Spent more than half a day visiting a rural community in Northern Illinois . Population 7500, a focus on
agriculture, but a renaissance site for antiques and art – both folk and fine.
A proud community with a long history on the plains. As suburban creep gains
speed Chicago ’s
urbanity will inevitably swallow the town. Meanwhile it is home for a growing
number of senior citizens seeking quite neighborhoods and stable lifestyles
that are affordable. Still near life-long friends and the family circle, Sandwich , Illinois
I’ve written about our explorations in this area. Even
shared our interest with you of double-wide manufactured homes, normally
referred to as ‘trailers’. Well we visited
the same used model yesterday for the third time. Fell in love with it again
and today we will make an offer on it.
Our application for residency in the community has been
accepted. The credit score indicates we can afford the new ‘hood so now we move
forward with an offer, hope it gets accepted, then the search for financing to
make it all happen.
If the forces align we will be able to move by November 1,
possibly just before Thanksgiving. That would be good. Hopefully before winter
arrives and snow hampers movement!
The ‘new’ place is ranch style, only the steps up to the
back door and to the front deck will challenge our mobility. Two bedrooms and
two baths. Wide open floor plan for kitchen, dining room and living room.
Spacious feel without the square footage of maintenance and cleaning. Separate
laundry/utility room coupled with the back door entry. Just adjacent is a
spacious two car garage which Rocky will adapt as well into his ceramic studio.
The garage will need insulation and wall or peg boarding. Then
a heat source and electrical adaptation for the kiln. In a few months he should
be good to go with renewed energy creating new art. We expect the community
will welcome him to their existing artist community.
We've already shopped for churches and found one nearly two
months ago. Some of their members migrated from our Warrenville church during
previous retirement re-locations. So we have friends in common. And an
accepting, loving congregation. Nice to know – and feel!
The new street is a cul
de sac and has practically no traffic. Trees are mature and lawns spacious
between the homes. Quiet. Calm. Welcoming. Will need to re-learn lawn mowing
and snow blowing techniques. But that will give us something to do.
Now to find doggie friends for Willow !
And a loan approval to make it all happen! Stay tuned for
developments. We hope there will be plenty of them and all good!
October 2, 2013
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