Holly, as a widow, I couldn't afford to live in NJ. I also heard people are leaving Florida because of crazy insurance premiums. My taxes are $1,400 a year. I break them down in two months since they are due Dec. 1st, so it won't interfere with Christmas money.

Marylou, my score dropped a little too, but I don't buy anything on credit. It really doesn't matter unless the time comes and you need a good interest rate and your score is really bad. I don't plan on having a mortgage or car payment in my lifetime, lol. Enjoy your trip! 

Holly, I found a picture of the XS I did in the 90's. I enjoyed doing it. I used 3 strands over 4 squares, lol. These are from photos so not great pictures. A lot more pink than the picture shows.



A closeup of the quilt. It's lighter than this picture shows but I wanted to show you the colors used.



and this was the 1991 design called "Summer Breeze" by Paula Vaughn. I don't know if she still does XS designs or even if she's still living.







 

Last edited by DownSouth (8/09/2024 8:27 pm)

Taxes in NY (not the city, cause I don’t know) are ridiculously high.  When we left about 8 years ago, our combined taxes were about $19,900 and going up.  School taxes were ridiculous.  And no services were included.   We had a 5000 sq ft house on 5+ acres.  Virginia’s taxes are lower, but they two bit you to death with things like personal property tax.  So every year you pay ppt on your cars, boats, trailers, etc and they determine the value to be taxed.  For example, last year they rated the value of my 2009 Rav over $9000!  I called and complained and they asked me what my pint was?  I said if you want to give me $8000 for the car, I’ll deliver it to you know.  Edmund’s and Kelly Blue Book value the same car at about 5000-5800.
They taxed our ‘06 truck at 22000… and so on…so even though VA taxes seemed low, they’re high also when you add the personal tax…so do the math..3 cars, a truc and a car trailer.  BTW, when you make an exterior improvement they tax that too.
    Anyway.  We did ok with the storm..about 3-4 inches of rain but no wind.

Good Morning to everyone!!  It's a beautiful day here, very still and sunny.  I have no plans for the day.  So think I'll finish here and go sit in my chair, watch some TV.  Have a wonderful day, see you tomorrow, BJ.

Janet, you are so right on taxing for exterior improvements. Not only exterior, interior improvements as well "if" they find out about it, lol. If you renovate your unfinished basement, you are going to be paying taxes on it if they know about it. A guy on YT (in Oklahoma) had a well and they enclosed it. The government tax officials came on his land while he was gone and he is now taxed for his enclosed well, which they consider a building! That's ridiculous! He was mad as "h...." because he had trespassing signs out. 

Sandra, it is hanging on the wall in that picture. I no longer have it because it wasn't framed right and it was out of proportion. It was fun to do. Not sure if I will do more or not...I can't think of any place to hang them. I don't plan on fixing any casseroles because it's only me. It's good you can share them. 

Happy anniversary, Patty! 

Last edited by DownSouth (8/10/2024 12:31 pm)

It also annoyed me that I only had two kids in school and the neighbor had 6. And that once my kids were out of school, I was still paying school  tax. 
    We get no services here, we have wells, septics and no trash pickup available.

Cheryl, your food payment sounds delicious! Billy's SIL, his Mom, my Mom and his only sister never learned to drive. I guess the man was really the "head" of the household way back then, lol. My Mom bought a new car for my sister (who lived next door) to be her chauffeur, lol. 

Holly, coming home at 8:30, I had to turn my lights on. I could have made it, but I would have had drivers blinking lights at me, lol. 

Sandra, giving up driving when we get older is the worse privilege to lose because we lose our freedom and have to rely on others. Billy's brother and his wife still drove to In-N-Out restaurant after his license was taken. 

Janet, I moved to city limits when I bought this house. You only get the "privileges" if you live in city limits...trash pickup every Friday, city sewer system and curbside trash pickup, street lights, sidewalks, pool, etc. My other house is 4-5 miles from here and we had a septic tank, but we did have county water and trash pickup (extra, not with your water bill like here.) You had to find your own company. That's what you get when you live on acreage and more rural. You don't have garbage service companies in your area you pay monthly and leave your garbage can at the roadside?
 

Thanks ladies!