That reminds me of Jeff Foxworthy's joke ... "If you see a poster that says 'Say No to Crack,' and it reminds you to pull up your pants... you might be a redneck." I'd make the neat-pants-w/belt a part of company policy, as in dress code. Just as we'd tell an employing that there's no alcohol-drinking on the job, it's just as important to have a neat appearance - hair, shirt, hygiene and pants. Shirts tucked in, too.

Took us a year to find a house. After selling our home of 40 years in NY, we retired to Florida. We were lucky we had family with vacation condos where we could stay during that time. We must have seen hundreds of houses and worked with 5 different agents....don't ask! It was a nightmare and we wound up buying a house we had seen at the very beginning of our search. We liked it initially, but it lacked certain things we thought we couldn't live without. It also was out of the area we wanted to live in. Over the year, the market (Florida) began to change from buyers to sellers market. Investors were snatching up properties quickly. But, we also saw many short sales which were tempting. We had put offers on a few but the banks never moved. It became depressing. We had all our belongings, furniture, clothes, etc. in storage which was expensive. We felt so displaced and unhinged. We had accepted offers on quite a few houses during the year but they all fell through. Most failed inspections and the buyers wouldn't allow for major repairs (roof, plumbing, mold). Others had permit issues where the work they did was not legal. Their only option was to try to get permits but they all choose not to do so. So we wound up with one of the first houses we saw. By that point the seller dropped her price and we raised ours. She was underwater with the bank and would only accept her price to cover her mortgage. We gave in and covered her. Are we happy here? Still not sure, bit we are finally settled. After 7 months I still don't feel this house is home. It took me almost 6 months before I could call it 'home.' I still have issues with that word. But, we spent a year living in limbo, working with agents who didn't fit. When we finally found the right Realtor we knew we'd find our house. I don't know if you'll ever find the right house. I do know the longer it takes the harder it becomes. You begin to settle, you get tired of looking and you just accept. I still feel we should have kept looking. We call this place home now. We are slowly putting ourselves in the house making it feel like home. Not there yet, but at least we aren't living our lives looking for the 'right' home anymore. Good luck, Jane

We built custom because there were no homes available (size and features we wanted...large floor to ceiling windows in just about every room of the house) on the type of land we were looking for. I desperately wanted privacy and I was so so tired of the typical subdivisions where you’re on top of your neighbors and every home looks and feels basically the same. Even many of the upscale neighborhoods with large lots and custom homes just didn’t suit us. We didn’t need neighborhood amenities and had no desire for a “showy” community). In addition , we were finished with HOA’s (I can see the value of them, but I didn’t want to have to ask permission every time I wanted to plant a flower. I wanted to be able to look out every window of my home and not see another house and also have enough land that if the surrounding area was clear cut of every tree, we still would be private and have only nature as our view. BUT (and this was a big but, it could not be in the boonies. We wanted property very close to everything (grocery, mall, restaurants, drug stores, airport, etc.). And another absolute requirement was that the lot was situated in such a way that the main living areas (which I wanted in the rear of the house) faced south (but also with open east and west exposures). I need sunshine and bright cheeriness flooding my home all day long, so even though we needed trees on the perimeter of the property for privacy, we also wanted the building pad to be fairly open so sunlight would be able to flood the interior spaces. So, finding a suitable (and affordable) lot was the tough part. We finally found pretty much exactly what we were looking for....almost 7 acres surrounded by trees (privacy!) but with a fairly clear open area for building. It is in a “subdivision” but there are only 7 lots (all with decent acreage). There also is an HOA, but I am the VP so no problems there :). It’s gated which is nice, but does not have the feel of the typical gated community....much more relaxed. And.....the grocery store (as well as a bunch of other stores) is 3 minutes up the road and “civilization” (the mall and restaurants etc.) are a 10 minute drive. There are also a bunch of other subdivisions very close by along with elementary, middle, and high schools....so there is not that feeling of isolation. Perfect setup for us. Now, as far as the building process goes, hoo boy, it was not without its problems. We’ve built several times before....and it’s never been just pure joy (although each time I somehow thought it would be different because I had learned so much from the previous build....that was not reality though). I’m glad it’s over. Making so many decisions in such a short period of time hurt my brain and having to babysit and nag my builder was a pain and nuisance that I didn’t enjoy. We’ve been in the house almost 6 months. Was it worth all the pain and suffering? Not quite ready to say yes to that yet....still need a little distance between the building trauma and our move in date. But i am truly enjoying the house and setting....I’m sitting here this morning and enjoying watching the birds from my comfy window seat. The sun is streaming in all my windows and doing exactly what I anticipated ......flooding the house with light. And I’m sipping a delicious cup of coffee to boot...so it’s definitely getting closer to being worth it. A few more months and I think I’ll be there. This is it though, we will NOT be building again :) Link to Our build

No such luck with my Dad. He argues with every single person he comes into contact with. And lack of appetite is one of the things he fusses over. But refuses to take any medications that might deal with the whole spectrum of symptoms. I just tell him take a few bites, like you'd do with a toddler. And he also gets upset that I'm NOT upset about his eating. I can't control it, he'll either eat or not eat, he cannot be force fed. Large portions of his day revolves around fussing and obsessing over food, or obsessing over lack of sleep which would probably also be helped by anti-depressants . . . but I try to keep it as his "thing" and not my problem since nothing can be done about it. He's refused MULTIPLE doctors suggesting or prescribing anti-depressants. It's not for lack of options or food available to just put fork to mouth for, or resources for medical help. He will eat under certain circumstances, but often salty foods that are terrible for his congestive heart failure kidney condition, so that's another issue. Eating "forbidden" foods and getting away with it is something that motivates him. Of course he pays for it with indigestion at the very least, which of course he fusses about some more . . . This is one instance of "It is what it is" because it is not for lack of resources right under his actual nose. He cannot be forced. Ironically, he likes to break social distancing rules and go unmasked and un-distanced over to friends houses to eat, who are also not social distancing and out and about on their social rounds. The defiance stimulates his appetite I think . . . so I'm just always uncomfortable around him for a whole variety of reasons . . . I have to try and socially distance from him and yet keep an eye out on him, which also triggers his anxiety. So far the only thing that makes his day is proving he was right and someone else was wrong, along with defying someone's rules and "getting away with it." He's not the only one presenting that issue in a social situation either, hence more discomfort for a lot of folks.