#92 Back in Wilmington we parked the RV in our Driveway

When we got to our house it was kind of weird. The renters were gathering their stuff and leaving. There was a company hired by State Farm that was throwing everything that got wet into a dumpster out of the front porch. I had originally thought it would just take a week to patch the ceiling but it took 5 months to finish the job. The renters had realized quickly they had to find a new place to live.

It was very depressing and India went over there at some point to gather pots pans or salvageable items. I assumed she would be over there most of the day. In about an hour she was back from the RV and I asked her what’s up. She said just watching them throw all this ruined stuff into the dumpster just got to her. She said I think I just kind of got melancholy. So obviously this is hard on the Mama too. Having some construction experience I tried to be helpful here and there but not too helpful because they're being paid a ridiculous amount of money. It had been a long time since I had a hot bath and now with the tenants gone, I could do whatever I wanted to. We parked the RV over there in my driveway where I have a full hookup. We stayed for a couple of weeks just kind of helping arrange and schmooze and talk and sign things and getting to know the contractor.

The demo people were going to throw all the kitchen cabinets in the dumpster for reasons of liability. I said if it’s all the same to y’all I’ll just set them out on the screen porch for now. I may find someone poorer than us and they might be glad to have them. I had hoped they would dry out enough at some point to be reused. To be honest I would allow them to give me full replacement value if they were so led and still reuse these. No matter what would happen I didn’t want them in the dumpster that day. I spent a day or two disassembling the kitchen cabinets with Dominic who was going to do the rebuild. I did some electrical work that needed to be done and there's always plenty to do. After a week or so we felt like we were about far enough along to leave town. We gathered things up and headed back down to Charleston to try again.

Fast forward a bit. The damage occurred on January 10th and was not finished with the rebuild on May 10th. It should be ready to rent on June 1st. We are considering selling the property instead. It's a little unnerving but I think the truth of it is that this was a season. I am realizing that was kind of willing to close the door we had. It was a wonderful life there we raised children there. It's a wonderful property but as India and start our new interesting travels with their RV we are considering being campground hosts around the country for a few years. I don't need this property causing worry as we are absent traveling about. It’s the kind of a little stress that we could do without. We think that if we just cash out and invest the money into a mutual fund or something, we would have a much more relaxed travel about the country. As a landlord, you're always worried about what if this and what if that. I think we just decided to let it go. We can always buy another house in the future. I think the disaster forced us into downsizing much sooner than we would have expected but I’m fine with it.