h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I finally have hopes of seeing Twinny!
Yeah rah!
Just hopes but it is a start.
Maybe next month with her ID. She could not come the last time we bought a ticket because she lost her ID. Neither of us could believe that snaffu happened
Except for the funerals we have not seen each other for quality time and laughs for 3 years Way too long.
****************
The home project is on holdwaiting for special permissions from the city.
The sewer pipe is laid in such a way that the whole thing may be off That will mean we will need to move but the money it takes is impossible.

I need to navigate in a wheelchair and/or 4 wheel walker and have a more accessable bathroom-shower ,our house is so tiny. It has never bothered either of us but these newer practical issues are a problem.
I so wanted to do the plan I had.
It would have ensured that I could remain at home in a comfy way and even have room for twinny if needed later
The cost of buying a bigger home in stress alone is not welcomed. Hubby has to work so hard now and I do not want to add this extra financial burden to him. There is no help for this sort of remodel either! Wish we could move to where there is or the law would compassionately change back

That is great news about Twinny!!

I can relate to the stress of housing. For me it is that I can't manage getting repairs done so the house is slowly decaying around me. I have thought about selling/shifting too but if I had the energy for that I would stay here and look after the house I am already in. I guess this is a major disability issue - unless one is loaded managing a home can be very difficult. It's one of those more invisible issues too - the non-disabled don't usually understand how hard this can be.

I am grateful to have my own home though. Before this I did have 3 or 4 months of staying with friends and moving around because I had no home and couldn't face setting up in a rental while I looked for somewhere to buy. I can't imagine now being able to cope with that, though of course one does when one has too, and I'm probably sounding very middle class about the whole thing

I haven't been following your story about the house Abbi. I do hope that something shifts with this for you though and that the planning permission people get their act together. I can imagine what a difference it would make

hands Abbi and Twinny a with all kind colourfull flower seeds so you can plant them together for very good memory.

You're such a sweetie pheloxi

Abbi, I found your earlier thread about the house renovations, so I'm up with the play a bit better now. When will you find out do you think?

Pheloxi that is a great idea and very much like us too
In fact I planned to have a couple flower boxes put up high for us .
Twinny had a beautiful yard before she lost her home due to disability/money-divorce issues.

Years ago when we first met we sarted a garden for us. She brought things from her yard here. If it was not for the 1700 miles she would have saved the trees and bushes to bringWe both spent our last good physical years gardening.

Both of our Mothers have passed since then so we have a Mothers garden with all of their favorite types of flowers ands some birdbaths and stuff from their yards. I love my yard and cttage home and really wanted to stay here. I have my zen walk way which I did when I could no longer garden every day. I placed a new flagstone most every day, endof summer my walk was done.

Maybe she would want to do the long time coming garden with me. I have not chosen a spot Thanks Pheloxi for getting me thinking about that! I have collected stuff and "we" could do that up higher,ideal infact. I am wanting to make a little fairy cabin also. I love how many species have miniature versions.

glad you liked my idea

makes happy dance that idea is well recieved

It will take up to 10 days to find out if it is allowed.
Finding ot the cost of the sewer pipe breaking and being relaced.
That is the clincher.
It may cost too much for us to risk it. The pipe runs through the middle of the yard, and you have to stay 5 feet away from it. Staying five feet away is a problem. Having heaving equipment needing to roll over it is a problem.

I loved my plans and have already been living in that new space in my head.
I am glad we have an actual general contractor for the important stuff like this!

Thanks for understanding Kea.
Moving is something that will be very stressful all the way around. We bought this house at half of market value because it had set empty for so long during the massive repossesion years of the late 80's. We would have to find another unbelievably lucky house like that. The house is worth a grotesque amount now but that does not help us to buy something 2 times it's current worth. Hubby just got relaxed and elated over having no house payment in 10 years. This will mean 40 years and we better love it and hubby will have alot of weight on his shoulders. I will be less secure should something happen. People go into nursing homes far too early if they do not have the money to pay for home services and the accomodations. Very few do. It will be scary in many ways to have to move.

I have other plans to have space to be mobile. That would take removing most of the inside walls. ARGH! This is an old house so that brings it's own nightmares and we would have to leave the house while it is doneIt would cost as much to have less space than my original plan. The resale would be difficult because it would be a weird house except for other person in a wheelchair of course. I alreay imagine it making someone else very happy one day. It is almost impossible to find a small home wheelchair ready. Large ones often have one floor ready but we cannot do that. We cannot buy something else and modify it either because we will not have the money. It will take one special little house to pull this off or a whole lot of cooperation from the city and the heavey equipment people.

This home looked pitiful when we bought it but it was all clean-up and cosmetics nothing too costly when hubby could do it all. Geesh I think I will quit talking about this for now. I am big on waiting for information when all is out of your hands. I will try to not think about it too much until we get the next few answers. Maybe by the end of next week. I just found this out on Thursday.

Hi Abbi

I have been reading along with your postings about your hopes and plans for renovating. Of course, it's something I can't relate to all that well... I've rented for the past 16 years, and my current apartment was newly remodeled when I moved in. I certainly can relate to not having the money to move to a new place- I can't even afford to buy a tiny cottage at this point, not on my salary and with over $10K in credit card debt. Houses in my area sell for in the neighborhood of $200,000 to well over a million, depending on the siz, condition, and location. *sigh*

I will be hoping and praying for the sewer pipe, and the moeny, not to be such an obstacle. I admire you for not worrying about stuff till you have all the facts- I am quite the opposite, i'm afraid!

As for meeting up with Twinny (hopefully) soon, I will be hoping and praying for that to happen as well! Your garden sounds beautiful, as does your walkway. I wish I had a yard I could do stuff in. Our back yard is about 6 feet by 6 feet, because of the garage. It has a tree and a small flower bed I've been wanting to plant in. I ought to ask the landlord if it would be all right, they've put potted ones out on the front porch, some wildflowers out by the garage ought to be welcome, wouldn't you think? But it's probably too late in the year to plant seeds.

Sorry for rambling again!

I am sure your landlord would welcome any beautifications.
The potts are a good idea. You can rescue them from bad weather and they may live inside for a while or until next spring
We can still plant wildflower seeds here so I am sure you could there depending on the seed. We have a very short growing season and harsh changes compared to Chicago.

Houses cost the same or more here.
220 is rare for a 3 bed 2 bath or 1300-1600sq ft or less.
260 is a comfier margin but way out of our reach.
Ranches are not the common style and we need a ranch (a one level).

We bought in the worst economic time at a miracle price.
47,000 when the neighborhood was going for 70-80,000
No down payment and equal to the most modest rent for a 2 bedroom apartment so there was no reason not too. Nobody could believe we found it. Took 100 lokie loos to but it was there! We sweatet out repairs for a while and ate lots of grilled cheese and mac and cheese. It started getting easier.

The no down payment or 500 is typical and first time buyers get special allowances and ease of buying.

You can see why I thought we would never buy also. If it happen for us on one salary it can for you. You just have to be ready to jump ( no or low debt)when things get bad for housing and be employeed for a year at the same job. HUD and VA and repossesions (usually huge homes though)go up and homes are everywhere and usually below market but functional and needing cosmetic help.

All of the same reasons are why I have my doubts about being able to move now. Our house is worth several times more but we still cannot afford the rate when they all have gone up. A larger house will cost much more than we will be getting for the cottage. Hubbys salary has gone up in 14 years but nothing huge. My cosst of medical has tripled. My newer needs are costing more over that. *sigh*
Have to go one step at a time and see what happens while I am hoping for another house miracle.

Dont give up on your house dream PC it really can happen but part of it is believeing and getting ready for the small window of opportunity that will appear in the future. It always does, so far...

I lose my mind if I worry about three big things at once.
I had the whole family thing and trip to get through recently so I could not worry about this before hand . I would have stuff stacked up all the time if I did not schedule worry for what and when I can.
Some stuff is not like that. Facts always comfort me so while I was getting excited and did all the plans and got the arch. approved I knew there was so much more and that was one but only step approved.

On to the next.
Trying not to worry about what I do not know yet and keeping busy with the positives thoughtsso when the next bad hit comes I will not be depleated before I start that battle .
Hopefully.
Yeah that's right....
*Keeps talking to herself*
Good plan anyway wish me luck!

I'll wish you good luck Abbi - for something to work out even if it's not something you've thought of yet .

I was thinking about how sometimes you get contractors or planners who when they really get what the issues are will get quite creative in their willingness to help. I hope you get some people like that.

Your garden sounds beautiful - I love the story of the paving, that is inspirational.

PC, I agree with Abbi. If you dream of owning your own home, hold onto that and watch for the magic oportunites. I had many people tell me I wouldn't be able to buy (too low an income), but in the end I found a sympathetic person at the bank. I really psyched myself into it and was confident of my capacity to manage the repayments and this person decided to trust me.

Having said that, it is alot of responsibility owning a home. I've really had to learn to stop worrying about the things I can't do.

Abbi, I like what you say about not worrying about 3 big things at once .

What a pity you're not in the UK - AFAIK, there's assistance for house remodelling for people with disabilities - and even in NZ, there's assistance - no help to you I know.
with all your hopes...

Hi Abbi and all,

I have some interesting house buying news -- my sister just bought a house right down the street from us! This will be TERRIFIC since my sister can help more with my Mom (who has Parkinson's) as she needs it. And it will be great for me, further in the future, when I am living in this house alone -- my sister will be right at hand.

Abbi, I hope you get your visit with your twin soon, and that you two have a great time gabbing.

JEllen

Good news on the house JEllen!
Abbi I hope all goes well with your meet-up

We are hoping to buy another house if & when my calim ever comes through, it will be God send to get away from here
Smudger,

abbi, hope you get your dream! I know full well how much the disability factor limits your choices. I am pretty sure if i hadn't insisted i need ground floor, i would probably have somewhere lined up right now. But realistically, even though just climbing one flight of stairs is exhausting & often painful, it looks like i may have to accept that, i just don't have any choice.

As for a garden, oh bliss! I love being outside & even though some aspects of gardening are becoming impossible, you can usualy find a way to do something. But first you have to have access to outside, it seems unlikely.

17 days till i am homeless. what the HELL am i going to do?????

zdt

Abbi with everything and seeing your twin.

OH MY Goodness!

Teehee Good News!


The 3 first hurdles were wiped out along with the extra fee and special permit. The contractor quite a cutie and hubby (quite a cutie) went down to the city with papers and measurements in hand. They relayed what they had been told on the phone, all the bad news.
I want this done right,no skimping.

The lady behind the desk was a deadhead fan like our contractor.
They began chattering.....
Approved- no extra fees or special permits.
I lost one foot of room which I can live with and all is legal and proper.

Thanks Garcia!
Never been the biggest of fans but you can bet I will be now.
Deadheads do become angels!

very good news ...

it is power of the 100th hootoo sapien

this 100th monley version http://www.wowzone.com/monkey.htm

YO YO YO!!!

Good ol' Jerry! You know, i actually not only met the man but shook his hand & then he kissed my cheek & told me i was !!!One of the great moments of my life.

There's a Deadheads site here on hootoo somewhere.

*wonders about giving link to terrihub1 who runs UK deadheads site*

Whatever, it seems you're going to get it, which is wonderful! If you need any Dead stuff (rare UK bootlegs etc) to keep things going, let me know!

*ye gods, will they stop at nothing, bribery with deceased rock stars via the internet & *

"You're either on the or off the "

zdt

It was her deadhead coffee cup that tipped em' off

Funny Terri!
Maybe I should get a tee-shirt.
I know I have a Jerry Garcia bumper sticker given to me by a deadhead( they always came to Red Rocks) I have been using it as a bookmark for 20-30 years