joyful, >> Your job (maybe "succession of jobs/employment positions") haven't been downsized to offshore, I assume? Au contrare, never assume! I'm in the IT industry and have been since the late 70's. Ever hear of "mainframes" (DOS/VSE, VM, MVS) .... my industry has been through enormous changes and is a poster child for not only downsizing but offshoring, rightsizing, partnering etal. It's caught many by surprise. Fortunately, I've not been one of them due in large part to my "diversification". I've adapted, embraced the underlying changes and have developed "new" skills that are much harder to outsource. In the IT industry those are client-facing expertise, business area management, negotiation, contract management, busines intelligence/analytics etc. >> where will the money come from, and how will it come to us, for us to buy the stuff? In the US we are poor savers hence the need for investment capital is met my foreign investment. The U.S. economy is throwing off high investment returns that attract foreign capital from around the globe (where free-market capitalism, continues to spread at a breathtaking pace). That fuels business expansion and jobs. The average monthly job creation over the past two years is running at 179,000, more than five times the GM layoff total. >> where's the money to come from to pay my pension (s)? ..Sure glad I'm not a retiree from Enron! Unfortunately many companys will not survive, even those that are today successful. Those that have all their eggs in a single basket that is dependent on OTHERS (co pension, SS etc) may want to think of taking a lump sum distribution as opposed to a lifetimme annuity. Unfortunately it appears our current courts are allowing companies to walk-away from pensions as part of reorganization and dumping the obligations on the PBGC. Legislation requiring 3rd party management (similar to 401k's) may be the only answer. In the US defined benefit plans (pensions) are going the way of the dodo. Bob

I have included a link to a URL that has a comparison chart for various water heater types. They add the install cost to the annual operating cost to give a lifetime cost. This gives a high cost of operation for oil fired hot water. For some reason they only give a 55% efficiency for oil fired hot water. Not including a heat pump option, they have "demand gas" as the lowest cost followed by a "condensing" gas storage. I question the 55% efficiency number they have for oil fired. One unit I found is a demand Toyotomi Oil fired hot water unit. This is rated at 88% efficient. Isn't that the best of both worlds? High efficiency, tankless, and oil fired? I also see the wisdom in oil fired tank system because I do see some down-side to tankless. The concern is that the water temp varies over time on output, and if you have a sudden multi-use condition it can be overextended. Anyway, lots of options but I am curious about the "condensing" water heaters. Here is a link that might be useful: Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings

Wow Bodica you have me dreaming :) If you look at the harbor room pic, you can see water out the window, that's the bay, just down the hill and the house has excellent views on that side. The opposite side view is the gorgeous stone court house. In front is a large park owned by the city, and behind is the carriage house now a private home separately owned. I am fairly certain we can't have cows in the city limits :oP But we can walk about six blocks to a fabulous farmers market on the weekends. The furnishings are 85% real antiques (victorian) and a few have come from the original owners (meaning they've always been in the house). A few pieces are spectacular, the balance are your typical eastlake style, but still quite lovely (just not rare). There are a couple pieces not incuded with the purchase that I will ask for anyhoo as part of the offer because they're unusual and special. I'd guess from a rough count it's about 50,000 in furnishings and fittings. The lighting is generally fabulous, with a few changes needed..but I adore antique lighting so that will be fun. It's a state and national landmark home, as well as registered with the national historical society. I'm just starting to look into how that effects our life. In general, because it's such a special home historically, we're not planning on doing anything inappropriate. The only big change would be the kitchen, which has been remuddled over time as a professional kitchen and will be returned to a semi unfitted kitchen when we want to put the money into it. And all of the bathrooms (I think 11?) need to be redone in a more appropriate historical period (they were done in the 80's with formica and cheap tile). A few fireplaces also are hidden or have been replaced with wood stoves. We'll fix those. The three we can see all have fabulous tile...not Morovian, but they have that feel. The whole joint needs to be deflowered! (this thread will now pop up in some unusual searches on google LOL) I mean there are flowers on top of flowers with flowers on the bed and flowers in vases (fake) and flowers in the lace....egads flowers. I'm sure I'll be having nightmares about those flowers for years as I slowly remove them. When it comes to the decor, we'll be historically sensative. I believe that in a softer way, the victorian style is an easy style to live with. The sofa's will be softer, but still elegant, but I'm totally into the heavy draperies and lush carpets :) It will be a "home" but still be appropriate for charities to use for the victorian home tours and special events held now annually there. We plan on allowing that to continue. I grew up in the town in another special house there (Smith house, which was the first cabin in town and is now a modest victorian home). It's not my dream home (French house in Duluth) but if one has to "settle" this is one heck of a home to settle for isn't it? :) (Believe me I'm not feeling deprived at all LOL). It will provide us with a wonderful home for my son and his friends in the future, and if we're lucky a baby or two. And if we're not, the three of us will muddle on just fine there :) The only downside to this is I have to move away from my husband (he'll do one week with us and one week here). But we have to do it for our son. PBJ they can't get me into all of the rooms until the end of the month, and I'm not flying down until I can see every one of them, so we've agreed on the last Sunday of the month. I'm working on my checklist for the visit now :)

Ducky, it sounds absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to see pictures - I'm planning a backyard wedding as well and am interested to see how REAL people do it (as opposed to magazine pics). Your tips sound pretty good too...I think I'll save those. Your first dance at sunset with the bubbles sounds perfect. Do you mind if I borrow the idea?