Gary loves being "Up North" so much that he dreams of getting our own house in the woods. I am not tied to our home in Seymour but I insist on certain things on any new home. It must have access to a good library, be relatively close to a hospital, and even more important, near to my grandson. There should be trails to walk on, intelligent people around us (too many Romney lawn signs is not a good thing), and a swimming pool and exercise center.
This past week, Gary thought he had found the best place ever near Iron Mountain.
It once was a medical clinic but someone turned the place into a home. It has six bedrooms, four bathrooms, and an enormous living room. There are two big garages and a storage unit. It's set on eight acres with woods on three sides. (Gary says he would plan trees on the fourth side, too, for complete privacy.) It is two blocks from a lake and two blocks from the Iron County Hospital. It is near the grocery store, a good family restaurant and the pharmacy.
I began to ask questions.
Why would we need such a big place? We could spread out. He would have room for all the stuff he has accumulated through the years. There would be a separate room for my office.
Why four bathrooms? I am willing to clean one, but three more? He could do that, he thought.
What about heating the place? We could close off the upstairs in the winter and put in a couple of wood burning stoves to help. We could have solar panels on the roof.
How would we pay for it all? The taxes are bound to be high. The four rooms upstairs could be rented out to hunters, snowmobilers, and summer visitors. They have outside access so they wouldn't disturb us. (I thought one was going to be my office.)
What about my grandson? He could spend part of the summers up here.
It was my final query that threw Gary's plans awry.
Do you realize that the nearest Menards store is in Marquette, and the nearest Walmart is in Iron Mountain?
I guess it wouldn't work after all, he said.
He just can't live without places to shop for tools and other useless objects.
We're staying in Seymour for now.
***************
We said good-bye to Lake Ottawa this morning, the last campers to go. Before we left, I took a walk over to the dock. Two loons popped up from underneath. They were juveniles who were doing their best to do the loon call, but for them it is still baby talk. I think they were saying, "Mommy, Daddy, where did you go?" But loons don't kick their offspring out of their nests, they just leave the nest and the kiddies in the fall.
Now we're at Laura Lake where the leaves are at peak. More photos to come.
This past week, Gary thought he had found the best place ever near Iron Mountain.
I began to ask questions.
Why would we need such a big place? We could spread out. He would have room for all the stuff he has accumulated through the years. There would be a separate room for my office.
Why four bathrooms? I am willing to clean one, but three more? He could do that, he thought.
What about heating the place? We could close off the upstairs in the winter and put in a couple of wood burning stoves to help. We could have solar panels on the roof.
How would we pay for it all? The taxes are bound to be high. The four rooms upstairs could be rented out to hunters, snowmobilers, and summer visitors. They have outside access so they wouldn't disturb us. (I thought one was going to be my office.)
What about my grandson? He could spend part of the summers up here.
It was my final query that threw Gary's plans awry.
Do you realize that the nearest Menards store is in Marquette, and the nearest Walmart is in Iron Mountain?
I guess it wouldn't work after all, he said.
He just can't live without places to shop for tools and other useless objects.
We're staying in Seymour for now.
***************
We said good-bye to Lake Ottawa this morning, the last campers to go. Before we left, I took a walk over to the dock. Two loons popped up from underneath. They were juveniles who were doing their best to do the loon call, but for them it is still baby talk. I think they were saying, "Mommy, Daddy, where did you go?" But loons don't kick their offspring out of their nests, they just leave the nest and the kiddies in the fall.
Now we're at Laura Lake where the leaves are at peak. More photos to come.
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