Let's Finish the Studio!!!

...And let's get all crazy and write TWO posts at once! (Actually, it's mainly because I have a tough time with uploading too many photos in one post. Yep, I'm LAZY that way!).

So now I've got my Very Own Shed! Soon-To-Be My Very Own Studio - Yay!!!

I'll try to smoosh in some interior pictures here but basically I've got an 8x12 shed with THREE (count 'em, THREE windows!), a 9-light house-door with a WINDOW, and a Skylight Vent overhead.

Is it bright?! You bet'cha!!! I *love* sunny and bright (our house, OTOH, oftentimes feels a bit like a cave!)...

Sunny 'n Bright! :-)

Doorway, Window and Skylight Vent

Durock floor in the Kiln Korner (Durock went on the walls, too)

Electrician wuz here!

Insulation going up...

Insulation and Drywall, going up.

Big Attic Ventilation Fan in my Kiln-Corner (Plus Durock on the walls/floor)

Last piece of drywall going up!!

Skylight, after excavation (it got insulated and drywalled-over).

View thru the door (excuse the cardboard and wood-scraps for stepping stones!)

View thru my work-table window.

Come fall, I should be able to reach out and pick plums from the tree!

The shed, itself, was walled w/exterior sheathing over 2x4 studs. The floor was OSB. I plan to spend a LOT of time out there, creating whatever crap my heart-desires. Plus I'm gonna have a medium-sized high-fire kiln out there (courtesy of Santa-Rog). So now I've gotta "finish" the sumbitch!!!

I hired a bona-fide Electrician to install an 80amp sub-panel, running to the shed. Plus install lighting and a buttload of electrical outlets (the kiln requires 2 x 120v/20amp circuits). We built it with "room-to-grow" - in case I ever decide to upgrade to a 240v kiln someday...

I also hired my friend's son, Chris (aka "Rent-A-Son-Services, LLC"), hereafter known as "RASS" or "Chris" (depending upon my mood!), to handle some of the "finish" work. I purchased some El-Cheapo Brand Oak Laminate Flooring from Home Depot, which Chris installed in 2 days. Then I hired my B-I-L to do the insulation and drywall work since, ostensibly, that was what he did for a living (when he was employed - but let's not go there, okay?!)...

I was going to write a completely separate "Rant"/post about the positively sh*t-tastic job he did of installing the insulation and drywall (he insulated and drywalled *over* my skylight vent AND plastered and/or drywalled *over* two electrical outlets!!!). But I have decided to "take the high road" and skip the full-blown "rant." (but I *was* pissed-off BEYOND comprehension!!!).

Instead, I hired my neighbor to scrape-down the sh*t work and re-do the drywall texturing for me. All told, I spent *as much* (if not more) than I would have - had I hired a drywall contractor in the first place...

Final Texturing Job (Looks freaking awesome!!!)

(I'm not even gonna post pics of the sh*t texture that B-I-L put-on)

Anyway, I now have Oak Laminate Flooring, and a nicely textured drywall surface, and R-19 insulation in the walls (and a visible/usable skylight vent!). Presently, we are in the process of priming the walls... Then, I intend to get all Artsy-Crazy on the walls and try to do a trompe l'oei painting, so the studio *looks* like a Tiki Bar on the beach... We'll see how *that* goes!

OMG - I think I'm "up-to-date" on the Studio Progress! Hell, that must mean I won't post again for at least another 6 months!!! ;-)

Let's Build a Shed!

So yeah... We cleared a space in the yard and I finally decided that two-extra-feet was gonna make a world of difference.

I also ended up blowing-off Tuff-Shed's bid (too high) and went with California Custom Sheds, instead. They built the "other" shed in our yard and we are very happy with it. Their price was better *and* they build the entire thing on-site in one day. Tuff-Shed pre-fabs the shed, and brings it in, in pieces. This could be problematic given the fact that the far-back-side-yard is fenced in, has a narrow pergola, and *still* has an abundance of fruit trees. I don't think they could bring it in one-wall-at-a-time.

No glory or reimbursements, but I'll give 'em a plug just the same: California Custom Sheds. I'm just a very happy customer.

I was even able to arrange everything via email/phone calls. I've been "dreaming" about my studio for quite some time, so I already had a spreadsheet illustrating what-goes-where. They built it to my exact specifications and they delivered "when they said they would!" Actually, there was a delay - due to weather. But they were very good about communicating and squeezed me into the first available slot - after the rains had subsided.

Here are a few shots of the shed going up:

4x4 Pressure-Treated Skids going down

Walls going up!

All done!

They arrived just before 9:00am, and were gone by 4:00pm. I brought them cold sodas while they worked (which they appreciated, I'm sure. It was surprisingly hot that day!). They even painted the exterior to match the house. Yay!

All of this went down a couple-three weeks ago...

Am I done yet? Oh, hell no!!! Now I've gotta finish the inside!!!

Miscellaneous Projects Continue (Backyard Studio and Bathroom Reno)

Hmmm... I think the whole idea behind blogging is to provide brief, daily (or at least weekly) updates in whatever "areas of interest" you are yammering about, right?

Not wait for 2-3 months to pass and re-write freaking "War and Peace!" :::sigh:::

Yeah, well, brevity was never my strong-suit! So if you're here - "Deal with it!" ;-)

Mom's house is sold (Yay!). We closed escrow on February 28. While we didn't get as much as we were hoping (damned housing market!), it was still a halfway decent chunk-o-change (which is gonna get locked-up in some super-safe, modest-return, tax-exempt kind of investment).

I am spending some of it, though. Two Projects are in varying states of "underway-ness!"

Bathroom Reno: I ended up with three bids, and I have made my contractor selection. Original Kitchen-Guy came in with a decent "Labor-Only" bid. But his business has changed (he's now focusing almost exclusively on "cabinets"), and I'm really not up for running all over hell-and-creation, schlepping bathtubs in the back of my pickup truck! No, I'm gonna go with a "One-Stop-Shop" kinda place that specializes in Kitchens and Baths (that will do the schlepping for me!). It'll cost a bit more, but it'll be worth it.

American Kitchen and Bath is the Winner... They came highly recommended by my boss - and their bid was right in-line with what we are prepared to spend. Now, I just need to get the project rolling................

(Heck, maybe I'll even blog about it!) (What a concept!!!).

In the meantime, I have been a bit preoccupied with my Backyard Studio Project. See, this is where "blogging as you go" comes in handy! Oh, well!

Basically, about a month ago, I'd gotten an email from Tuff Sheds where they had some kinda Super-Duper Promotion of "Get a bid now and save a Jillion dollars" or something like that. They do have a showroom in Milpitas and I figured I needed to go see the sheds "in person" to decide what I needed... So I trudged up there one weekend and stood in several different sheds. Got 'em to write up a quote for an 8x10 shed, then came home to see if I had an 8x10 space in the yard!

Luckily, that was the first sunny, spring-like weekend we'd had in months. I determined that yes, I did have an 8x10 space - but we'd have to cut down three fruit trees, two palm-tree seedlings, and clear out a whole buttload of Gawd-Only-Knows-What in order to make room. I mentioned this to Rog and when he heard "cut down trees" his eyes lit up in a rather eerie way. "Do you want me to get the chain-saw???"

15 minutes later:

Fruit trees - Gone!

Then 30 minutes after that:

I bought replacements!

(Dwarf Cherry Tree on the left, and Satsuma Plum on the right.

I also went back a few days later and bought a Dwarf Apricot Tree)

Then a few days later:

Massive debris pile

And a few days after that:

Ooh! A building site!!! (Yes, the Inspectors are on duty!)

Okay... That's enough for now! Next installment: Let's build a shed!!!

Bathroom Reno [On-Hold] and Wild Hair #2

Addendum to Bathroom Reno [Non-] Quote #1...

So I received a VoiceMail a couple of weeks ago (which I never followed up on), and a few "Mystery Calls" on our phone, since the initial Non-Bid, right?

In the meantime, I got a Quote from the Kitchen Reno-Guy (appx $5,500 Labor-only - His company doesn't "do" bathrooms as a rule and doesn't have "stuff" to show us) (Total tally - if I buy and schlep materials - will be roughly $7500-8000). I also got a Quote from a Kitchen/Bath Renovator (that my boss used), that came in at less than $10K (and they are a "One-Stop-Shop").

We are leaning heavily toward the last bid. Based, in large part, on my boss' recommendation.

So anyway... We get a call, tonight, on the House-Phone. DH answers it - rather tersely - since he recognizes the # as one that has been calling repeatedly. It's Steve (or Joe, or whomever) from "Weatherite." He's the dude that left a message a week or so ago, wanting to know why we didn't choose their company (and their Illustrious Reputation, and Lifetime Warranty, and yada-yada-yada). He felt that there was a "disconnect" and wanted to discuss our reasoning for not going with them for our Bathroom Renovation Project...

So Rog picks up the phone, rather gruffly. Mutters something-or-other and hands the phone to me "It's for you!"

"Hello?"

"Hi, this is John (or Steve, or Joe, or whatever). I was just following up on why you decided not to go with us for your bathroom renovation project..."

"I'm sorry. What company are you with?"

"Weatherite. I think there was some kind of 'disconnect' and I just wanted to assure you that our Guarantee was the Best in the Business and yada-yada, humunuh-humunha..."

"Ohhhhhh, Weatherite... Yes! Well, yes. I remember you! There *was* a bit of a disconnect because your guy wouldn't EVEN give me a BID for the job. Even AFTER I'd explained - FOUR TIMES - that my husband wouldn't be here for the initial bid. It seems that your company doesn't like to do business with 'just the wife' - and that you require my husband to be here before you'll deal with us..."

I'll skip the play-by-play - other than to note that the "reasoning" for their refusal to give me a bid was because - when they have to write up 600 bids/month and it turns into 1200 bids/month because the [other interested party] isn't available and they have to repeat themselves... And yada-yada, when they do an INSTALL and [the other interested party] doesn't *like* what they've installed and they have to rip-it-out and re-install it, and yada-yada, and THAT'S why the industry is faltering and blah-blah-blah....

"Well, that's all very well-and-good, but - SINCE I HAD TO EXPLAIN MYSELF FOUR TIMES - your folks could have simply declined - up front - to send someone out to bid the job..."

And... "By the way, we have INSTALLED A SWIMMING POOL AND gone through a KITCHEN RENO and THIS IS THE WAY WE HANDLED IT... My husband doesn't get involved - other than reviewing the Final Selections, Signing the Contract, and Writing Checks for Payment..."

And... "I can certainly respect that THIS IS THE WAY YOU WANT TO DO BUSINESS. But, at the same time, *YOU* have to respect that THIS IS THE WAY THE MILLERS' DO BUSINESS and we are free to TAKE OUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE."

Even after that, he had the cojones to ask WHEN my husband would be available.

I stopped shy of saying "Go F*ck Yourself" and should have left it at that.

"My husband travels ALL WEEK, EVERY WEEK (blatant lie) and HE DOESN'T [Give a Rat's Ass] GET INVOLVED IN THE AESTHETIC DECISIONS [100% Truth].

Instead, it ended up more like "No, no... You have YOUR WAY of doing business and it doesn't mesh with ours. We have already decided to go with a different Bathroom Renovation Company - One that WILL work with the WIFE. Thank you very much...

Jeebus Criminey!!!

Okay, so, anyway... The Bathroom Renovation is actually "On-Hold" for the time being (although we WILL be working with American Kitchen and Bath - based on my boss' GLOWING recommendation - and the fact that their prices were "in-line" with what I was expecting. (I don't think I captured Bid#2 on my blog. But - at over $20K - it was laughable.)

I had braced myself for appx $10K for the bathroom job, so $9.200 is in-line (and that's with everything I want).

But we are waiting for the sale of Mom's House to go through, before we do anything....

Also waiting for the House-Sale is Wild Hair #2 (which will actually come to fruition before the Bathroom Reno): My Very Own Backyard Ceramic Studio

See, for Christmas, Santa Rog bought me my very own high-fire kiln. It requires 2x 120v/15a circuits (actually 28a total). The kiln is WAY COOL and I *totally* love it. But I don't have any place to plug it in. The fact that it runs on standard household current is good - but I can't run it in the house (due to fumes, heat, etc.). I really need a dedicated space for the kiln - so I'm planning to build another shed in the backyard.

Soooo... A couple-three weeks ago, I ventured out to a "Shed Shop" to look at backyard sheds. I finally settled on an 8x12 shed (w/7-foot high walls). I gathered a couple of different bids and finally settled on California Custom Sheds (they built the shed we've already got). They can install a shed for less than $3500.00. I'd also gotten a preliminary bid for the "electrical" - late last year. The "final bid" (for electrical) came in a LOT higher than originally anticipated (I've since asked for a re-work). I'm hoping I can get the shed built - and electrical installed - for appx $5,000.00. The "finish work" (insulation, drywall, Durock, etc.) can happen later (I'll hire my BIL to do that work)... But I am *very* excited about the possibility of getting My Very Own Studio constructed in my backyard!

So much so, in fact, that I have cleared a space in the Side-Yard to accommodate it. Rog got *real* excited when I announced that three fruit trees "had to go!" "Do you want me to get out the chain-saw?!" asked Rog.... "Sure!" I replied.

Within half-an-hour, all three fruit trees were gone (and within ANOTHER half an hour - bare-root replacements had been procured from the local nursery!!).

The Studio will be totally decorated with a 50's-60's Swank Tiki-Bar Vibe - and I am COMPLETELY JAZZED about the idea! The kiln will "live" in one corner which will be protected by Durock Cement Board - covered w/black mortar and edged with Lava-rock (so that the Kiln-Corner looks like a Volcano). We'll have to see how it all plays out - but I think it will be totally cool!'

Anyhooooooo... That's all the News that's Fit to Print from my End of the Planet... More to follow (as more stuff develops!)

WTF??? (Bathroom Reno Rant #2)

Ohhhh, let the Fun begin!

Here's a copy/paste of an email to my sis...

So, I went to the Home Show last week, right? Talked to a few businesses about our Bathroom Woes, yada-yada. Need to get a bid on a job to rip-out (to the studs) and replace the tub and tile enclosure. Replace it with a slightly-updated version of the same thing... Probably tackle the vanity countertop at the same time. Then -budget permitting - possibly consider additional upgrades...

"Well, we'd love to meet with you about your job" yayaya

"Fine, here's my cell# - Call me next week and we can schedule a time for you to scope out the work and give me an estimate," blah-blah

"Will your husband be there?"

"No." (you already know this part of the story - and if you don't, refer to yesterday's rant!)

(Ahh... But when will I learn to simply turn and walk away the MINUTE they ask me that question?!!)

Okay, so today, I get a call from "Huey" from Yaya-reno's. "Hi yes, we met at the Home Show last week and I understand you were interested in a bathroom remodel..." (very slick and salesman-like - except he must've shuffled his notes b/c he mis-spoke about certain aspects of the job... What-EVAHS...)

"Well, I'd like to schedule a time to come and look at the job."

"Okay, I am available after 3:00pm today."

"Oh, great, let me transfer you to Suzi, our dispatcher, to schedule that. Will your husband be there, too?"

"No. I already explained that *I* am in charge of gathering bids."

"Oh, well we really prefer to meet with both...." (OH JESUS CHRIST NOT AGAIN)

"Yes, but my husband travels 50-75% of the time. *I* am the one gathering bids and making the aesthetic decisions. My husband doesn't get involved until it's time to finalize everything and sign the contract."

"Oh, yes - that's right. Okay, let me transfer you to Suzi and she'll set something up."

Hold-Hold-Hold

Perky Voice: "Good morning, this is Suzi. I understand you have availability this afternoon for one of our Sales Reps to come out and bid your bathroom job."

"Yes, anytime after 3:00 works for me."

"Great! And will your husband be there?"

(OH FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

"No. He won't be. He travels 75% of the time and he won't be involved in this phase of the project. I am just gathering the preliminary bids. He'll get involved when it's time to sign the contract."

"Oh. Umm. Can you hold for a moment please? I need to ask my manager something."

(ARE YOU F**KING KIDDING ME?????)

Hold-Hold-Hold-Hold-Hold

I'm halfway expecting her manager to get on the phone, but no... I get Ms. Slightly-Less-Perky-Sounding Suzi back again.

"Okay, well, we're going to be sending Louie over this afternoon to review the job with you. And you say 3:00 is good?"

"Yes."

"Well, his presentation usually takes approximately 90 minutes - will you be able to meet for that long?"

"Yeah. Sure" (90 MINUTES?! JEEEEZUS)

So... I got back to work, and did some laundry and yada yada, then called Kathie at the end of my work day... Kvetched to her about the "Will my husband be here" crap-ola from the Bathroom Job Folks.

2:55pm, Louie shows up. All young and sales-man-looky. All Mr. Firm Handshake and "I look forward to going over your job" and "First I'm gonna do this and get some measurements, and then I'm gonna go back to my car and get some samples... and blah-dee-blah-dee-blah... And is your husband here?"

(OH-FER-GAWDS-SAKE-HOW-MANY-TIMES-DO-I-HAVE-TO-KEEP-TELLING-YOU-PEOPLE-NO-MY-HUSBAND-ISN'T-HERE!!!!)

"No. I am in the process of gathering bids on the job. Yours is the first bid that I am obtaining. We *just* went through a Kitchen Re-face job and this is *exactly* how it worked." (repeat the process again!)

"Okay, umm. Well, let's see your bathroom."

So I led him to the South Wing of the house.............

I explained what we'd gone through before - with the botched repairs - and how we want it done right this time. Ya-Ya. Take it back to the studs, fix the leak. Replace the tub with something similar and newer, more-updated tile.

"Yes, tile is good. But you know there are other materials. I mean, tile is kind of a nuisance to clean..."

"I don't clean. We have a maid."

"Yes, well ::gulp:::"

He then goes through the motions of measuring stuff, asks if we want a deeper soaking tub. "No. If I want a deep soak, we have a hot-tub out back. Just replace it with the same thing." Starts looking at the toilet. "Nope. Toilet's fine. We don't need a new one."

Then he mutters something about how he needs to call his boss.

(OH JESUS CHRIST!)

So he wanders out the front door, cell-phone to his ear...

Wanders back in a few minutes later and wants to know what time my husband will be home.

NO SH*T!!

"Uhhh. He won't be. Not for several days."

Here, let me try repeating myself s-l-o-w-l-y in case it's not quite clear. "MY HUSBAND TRAVELS ON BUSINESS. I WORK FROM HOME. I AM GATHERING BIDS AND MAKING THE DESIGN DECISIONS. YOU DO NOT WANT MY HUSBAND HERE FOR THE INITIAL BIDDING PROCESS. TRUST ME ON THIS. WHEN I WAS GATHERING BIDS FOR THE KITCHEN, MY HUSBAND WALKED IN DURING THE MIDDLE OF A PRESENTATION AND WHEN THE SALES GUY MENTIONED 'GRANITE,' MY HUSBAND JUST-ABOUT HIT THE ROOF. HE WILL NOT GET INVOLVED UNTIL IT IS TIME TO SIGN THE CONTRACT."

This is the point where I probably should have just shown him the door - but I was morbidly curious to see what he was gonna come back with...

"Well, you see," - sh*t, how did he put it? - something along the lines of "Budget and finishes go hand-in-hand" and blah-blah "We like this to be a joint decision with both parties present" and "I can't give you an accurate price-quote without having all of the decisions complete" and something that almost sounded like "what if you chose something your husband won't approve of?" (not quite that blatant - but something close-to that).

Then he tried to slide in a (brace yourself for the punch line) "I could come back this weekend."

"My husband will NOT sit through a Sales Presentation. His time is too valuable. I guess you've just narrowed down the number of bids that I need to obtain. Thank you for your time."

Then I got a little humunuh-humunuh bullsh*t don't-even-remember-what-he-said kinda response.

"No, no no. If that's the way your company wants to do business - I can respect that. Likewise, I am free to spend my money elsewhere." as I showed him to the door.

So. Bid #1. Didn't happen!

@$$hole!

I swear, I can't make this sh*t up!

Bathroom Reno (Rant #1)

Okay... Before Mom's House-Sale is even finalized... And before my Retirement Dreams can take shape... We've got a short-term problem that *really* needs to be addressed...

Specifically, the bathroom floor.

Now - several years ago - I'd noticed that the bathroom floor had some "issues." Namely, the fact that there was a *very* cold draft that was wafting over my feet as I sat on the toilet, via the base-of-the-head-of-the-tub-at-the-exterior-wall-joint. Add to that - a particularly rainy, cold night when a veritable sh*tload of ants decided to take-up residence *in* our bathroom (through a hole in the wall at aforementioned juncture)...

I think DH was out of town when the insects decided to move in b/c I recall asking him, over the phone, where the RAID was.

"Why?"

"Because we've got an infestation."

"Why?"

"Because - whoever did the caulking job around the base of the tub did a really sh*tty job!"

"*I* did the caulking!"

:::GULP:::

"Okay, well, where's the RAID, dear?!"

Well, we basically decided that we had a significant issue when I determined that I could peel-back the vinyl flooring and *stick my finger* through the underlying floor!!!

So we contracted with a Handyman Service to address our concerns...

ScrewYou Handyman Services came in and charged us a King's Ransom to pull-out the bathtub and surrounding tiles; fix a leak; replace the flooring; and install a sliding door thingie-doo on the tub.

Mystery Leak Under Floor

Tub and Shower Surround - w/sliding door

Well, just over a year later, the same problem came back again. Only ScrewYou Handyman Services (Now ScrewYou Renovation Services!) wouldn't cover it because it had been over a year since the repair... So we called in a different "Handyman" to re-fix the floor (and the improperly re-installed toilet!).

I think we repaired the floor - again - a year or so after that.

And now - Five years *after* the original repair (which cost as much as a full-blown bathroom Reno) - we've *still* got the original problem. :::sigh:::

Sooooo... Now we're gonna gather bids - again - to "Do The Job Right" this time. I went to the Home Show in SanJo this past weekend, and gathered business cards.

Now I'm going through the whole "Set-up appointments and gather bids" rigamarole again...

And - once again - I'm getting the whole misogynistic "Will your husband be there?" line of bullsh*t! But at least this time I can come back with "We just went through a kitchen reno - and *this* is how we did it: I gather the initial bids and make all the aesthetic decisions, narrow it down to 2-3 contractors,m *then* we meet again - with my husband - to finalize the details..."

Those who respond with "Well, we don't like to do it that way because we have to repeat ourselves" should get IMMEDIATELY dismissed! Jeez!

DH travels - A LOT - and doesn't have the time, nor the desire, to sit through a prolonged Sales Pitch. He is not interested in Granite Slab Countertops or high-end whatchamajiggies...

In fact, one of the "preliminary bidders" in the Kitchen Reface Project, a couple of years ago, made the mistake of uttering "Granite Countertops" in Hubbie's presence, and I thought DH was gonna take his head off! (He didn't win the bid, BTW).

After I make the preliminary design decisions and determine the Top-3 "Estimates,"*then* DH and I go back and meet with "the winners" to make our final decisions and -potentially - sign the contract.

For this Go-Round, I am obtaining a couple of bids from folks I met at the Home Show. I have also contacted the same company that did our Kitchen Re-Face. His business has changed and it looks like he also does bathroom reno's. This is good because we truly like the way he does business (He didn't do the whole Hard-Sell/Upsell Routine. We told him our budget and he worked within it).

Sooooo... In the next week or so, I will be gathering bids to rip-out our existing bathtub and tile surround (back to the studs); FIX the Freakin' Mystery Leak - ONCE AND FOR ALL; Replace the tub and tile surround with something a bit more "updated;" and replace the floor. At the same time, I'm hoping we can replace the vanity counter-top with something that will compliment the new tub-tile. Then - budget permitting - I'd like to reface the dark-oak cabinets with light beechwood shakers - to match our kitchen (Maybe).

I actually do hope that the Kitchen company "wins" the bid. I really was very happy with the way the kitchen project went. But I would be remiss if I didn't at least gather a couple of additional bids...

The "Challenge" here is that our house only has the ONE bathroom - so we really do need to minimize the amt of time we are "Out of Commission!"

Anyhoooo... That's the Latest 'n Greatest from My World!

More Wild Hairs

So... This past New Years' Weekend I was suffering from a severe case of "Cabin Fever!" It was rainy, dreary, miserable and COLD outside! I did work - a bit - on "Creative Projects" (finished up a "mixed-media" art-piece which was supposed to be Kathie's Christmas Present, and started a mini-painting). But I also spent a fair amount of time on Google.

See, last November, Rog and I vacationed on Maui. He had Frequent Flier Miles to burn, and I found an "outrageously reasonable" rate for a condo in Kihei (@ ~$100/night). So off we went!

Now I hadn't been to Maui since the early 70's (Dad worked for UAL so we actually vacationed - a LOT - in Hawaii, but only made it to Maui once). My impression of Hawaii, in general, is that it's "outrageously expensive" and also Mega-Miserably-Humid. But after spending a week in a Kihei-condo, I have modified my opinion of the place!

Kihei is actually (relatively) reasonable - price-wise (of course, I'm coming from a California mindset - where "outrageous" is The Rule!). Yeah, fuel-prices are ridiculous (I think we paid close to $4.00/gal for gas - but at the time CA gas-prices weren't much cheaper than that). Groceries were *a bit* higher but - again - not completely out-of-the-ballpark (Plus we found Wal-Mart! Not bad at all. AND they've got Costco!). The fact that we were in a condo, and preparing meals "at home" made it quite a bit more bearable to be honest...

Anyway, we covered a lot of ground while we were in Maui. We basically traversed the entire island (including the infamous "Road-To-Hana" which is definitely an *experience!*) (and drove back via the southern route AFTER DARK [dodging free-range cows no less!] - again - an *experience!*). The variety of Micro-Climates on Maui is *incredible* (rivals that of NoCal - to be honest). If you're too hot/cold/whatever, just drive 10 minutes and you'll be in a completely different climate!

Annnd.... The fact of the matter is: Maui is still very-much "under-developed" and feels almost "Third World" in a lot of ways. Yet, it still offers "Modern Conveniences."

Bottom Line: I actually fell in love with Maui while we were there and I have determined that - without question - I *could* live there! Possibly in retirement????

...And I have "planted the seed" in DH's mind (ooooWEEEEEEooooooooWEEEEEoooooo!!!). Thus far, it seems to have taken root! ;-)

Soooo... While we were there (with dueling laptops!), I started Googling real-estate prices and I determined that they definitely have been *hit* by the Bubble-Burst (lots of REO's and short-sales). There are definitely properties there that fall under the "affordable" category (at least by *my* definition of "affordable"). And - with the fact that mom's house is worth a fair chunk of change - I think I might actually be in a position to buy an "Investment Property" on Maui.

Nothing super-duper fancy-schmantzy. I'm envisioning an unimproved "lot" - maybe about a 1/4 acre (like we're living on now - sans house, right?). I figure it can just sit there over the next 10-15-20 yrs and - hopefully - appreciate in value. If we decide *not* to move there, then I can (hopefully) sell it and bank a modest profit. Or, if we *do* decide to retire there, we can sell our San Jose abode and apply the proceeds toward building a modest (but nice) retirement home there.

Nothing upscale. Just a simple 3-4 BR 2 BA home - say, appx 1800-2000 SF. I can't afford anything super-nice (No "expansive ocean views" or PGA Golf Course setting). But if we were "walking distance" to the beach and/or shops - that'd be find with me! The main thing is The Weather! Temps were *very* agreeable to us! Mid-70's at night. Mid-80's during the day. Not oppressively humid (Yay!). Light sea-breezes to keep things bearable. Ohhhh yeah! I could live like that!

If I *were* to pursue this Dream, I think I would want to build a small, detached "ohana" on it. Like a small studio apartment. We could use it as a vacation house for ourselves - in the meantime. Just fly on over, hang out for a week or so, then fly back. After we retire, we could use the ohana as a vacation rental and ppl could pay us to stay there!

I'm kinda liking that dream!

There are definite "down-sides" to the dream though. Building costs are pretty high there (along the lines of $200-400/SF). Food and fuel costs are definitely higher (since pretty-much everything needs to be "shipped in"). Docking is next-to-impossible to find (for Das Boot) - but the sailing conditions are spectacular. As are the motorcycle roads (road to Haleakala was *very* similar to many of my favorite South-Bay California roads).

*I* had really (seriously) entertained the idea of retiring in Mexico - after my College Bud, D'Le, and her husband retired there. But Rog ix-nayed the idea when he heard we'd have to give up the Harleys and Corvette (Mexico roads: Not so nice - and the "appearance" of being "affluent" is *never* a good idea down there).

Anyhoooo... Maui is looking better and better!

In my Googling, I have found a Real Estate Agent (who put-up a nice blog-post about retiring in Maui here). I like her perspective, since she's from Santa Cruz and understands where we're coming from - so we've started a bit of a correspondence.

Of course, FIRST we've got to get Mom's house sold (which is a source of another rant - which I may, or may not post here!).

Anyhoooo.... That's my Wild Hair Du Jour! Maybe I'll buy a retirement "lot" in Kihei, Maybe not. In the meantime, I do plan to continue with my short-term Wild Hair Plan of building a ceramic studio in the backyard...