I've checked off ANXIOUS on the mood indicator above, but I am feeling so many things. Happiness, excitement, joy and fear. The fear comes from the unknown. We are in New York and there is so much for us to do to get down to South Carolina. Our tentative move date is on or around the 15th of July. Before that Gary and I need to go down to finalize some stuff. Aside from the construction aspect, we need to secure temporary housing. We have a few choices for that. We can split the family up. Some of us could live with my Mom and some of us with my brother. I am pretty sure that is not how we are going to do it.
We can rent a small apartment and just rough it for the approximately six months the construction will take (I'm thinking more like 7 or 8 months). Or, we can take over my Mother's apartment and Mom can go live with my brother for a while. This may be the easier of our choices.
I would prefer to buy a small trailer and move it onto the back of the property and live there. Mom says that's how a lot of people do it. But, there seems to be some issues with that. We need to research that.
Another issue that needs to be taken care of is the matter of my medical care. Here in NY I see about 8 different medical professionals. Finding new doctors is overwhelming me. Mom's friend has a rheumatologist that she sees. I may just start out with this doctor and then if need be change. One good thing is that right in the town of Easley there is a Lupus Foundation of America. And, I am sure that I can get all the help I need from them. But, if any of my readers happens to live in the Upstate area of South Carolina (I think that encompasses Easley, Greenville and Spartenberg at the least) and has good doctors please send me an email. I really would appreciate any help on this. The most important thing that needs to be addressed prior to the move is to ensure that I can have my INR levels monitored. The INR level is the amount of anticoagulation medication that is in my blood. It needs to be monitored to make sure it remains therapeutic. That it is not too low nor too high, both can be disastrous. Even though my levels never really stay therapeuticfor long, I am spoiled where this is concerned. For the past four years I have been having my levels monitored at our local hospital. They have a anticoagulation center. I simply get my finger pricked and within moments we know what my level is. I do have one of those monitors and can order the testing strips. And, I suppose that I can call in the numbers to the center here in NY until I find one there (if there is one there.)
Then there is the matter of my pain management. I believe that a history report written by my PCP and/or Pain Management Doctor will be okay.
I plan on making an appointment to see that rheumatologist when we go down in May, just so that I can get things in place prior to the move. I am trying to keep my stress level down because one of the main flare triggers for me is stress.
In my mind I know that everything will work out the way it is supposed to. That before I know it, it will be this time next year and we will be settled in our new home.
Gary and I are always talking about the move. What we want. What we need. Our philosophy is that we are building a home, and we will put in it what we have dreamed of. I am an easy person to please. We want it to be a comfortable home. A happy place for us to start our new lives. It's going to be big. 2,800 square feet big. We are not going to cut corners but are going to be frugal in our choices. For example, where our kitchen is concerned, we will use ready made cabinetry from Home Depot. Things like that.
We will be saving a lot of money by Gary and Joseph doing most of the work.
There will be six of us living in our new home. There are the four of us. Plus Gary, Jr.'s girlfriend. It appears that this relationship is serious. Hopefully, after construction of the house we will be building a separate garage structure with an apartment above for them. My Mom will be coming to live with us. There are many reasons for this. I hate that she lives alone. For her it will be a good financial move. But, also for more selfish reasons on my part. I want to have my Mother with me. I need to have my Mother with me. We have taken many things into consideration when laying out the basic plans for the house. Mom will, of course, have her own room. In her room will be her own bathroom plus a separate sitting area. She still needs her own space. Having her own sitting area will afford her the personal space she might need. Mom can go and watch her own TV shows. Or read. It will be her own personal haven.
There will be a den for the family. I've always wanted a den area that is separate from the living room. I want a living room that has no television in it.
Our kitchen will have a pantry. No use building a kitchen that doesn't have enough space for all the things that go with a kitchen. Now our kitchen is tiny.
And, of course there will be enough bedrooms for the family and a guest room. Gary, Jr.'s room will eventually be the guest room. As soon as the garage apartment is completed.
I want to be able to give my children the opportunity to start off their married lives being able to save for their own home. With the garage apartment there for them, they will be able to save for a home. We haven't decided if we will take rent from them and save it for them or leave it up to them to save. I suspect that taking rent would be the better choice. It will get them used to having that to pay each month. And, let's face it most of us don't save what we should if left up to our own device.
As you know we have purchased land in Easley, South Carolina. We are drawing up house plans and should begin building by August. Gary and my brother, Joseph, will act as the general contractors. Most of the building will be done by them. The only things that will be contracted out are those that are either too massive to do with a small crew or those jobs that need expertise. The first thing to be contracted out will be pouring the digging out the footprint of the house and pouring the foundation.
If this entry seems garbled, well that is because I feel garbled.
There is so much to do. But, it's all good things.
Have a wonderful Sunday!
Lu
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