Political Nutrition

Went back to New York today. Not literally of course, but in my virtual relocation tour. Seems prices are tumbling there. Not taxes, but prices. Found some incredible bargains which I naturally can't take advantage of since no one wants to buy our own house here in the lovely desert paradise we like to call home. No wait. That's wrong. We DON'T like to call home. We don't want to be here at all. It's really not that no one will buy our home. They just want to wait till we get so desperate we give it away. And that time will probably come sooner rather than later. But we're hanging on out of spite. Or stupidity. What difference does it really make. There are times when I actually relax long enough to look around and really enjoy a few moments in this house. Comfortably situated in the living room, the two-story ceiling with the high windows letting in tons of light. And the sparkle of the pool out back and the Palms blowing in the breeze. The way the white puff...

So my mother in her usual way has me second guessing my decision to retire to the wonderful Maine Coastline. Regaling me with stories of my Great Aunt and her neighbors and how the long cold winters created a not-so wholesome environment. OK. I get it. So I mosied on further south with google at my side to Northeastern Massachusetts. I knew there was little I could afford, but the schools are good and with family and friends around, maybe it could work. Found an awesome townhome in Acton , where Tennis is abundant, both indoors and out. But there's always a catch. My cousin said the high school was phenomenal, tops in the country, but very competitive and I might not like the company in the area. Too many over-achieving high-brow noses-in-the-air types. So I shrugged my shoulders and figured, no way. Turns out they aren't on anyone's top high school list after all. must be an error. Or good publicity stunt by the community. I made a few more stops on the coast, Swampsco...

Well, finally lowered the price of the house. Took away our cash at closing incentive though, so not losing any really money on the deal. Check it out all you frigid northerners and wayward vagabonds. Nice place to call home year round or perhaps just in those chilly winter months. Imagine a great house to share with friends and relatives over the holidays and school breaks. lounging in the pool, daiquiries flowing, aaaah. That's the life. Why leave you ask? I'm not cut out for the southwest life. I hate tex mex food. I don't bike. Or jog. Or Hike. But enough about the desert. Let's talk Eastern Seaboard. See once this white elephant sells, we are off to the Blues of the Atlantic. Previously, in our last episode, we reviewed New York. Aaaah. New York. My home. Who says you can't go home? I do. After seeing the price tag. So throw another dart on the board and google zoom into the Eastern Shores of Delaware. Where low and behold, we found a whole community devote...

OK. So still no buyers on the house. Though we did finally have a "second look" from a guy who says he's scouting for colleagues who are relocating. But this time he brought his camera and wanted photos. For his wife... seems now she's got the urge to buy a house too. So he says. I think maybe he's the one who wants the house and needs to talk her into it. I think he started out looking for his coworkers, and maybe just likes our house and wants it for himself. yeah. dream on Mary. He's probably the ringleader of a burglary gang here in crime-ridden Oro Valley. Scouting the place for valuables. Whatever. He's probably sorely disappointed with the contents of this home. Nothing but junk. Anyway, my search for a little slice of heaven continues and lands me in Delaware. I don't think I have ever been there. Ever. I used to cruise by the Del Water Gap on the turnpike back and forth from NY to Cleveland when in school. but that's as close as I've...

No, we haven't sold our house. People come. The look. They ooh and aah and say wow what a beautiful home. We say thank you. They leave. The process repeats itself over and over. They say there are only two factors. Price and condition. Well, we have both. Even lowest mortgage rates in decades. And yet, no bites. So we are resigned to stay here for now. Which leaves lots of planning time. For when the big day comes and someone puts in an offer, we're on the first plane outta here to... well that's the question. Thanks to google. I've gone exploring. And have come across quite a few places. Much of our search lies in our past though. Where we've been, what we've liked and disliked. And then of course there's the future we need to worry about. Two more years of high school for our youngest, and 3 more years of college for the oldest. Let's start there. She's back east. In Vermont. As close to perfect a locale as you can get, at least in my book. So ...

I know what everyone thinks. That my intense desire to get out of Arizona is a little extreme. It's not. I just cannot stand one more day of the heat. Literally and figuratively. I used to tolerate the triple digit summers because the rest of the year it is beautiful here. But combine the unbearable heat with unbearable attitudes and it becomes your worst nightmare. Those of you who have ever lived in the city during a heat wave can relate to the way tensions soar. That's what we have here now. Tensions soaring in the heat of intolerance and abuse of power. I am thinking the root of the new evil is in the water, particularly in Phoenix. Have you seen this?  History repeats itself.  Ben Quayle, son of the notorious foot-in-mouth Dan Quayle. This from a "Conservative" who several years ago wrote a blog under a pseudonym. Check it out (adults only please.) Add to this a Sheriff running campaign ads when he's not up for election, a governor who is dismantling o...