Ok, first about 15 months ago we started thinking about a 5th wheel that we could travel with after I retire again in May 2007. In January last year when we were near some RV Dealers we decided to take a look so that we might get an idea of what we wanted in about a year. In typical Gator Bill family style, after coming across a deal we couldn't pass up, three days later we owned what we thought was going to be our trailer for traveling. So far so good. However spring break last year we took it on a shakedown cruise to Franklin NC where our intention was to see what it was going to be like living there in the summer. However events sometimes have a life of their own. While theremy wife's sister from Atlanta who had been raving about a piece of property in Franklin she hoped to buy if she could sell her house in Atlanta, did get a deal on her house and we were able to go with her to see what they loved so much. Here's a couple of views from what is now their house. Notice the small cabin in the picture on the lower half of the property. We fell in love with the property, the view and we already had a good idea our long term plans were to move to North Carolina. Turns out they did not want to buy the whole property and we bought the lower half with the cabin. Which by the way is really a trailer. Notice in the two pictures above the green area to the right of the picture. After returning to Florida we put our house up for sale and it sold quickly. So we did buy the lower part of the property. Our intention when we went to Franklin to live last summer was to wait a year until I retired and build a house that we had already fallen in love with. However like every where else in the country prices were rising very quickly and we made the move on May 31st to sign a deal and beat the June price rise. The reslult is our dream house below shown from the front, a view from the National Forest, through the trees, that borders our property. Also a snow picture. Here's a sunrise from our front porch, which faces east, or from the bedroom. The view is esentially the same. A view of some storm clouds hanging over the mountains. The last view is from our living room into the mountains. You can't see the mountains because of the camera focus and it was a bit cloudy. The picture is really to show our front windows. What I didn't mention above is once we returned to Florida to finish my last two years we have been living in the trailer in the first picture. It has gone really well, but now that our house is finished I think it will be a lot more difficult in late August this year to return to Florida and live in the trailer instead of the house. I have arranged my schedule next year so that we may be able to make a few trips to North Carolina for long weekends. This time a year from now we will be preparing to leave Florida and move into the house permantely. It is quite a lifestyle change for us. Any of you that might be in North Carolina during this summer or after we get there full time we would love to have you drop by. Oh, we did keep the cabin and you can see it to the right of the picture. Gator Bill
Bill is this like that puzzle in the comics section where you're supposed to figure out the difference between pictures that on the surface appear identical?
Not really Terry, I was posting them to make sure they all showed up and were the right size. Then I edited and wrote my commentary when you saw the first group of pictures. Gator Bill
Oh, I know this will get moved to the other forum, but I thought I would post it here first anyway. :twisted: :twisted: Gator Bill
Terrific pictures Bill, the setting is post card perfect! How far are you from civilization...ie Mall, full service grocery store, etc? Terry
still a gator?? <t>when you move to n.c. will you still be a gator or what?<br/> <br/> P.S. We have a house in Banner elk North Carolina</t>
Terry and Joel, we are about 10 miles from K Mart, Lowes and a full service grocery store. Another five miles from a Wal Mart and about the same distance from downtown which Joel linked. In addition it's about 80 miles to Ashville and 40-50 miles from the Smokey Mountain National Park. There are at least four nice waterfalls within about 10 miles and a really nice one about 20 miles away. It's a beautiful area and we are excited about the big change in our life. Gator Bill
Oh yeah Little Gonzo we will still be Gators. Part of the deal is that we keep our season tickets. I know about your place in North Carolina, your dad was kind enough to offer it as a place to stay once when we were hammered by one of the hurricanes. I almost met you last year when you and your dad went to the Florida - Tennessee game. I talked to your dad prior to the start of the game and got in the general area where you were but then couldn't reach him on the phone. I did catch him when you guys were on the way home. Perhaps another time. Gator Bill
Like your new house Bill. Of course, I liked your old house. You never know when I might show up again.
Joel, there is a clinic the same distance as the Lowes I mentioned and a hospital downtown near the picture in the link you furnished. A number of doctors in town also. Clayton Georgia is 20 miles away, Sylva also 20 miles and Ashville 90 miles. Gator Bill
Bill, excellent scenery. We feel the same about our little 11 acre mini cattle ranch. Cindy and I are preparing in advance for that change in lifestyle. We have six cows on the property now with 4 of them females. Females get a life sentence of delivering calves. Males are sold unless the stock pile gets too low in the freezer. I'll take some pictures the next time we are over there and post them here. I never thought that I would be involved in raising cattle. However, it is a great way to keep the freezer stocked in retirement.
:shock: Wow! That is something! How's the wildlife there? It looks like a bear could come along and poop on yer porch! ...........JO'Co
Tom, cows wouldn't fit well on my property, to small. But it's amazing how life can turn isn't it? JO'Co, as a matter of fact the property to the left, when viewing from the front of the house, is National Forest property and is in fact a bear preserve. None of us have seen a bear there, but when we rented about two miles from there a few years ago we had a bear on the back porch twice. Gator Bill
Nothing spectacular like your mountain home, Bill. But we are very proud to have land that can provide for us in our later years. Got to wear orange and white anywhere I go! :wink: All six cows in our small herd... It will grow. :!: Scanning across the property with the tractor in the distance. The house is across the county road from our property. Cindy running the fences in the distance on her four wheeler.