I sold my property in San Jacinto county (sold 3-4 days after listing which tells me I sold to cheap) and packed up and arrived in Central Texas with our last load of "stuff" last Thursday evening. Found to my dismay, that the dweeb managing 2nd 10x20 storage room place I had reserved in Lampasas had rented it out so I had to rent one in Copperas Cove. That worked out all right in the end... Been a refugee in Days Inn Copperas Cove for 4 days now.
We've looked at nearly 40 places in person since last Thursday and really didn't find anything out around Lampasas/San Saba that fit both my budget and my wants. I wanted a small place, raise a few calves each year maybe but that ain't going to happen.
I'm pretty pragmatic about things in life but my wants have for some time over-ridden the reality of my life. I can afford the bigger rural property but for what and be able to work it for how long?
I'll be 72 in a few weeks. My health is not good. Both shoulders worn out, a decades old injury/bad back that for months has caused terrible pain down my right leg and a weak right hip. I could barely walk from my back porch down to the pond, much less do any real work for very long. Then, diabetic, plus an official diagnosis of congestive heart failure. Made the decision yesterday, that my agriculture/farm days are done. Time for me to just live out my remaining months/years in town and take it easy and according to my kids and my wife, I have to do it somewhere close to good medical facilities. I have never feared death but not going to rush it either.
Wife also deserves to be able to live comfortably and not worry about fences, water well, a malfunctioning waste water plant, grass/forest fires...or , floods so we've put in a bid and presumably are going to close within 3 weeks on a nice house in a subdivision in Copperas Cove. It's definitely 'livin above my raising' and I'll have to build a little shop to pursue my woodworking hobby but I can make it work I suppose. Just have to find somewhere to fish.

I am SO going to miss what I've done for so long, but deep down, I know I just can't do it any more (or not for much longer anyway).
4 bdr, 2 bath, small 1/3 ac lot with neighbors stuck up our butts but it is what it is. (had to have room for friends, family, the kids and grandkids to visit.)



The kitchen is bigger than what this looks like (wider) but I do most ofvthe cooking and wanted a good sized kitchen with plenty of cabinet space.

A nice covered back porch



I guess I will have to learn to maintain this thing.


I'll have to replace the wooden fence with a newer one, but that's within my ability still.
I can't say I'm happy to reach this point but I'm very happy that I'm able to provide my sweetheart of 28 years with a home she can enjoy even after I'm gone. After all she endured down in East Texas along that river, all the bugs, the humidity, the snakes, the mud, the floods and more, she deserves at least this.

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 05-17-2022).]