ORIGINAL QUESTION. For those who HAVE DONE IT . . . HOW did you? AND . . .

Can I ???

I just read all ten pages and this was as good as smile to today. For any on you who think Michelle is not for real - I'll vouch for her. I moved to San Pedro from Northern California and Southern California (especially Laguna Beach) is as different as A/C is from Punta Gorda.

Michelle, although a lot of people have played with you they have also told you the truth.

HOW I DID IT: (* all US dollars)

• I had a 2400 square foot house so I went though and put a sticky on everything I planned to take.
• I had my son and daughter come take anything that they wanted that wasn't tagged. That was four SUV's packed full.
• I invited my friends to come take what they wanted.
• I had a friend who organized garage sales set up a yard sell that covered all 75' of my drive way.
• I had guys from a recovery facility come and take anything that was left that they thought they could use or sell.
• I had a guy with a dump truck come and take the rest.
• I had the Polly Klaas Foundation come and take my Infiniti convertible.
• The moving company brought a 40' container (I only needed a 20') and they wrapped, boxed and loaded all my tagged stuff.
• I had to put this stuff in storage in Ladyville until my condo was almost finished (I moved in 5 years ago and it is almost finished.) LOL
• I still have enough unopened boxes to fill a bathroom to the ceiling even though I keep giving stuff away.

What I learned was that this is all just STUFF!

What I don't miss
o Paying $100 a month for car insurance (I pay $50* a YEAR for golf cart insurance.
o Paying at least $100 a month for gasoline (I have an electric golf cart).
o Paying $2,000 a year for home owners insurance (I pay $90 a year here).
o Paying $3,000 a year for property taxes (I pay $90 a year here).
o Paying $5 one way to cross a bridge (I pay $75 a month for a bridge pass).
o Paying $50+ for limited cable TV (I pay $21 a month for 75+ channels).
o Not having to drive an hour to the airport to check in 2 hours ahead of schedule).
o Traffic jams (I can make it across the bridge and to the airport in 10 minutes).
o Having to schedule a doctor's appointment three months in advance (I call Dr. Lerida's office in the morning and am seen that afternoon - and never waited more than 10 minutes and the cost of an office visit is $15).
o Driving 2 hours to Monterey to dive in 52° water (my dive operator picks me up 900' down the beach and the water is almost always 82°)

What I do miss I can live without and then it is a special treat when I travel.

My daughter, who also loves this island but is stuck in Southern California, says that "this is an island of misfits - including you Mom!" I take that as a compliment. And thanks to all of you for an afternoon of entertainments as I sit here at my computer overlooking the most beautiful sea in the world.

Last edited by ScubaLdy; 07/18/09 02:43 PM.
Harriette
Take only pictures leave only bubbles