I've posted about the farm on here a number of years ago. I'm cash poor. I could sell it but I want to die there. I don't know if anybody can understand that. Singapore is Singapore. While my flat here is paid for, it's just an accommodation and not a home (at least in my mind - for the rest of the family it's different) I'm still here because of moral obligations. I have to work to put bread on the table. Sure, I could sub-divide and say keep only the homestead, but then I end up with neighbours within shouting distance. Additionally, once sub divided, the wildlife refuge would disappear and because it's one of the last farms not broken up that way and at the end of the road, all the wildlife moved into the area. After living in a pigeon coop for 33 years, I sure don't want to retire in the same situation (well, not exactly, I know). As I'm cash poor, that farm is my kids inheritance to do with as they choose after I'm gone. As far as my retirement is concerned, my boss wants me to stay on here until I'm 75. A lot of you know me and know that me doing 75 would probably not be a problem and that's the way I'm looking at it. Dad's side of the family usually runs mid 80's and mom's side of the family look at early 90's historically (except her mother's husbands who had problems with black lung disease (coal miners in W.VA). So I reckon I still have a few years to go even at 75. And my boss has made it "worth my while" to stay with a very nice paid up at 75 endowment policy shaped as a keyman Ins policy but it is in my name and signed over to company as beneficiary until my 75 birthday when ownership reverts back to me to do with as I see fit (fully paid up at 75). So, I'm actually looking at only 6.5 more years. Yeah, and my MiL is still living with me - there's that problem as well.
Before hurricane Isabel
Immediately following Isabel
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z77/ ... 02-015.jpg
Mom's had to live in that FEMA trailer for 6 months after Isabel before the house was habitable again. My son & I went back in the winter after Isabel to clear out the guest houses and all three of use stayed in that trailer for a month.
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z77/ ... 02-017.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z77/ ... 02-004.jpg
Post repairs and reinforcement of the river frontage during the two years following Isabel
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z77/ ... y07_01.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z77/ ... y07_05.jpg