Well, based upon responses I got I decided not to go with an extra deep pot and instead will use the McConkey JMCTS4 which is a square pot 4 inches wide at the top and 3.5 inches deep. I chose the white color even though its costs slightly more for two reasons, you can write the name of the variety right on the pot with a sharpie and it really stands out, plus the white color will keep the plant roots from overheating when left out in the sun on a hot day. I found out the factory was just 10.1 miles from my house, and I was able to buy a case of 880 pots wholesale for only $51.18, which come to only 5.82 cents each, or about 6.4 cents each including sales tax. Most online sellers don't even offer white color, and charge about $100 for 500 pots which comes to about 20 cents each, plus you still have to pay for shipping. At the factory they also sell over-runs of special orders, they had some hot pink and fluorescent lime green pots for a dime each I was tempted to buy to see if they attracted customers. BTW, from a purely sales viewpoint, big plants sell first. Whenever I give my customers their choice of any plant of a particular variety they want they always go for the biggest plant, even if they have to move other plants out of the way to get to it.

It's Marblehead. There's a few givens about Marblehead: Houses will be very old, very close to one another, very close to the street and the ocean. There will be many, many artistic folks....from boat builders to artists. It's Marblehead. I look at that house and see a very interesting and tasteful reworking of a very classic Marblehead home. The colors are rabidly horrid but the modern glass additions feel very sympathetic to the old structure. I disagree that the ceilings show signs of issues. For a house from the 1800's, the ceilings look great.(And plaster...either the house was in amazing shape or someone chose to pay for new plaster and not drywall) It looks like an architect was involved in the process. I don't think one can argue in this case that garish colors are hiding years of misuse. The older rooms have been treated with respect...apart from the unfortunate paint choices...notice the historic millwork is kept and the old floors are impecable. I haven't been to Marblehead in years, but I used to spend a lot of time there and it's a fantasic place. That price seems low, but maybe it's the market? I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Hey, it's Marblehead.

"Short term (savings) rates (eg 5+% available at many online banks) and long-term rates (eg mortgages) are very close together right now, a phenomenon known as an inverted yield curve (or approaching it). Tax effects are approximately the same in both cases (cancel each other out) so they can more or less be ignored." Not really. The mortgage rate is locked in. The short-term savings rate is not. As I said, you should easily be able to beat the current interest rate on a 15-year mortgage with even a conservative long-term investment approach. If I understand you correctly, if you go the HELOC route, that menas you're going to buy the new house with cash. If you take a mortgage, you're not. In the first instance, you're going to have to liquidate some of your investments. In the second, case you're not. You're most likely to wind up further ahead if you keep more of your money invested, and that's true even taking the closing cost of the mortgage into account. Of course, it could be that the security you feel from not having to pay a mortgage is worth a financial sacrifice to you. You'll have to decide what that's worth to you. But since you want to know what I'd do, I'll tell you -- I'd go for the mortgage.

My parents had house/pet sitters, first one they paid a small amount but I sure didn't like it, found out she was at her own place daily and the reason was the house wouldn't be empty and the pets had someone upstairs all the time with them. The plants were to be watered too. I was downstairs and picked up the mail, they got the newspaper daily that my parents kept going for them to enjoy. After that they traveled for months on end and didn't pay them anything as yes, they had free room and board, got use of dad station wagon to drive. They had satellite tv, a nice house to stay in. They bought their own food though, that was the only thing they had to buy. Pets food, dad would load up huge for them to have on hand to feed for that length of time. Dad also arranged at the vets that for any reason the pets got sick, something happened, he would pay them when he came home as they knew him and he paid on time all the time so no problem there. Alot of pets need the compionship of humas to be with them especially at night as many sleep with owners. Dogs must be taken out first thing in am to go and last time at night and in between but they also needs walks too and must be responsible to do so as some dogs aren't easy to walk or there are other dogs or things to be careful in neighbourhood. Picking up their stuff and where does it go? And if its snowy out, that must be shoveled by law, here its got to be done daily by 10am. Do you allow them taking them out in car and are they responsible to do too. Its a huge responsibility to take care of others pets. I know our pets, our golden retriever went into a huge depression and lay there for four days and didn't move in the kitchen. He missed my dad so much. He also got fed way too much by one set of house keepers. Another housesitter/petsitter, threw one of our cats across the tv room due to it went on its lap with muddy paws and away went the cat. I was shocked and not happy over that. Also found all the pets terrified when the broom was brought out and figured she must have went after them all with the broom. Sure its nice to have things like huge tv and guest area but you are there not to watch tv but to take care of their pets and play and walk dogs and pick up and those things. Some will pay a fortune and others small amount. Or like someone said switch with family, you look after my pets and we will look after yours when out of town. Also helps when pets know the person too and not freak out. Cats, we have had them hide and even when I pet sat them here and there, I had to go looking for them and fuss over them. I tell you they are good at hiding in all kinds of different spots. Also concern of empty houses can be broken into so need to know that no one is telling anyone that it will be empty over that certain amount of time. And make sure they pets are fine if not staying there as fire or anything can happen. Cats still need someone there and their box cleaned out daily and fresh water is a must for all pets daily. some are given treats like at bed time, that means going on call at those times to do those things. And some dogs need to go out during the night and so check for accidents and clean them up. Also some dogs go out really early, must be awake and take them out to do their stuff. There is not partying,etc. when owners are away. We had one time when went to my brothers wedding for weekend, a young lad up the road come and take care of our cats and golden, he got skunked bad. And the kid had a party too, took full advantage of an empty house, so think of all that when hiring anyone of any age what could happen. Lock up all valuables and make sure nothing is left out. Leave money or make arrangements with vet like my dad did to pay when get home or have them call you or give them permission to a certain amount and call anyways. Our golden retriever always walked down the driveway when dad got the newspaper and then walked him back up to the house. And so that had to be done so he got his exercise at least of that amount. One couple took sunny out in dad's station wagon car and he loved his car rides and getting out where we live. I looked after a cat who was allergic to itself and it wasn't easy as it scratched constantly and made itself raw and looked painful and terrible. The cat was lonely too as it was all alone, I would go and feed it and that was it. I did try to stay a tiny bit to fuss over it and then leave it.