On 2012-11-16 17:35:25 +0000, Pico Rico said:

> "gtr" > wrote in message news:2012111609203153090-xxx@yyyzzz...
>> On 2012-11-16 05:45:32 +0000, merryb said:
>>
>>> 100% agree- I think Jill should live where she wants.
>>
>> After much consideration on what Jill should do with her life I've
>> settled at the same point. Jill should at least have a partial vote in
>> our decision over what she should do in life.
>
> except how much taxes she pays, and how we care to deal with her health care.

No, I haven't limited my viewpoints with these issues: I believe she
can do as she likes even with her taxes and her healthcare, just like
the rest of us. It's radical, I know, but I want to include her in her
own life-decisions.

jmcquown wrote:
>
> Good idea! I could easily make room for a wine rack. There's a
> bookcase I stuck in one corner of the living room because it was an
> empty space. (There used to be a bar there, made of teak, but one of my
> brothers had asked for it and I was happy to let him take it.) The
> bookcase contains not books but useless tchotchkes people have given me
> over the years. I could box up the nicknacks and sell the bookcase.
> That space would be an excellent place for wine racks!


You can also be creative about your wine rack too, Jill.

I bought an antique (circa 1905) treadle sewing table at an antique show
about 27 years ago. Very nice wood on top with drawers. You lift the wooden
lid in the middle and the sewing machine comes up when you want to use it.
It actually worked too (with a little refurbishing). The only thing lacking
was a belt running from the machine to the treadle. I was able to still get
one from the Singer store that used to be here back then.

Anyway, I didn't buy it for sewing. It just looked so nice and I bought it
for living room decoration. Over the years, sometimes I'll keep a potted
plant on the treadle rack at the bottom and other times, I collect some nice
wine and store the bottles sideways and stacked on that treadle rack.

Gary

jmcquown wrote:
>
> I'll just pay the damn bills and hopefully will find a job soon

Didn't you say (a few months back) that you are trying to sell it, Jill?
Even then though, the buyers would have to be approved buy the
"association." What a PITA.

Sounds like you would be better off getting rid of that nonsense and buying
your own private house (heck...or even renting).

G.

gtr wrote:
>
> On 2012-11-16 05:45:32 +0000, merryb said:
>
> > 100% agree- I think Jill should live where she wants.
>
> After much consideration on what Jill should do with her life I've
> settled at the same point. Jill should at least have a partial vote in
> our decision over what she should do in life.

WTH is wrong with you? That's just not the RFC way!

Gary

On 11/16/2012 5:50 PM, Gary wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>>
>> I'll just pay the damn bills and hopefully will find a job soon
>
> Didn't you say (a few months back) that you are trying to sell it, Jill?
> Even then though, the buyers would have to be approved buy the
> "association." What a PITA.
>
> Sounds like you would be better off getting rid of that nonsense and buying
> your own private house (heck...or even renting).
>
> G.
>

I checked into selling. Among other things, the market sucks.

Jill

On 11/16/2012 5:41 PM, Gary wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>>
>> Good idea! I could easily make room for a wine rack. There's a
>> bookcase I stuck in one corner of the living room because it was an
>> empty space. (There used to be a bar there, made of teak, but one of my
>> brothers had asked for it and I was happy to let him take it.) The
>> bookcase contains not books but useless tchotchkes people have given me
>> over the years. I could box up the nicknacks and sell the bookcase.
>> That space would be an excellent place for wine racks!
>
>
> You can also be creative about your wine rack too, Jill.
>
> I bought an antique (circa 1905) treadle sewing table at an antique show
> about 27 years ago. Very nice wood on top with drawers.

Yeah, my grandmother had one of those and yes, it worked. My cousin got
it after she died.

> Anyway, I didn't buy it for sewing. It just looked so nice and I bought it
> for living room decoration. Over the years, sometimes I'll keep a potted
> plant on the treadle rack at the bottom and other times, I collect some nice
> wine and store the bottles sideways and stacked on that treadle rack.
>
> Gary
>
Might look nice but if I had a sewing machine/table like that I'd go for
the potted plant on the treadle and a regular XXXXXX type wine rack on
the top

Jill

On Fri, 16 Nov 2012 23:46:05 -0500, jmcquown >
wrote:

> Might look nice but if I had a sewing machine/table like that I'd go for
> the potted plant on the treadle and a regular XXXXXX type wine rack on
> the top

I have a pair of love seats in the living room and mine serves as a
sofa table behind one of them. No plant on the treadle and family
photos on top.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

jmcquown wrote:
> On 11/16/2012 5:50 PM, Gary wrote:
>> jmcquown wrote:
>>>
>>> I'll just pay the damn bills and hopefully will find a job soon
>>
>> Didn't you say (a few months back) that you are trying to sell it, Jill?
>> Even then though, the buyers would have to be approved buy the
>> "association." What a PITA.
>>
>> Sounds like you would be better off getting rid of that nonsense and
>> buying
>> your own private house (heck...or even renting).
>>
>> G.
>>
>
> I checked into selling. Among other things, the market sucks.
>
> Jill
And you have a free house!

jmcquown wrote:
> On 11/16/2012 5:41 PM, Gary wrote:
>> jmcquown wrote:
>>>
>>> Good idea! I could easily make room for a wine rack. There's a
>>> bookcase I stuck in one corner of the living room because it was an
>>> empty space. (There used to be a bar there, made of teak, but one
>>> of my
>>> brothers had asked for it and I was happy to let him take it.) The
>>> bookcase contains not books but useless tchotchkes people have given me
>>> over the years. I could box up the nicknacks and sell the bookcase.
>>> That space would be an excellent place for wine racks!
>>
>>
>> You can also be creative about your wine rack too, Jill.
>>
>> I bought an antique (circa 1905) treadle sewing table at an antique show
>> about 27 years ago. Very nice wood on top with drawers.
>
> Yeah, my grandmother had one of those and yes, it worked. My cousin
> got it after she died.
>
That must have ruined you day, eh?

On Friday, November 16, 2012 10:42:19 PM UTC-5, jmcquown wrote:
>
>
>
> I checked into selling. Among other things, the market sucks.


Well, look at it this way. Inheriting a house sure beats a mortgage. I'd just pay those fees and be thankful I had a decent place to live. I wish someone would leave ME a house.

On Sat, 17 Nov 2012 21:06:03 -0500, Earl >
wrote:

> jmcquown wrote:
> > On 11/16/2012 5:50 PM, Gary wrote:
> >> jmcquown wrote:
> >>>
> >>> I'll just pay the damn bills and hopefully will find a job soon
> >>
> >> Didn't you say (a few months back) that you are trying to sell it, Jill?
> >> Even then though, the buyers would have to be approved buy the
> >> "association." What a PITA.
> >>
> >> Sounds like you would be better off getting rid of that nonsense and
> >> buying
> >> your own private house (heck...or even renting).
> >>
> >> G.
> >>
> >
> > I checked into selling. Among other things, the market sucks.
> >
> > Jill
> And you have a free house!

Jealous, eh?

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On 11/17/2012 11:27 PM, sf wrote:
> On Sat, 17 Nov 2012 21:06:03 -0500, Earl >
> wrote:
>
>> jmcquown wrote:
>>> On 11/16/2012 5:50 PM, Gary wrote:
>>>> jmcquown wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> I'll just pay the damn bills and hopefully will find a job soon
>>>>
>>>> Didn't you say (a few months back) that you are trying to sell it, Jill?
>>>> Even then though, the buyers would have to be approved buy the
>>>> "association." What a PITA.
>>>>
>>>> Sounds like you would be better off getting rid of that nonsense and
>>>> buying
>>>> your own private house (heck...or even renting).
>>>>
>>>> G.
>>>>
>>>
>>> I checked into selling. Among other things, the market sucks.
>>>
>>> Jill
>> And you have a free house!
>
> Jealous, eh?
>
"Earl" rears his troll head anytime I mention the house. Nothing in
life is free. Forget about the club. Maybe "Earl" would like to pay
the property taxes and the homeowners, flood and wind & hail insurance
premiums. Oh, and he can fork over the $9,000 I paid to replace the
HVAC system in 2010. And reimburse me for the many times I've had to
call a plumber or have electrical work done. Maybe he'd like to come
over and clean the gutters. If he'd also mow the lawn I might offer him
a "free" glass of lemonade. LOL

Jill

On 11/17/2012 9:36 PM, Kalmia wrote:
> On Friday, November 16, 2012 10:42:19 PM UTC-5, jmcquown wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> I checked into selling. Among other things, the market sucks.
>
>
> Well, look at it this way. Inheriting a house sure beats a mortgage. I'd just pay those fees and be thankful I had a decent place to live. I wish someone would leave ME a house.
>
Oh, I do look at it that way! I definitely feel safe and secure here,
which was Mom's goal in the first place. (She didn't know they'd come
after me about joining the club, oh well.)

In this case a mortgage might actually have been of some benefit for tax
purposes. Something about itemizing and getting a deduction for the
interest paid. <shrugs>

Jill

On Sun, 18 Nov 2012 09:34:15 -0500, jmcquown >
wrote:



>>
>"Earl" rears his troll head anytime I mention the house. Nothing in
>life is free. Forget about the club. Maybe "Earl" would like to pay
>the property taxes and the homeowners, flood and wind & hail insurance
>premiums. Oh, and he can fork over the $9,000 I paid to replace the
>HVAC system in 2010. And reimburse me for the many times I've had to
>call a plumber or have electrical work done. Maybe he'd like to come
>over and clean the gutters. If he'd also mow the lawn I might offer him
>a "free" glass of lemonade. LOL
>
>Jill

Someone once said to me, after finding out my house is paid for
"you're lucky" Sure, you get lucky after paying the mortgage and
working all your life.

On 11/18/2012 10:06 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> On Sun, 18 Nov 2012 09:34:15 -0500, jmcquown >
> wrote:
>
>
>
>>>
>> "Earl" rears his troll head anytime I mention the house. Nothing in
>> life is free. Forget about the club. Maybe "Earl" would like to pay
>> the property taxes and the homeowners, flood and wind & hail insurance
>> premiums. Oh, and he can fork over the $9,000 I paid to replace the
>> HVAC system in 2010. And reimburse me for the many times I've had to
>> call a plumber or have electrical work done. Maybe he'd like to come
>> over and clean the gutters. If he'd also mow the lawn I might offer him
>> a "free" glass of lemonade. LOL
>>
>> Jill
>
> Someone once said to me, after finding out my house is paid for
> "you're lucky" Sure, you get lucky after paying the mortgage and
> working all your life.
>

Of course you worked for it! I have to say, my father was an unusual
man. He never had a mortgage, not on this house or on the one we lived
in in Annandale, VA. He never had a car note, either. Dad didn't
believe in "credit". I think it's the Depression era mentality. If you
can't afford it, don't buy it. I completely agree.

Jill

On 11/18/2012 9:41 AM, jmcquown wrote:

> In this case a mortgage might actually have been of some benefit for tax
> purposes. Something about itemizing and getting a deduction for the
> interest paid. <shrugs>

You're not missing anything. Say you're in the 25% bracket, that means
you spend 75 cents to save 25 cents. And the standard deduction covers
a lot of expenses, it's over $11,000. If you don't have high real
estate taxes and charitable donations on top of your mortgage interest,
you probably come out ahead not itemizing.

nancy

On Sun, 18 Nov 2012 09:41:44 -0500, jmcquown >
wrote:

>On 11/17/2012 9:36 PM, Kalmia wrote:
>> On Friday, November 16, 2012 10:42:19 PM UTC-5, jmcquown wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I checked into selling. Among other things, the market sucks.
>>
>>
>> Well, look at it this way. Inheriting a house sure beats a mortgage. I'd just pay those fees and be thankful I had a decent place to live. I wish someone would leave ME a house.
>>
>Oh, I do look at it that way! I definitely feel safe and secure here,
>which was Mom's goal in the first place. (She didn't know they'd come
>after me about joining the club, oh well.)
>
>In this case a mortgage might actually have been of some benefit for tax
>purposes. Something about itemizing and getting a deduction for the
>interest paid. <shrugs>
>
>Jill

I have no mortgage, I paid all cash. But it's still very expensive to
live in a house, often a mortgage payment is the smallest bill... a
mortgage is not really a bill, you're paying yourself in equity...
after the last payment the house is yours, and you got to write of the
interest on the loan... a mortgage is only expensive in the beginning
when it's all interest, but very soon most of ones payment is
equity... in the end it cost very little plus one gets to live in it,
a lot better deal than paying rent, and we all know the value of rent
receipts. Most times a "free" house is NOT a gift, most times it's a
huge liability, like adopting a sick child... that's why in more than
90% of instances when children inherit a parent's house they sell it
fast at any price and divide the proceeds. I'm positive that were it
a different economy Jill would be happy to unload, but even at a
greatly undervalued price real estate is just not selling. Even in
good economic times that type of real estate is difficult to sell...
the market for golf course housing has always attracted a very small
slice of the population. Jill's inheritance is no gift, she will grow
old there without much enjoyment from that property... personally I
think she'd have been far better off had she said no thank you and
stayed where she was. I would have told my sibling to make me an
offer, let him buy me out, or simply put it up for sale immediately
and never moved in. That house is the proverbial albatross. To me
that house has no value whatsoever, not worth a cent... I couldn't
even plant a garden there. From what all I know about that house I'd
put it up for sale right now and if it didn't sell within the next six
months (at any price) I'd abandon it and get a life... living all
alone on an island far from civilization in a house one can't afford
and one does nothing but bitch about is not a life, no way, no how.
Just from all I've read here about that house over the years Jill
didn't inherit a house, Jill inherited a disease and it's now
beginning to look terminal.

On 11/18/2012 1:40 PM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> On Sun, 18 Nov 2012 09:41:44 -0500, jmcquown >
> wrote:
>
>> On 11/17/2012 9:36 PM, Kalmia wrote:
>>> On Friday, November 16, 2012 10:42:19 PM UTC-5, jmcquown wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I checked into selling. Among other things, the market sucks.
>>>
>>>
>>> Well, look at it this way. Inheriting a house sure beats a mortgage. I'd just pay those fees and be thankful I had a decent place to live. I wish someone would leave ME a house.
>>>
>> Oh, I do look at it that way! I definitely feel safe and secure here,
>> which was Mom's goal in the first place. (She didn't know they'd come
>> after me about joining the club, oh well.)
>>
>> In this case a mortgage might actually have been of some benefit for tax
>> purposes. Something about itemizing and getting a deduction for the
>> interest paid. <shrugs>
>>
>> Jill
>
> the market for golf course housing has always attracted a very small
> slice of the population.

That's true.

>Jill's inheritance is no gift, she will grow
> old there without much enjoyment from that property... personally I
> think she'd have been far better off had she said no thank you and
> stayed where she was.

I couldn't say "no thank you" when my mother needed me to help me take
care of my father, and then her.


> Just from all I've read here about that house over the years Jill
> didn't inherit a house, Jill inherited a disease and it's now
> beginning to look terminal.
>
I most likely *will* stay here because I went to a great deal of trouble
to move here in the first place. Mom needed my help. I got the house.
Other than no mortgage there's nothing "free" about a house.

Jill

jmcquown wrote:
>Brooklyn1 wrote:
>> jmcquown wrote:
>>> Kalmia wrote:
>>>> jmcquown wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> I checked into selling. Among other things, the market sucks.
>>>>
>>>> Well, look at it this way. Inheriting a house sure beats a mortgage.
>>>> I'd just pay those fees and be thankful I had a decent place to live.
>>>> I wish someone would leave ME a house.
>>>>
>>> Oh, I do look at it that way! I definitely feel safe and secure here,
>>> which was Mom's goal in the first place. (She didn't know they'd come
>>> after me about joining the club, oh well.)
>>>
>>> In this case a mortgage might actually have been of some benefit for tax
>>> purposes. Something about itemizing and getting a deduction for the
>>> interest paid. <shrugs>
>>>
>>> Jill
>>
>> the market for golf course housing has always attracted a very small
>> slice of the population.
>
>That's true.
>
>>Jill's inheritance is no gift, she will grow
>> old there without much enjoyment from that property... personally I
>> think she'd have been far better off had she said no thank you and
>> stayed where she was.
>
>I couldn't say "no thank you" when my mother needed me to help me take
>care of my father, and then her.

Caring for your parents had absolutely nothing to do with your
permanently moving into their house... you could have kept your
apartment, or vacated and banked the rent until your parents passed
and then rented another place... at that time that house was more
saleable too.

>Other than no mortgage there's nothing "free" about a house.

That's right, the expenses associated with your living there are way
too much for a single person in your position, not wealthy unless
you're holding out on us. Jill, pretend you inherited nothing
(actually all you inherited is a burdon/liability) you need to sell
that house at any price and move, that house owns you. You don't play
golf, you don't participate in the social events, you don't even like
the food at the clubhouse that you're forced to pay for, you're
isolated and too far from civilization to even take a job to occupy
yourself... you will grow old there without even realizing and not
have lived a life. You've already lost all the years you've been
there... it seems to me that your life is just slipping away in that
mausoleum.

On 11/18/2012 4:35 PM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
>> Brooklyn1 wrote:

> the food at the clubhouse that you're forced to pay for, you're
> isolated and too far from civilization to even take a job to occupy
> yourself... you will grow old there without even realizing and not
> have lived a life. You've already lost all the years you've been
> there... it seems to me that your life is just slipping away in that
> mausoleum.
>

Oh dear. I do paint a bleak picture, don't I? Aside from the club,
it's not all that bleak. It's beautiful here, and warm about 9 months
out of the year. I only need a coat in December & January, maybe into
February.

As for socializing, I've *always* been a loner. Living here has nothing
to do with that. I blame that on being raised a military brat. I
learned early on I'd be moving every year or two, don't get too attached
to people.

I don't care about going out. My idea of a good time is curling up with
a good book or watching a classic movie. Cooking and enjoying a nice
dinner. In the Spring and Fall, when it's crisp outside, I light a fire
log in the fire pit on the patio and read a book while sipping a glass
of wine. It's very peaceful. And I love feeding and watching the birds

As for work, it's true there isn't much available in the area. I could
always go back to H&R Block as a receptionist and work for that very
disorganized franchise operation. NOT! I'll find something.

Jill

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
...
>>
>
> Oh dear. I do paint a bleak picture, don't I? Aside from the club, it's
> not all that bleak. It's beautiful here, and warm about 9 months out of
> the year. I only need a coat in December & January, maybe into February.
>
> As for socializing, I've *always* been a loner. Living here has nothing
> to do with that. I blame that on being raised a military brat. I learned
> early on I'd be moving every year or two, don't get too attached to
> people.


I missed it and don't care to review the whole thread - where is "here"?

On 2012-11-19 23:38:54 +0000, jmcquown said:

> As for socializing, I've *always* been a loner. Living here has
> nothing to do with that. I blame that on being raised a military brat.
> I learned early on I'd be moving every year or two, don't get too
> attached to people.

I was as well, more or less. But it also taught us to make friends
quickly. I find that is also common among service brats.

> I don't care about going out. My idea of a good time is curling up
> with a good book or watching a classic movie. Cooking and enjoying a
> nice dinner. In the Spring and Fall, when it's crisp outside, I light
> a fire log in the fire pit on the patio and read a book while sipping a
> glass of wine. It's very peaceful. And I love feeding and watching
> the birds

Don't you like to do all those things with another human? I sure do. I
say that like anybody will do, which is not the case. I guess I've
always been lucky in that regard. Yeah. Very lucky indeed.

> As for work, it's true there isn't much available in the area. I could
> always go back to H&R Block as a receptionist and work for that very
> disorganized franchise operation. NOT! I'll find something.

On 2012-11-20 02:36:52 +0000, Sqwertz said:

> On Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:27:51 -0500, jmcquown wrote:
>
>> This ridiculous place where I live charges an annual assessment for
>> dining at "the club". They do this whether you eat there or not. The
>> way it works, they charge $830 per annum. If/when you eat at the club,
>> they tack the food bill onto your monthly dues and the statement
>> reflects the reduction in the annual assessment.
>
> Why not just get takeout surf and turf and a jug of wine once a month
> and forgo the dining formalities?

Maybe I didn't get this earlier: You pay $830 a year and if you don't
eat there, that's that. If you eat a meal every month at $69.16, you
owe nothing. Well, it's kinda chintzy being wired to a pre-paid
restaurant tab. Still, if the food is pretty decent I could burn up $70
a month in a couple of lunches or a dinner easily enough.

Anyway--not worth moving over says Gtr, CPA.

On 11/19/2012 7:14 PM, Pico Rico wrote:
> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
> ...
>>>
>>
>> Oh dear. I do paint a bleak picture, don't I? Aside from the club, it's
>> not all that bleak. It's beautiful here, and warm about 9 months out of
>> the year. I only need a coat in December & January, maybe into February.
>>
>> As for socializing, I've *always* been a loner. Living here has nothing
>> to do with that. I blame that on being raised a military brat. I learned
>> early on I'd be moving every year or two, don't get too attached to
>> people.
>
>
> I missed it and don't care to review the whole thread - where is "here"?
>
>
Dataw Island, South Carolina

jmcquown wrote:
>
> On 11/19/2012 7:14 PM, Pico Rico wrote:
> > "jmcquown" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >>>
> >>
> >> Oh dear. I do paint a bleak picture, don't I? Aside from the club, it's
> >> not all that bleak. It's beautiful here, and warm about 9 months out of
> >> the year. I only need a coat in December & January, maybe into February.
> >>
> >> As for socializing, I've *always* been a loner. Living here has nothing
> >> to do with that. I blame that on being raised a military brat. I learned
> >> early on I'd be moving every year or two, don't get too attached to
> >> people.
> >
> >
> > I missed it and don't care to review the whole thread - where is "here"?
> >
> >
> Dataw Island, South Carolina

Careful Jill. That's stalking info.

"Gary" > wrote in message ...
> jmcquown wrote:
>>
>> On 11/19/2012 7:14 PM, Pico Rico wrote:
>> > "jmcquown" > wrote in message
>> > ...
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >> Oh dear. I do paint a bleak picture, don't I? Aside from the club,
>> >> it's
>> >> not all that bleak. It's beautiful here, and warm about 9 months out
>> >> of
>> >> the year. I only need a coat in December & January, maybe into
>> >> February.
>> >>
>> >> As for socializing, I've *always* been a loner. Living here has
>> >> nothing
>> >> to do with that. I blame that on being raised a military brat. I
>> >> learned
>> >> early on I'd be moving every year or two, don't get too attached to
>> >> people.
>> >
>> >
>> > I missed it and don't care to review the whole thread - where is
>> > "here"?
>> >
>> >
>> Dataw Island, South Carolina
>
> Careful Jill. That's stalking info.

hey, I just figure I might get a free meal out of her - she pays for it
whether it gets eaten or not!

Gary wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>> On 11/19/2012 7:14 PM, Pico Rico wrote:
>>> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> Oh dear. I do paint a bleak picture, don't I? Aside from the club, it's
>>>> not all that bleak. It's beautiful here, and warm about 9 months out of
>>>> the year. I only need a coat in December & January, maybe into February.
>>>>
>>>> As for socializing, I've *always* been a loner. Living here has nothing
>>>> to do with that. I blame that on being raised a military brat. I learned
>>>> early on I'd be moving every year or two, don't get too attached to
>>>> people.
>>>
>>> I missed it and don't care to review the whole thread - where is "here"?
>>>
>>>
>> D---- Island, South Carolina
>
> Careful Jill. That's stalking info.

It sounds like she's pretty safe there though. Thank goodness.

On 11/20/2012 10:14 PM, Jean B. wrote:
> Gary wrote:
>> jmcquown wrote:
>>> On 11/19/2012 7:14 PM, Pico Rico wrote:
>>>> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> Oh dear. I do paint a bleak picture, don't I? Aside from the
>>>>> club, it's
>>>>> not all that bleak. It's beautiful here, and warm about 9 months
>>>>> out of
>>>>> the year. I only need a coat in December & January, maybe into
>>>>> February.
>>>>>
>>>>> As for socializing, I've *always* been a loner. Living here has
>>>>> nothing
>>>>> to do with that. I blame that on being raised a military brat. I
>>>>> learned
>>>>> early on I'd be moving every year or two, don't get too attached to
>>>>> people.
>>>>
>>>> I missed it and don't care to review the whole thread - where is
>>>> "here"?
>>>>
>>>>
>>> D---- Island, South Carolina
>>
>> Careful Jill. That's stalking info.
>
> It sounds like she's pretty safe there though. Thank goodness.

Yeah, electric gates, guards on duty 24/7 (some of them are former
Marines). Joe Schmoe can't just drive on in. It's one of the reasons
Mom wanted me to live here.

Jill

On 11/19/2012 10:31 PM, gtr wrote:
> On 2012-11-20 02:36:52 +0000, Sqwertz said:
>
>> On Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:27:51 -0500, jmcquown wrote:
>>
>>> This ridiculous place where I live charges an annual assessment for
>>> dining at "the club". They do this whether you eat there or not. The
>>> way it works, they charge $830 per annum. If/when you eat at the club,
>>> they tack the food bill onto your monthly dues and the statement
>>> reflects the reduction in the annual assessment.
>>
>> Why not just get takeout surf and turf and a jug of wine once a month
>> and forgo the dining formalities?
>
> Maybe I didn't get this earlier: You pay $830 a year and if you don't
> eat there, that's that. If you eat a meal every month at $69.16, you
> owe nothing.

No, it's not prepaid. They charge me $830/a year for dining, whether I
eat or drink anything from the club or not. *Then* the cost of each
meal/beverage ordered is tacked on to the monthly membership bill. If I
don't dine in (or get takeout) from the club by 12/31, I owe them the
full $830 come January.

> Well, it's kinda chintzy being wired to a pre-paid
> restaurant tab. Still, if the food is pretty decent I could burn up $70
> a month in a couple of lunches or a dinner easily enough.
>
> Anyway--not worth moving over says Gtr, CPA.
>
I had lunch at the club once, earlier this year, then ordered two take
out meals last week. So the $830 assessment has been reduced by those
amounts. I still have to pay for whatever is left of the $830 annual
assessment. Understand?

Jill

On 11/20/2012 1:07 PM, Gary wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>>
>> On 11/19/2012 7:14 PM, Pico Rico wrote:
>>> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Oh dear. I do paint a bleak picture, don't I? Aside from the club, it's
>>>> not all that bleak. It's beautiful here, and warm about 9 months out of
>>>> the year. I only need a coat in December & January, maybe into February.
>>>>
>>>> As for socializing, I've *always* been a loner. Living here has nothing
>>>> to do with that. I blame that on being raised a military brat. I learned
>>>> early on I'd be moving every year or two, don't get too attached to
>>>> people.
>>>
>>>
>>> I missed it and don't care to review the whole thread - where is "here"?
>>>
>>>
>> Dataw Island, South Carolina
>
> Careful Jill. That's stalking info.
>
I'm not worried. It's a gated community with guards at the gate 24/7.
Some of them are former Marines. Big burly guys. A few years back,
when Mom was still living, one of my brothers was coming to visit. I
had to call the gate to let them know, otherwise they wouldn't have let
him in. (I briefly considered refusing to let him in LOL)

Jill

On 2012-11-21 13:43:34 +0000, jmcquown said:

>>>> D---- Island, South Carolina
>>>
>>> Careful Jill. That's stalking info.
>>
>> It sounds like she's pretty safe there though. Thank goodness.
>
> Yeah, electric gates, guards on duty 24/7 (some of them are former
> Marines). Joe Schmoe can't just drive on in. It's one of the reasons
> Mom wanted me to live here.

I threw them a cheeseburger. Now I'm ringing your doorbell--why won't
you answer?

On 2012-11-21 13:58:51 +0000, jmcquown said:

> No, it's not prepaid. They charge me $830/a year for dining, whether I
> eat or drink anything from the club or not. *Then* the cost of each
> meal/beverage ordered is tacked on to the monthly membership bill. If
> I don't dine in (or get takeout) from the club by 12/31, I owe them the
> full $830 come January.

Okay then; pretty much a gate fee. It costs $830 to get access to the
room where you can eat or not eat as you like--and pay for it too.

Ah well. I'd just consider it "association fees". They could could
call it anything they like, communal gardening fees, fountain
maintenance, snipe protection fees, etc.

>> Well, it's kinda chintzy being wired to a pre-paid
>> restaurant tab. Still, if the food is pretty decent I could burn up $70
>> a month in a couple of lunches or a dinner easily enough.
>>
>> Anyway--not worth moving over says Gtr, CPA.
>>
> I had lunch at the club once, earlier this year, then ordered two take
> out meals last week. So the $830 assessment has been reduced by those
> amounts. I still have to pay for whatever is left of the $830 annual
> assessment. Understand?

I think I do now. But your wording is odd to say the least: A meal is
"reduced by those amounts" but also is "tacked on" to the monthly bill.

Good luck with the entire mess.

On 11/19/2012 8:04 PM, gtr wrote:
> On 2012-11-19 23:38:54 +0000, jmcquown said:
>
>> As for socializing, I've *always* been a loner. Living here has
>> nothing to do with that. I blame that on being raised a military
>> brat. I learned early on I'd be moving every year or two, don't get
>> too attached to people.
>
> I was as well, more or less. But it also taught us to make friends
> quickly. I find that is also common among service brats.
>
Oh, I learned very quickly how to make friends everywhere we lived. I
also knew after moving, we would exchange a few letters (this was years
before the Internet) and then lose track of each other. No biggie.

>> I don't care about going out. My idea of a good time is curling up
>> with a good book or watching a classic movie. Cooking and enjoying a
>> nice dinner. In the Spring and Fall, when it's crisp outside, I light
>> a fire log in the fire pit on the patio and read a book while sipping
>> a glass of wine. It's very peaceful. And I love feeding and watching
>> the birds
>
> Don't you like to do all those things with another human? I sure do. I
> say that like anybody will do, which is not the case. I guess I've
> always been lucky in that regard. Yeah. Very lucky indeed.
>
Nope, I don't care much about being around humans. Cooking sometimes
applies but only a few times a year.

How do you read a book with another person? Book clubs hold no interest
for me, mostly because some "leader" assigns a book to be read. Feels
too much like a school reading assignment and I feel like I'm expected
to analyze it and turn in a book report. That's just not my cup of tea.

When I sit outside by the fire pit, it's nice and peaceful. I read,
watch the birds flitting around, sometimes listen to a CD.

I'm friendly with my neighbor and take care of her cats when she goes
out of town. But her interests don't match mine. She likes to read,
sure. We sometimes exchange books. But she's also big into gardening.
She's got tons of potted plants on her patios. She's always out there
re-potting, adding fertilizer, etc. I couldn't care less about taking
care of a bunch of large potted plants.

Mostly our shared interest is in our cats.

Jill

On 2012-11-21 16:25:41 +0000, jmcquown said:

>> Don't you like to do all those things with another human? I sure do. I
>> say that like anybody will do, which is not the case. I guess I've
>> always been lucky in that regard. Yeah. Very lucky indeed.
>
> Nope, I don't care much about being around humans. Cooking sometimes
> applies but only a few times a year.
>
> How do you read a book with another person? Book clubs hold no
> interest for me, mostly because some "leader" assigns a book to be
> read. Feels too much like a school reading assignment and I feel like
> I'm expected to analyze it and turn in a book report. That's just not
> my cup of tea.

[ There is nothing but musing below. It is not a commentary on other's
choices. ]

I like to sit in the den with the wife and read a book. We have a cup
of tea and a snack. We comment on our books, ask a definition of a
word, watch the bird, cat, squirrel activity in the yard.

We've been in book groups together and that's a lot of fun but that's
another thing. You describe it, but that doesn't sound like any of the
2 or 3 book/film groups I've been in. We discuss what we liked and
didn't like, we relate it to other books/films, other people, other
writers, other topics. We attack one another's viewpoints with wit or
subdued condescension, but it's pretty sociable. Much like usenet.

We also have drink and snacks/meal.

> When I sit outside by the fire pit, it's nice and peaceful. I read,
> watch the birds flitting around, sometimes listen to a CD.

I like it better with my wife. There's always plenty to chat about and
laugh about. We like to chatting and laughing do it endlessly. For a
few years there in the 80's I had no main squeeze and did as you say
above. It was pleasant enough but eventually became too simple. Time
felt like a ladder where I was idling on one rung, or an elevator
waiting patiently on the 5th floor. Nothing inherently wrong with it;
but time seemed like a conveiance that didn't convey anything.

And then there is loneliness. Not everybody gets it. Particularly for
people who've been hurt in love/life; loneliness isn't bad, it's a
blessed refuge. I was really lonely for the last year or two of the
80's. I remember weeping at some cornball TV movie and while I did, I
sort of pulled back and saw myself. I thought, "In a few years you'll
be hooked up with somebody new and you'll think of this as your 'lonely
time'." Just so.

> I'm friendly with my neighbor and take care of her cats when she goes
> out of town. But her interests don't match mine. She likes to read,
> sure. We sometimes exchange books. But she's also big into gardening.
> She's got tons of potted plants on her patios. She's always out
> there re-potting, adding fertilizer, etc. I couldn't care less about
> taking care of a bunch of large potted plants.

The wife likes to garden but I have no interest, though I like the
results to view and to eat. We don't share all our interests at all.
I'm endlessly playing a musical instrument, she weaves and paints. We
have a lot of hobbies.

> Mostly our shared interest is in our cats.

On 2012-11-21 16:25:41 +0000, jmcquown said:
>
> How do you read a book with another person? Book clubs hold no
> interest for me, mostly because some "leader" assigns a book to be
> read. Feels too much like a school reading assignment and I feel like
>> I'm expected to analyze it and turn in a book report. That's just not
>> my cup of tea.

That would be repellent to me, too. Don't you know any intelligent and
reasonable people?

Around here, most book clubs are as much dining groups as book groups.
(A universal truth is that people tend to be much more agreeable when
food is involved.) And not everyone even reads the books.

My wife's favorite group meets once a month at members' homes, in
rotation. Supper is organized around the location, period, or theme of
the book being discussed; each participant brings a dish or wine, as
assigned by the hostess.

At each meeting, the book for the meeting two months later is selected.
Everyone pimps their own suggestion, and selection is by vote, or, more
usually, acclaim.

One thing we've learned over the decades: if you don't like the book
groups you find, start your own with people of a similar bent. You'll
soon figure out if the unreasonable people are them, or you. 8

-- Larry

On 11/21/2012 3:38 PM, pltrgyst wrote:
> On 2012-11-21 16:25:41 +0000, jmcquown said:
>>
>> How do you read a book with another person? Book clubs hold no
>> interest for me, mostly because some "leader" assigns a book to be
>> read. Feels too much like a school reading assignment and I feel like
>>> I'm expected to analyze it and turn in a book report. That's just not
>>> my cup of tea.
>
> That would be repellent to me, too. Don't you know any intelligent and
> reasonable people?
>
I know plenty of intelligent, reasonable people. We don't share the
same tastes in books or hobbies. I'd rather just read a book and enjoy
it all by myself. Then move on to the next book. (I read about 4 books
a week.)

> My wife's favorite group meets once a month at members' homes, in
> rotation. Supper is organized around the location, period, or theme of
> the book being discussed; each participant brings a dish or wine, as
> assigned by the hostess.
>
There's that word again: "assigned". Who am I to assign what dish or
wine someone should bring to anything? I'm not the hostess type. Sorry
if that bothers anyone.

Jill

On Wed, 21 Nov 2012 15:38:35 -0500, pltrgyst >
wrote:

>On 2012-11-21 16:25:41 +0000, jmcquown said:
>>
>> How do you read a book with another person? Book clubs hold no
>> interest for me, mostly because some "leader" assigns a book to be
>> read. Feels too much like a school reading assignment and I feel like
>>> I'm expected to analyze it and turn in a book report. That's just not
>>> my cup of tea.
>
>That would be repellent to me, too. Don't you know any intelligent and
>reasonable people?
>
>Around here, most book clubs are as much dining groups as book groups.
>(A universal truth is that people tend to be much more agreeable when
>food is involved.) And not everyone even reads the books.
>
>My wife's favorite group meets once a month at members' homes, in
>rotation. Supper is organized around the location, period, or theme of
>the book being discussed; each participant brings a dish or wine, as
>assigned by the hostess.
>
>At each meeting, the book for the meeting two months later is selected.
>Everyone pimps their own suggestion, and selection is by vote, or, more
>usually, acclaim.
>
>One thing we've learned over the decades: if you don't like the book
>groups you find, start your own with people of a similar bent. You'll
>soon figure out if the unreasonable people are them, or you. 8

Most public libraries sponsor book clubs, members meet at the library
periodically for discussion, no food/drink is involved.

There are clubs for every endeaver, where folks with like interests
gather to discuss having the same experiences, like travel, wine
tasting, photography, movie clubs, the list is endless. Lots of
people like to gather to discuss books they have read with others who
have also read the same book, doesn't mean they physically read the
book to each other. I used to belong to a library book club, there
would always be a list of books suggested each month, never just one
book, and many people didn't participate in discussion, they only
listened to the others... it was primarilly a social event with a
theme... a good way for people to meet other folks with like
interests, ie. liking to read. Some folks are simply not social,
they'd not like joining any club... clubs really only have value for
people who enjoy sharing.

On 11/21/2012 11:21 AM, gtr wrote:
> On 2012-11-21 13:58:51 +0000, jmcquown said:
>
>> No, it's not prepaid. They charge me $830/a year for dining, whether I
>> eat or drink anything from the club or not. *Then* the cost of each
>> meal/beverage ordered is tacked on to the monthly membership bill. If
>> I don't dine in (or get takeout) from the club by 12/31, I owe them
>> the full $830 come January.
>
> Okay then; pretty much a gate fee. It costs $830 to get access to the
> room where you can eat or not eat as you like--and pay for it too.
>
> Ah well. I'd just consider it "association fees". They could could
> call it anything they like, communal gardening fees, fountain
> maintenance, snipe protection fees, etc.
>
The association fees are above and beyond what I am assessed for dining.

>> I had lunch at the club once, earlier this year, then ordered two take
>> out meals last week. So the $830 assessment has been reduced by those
>> amounts. I still have to pay for whatever is left of the $830 annual
>> assessment. Understand?
>
> I think I do now. But your wording is odd to say the least: A meal is
> "reduced by those amounts" but also is "tacked on" to the monthly bill.

You still have to pay for the food. They count it down from the dining
assessment anytime you buy food or drink but then they tack the cost of
it onto the monthly bill and reduce the dining assessment by what you've
bought. Then they charge you for what you haven't used at the end of
the year. It's hard to explain.

> Good luck with the entire mess.
>
Thank you.

Jill

On Wednesday, November 21, 2012 4:55:32 PM UTC-5, jmcquown wrote:
> On 11/21/2012 11:21 AM, gtr wrote:
>
> > On 2012-11-21 13:58:51 +0000, jmcquown said:
>
> >
>
> >> No, it's not prepaid. They charge me $830/a year for dining, whether I
>
> >> eat or drink anything from the club or not. *Then* the cost of each
>
> >> meal/beverage ordered is tacked on to the monthly membership bill. If
>
> >> I don't dine in (or get takeout) from the club by 12/31, I owe them
>
> >> the full $830 come January.
>
> >
>
> > Okay then; pretty much a gate fee. It costs $830 to get access to the
>
> > room where you can eat or not eat as you like--and pay for it too.
>
> >
>
> > Ah well. I'd just consider it "association fees". They could could
>
> > call it anything they like, communal gardening fees, fountain
>
> > maintenance, snipe protection fees, etc.
>
> >
>
> The association fees are above and beyond what I am assessed for dining.
>
>
>
> >> I had lunch at the club once, earlier this year, then ordered two take
>
> >> out meals last week. So the $830 assessment has been reduced by those
>
> >> amounts. I still have to pay for whatever is left of the $830 annual
>
> >> assessment. Understand?
>
> >
>
> > I think I do now. But your wording is odd to say the least: A meal is
>
> > "reduced by those amounts" but also is "tacked on" to the monthly bill.
>
>
>
> You still have to pay for the food. They count it down from the dining
>
> assessment anytime you buy food or drink but then they tack the cost of
>
> it onto the monthly bill and reduce the dining assessment by what you've
>
> bought. Then they charge you for what you haven't used at the end of
>
> the year. It's hard to explain.
>
>
>
> > Good luck with the entire mess.
>
> >
>
> Thank you.
>
>
>
> Jill

It's not hard to explain. It's hard to understand it the way you explain it.. You have to pay an amount. You either pay it for goods and services at the club or you pay it for nothing. Spend X at the club. Pay Y-X at year end. Y being the assessment. Spend X = Y, dimwit. Y-X = 0 at year end. You've paid X for goods and services.

On 2012-11-21 20:38:35 +0000, pltrgyst said:

> At each meeting, the book for the meeting two months later is selected.
> Everyone pimps their own suggestion, and selection is by vote, or, more
> usually, acclaim.

That's an interesting approach. Those who tend more to the obscure
books, like me, would have a hard time with majority rules. All the
groups I've been involved in have been each participant selecting the
book for the meeing at their home.

> One thing we've learned over the decades: if you don't like the book
> groups you find, start your own with people of a similar bent. You'll
> soon figure out if the unreasonable people are them, or you. 8

We recently ran into one woman present in our first book group, where I
met my wife, by the way. She is not longer in that group but is
currently in THREE book groups. Amazing.