Friday Five!

I think the chances of us moving to the USA are 50/50.  And if we do, it'd be in about 7 years.  So would be nice to enjoy our home now instead of doing the extension a few years from now and only living in it (potentially) for a short period of time.

But in 7 years, I'll have been in the UK for 15 years and don't know that I'd leave.  I mean, I don't really *know* the USA anymore as it stands....  <sigh> who knows.  Basically, I think it's best to live life now and then see what direction it takes as that time comes.  If we stay in the UK, no doubt that this IS our forever home.

Given the slight uncertainty in what your future plans are, I think it is spreadsheet time.  Is there a compromise level of extension that you could do now which gives you the space and lifestyle you want without over-spending for the real estate, but then build on later if you decide this is your forever home and you want to live your "best life" here?  Or is it all or nothing?

Regarding the US... ugh... you've been back to visit and you say you don't really "know" it anymore.  I have been feeling that way, but I chalked it up to the fact that I haven't been there in five years, and my impression of 'home' is from reading the news.  But if you've been there, and it doesn't feel right to you, there's probably zero chance that I'll move back now.

I think the chances of us moving to the USA are 50/50.  And if we do, it'd be in about 7 years.  So would be nice to enjoy our home now instead of doing the extension a few years from now and only living in it (potentially) for a short period of time.

But in 7 years, I'll have been in the UK for 15 years and don't know that I'd leave.  I mean, I don't really *know* the USA anymore as it stands....  <sigh> who knows.  Basically, I think it's best to live life now and then see what direction it takes as that time comes.  If we stay in the UK, no doubt that this IS our forever home.

It's a long way away but the UK is the better country to grow old in.

Friday!

1.) Busking in Tesco tomorrow for the brass band to collect money for our trip to the British Championship.

2.) Playing in the brass band for a sand castle competition on Sunday afternoon.  Hopefully the rain holds off.

3.) Long cycle ride tomorrow afternoon after playing in Tesco.

4.) Enjoying all the protests and signs and symbols right now!  And Americans feeling unsafe? 

5.) Off to Ireland on Monday for a week for work.

It's a long way away but the UK is the better country to grow old in.

Do you think?  I'm surprised.

I grew up in Florida, which is a retirement haven.  And the care and kindness of the community is overwhelming.  I personally feel like it would be a MUCH better place to grow old in.  I feel like the elderly are often very isolated here. 

Given the slight uncertainty in what your future plans are, I think it is spreadsheet time.  Is there a compromise level of extension that you could do now which gives you the space and lifestyle you want without over-spending for the real estate, but then build on later if you decide this is your forever home and you want to live your "best life" here?  Or is it all or nothing?

Regarding the US... ugh... you've been back to visit and you say you don't really "know" it anymore.  I have been feeling that way, but I chalked it up to the fact that I haven't been there in five years, and my impression of 'home' is from reading the news.  But if you've been there, and it doesn't feel right to you, there's probably zero chance that I'll move back now.

What's good is that I don't think we CAN overspend on real estate.  Some of the homes in our neighborhood are genuinely McMansions.  So no risk of over improving and not getting the value back, no matter what we do!  Which is a good place to be in.  And if we do it, we're going to do it right.

Things I'm looking forward to:
Open plan kitchen/diner/family room
Getting my giant Costco washer and dryer for my new improved laundry room
Access from the garage directly into the house
Garbage disposal
Water softener
Master suite with walk in closet and a linen closet!
No more water storage tanks in the loft!

Do you think?  I'm surprised.

I grew up in Florida, which is a retirement haven.  And the care and kindness of the community is overwhelming.  I personally feel like it would be a MUCH better place to grow old in.  I feel like the elderly are often very isolated here. 

You know, those are all excellent points.  I think my comment comes almost entirely from the point of view of the NHS (I think there are still costs associated with medicare)  and from the vague impression that there is more of a safety net in the UK. I could be wrong about that though. After going through what we did with my husband's situation, I am terrified of medical bills!
You make it sound amazing, maybe we'll have to re-think our retirement plans! 

Things I'm looking forward to:
Open plan kitchen/diner/family room
Getting my giant Costco washer and dryer for my new improved laundry room
Access from the garage directly into the house
Garbage disposal
Water softener
Master suite with walk in closet and a linen closet!
No more water storage tanks in the loft!

Those all look great ideas. Don't forget the air conditioning thing that you wanted. 
Do you have space to make rooms in the loft too?

Friday!

1.) Busking in Tesco tomorrow for the brass band to collect money for our trip to the British Championship.

2.) Playing in the brass band for a sand castle competition on Sunday afternoon.  Hopefully the rain holds off.

3.) Long cycle ride tomorrow afternoon after playing in Tesco.

4.) Enjoying all the protests and signs and symbols right now!  And Americans feeling unsafe? 

5.) Off to Ireland on Monday for a week for work.

Oooh, how is fundraising going?  How much longer 'til the championship?  The long cycle ride is not in any way related to playing in Tesco, right?  You will have a motor vehicle to get your instrument home in...?

If you have time, I'd love to see photos of the sand "castles" (I'm sure there will be other sculptures, besides castles).  I love stuff like that.

Master suite with walk in closet and a linen closet!

I would love these things!  The only way it would be achievable is if we did a loft conversion.  Master suite with at least a shower room upstairs, along with proper closet space.  Then we could turn our current groundfloor "master" into the guest bedroom, and use the current second bedroom for linen storage or maybe even pantry, and the stairs would take up part of the second bedroom space.  Our house is small, and I don't want to give up any garden space, so the loft conversion is the only way we could expand.  But I want the loft conversion, anyway, because there's a lot of good space up there.

If we won EuroMillions... *sigh*

After going through what we did with my husband's situation, I am terrified of medical bills!
You make it sound amazing, maybe we'll have to re-think our retirement plans! 

Medical bills in the US are terrifying.  I've been very fortunate to have full coverage in the past, but I don't think I can afford to go back, now.  Since getting married, my eligibility for some of my coverage would have changed, and I can't take that risk.

You know, those are all excellent points.  I think my comment comes almost entirely from the point of view of the NHS (I think there are still costs associated with medicare)  and from the vague impression that there is more of a safety net in the UK. I could be wrong about that though. After going through what we did with my husband's situation, I am terrified of medical bills!
You make it sound amazing, maybe we'll have to re-think our retirement plans! 

My dad has been on Medicare for about a year and has been SUPER impressed with it.  Which is really encouraging.  I know he had to have his gallbladder removed and I don't think he paid anything for it.  Medications have been covered as well. 

Florida definitely has a really good retirement community spirit.  Retirement homes are FABULOUS and I saw my grandmother absolutely blossom after moving to one.  It was hard to get time in her diary after she moved in!  I grew up in a church with a much older generation and man, they really look out for one another.  I don't feel like my inlaws have that same support here that my parents have there.  Granted, a lot of life is what you make of it.

Those all look great ideas. Don't forget the air conditioning thing that you wanted. 
Do you have space to make rooms in the loft too?

I'm very interested in getting a quote for central heat/air, though I suspect it won't be feasible to install in an existing build.  But I think we will definitely do the "European style" air conditioners in the bedrooms that are attached to the wall.  I like it cold when I sleep. 

The neighbours again?   

Remarkably... not the in-breds! 
But the story is getting worse... my fella went to have a nose, and found that the fire wasn't actually at the train station, but a block of 8 flats next to the station car park.  And one of the flats belongs to someone he knows...  ... so we're waiting for more news.

So here's the photo of the back of the house from when the house was listed.  It definitely looks better back there now.   

But I've circled the space that we'll be adding onto.  Filling in the big "hole" behind the garage and going up and over the garage.  As you can see, it's quite a large amount of space we will add.

Husband would love to go into the loft and add a third level but I think that would be too much house.  We can keep that option for the future if we started to feel squeezed at some point, but I don't think we need to go wild. 

Remarkably... not the in-breds! 
But the story is getting worse... my fella went to have a nose, and found that the fire wasn't actually at the train station, but a block of 8 flats next to the station car park.  And one of the flats belongs to someone he knows...  ... so we're waiting for more news.

Oh no Albatross.  Keep us posted and let us know anything we can do (donate things)!

Oh no Albatross, hope all is okay! 

Oooh, how is fundraising going?  How much longer 'til the championship?  The long cycle ride is not in any way related to playing in Tesco, right?  You will have a motor vehicle to get your instrument home in...?

Championship is September.  We're doing okay fundraising. W did a pub quiz and that went well. Now we're onto busking. 
Cycle ride is for Diabetes UK and not the brass band, so I won't need to cycle with my trombone or anything 

My dad has been on Medicare for about a year and has been SUPER impressed with it.  Which is really encouraging.  I know he had to have his gallbladder removed and I don't think he paid anything for it.  Medications have been covered as well. 

Florida definitely has a really good retirement community spirit.  Retirement homes are FABULOUS and I saw my grandmother absolutely blossom after moving to one.  It was hard to get time in her diary after she moved in!  I grew up in a church with a much older generation and man, they really look out for one another.  I don't feel like my inlaws have that same support here that my parents have there.  Granted, a lot of life is what you make of it.

Do your research on medicare. There's a "donut hole" for many people on prescription coverage leading to needing to go without essential medication or crazy bills. That's all I can add because medicare is as tricky as the insurance market in the US.

My five!

1. I did my "official" training at work this week. Really glad it's over. I did not get on with the trainers who are used to the personality of sales and collections folks, they are not technical and didn't cover many of the things I was hoping I'd glean from this. They didn't touch on the MI at all.

2. I found a physical therapist! Not cheap, but essential. He felt badly for how swollen the sore joints currently are and commented on the amount of scar tissue. bleh. But he agreed putting off surgery is a good idea right now.

3. Has anyone been following medicinal cannabis? They are finally reviewing its scheduling thanks to some very brave parents. I'm writing to my MP about it, I encourage anyone who would benefit from it to do the same. I wouldn't dare self treat as an immigrant because I could lose my status and ability to become a citizen if caught, along with the huge risk that comes from ingredients in unregulated drugs, so its important it's a valid treatment option.

4. I'm really glad it's Friday. My day started with an asthma attack because all the men *and* the trainer forgot I'm allergic to scents and loaded them on. Hives and asthma. They treated me like a freak and I am not happy about it. "it's just so hard, it's in everything". Well yeah, that's why I said something and HR sent an email.

5. Sainsbury's has 25% off 6 bottles of wine right now so we grabbed a few. I plan on stocking up on prosecco and white wine.