 square feet cost over $3 million dollars. I just looked! (They have a built in Meile coffee maker in the kitchen cabinets. Guess that's what ran the price up!)...hahahaha. It's 55 stories tall, and I told my granddaughter that I would have very dirty carpet near the windows because I couldn't get up close to the "floor to ceiling glass that surrounds the unit to vacuum --while looking down 50 floors!! I am NOT good with heights. What was I thinking??????????????????
Definitely looking for a small villa, patio home, much much smaller. The buyer for this house wanted to buy it with ALL the furniture. I said I'd definitely be interested in selling some of it. This house is 5050 SF, and I would be delighted to not have to pay to move all this furniture or put it into storage. This was my blessing for the week!
Congrats Nancy B! I think you're wise to go the small villa or patio home route. I hope that you'll be happy in Austin, I visited once and it is a great city! Best of luck!
Nancy B -- you and DH would be most welcome to come stay with us. Just wear neutral colors as Golden hair tends to decorate any and all visitors to our place.
Have you looked into Estrella in Georgetown? There is a Wesleyan facility with (I think) independent living levels all the way up to dementia care. Estrella itself is a new neighborhood and the Wesleyan built their new facility there. Georgetown also has a Sun City and an over 55 neighborhood by builder Jimmy Jacobs called Heritage Oaks that has smaller homes with small yards. Shouldn't cost much to get yard guy to maintain. With kiddos living in the area you may already know all this.
No, Weejun, I don't know of any of those places. I received info on Querencia up on Barton Springs Parkway and went there. Whoa! Buy in property with deposits of $400,000 and up for small apartments PLUS monthly fees of several thousand dollars. I would love any info you have on places. If I could, I would love to find something on the South Side - in the Slaughter Creek, Onion Creek areas. On the San Marcos side of Austin. Thanks!
I know things are different in every area of the country. Florida is the Facility capital of the country, because we have so many seniors down here. I'll bet you would like something like where we are moving. The main building is Assisted Living - very tiny apartments. Activities all day every day. 3 meals a day. We are going to the Independent Living part, which is little houses called villas in a "neighborhood" behind the AL facility. In one of my blogs, I listed all of the amenities - utilities, maintenance, repairs, weekly cleaning service, cable, pool, clubhouse, dinner meal, and all the activities in the AL building. It's a monthly rental fee of $1950. Also includes transportation to doctor's apts., trips to ball games, casinos, restaurants, races. And when the time comes, there is a dementia unit in the AL facility. The villa is only 1324 sq. feet, but I'm giving up space for peace of mind and quality of life for Sid. It's actually a lovely house with granite countertops, screened in patio, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths. It's just that it's small.
OH JOAN, that sounds exactly what I was looking for. Marsh lives in a little villa, too..and the pictures of it on the website are absolutely wonderful.
I visited Sarasota and saw lots of hi rise and mid rise properties for over 55. That sounds heavenly. My DH's former wife (divorced in 82..) lives in a Hyatt property in Hollywood FL, Classic Residence by Hyatt.. I heard about it from a family member and in my curiosity :-), looked it up. It's so pretty! FYI, I think your decision to move to Florida when you did was a very wise decision. YOu have so many options for your husband that you might not have had if you had never moved to Florida when you did. I should have insisted he settle down years ago, but instead kept moving around because he wanted to. Huge expense, and we'd make friends and leave them, again and again. Now, we're stranded. I hope I find a place like yours in Central Texas.
Seven years ago when my DH retired we downsized from a 3 bedroom/2 bath with 2 car garage and 1/4 acre lot to mow, with a large mortgage, to a manufactured home 2 bedroom/2bath and a "one butt" kitchen, living room, diningroom and lanai. We pay lot rent and get water, sewer, cable tv, trash pickup and grass mowing and security gate and guard who rides around all night, plus lots of other amenities. There is a small space around the house for gardening, bushes, etc. that we must care for and the park people cut the rest of the grass and it has worked out just fine, especially since DH started showing signs of AD about 3 years ago and I am doing all of the maintenance now. Yes, it is small, but I still have all my collectibles (which the kids will probably say "nobody wants this stuff" and it will be gone anyway), but I am enjoying them now. When I was a kid growing up in a two bedroom, one bathroom flat, in Chicago, we only had one clothes closet for the parents and me and it had to hold summer and winter clothes. Every Fall my mother cleaned it out and asked "did you wear this during the summer?" If the answer was "no" out it went. That is how I learned to downsize and it has stuck with me. If you want to learn how to get along with what you need, visit the Amish country and see how they live. No closets, only hooks on the wall for their one or two outfits. If you don't use it, you don't need it. Thanks Joan for this site. It has helped me keep my sanity during this journey.
Nancy B, all of what I mentioned is NW, just the opposite of where you want to be. You might also look at San Marcos proper. I know they have a good size independent senior population as small college towns are attractive to active seniors. With AD I'm not so sure. Don't know if they have any progressive type facilities. Stay away from Central Austin. It is going high-rise condo and is obscenely expensive. I don't get south much (we are NW) but will see what I can find out.
Yes I would believe it. I'm afraid they are overbuilding. Austin has fared very well as far as real estate is concerned during this recession but I don't know how they'll look 1-2 years out. I have lived here since 1968 and it's strange how so much has changed yet some things are still the same delightful things that I loved back then.