March 14, 2012: Neighbor Peggy/Stillwater

 

After work, my Mom, Maggie, and I our our neighbor, Peggy, over to Stillwater to show our lot and the condos. We walked a little on the bike path. She was quite impressed with the complex. She couldn't believe how many different styles of condos you can choose from.    We walked inside the Greenfield that is in the process of being built.    We didn't like the size of the bedrooms or the 2nd bathroom.   The lady who is buying this condo wanted 2 bedrooms/2 full bathrooms on the first floor with a hallway that went out to a deck.   I felt clausterphobic in this unit.    So, we walked to the condo on the other side that had the 3 season room and liked that much better.

Three ladies (Kay, Joyce, and not sure on the other) that live at the complex stopped by to see these condos too and they didn't like that first one at all.  They all have the 3 season room and love it.  They gave us some suggestions.  I am glad they were there to give us their thoughts, too.  We have to have this figured out by Monday, as Ron's group will start taking down the trees on our lot.      

Maggie enjoyed digging a hole in the sand.    Peggy has had homes built in the past. She used to live on Milliard St. over by the lake.     Peggy's son-in-law's mother is the sister of Tony Moulatsiotis's mother.  What a small world.

March 13, 2012: Purchase Agreement at Stillwater

My mom went to the bank yesterday to get her cashier's check for $20,000.  We went for a meeting with Ron Stroup at 6 p.m. to sign the purchase agreement and give him the money.       I still can't believe we are actually going to have a condo built and that my mom is going to do it.  I think this will be a good thing for us.

On our way out of the office trailer, we ran into that young fella and his girlfriend. He asked if we had bought and we said yes.  He asked where would it be and we said right across the street from him.  

Then, my mom and I walked on the bike trail that goes around the complex.  It was a beautiful trail that curved.     It will be nice to be able walk on this bike path everyday.       

March 10, 2012: Stillwater Springs Condos

I sent an email to the builder of the Stillwater Springs Condos in Fruitport, as I wanted to see what the cost would be to have a condo built.    I told my mom about the appointment, so we met with Ron Stroup, to figure out what would be our best needs.

He showed us 2 Greenfield models that were in the process of being built.   It was hard to visualize the rooms, but we thought we would like the smaller one with 2 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms on the top floor.

He wrote down the price at $149,000 plus $2500 for the gas fireplace in the living room.    He worked it out with my mom that she would need $20,000 down and then give him another $30,000 in April and then another $30,000 in May when her CDs mature.  The remaining balance would be borrowed through the bank.  He said he could have the condo built by the end of July/beginning of August.

We picked out a wooded lot on Turning Leaf Circle, which is across the street from the young fella that we stopped while we were driving around the complex last week.  He was very helpful.    He has lived here about 5 years.     He said he really liked it. He works 12 hour days so he said it was nice to come home and not have to do yardwork.      He told us we could stop by anytime with additional questions.   He told us he was living in the unit that has the red pick up truck.

We have been touring these condos for about 5 years. It was just never the right time.   I think my mom is excited about this building, but I think it will also be stressful for her to make all of these decisions.

March 2, 2012: 10 Year Anniversary at Work

Well, the day finally came when I became vested at work.  I can't believe I have been working at the County of Muskegon for 10 years.   I am finally vested, which means I will get a pension when I retire.    It has not been an easy road at all. I have tried to leave the health department on 3 occasions, only to end up back in the department. It must be God's way of saying that I need to be working here for some unknown reason.

I celebrated my anniversary with a buttercreme frosted cake from the famous Ryke's Bakery and shared it with my co-workers.     I know that whenever I bring in a Ryke's cake to work, I am going to have a bunch of friends that day.