sponge painting..hmmm...now that's an idea too...didn't think of that. And I have sponge painted before..love that effect. Karen...I like the white also (they already are peeling and all) but was thinking of doing one red, one the gold yellow like I did my marine corps chair, and one navy blue (like the chairs are going to be on my porch) and then maybe adding a star to the top and bottom of the spindle. Drill the holes on top and add the flags....or do you think that is to much..LOL....I don't know. I was thinking I liked them white also after I saw them next to the gazebo but thought if I painted them it would bring even more color over to that side since there is sooooo much white..I think they get lost a bit with the white siding. What does everyone else think? - Jacque

Hi Dave, I usually buy some of English (or other long variety)and some pickling transplants. We use good soil and , some years , I have tried to plant into soil with compost. This year I have last year triple mix, peat moss and some new triple mix. No compost was added this year, I'll add some next year. We had colder weather but all of a sudden there is 40 degrees C with humid-ex outside. we have now raised beds with square foot lines. Last year I have planted some marigolds around plants, but they did not help much. Last year I had other plants in other squares (should be compatible), but this year just small bed with 4*4 squares, no other plants intended. we usually use some kind of support for them to climb . Because of space restrictions we still experimenting with finding ideal trolley . I would let them just grow, but I think there is not enough space. I was able to plant only 8*2 plants and planning to plant another 8*2 (2 plants in a hole as transplants are coming by 2). I do think plants are getting some sort of deceases and would post photos if/once I get symptoms. Meanwhile I was thinking if there is some advice to get them stronger/healthier by watering..(may be composted tea, while I still have to figure out what that is, may be some other kind of solution?). May be some kind of fertilizer would help. we do water them often and tried to warm water in the buckets , but then gave up and just hose it. Should warm water make a difference?My husband wants to do something like hot house. But plastic we have is from boats. Good thing it is not going to disintegrate, bad thing it is white and I am concern about luck of light. Also, while his theory is that it would protect plants from direct sun and create humid environment, I am not sure, that with humid ex 40 outside it would be a good idea. thanks a lot, Jul

Gcubed idea could work. It's hard to know exactly because you need room to walk around a couch and you don't want your tv to be 3ft from your face. Another possibility is couch in front of windows, round coffee table so it's easy to walk around it, tv where your dining table is (i assume it's about 36 inches wide) so you can mount it on one of those mounts that can come off the wall and angle it depending on how many people you have over. I would nix the tv stand or get an open one like a console table and put some small poufs under for extra seating or to put your legs up when you watch tv. My sister's apartment has a similar ledge between her kitchen and living and she has her desk in front of it and just puts knick knacks on the ledge since it's too small for your knees to sit in front of. If you did that layout you may be able to get a bigger couch with a chaise for extra seating. I'd also look at realtor.com or even airbnb and see what they have in small houses, they get pretty creative in Galveston condos with 490sqft. IKEA and Target will be your friend if you need some new furniture. I'd also get those blinds that you can push up or down so you can get some privacy but still let light in on the top part without creating a glare when you're trying to watch tv. You could also get a long desk and have the left side be where you computer goes and right side for tv if you don't want to mount it.

"Why do people of a certain age move away from their families and other support systems?" At the risk of stating the obvious and with no intent to offend, the answer for most is - to escape cold or rainy winters. I think it's fair to say that the predominant path runs north to south. I think you've previously mentioned your retirement move from Central California to the Mid-Atlantic region because your son and his family are there. I believe moves in that direction are less common than the mostly southerly travel of stereotypical "snowbirds" who make permanent moves. I share your view to an extent. Many people's kids don't always return "home" if they go away for college and can wind up spending their adult years elsewhere. This is true for us with respect to all of our kids but the other component of a "support system" for many is proximity to friends. The paths snowbirds take often leads them to where they no one at all, neither family nor friends. THAT to me makes no sense at all. I'm not sure what forum participant Jim has for family but he's mentioned recently having moved back to Illinois, reversing a retirement move to Florida he made some years ago. I think he said a big reason was that they found they didn't like the weather in Florida.