August 2007 - Page 1

Last week we saw a used double-wide that finally became available. It is in GREAT condition. We'd saved enough for a down payment on a house or condo – but it gave us enough CASH, instead, to BUY the double-wide! We'll still need to move it from north GA to Chattanooga but we will NOT have to go into debt! And we will have MORE HOUSE and less yard along with less money out of our pockets, so we can hire the yardwork done any time we want to!

I'm not sure why they were selling it so CHEAP, but it has all new upgraded kitchen cabinets (wood, not the more common fiber board) and tile in bathrooms and kitchen. It is lovely and has nearly twice the space we've had – and will keep us in the same "manufactured home community" where we've been for 6 years - and thus less than a mile from where I swim daily (that was important to me!) and all the shopping we need (that is something Tom needs and, honestly, I appreciate) - but it will have a clear view of the mountains across the street (looking across a level, mowed plain and the airport runway). It is the best of all the worlds for us.

Tom is still in the brace, but this week has begun to actually "putter" again! He is building lifting platforms to raise two chairs to an appropriate height for his needs, fixing up some blemishes in the "old" home and making ready for the new one. It is GREAT for him to feel useful again! I've already begun to pack, sort, clean, and pitch! We hope to have the home here and ready to move into by September 1 or so and take the month of October to gently move from here to there.

As August comes to a close, we are well along in preparations for the move. We’ve hired some teen boys from the church to help with the heavy stuff – and have packed “all” the books – which is a LOT! We’ve filled garbage containers and given away as much as we can bear to part with.

We’ve applied for the title of our “new” home, received “permission” to relocate to the new lot, arranged for the people to move the home (Sept 3-4), set it up (Sept 5-6), hook up the electricity and build a deck/ramps/ steps (Sept 7-11 or so) and hope to move in around the 6th anniversary of our move here to Chattanooga. We moved here September 11, 2001 (remember that date?!) – and will be moving into the new place about that date.