The time is short now.....We are HERE now for GOOD!!!!!!

[faithfulfrank]

Hard to believe, but this journey we started about 5 years ago when we bought our Florida home is almost over. In two weeks we leave our NY home, the one I designed and built myself, and start our new life as full time Floridians.

At the risk of sounding philosophical, I look at this whole thing like a 5 year long pregnancy. When we first bought our Florida home it was exciting. We told everyone about it.....it was like when you first find out you are expecting. The following 4-5 years has been like a pregnancy.....the "glow" of Florida, retirement, etc. Now, especially this last month or so has been like labor pains.....right now BIG labor pains. Selling your house, saying goodbye to friends and family, selling and giving everything away, and retiring from a great job......all hard things. I am hoping that when we get down there this time, it will feel different. We are not visiting this time. We are there to stay. Wow. Very wow.

Next week two SMALL ABF Relocubes will be delivered to our home. Everything we will be moving down there must fit in those cubes. We are feverishly packing. In the middle of my garage I have drawn the size of those cubes and am filling that space up. I fear it will be tight.

This weekend we sold so much. Actually, we have been getting rid of stuff for years preparing for this time. Now that the house is sold, (gave it away...:grumpy:) we have past the point of no return. Yesterday I sold my snowblower. Last night we sold our antique dining room set that has been in the family for almost 100 years to a young couple who actually loved it and valued it more then the new garbage most kids buy nowadays. That was good. Today I sold my exmark ZTR mower and last week I sold my 4 wheel drive "great in snow" Jeep. The guy can't really have the Jeep until closer to when we leave and he is good with that.

Our youngest son just bought his first house and is taking most of our furniture. Most all of it except our bed....(I think it creeps him out.:p). Haha.

For years the boys have teased me for having too many tools. Now they realize that they will benefit from that. I have spent over three days just sorting tools. I am now realizing I do not need 6 staple guns. I sold over 150 screwdrivers in my last garage sale and still have over 100 left...I guess I'll keep about 20 assorted and give the boys the rest. Of course they can have my snow shovels. I've found about a dozen snowbrushes and ice scrapers, and am leaving them at work for the guys.

There is still so much to do. It is more emotional then I thought it would be. What a huge transition! So......I'll work my last night shift at the Firehouse 11/30. We will get in our car, (we'll have just one car then for the first time in over 30 years) and start driving down. My wife will pack everything, as she is good at that. The lawyer will handle the house closing, which is supposed to take place between 12/01 and 12/15. I pray that goes well. I'll feel better when the check is in my account.

Once down there I'll buy another vehicle. I'll have my NY pension to live on and we'll be fine......but I'll still work because I'll need to stay busy. I might even drive my golf cart on the golf course for the first time. We'll see. I want to learn pickleball. I want to meet some of you good folks. I want to get my car windows tinted. I want to get Disney passes. I want to not need front license plates. I want to upgrade my golf cart.

We have already made some awesome friends down there and can't wait to make more. We are scared and excited, thrilled and sad at the same time. Up here I am one of the oldest guys in the Fire Dept. Down there I'm like "the kid". It is so funny. We are 53 years old....young to retire, but thankfully young enough to enjoy the Florida life. Scared to death and can't wait at the same time. Surreal.

Sorry for the long post. Feels good to post this knowing that many of you have "been there-done that" and made it. I can't believe I'm actually able now to say...."see you in a few weeks!......."

Frank

[quirky3]

That's a remarkable story! Persistence pays off! Just hang in there for the long haul, and it really does happen! Congratulations!!!!

[mgjim]

Yesterday I sold my snowblower. Frank

Great story Frank - I can't wait to tell something similar. And I really can't wait until I can say, "Yesterday, I sold my snowblower."

Godspeed!

[obxgal]

Wonderful news Frank. I know you and Faith are really looking forward to getting down here and starting your new life. I'm happy you'll be arriving before the snow starts flying up north. Also congratulations on your retirement.

[mak44070]

GracieGirl will leave the light on for you......

[champion6]

Good luck, Frank. The best is yet to come!

[2BNTV]

Frank:

I hope you have a safe trip and I look forward to meeting you someday at Crispers, (3rd Friday of the month at 3 PM).

[memason]

Great story Frank! Congratulations...

You are bringing the Mac's with you, right??? :loco:

Have a safe trip down...

[Pturner]

GracieGirl will leave the light on for you......

:clap2::a20:

Frank,
I wish you and Mrs. Frank the best of everything! Can't wait to meet you.

Love,
P

[chuckinca]

250 screwdrivers has to be in somebodies record book!

.

[faithfulfrank]

250 screwdrivers has to be in somebodies record book!

. My wife says that if everything does not fit I'll need to bring down less tools. I think I AM cutting down a lot. All I know is that if it ends up being just a little bit more room in that cube, and it comes down to either my chopsaw or her sewing machine.......the item left behind will say "Singer" on it, not "Delta"......

Great story Frank! Congratulations...

You are bringing the Mac's with you, right??? :loco:

Have a safe trip down...

I'll bring the MacbookPro, but the old G4 imac will probably be given to a friend, as the box for it is pretty big by today's standards. I'll but a new Mac when we get down there, just not sure if it will be a new imac or an ipad for the wife.....we'll see.....

Frank

[sunflower3630]

Congratulations, Frank. Yup, this is an exciting and scary time, but just keep looking forward, not backward. Before you know it you will be here to start the next chapter. I am very happy for you and Mrs. Frank and know you will LOVE your new snow-free life! Safe travels to you both! :wave:

[skyguy79]

Congratulations and may things go well in the transition! :coolsmiley:

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Just think, Frank - "plowing" through all the stuff ahead of you (the packing and the moving and the unpacking and getting all situated) is going to be sooooo much better than the "plowing" you'd be doing if you were going to be staying in NY!!! Aint' gonna be no snow for you in FL!! :pepper2:

There IS a light at the end of the tunnel - and you're closing in on it!! Hang in there - it'll all be worth it!

Bill :)

[jackz]

Travel safely and congrats on your retirement.

Look forward to meeting you both when we are all Village People.

Jack

[faithfulfrank]

Well, tonight is my last night at the firehouse. My wife is now "home" in our now empty house packing the car. The only things in our home is one air mattress, one sleeping bag and pillow and an older 20" TV sitting on the floor.

I'll get home in the morning, (praying for a quiet night), deflate the air mattress, put the TV at the curb, and start driving south to our new lives.

We managed to pack everything we are taking down there in ONE ABF Relocube;

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/faithfulFrank/DSCN1898.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/faithfulFrank/DSCN1897.jpg

We will take our time driving our Prius down, visiting family along the way. I usually drive fast and long, so "taking my time" will be a new experience for me.

This whole thing has not even sunk in....and I do not think it will for awhile. Strange the things you notice. In the last few days my keyring has gone from a huge weighty proof of responsibility and busyness to nothing. I like it. Every room in the house echoes. It has been strange working so hard changing a home into the next person's house. Like wiping clean a canvas you spent years painting a beautiful picture.....so new people can start painting over it their own painting. I find myself praying the ones who follow find the joy we did here. They will never know it like I did, as I designed and built it myself. Oh well. It kept the rain off my head for the last 11 years.

I have so many plans for our Florida home. I have the blueprints and approval for a nice 14' x 21' garage addition. I'm redoing my Lanai. I get to buy another vehicle....have no idea yet what I'll buy but I know it will NOT be rusty!

It will take awhile to settle in. To regain some sense of "normal". To go from being one of the "old guys" at the firehouse to one of the "new kids" in the neighborhood. A new address. A new career. New friends. A new Church. A new life.

Looking forward to meeting some of you folks.....learning from you all how you do this thing. Hope my GPS knows where Chrispers is......

See you soon! Frank

[Pturner]

Frank,
Wow, the time has finally come. I love your description of wiping the canvas clean and changing your home to the next person's house.

When you get here... welcome home!

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Sounds like you've got it all under control, Frank! Have a safe trip south -

Bill :)

[liere]

Enjoyed your post and it really hit home...planning on moving to the Villages after June 2013..have a house in Woodbury. Started cleaning out the basement and lots of memories were stored there. Attic is next. My son is buying a house and will offer him some things. Next door neighbor already asked to buy the snowblower!!! Good luck to you!

[chuckinca]

Looks like you built a great house up North. Getting everything into one cube is amazing!

Have a fantastic last night on the job -

Later, got to get to bed to get up for pickleball at 8 am.


.

[mgjim]

Frank, I wish you and your wife only the best as you embark on the next chapter in your lives. Your description of your last hours of work and home brought a tear to my eye. I can feel the emotions you must have been feeling when you wrote it.

I don't expect to make my move for at least another year but you're one of the people I'm going to look up when I arrive. Of course, by that time, you'll be a TV old-timer.

Best of luck with your move. Take your time, enjoy your memories and your family, and embrace your new home.

[CarGuys]

Congratulations, Frank. Yup, this is an exciting and scary time, but just keep looking forward, not backward. Before you know it you will be here to start the next chapter. I am very happy for you and Mrs. Frank and know you will LOVE your new snow-free life! Safe travels to you both! :wave:

I love that Forward thinking- See you soon Frank safe journey-

Herv

[kandj]

Jim's last day of work is today as well! We won't be heading down to TV until after Christmas, though. We still have the house in NH, we have had several "interested" parties but no offers.

If it sells before the New Year, great! If not, it will go back on the market in the spring and Jim will head up there to monitor things. We are not going to spend this winter worrying about whether all the lights were turned off or the doors were closed properly while there is noone there daily to monitor things. And we are not going to have our son drive 1+ hours (each way) every time the house is shown to check up after the realtor - that is just not fair for him. It is sad that people that one hires cannot be responsible for making sure all lights are off and all doors are closed - it just boggles the mind!

Even if it had been sold, we would still be in NH through Christmas, but we would have been staying with our son and his family - that is going to be the plan at least for the first few years. We will revisit how that goes each year.

[quirky3]

Well, tonight is my last night at the firehouse. My wife is now "home" in our now empty house packing the car. The only things in our home is one air mattress, one sleeping bag and pillow and an older 20" TV sitting on the floor.

I'll get home in the morning, (praying for a quiet night), deflate the air mattress, put the TV at the curb, and start driving south to our new lives.

We managed to pack everything we are taking down there in ONE ABF Relocube;

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/faithfulFrank/DSCN1898.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/faithfulFrank/DSCN1897.jpg

We will take our time driving our Prius down, visiting family along the way. I usually drive fast and long, so "taking my time" will be a new experience for me.

This whole thing has not even sunk in....and I do not think it will for awhile. Strange the things you notice. In the last few days my keyring has gone from a huge weighty proof of responsibility and busyness to nothing. I like it. Every room in the house echoes. It has been strange working so hard changing a home into the next person's house. Like wiping clean a canvas you spent years painting a beautiful picture.....so new people can start painting over it their own painting. I find myself praying the ones who follow find the joy we did here. They will never know it like I did, as I designed and built it myself. Oh well. It kept the rain off my head for the last 11 years.

I have so many plans for our Florida home. I have the blueprints and approval for a nice 14' x 21' garage addition. I'm redoing my Lanai. I get to buy another vehicle....have no idea yet what I'll buy but I know it will NOT be rusty!

It will take awhile to settle in. To regain some sense of "normal". To go from being one of the "old guys" at the firehouse to one of the "new kids" in the neighborhood. A new address. A new career. New friends. A new Church. A new life.

Looking forward to meeting some of you folks.....learning from you all how you do this thing. Hope my GPS knows where Chrispers is......

See you soon! Frank

Yes, you are cleaning the slate to make it a home for someone new - a wonderful thing to do. I wish you all the happiness on your next exciting step in life!

[Schaumburger]

Frank, you may be in (or near) Florida already as your post is a few days old. Hope you and your wife are traveling (or have arrived) safely. :wave:

[2BNTV]

Frank, you may be in (or near) Florida already as your post is a few days old. Hope you and your wife are traveling (or have arrived) safely. :wave:

Ditto. :wave:

[faithfulfrank]

We are here now!!

We are now full time Floridians! We have tons to do, but need to keep telling ourselves that unlike all of the past trips down here, this time we have from now on to do it.

Our Relocube should get here Tuesday. I'll just put most everything in the garage for now and work on it little by little. Closing has not yet happened on the NY home, so we are praying for a quick and smooth closing. I'll feel better when the check is in my account and we only own our Florida home.

We have to change licenses, car tags, residency, etc..... I'll need to buy another car or truck, etc. I need to powerwash the house and trim bushes and weed the flowerbeds. I need to buy a Christmas tree. I need a haircut. I need a TAN...!

So...the new life begins......it will take months for it to even seem real.....

Frank

[SgtJohn]

Congrats, and welcome to the neighborhood.

[Happinow]

Hard to believe, but this journey we started about 5 years ago when we bought our Florida home is almost over. In two weeks we leave our NY home, the one I designed and built myself, and start our new life as full time Floridians.

At the risk of sounding philosophical, I look at this whole thing like a 5 year long pregnancy. When we first bought our Florida home it was exciting. We told everyone about it.....it was like when you first find out you are expecting. The following 4-5 years has been like a pregnancy.....the "glow" of Florida, retirement, etc. Now, especially this last month or so has been like labor pains.....right now BIG labor pains. Selling your house, saying goodbye to friends and family, selling and giving everything away, and retiring from a great job......all hard things. I am hoping that when we get down there this time, it will feel different. We are not visiting this time. We are there to stay. Wow. Very wow.

Next week two SMALL ABF Relocubes will be delivered to our home. Everything we will be moving down there must fit in those cubes. We are feverishly packing. In the middle of my garage I have drawn the size of those cubes and am filling that space up. I fear it will be tight.

This weekend we sold so much. Actually, we have been getting rid of stuff for years preparing for this time. Now that the house is sold, (gave it away...:grumpy:) we have past the point of no return. Yesterday I sold my snowblower. Last night we sold our antique dining room set that has been in the family for almost 100 years to a young couple who actually loved it and valued it more then the new garbage most kids buy nowadays. That was good. Today I sold my exmark ZTR mower and last week I sold my 4 wheel drive "great in snow" Jeep. The guy can't really have the Jeep until closer to when we leave and he is good with that.

Our youngest son just bought his first house and is taking most of our furniture. Most all of it except our bed....(I think it creeps him out.:p). Haha.

For years the boys have teased me for having too many tools. Now they realize that they will benefit from that. I have spent over three days just sorting tools. I am now realizing I do not need 6 staple guns. I sold over 150 screwdrivers in my last garage sale and still have over 100 left...I guess I'll keep about 20 assorted and give the boys the rest. Of course they can have my snow shovels. I've found about a dozen snowbrushes and ice scrapers, and am leaving them at work for the guys.

There is still so much to do. It is more emotional then I thought it would be. What a huge transition! So......I'll work my last night shift at the Firehouse 11/30. We will get in our car, (we'll have just one car then for the first time in over 30 years) and start driving down. My wife will pack everything, as she is good at that. The lawyer will handle the house closing, which is supposed to take place between 12/01 and 12/15. I pray that goes well. I'll feel better when the check is in my account.

Once down there I'll buy another vehicle. I'll have my NY pension to live on and we'll be fine......but I'll still work because I'll need to stay busy. I might even drive my golf cart on the golf course for the first time. We'll see. I want to learn pickleball. I want to meet some of you good folks. I want to get my car windows tinted. I want to get Disney passes. I want to not need front license plates. I want to upgrade my golf cart.

We have already made some awesome friends down there and can't wait to make more. We are scared and excited, thrilled and sad at the same time. Up here I am one of the oldest guys in the Fire Dept. Down there I'm like "the kid". It is so funny. We are 53 years old....young to retire, but thankfully young enough to enjoy the Florida life. Scared to death and can't wait at the same time. Surreal.

Sorry for the long post. Feels good to post this knowing that many of you have "been there-done that" and made it. I can't believe I'm actually able now to say...."see you in a few weeks!......."

Frank

We are in the same boat...moving from Upstate NY. We have been preparing for this for about the same amount of years. Now, we are getting down to it. Sold our business, having garage sales as the weather will allow, preparing to say goodbye to friends and family (I have tears running down my eyes) and saying goodbye to all that we have known. Our business has afforded us to retire at 52 and 53. We feel blessed that we can be young enough to still enjoy ourselves and live the life we have dreamed of. I feel your excitement, your pain and your relief as well. We can relate to EVERYTHING you are saying and have a pit in our stomachs. I do believe that it is the right move and our lives will be fuller than ever when we reach our destination of TV. We will be moving in June of 2012. Look forward to meeting you.:a040::a040:

[mgjim]

We have to change licenses, car tags, residency, etc..... I'll need to buy another car or truck, etc. I need to powerwash the house and trim bushes and weed the flowerbeds. I need to buy a Christmas tree. I need a haircut. I need a TAN...!

What to do? What to do? If you want my advice, buy a Christmas tree first. You need to start the celebration.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Good for you, Frank - glad things are continuing to go according to plan!!

Bill :)

[obxgal]

Wonderful news Faith and Frank. Happy that you will now becoming frogs.
The trip is over and you arrived before the snow starts flying up north. I
wish you happiness in your home.

[Carla B]

So glad you arrived safely in your lovely Plantation home. We hope to meet you soon!

[swimdawg]

....and yet another WNY-er leaves....for "the good life"!

Enjoy the warmth and sunshine!

[CarGuys]

Welcome to your new Home!

My new neighbor in Tamarind just pulled in last night!

I bet your pretty tired. Another Central NYer will count snow flakes for ya brother.

My son from the Syracuse Air National Guard and Auburn Fire Department say's High!

Herv

[sunflower3630]

So happy to hear you made it safe and sound! I know how busy you are these days. It's all like a dream, isn't it? Welcome to the Sunshine State; you are going to LOVE all the sun. You'll soon wonder how you ever survived the grey winters! Welcome home! :welcome:

[faithfulfrank]

Thank you!
Our ABF Relocube got here yesterday. Everything went perfect! ABF was totally the perfect way to go for us. They were very professional in every way and I would use them again without hesitation. IMHO, way better then Pods or Packrat.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/faithfulFrank/DSCN1906.jpg

Now we are busy unpacking boxes, etc. With each empty box the house becomes more our home. The Relocube was unloaded in less then an hour and was gone. My garage is full, but we are moving boxes in one at a time and working on them. Not sure yet where all my tools will go, but I have plans on building another garage....got approval for an attached 14' x 21' garage addition that hopefully I'll get to building soon.

The wife is busy "getting her kitchen back". Don't know what that means, but I'm staying out of the way.

Frank

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Thanks for the update, Frank - glad to hear that you made it!!!!!

Bill :)

[Pturner]

Yea! Frank, "home" at last. Look forward to meeting you soon!

[graciegirl]

We liked the relocube too. We only used one for our really "good" stuff. They packed it for us and we had unpackers bring it in. NOT a thing was hurt at all.

The rest of the stuff Sweetie drove down here in a 26' rented box truck. We were lucky with that stuff too. Glad that part is past and I bet you are too.

I am so glad you are here!!

Please unpack enough...fast....so that you two can stop by soon and "see our tree".

Welcoming hugs,
Gracie, Sweetie and Helene

[faithfulfrank]

Looking forward to meeting so many of you.
Currently I am busy looking for the basement....I need it! Oh well......:laugh:

Frank

[memason]

Looking forward to meeting so many of you.
Currently I am busy looking for the basement....I need it! Oh well......:laugh:

Frank

Down the hallway; second door on the right . . . :)

[2BNTV]

If you find it, let us know so we can over if there is a tornado. :jester:

Seriously, best wishes on your new home and your new life. :)

[Schaumburger]

Frank,

Glad to hear you and your wife arrived safely. Was that green grass and flowers blooming next to the yard light in the photo you posted -- what's up with that?? 28 degreees in Chicago. BRRR!!

[tainsley]

Welcome home!

[kandj]

Looking forward to meeting so many of you.
Currently I am busy looking for the basement....I need it! Oh well......:laugh:

Frank

I miss the basement for storage. However I do NOT miss having to lug the laundry down and then back up when done!

[CaptJohn]

You all (excuse me, I'm Southern, that should be ya'll) got me to thinking (and that can be dangerous), that I need to find a lot with 'catestrophic ground collapse' so that in effect it has already been excavated for a basement and build on top of it. :laugh:
Or, a swimming pool. How low can it go? Can a hole that has 'catestrophic ground collapse' have 'catestrophic ground collapse' again? I'm sure glad I learned the difference between that and 'sink hole'.