Well, what do I do now? Hideout or lake house?

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11 footer

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Re: Well, what do I do now? Hideout or lake house?

JB,<br />How far is the lake house from the hideout?
 
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Mr.Ladyfish

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Re: Well, what do I do now? Hideout or lake house?

JB, I'm a relative newcomer as far as posting but I have been lurking & learning for a couple of years. My thoughts are as follows:<br />It doesn't seem as if financially it makes a whole lot of difference other than padding what sounds like a sufficient retirement income. I wouldn't worry about "how much" you will leave to your kids. From your posts I think you probably raised them right and they are able to make their own way in the world. I've already let our daughter know not to expect some big windfall when I go. She and the grandkids will get the personal things that are important to me. Some of them are worth a little money, some are purely sentimental. I do for them what I can now while I'm here. <br /><br />Living in Texas on acerage out in the country by yourself is probably a little like heaven. Just remember that as we age we also need more trips to the doctor, the hospital, etc. If you are truly by yourself you could end up in a bind and be suffering for a long time before help arrives. Living on a lake could also present the same problems depending on how close the neighbors are.<br /><br />Maintenance of a piece of property like the Hideout has got to keep you pretty busy. Are you going to be able to keep up with it when you get a little older? Will you be able to afford to pay someone else to do it?<br />Maintenance of a lake house will also give you things to do but it will be more like painting and things that can be done on occasion as the need arises.<br /><br />If fishing is what you enjoy most then setting yourself up to do the most fishing with the least effort is probably the way to go. <br /><br />From your posts I suspect that time with your kids and grandkids is probably the most important part of your life. Which place will offer you the most opportunity for that?<br /><br />I know I haven't supplied any answers. No one can give you the answer, that has to be yours and yours alone. Do what is right for you and don't look back. Life is full of choices that's what makes it fun.
 
T

TPD211

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Re: Well, what do I do now? Hideout or lake house?

JB,<br /><br />Wow, I read the post and everyone makes good points. I dont know what I would do if faced with the decision but I do like certain things in life and have worked to fulfill those dreams and desires.<br />Good luck in your decision.
 
R

Ralph 123

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Re: Well, what do I do now? Hideout or lake house?

My dream is a home on a lake. Up here you can't buy access to a lake for $250K - wow.<br /><br />Well if you can afford it, take a low interest equity loan on the Hideout and have both ;) <br /><br />Sounds like if it one or the other your mind is made up. You are happy at the Hideout and it shows - so stay.<br /><br />Maybe you can make some arrangement to make boating and fishing easier like a mooring or something for the boat? Befriend a young guy to do the dirty work? Got to be a way to have your cake and eat it too :D
 
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NOSLEEP

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Re: Well, what do I do now? Hideout or lake house?

Interesting dilemma JB.<br />From what you have shared about the Hideout,<br />it may not be in your best interests to sell,<br />monetarily or spiritually. Maybe invest a little<br />in yourself and find a fish'n hole close by with<br />mooring and maybe get a truck and camper and spend<br />more time on the water and keep your home.
 
JB

JB

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Re: Well, what do I do now? Hideout or lake house?

Hi, all.<br /><br />Many thanks for your additional insights.<br /><br />Yes, my family is most important to me and I would not consider again being far away. I was in FL for 8 years. Came back to be near them.<br /><br />My four middle aged children live 40, 70, 200, and (soon) 300 miles away and my girlfriend(former wife) is 70 miles away. The lakehouse is about 35 miles from here, so it wouldn't make a lot of difference one way or another.<br /><br />When I have been in medical trouble they have all been at my bedside within hours.<br /><br />I have neighbors who are EMT trained. Last heart attack I called neighbor Pam. She was at The Hideout in 5 minutes and had me in ER (about 30 miles) in 25 more. She called all of my loved ones and gave them running commentary until I was stabilized. I owned Pam's home for a while until she could get an affordable mortgage. I guess that made her a special friend.<br /><br />If something happens that doesn't allow me to summon help it could happen anywhere, anytime, and it is a risk I accept.<br /><br />Borrowing or leasing are not financially feasable.<br /><br />Thanks again, friends. I really appreciate your input. :)
 
J

jsfinn

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Re: Well, what do I do now? Hideout or lake house?

JB,<br /><br />Sounds to me like you've already made your choice. You said that when you've lived on a lake in the past you didn't have privacy or security. Those are two things you have now and they are important to you.<br /><br />Find another way to get your boat on the water. Is there a near by marina where you can store it? Is there another ramp that will let power it onto the trailer? There's always someone around willing to help.<br /><br />Can you afford both? Can you buy the other place and rent it for the mortgage price plus extra income? Then you'll have access to the ramp, and you'll have the best of both.<br /><br />Just some ideas.<br /><br />Good luck!
 
1

11 footer

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Re: Well, what do I do now? Hideout or lake house?

Here is something I was just thinking about:<br /><br />JB,<br />On a night like tonight your sitting in the house admiring one of your pistels. Then you remember the last few time you fired it the pistle for jamed on you, you think you fixed it. The only way to know for sure is to fire it. You are free to walk outside and fire that baby and then go to bed in peace.<br /><br />If you did the same thing in a lakehouse there would be cops driveing around your house looking for responding to a "shots fired" call. <br /><br />Thats something to keep in mind too.
 
B

Bob in Calif.

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Re: Well, what do I do now? Hideout or lake house?

...JB...<br /><br />This is how you can have your cake and eat it too.<br /><br />Contact the Federal Department of Forestry and tell them you would like to allow them to use a 100 acre section of your property to dig a water storage area and fill it with water, as a local access for their fire fighting aricraft. This would be a great act on your part to have this available to them, to extinguish any wild fires in large radius from your area. <br />I know you have trees in Texas, 'cause I saw some when I flew over Houston in 2002.<br /><br />Also let them know that Fish and Game should stock the "water source" with fish, to act as a "bug" control device. Then let them know you will volunteer to be the lake "caretaker", frequently checking for leaks and to make sure there are enough fish to control the hoard of bugs in the area.<br />Be sure and let them know that if you aren't available at any given time to check the lake, that you have some civic minded friends who would stand in for you, in your absence.<br /><br />Tell them you would appreciate a stipend of at least $5.00 per month, per acre for "jetsam" removal. Of course they will need to build a boat launch ramp for accessing the "jetsam" that doesn't sink.<br /><br />You can work it out with them as to how many feet deep the "water supply container" should be.<br /><br />Who knows, you could become "Man of the Year" in your neighborhood!!!! :D <br /><br />i-boats "get-to-gether" location in 2005???? Hummmm?<br /><br /> ...Bob in Calif...
 
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mattttt25

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Re: Well, what do I do now? Hideout or lake house?

jb, first, good luck in your decision. without truly knowing what your situation is, it is hard to give any sound advise. but with some general assumptions, i think hitting the lakefront is a great choice and one you would be stupid to pass up. as you stated, you're getting older. i don't know what keeps you busy these days (except iboats work), but i'd assume it's a bit lonely out there. one of the biggest complaints from my grandparents about getting old has also been the loneliness. so i would think a lakefront property would be more inviting. it's not like you're deciding between a manhattan penthouse and the hideout. i see the lakefront as a place better suited to your needs, that provides more to do, and possibly some nice neighbors to spend time with. the 12 year old boy that drives by your home each morning looking for bass may provide more enjoyment than you think. again, good luck-
 
M

mellowyellow

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Re: Well, what do I do now? Hideout or lake house?

JB, what do they want to use your land for?<br />grazing or development? something else?
 
N

NOSLEEP

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Re: Well, what do I do now? Hideout or lake house?

Maybe you could find a younger angler that<br />loves to fish, that shouldn't be to hard. <br />Some one that can help launch and retrieve the<br />Sunshine III. A new fish'n partner might be all<br />you need for now.<br />When I was in my late teens. I meet a retired<br />fisherman who lived in Santa Barbra and would<br />come to the Island every April and he would stay<br />till fall. He had that disease that would let him<br />fall asleep when he was navigating with the boat<br />or driving. Anyway we formed a friendship and <br />Charlie and I would fish together in his 15 foot<br />Boston Whaler, all summer long. Charlie passed<br />away about 6 years later and left me his boat.<br />We had great times together as fish'n partners and<br />I Learned alot about fish'n salmon from him.
 
POINTER94

POINTER94

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Re: Well, what do I do now? Hideout or lake house?

JB,<br /><br />Any property on water is going to appreciate. As an investment I don't think you can lose. <br /><br />Live wherever you feel comfortable and can get a T1 line. :D <br /><br />Real estate advise should be left to the pro's. They are very area specific. I know I am no help but I hope whatever you decide you are happy with the decision.
 
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neumanns

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Re: Well, what do I do now? Hideout or lake house?

JB...Dare to dream a bit, go look at the lakehouse. On your way home stop and pick up a better winch. You enjoy fishing but what you love is fishing with family. The family solves the launch problem. Bit prusumptuis maybe but you strike me as a land man not a lakshore owner. The hummingbirds are not near as enjoyable when you can overhear the neighbors conversation. If the upkeep is to much on the homeplace leasee it out with a written understanding of upkeep and other pertinent peramiters.You could also throw in a first right of refusal upon sale if he seems to want the place.<br /><br />P.S. What became of the buffalo hunt, the processors should be getting caught up by now.
 
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ebbtide176

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Re: Well, what do I do now? Hideout or lake house?

JB i didn't notice this topic until a little while ago... i tried to put myself in this situation. <br /><br />the peacefulness of the hideout would probably mean more to me than on the lakeside. but i think i would be happy with a view of the lake too. if i were totally unable to drive or leave the house, i'd probably be satisfied to just watch others fish from the window.<br /><br />if maintaining a large peaceful ranch is going to require some major changes my life, then it would really make a difference to me. <br /><br />but i would be really picky about a lakelot. i'm sure you would be too. easy access to the dock and a good floor plan would probably be more important to me than having a choice of a lot full of trees or nothing but kudzu :) <br /><br />best of wishes on the decision
 
JB

JB

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Re: Well, what do I do now? Hideout or lake house?

CONCLUSION: <br /><br />Went and looked.<br /><br />Crowded neighborhood; I could watch my neighbor's TV without binocs. 80 steps to the boat lift, which is broke. House needs major maintenance, really run down, been vacant since previous owner went bankrupt and it was sold at auction. Garage window broken out by burglar/vandal. Taxes $3200/an. :eek: <br /><br />NO cotton pickin way, friends. I am staying at The Hideout. :) <br /><br />Thanks to all for your insights and suggestions.
 
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tylerin

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Re: Well, what do I do now? Hideout or lake house?

There's no place like home JB. Glad you're decision making was so easy
 
K

KeltonKrew

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Re: Well, what do I do now? Hideout or lake house?

JB,<br /><br />I lived on 80 acres in the middle of nowhere....heck, even the mailman couldn't find me :D <br /><br />I now live in town (closer to the job I hate), but don't miss the drive, but I miss the country<br /><br />I have a waterfront lot on Lake Livingston near Trinity, TX. It is still not the same (although I go there almost every weekend)....Being near the water is great, but being able to see my neighbors in their skivies just isn't for me (so I don't look) :p <br /><br />Now my wife and my friends just use my lake property to party and to fish....doubt I will ever move there.....I still miss the COUNTRY!
 
aspeck

aspeck

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Re: Well, what do I do now? Hideout or lake house?

JB, glad you checked out the other place. Now, think about adding that pond to the Hideout - DucksUnlimited has resources to help create wetlands. There are other options to help defray the cost of putting in a "private pond" where you can have your cake and eat it too! Good luck!<br /><br />I am still waiting for my invitation to hunt the Hideout, when the girls are away, of course!
 
roscoe

roscoe

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Re: Well, what do I do now? Hideout or lake house?

Well, my idea is similar to Bob's. <br />Sell the back forty, use the money to build a moat around the house. Throw in a couple windmills to keep the water moving and airated. <br /><br />No more mowing the firebreak, easy access to a crappie condos.<br /><br />Put a couple female gators in there to keep the crappies in check. After you catch and release those gators a few times, they will be your buddies.
 
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