I've got to share my good news and here's a good place to do it!

Where to start...

The state-owned museum where I'd lived and worked as the caretaker and docent (And I was a decidedly decent docent!) recently received money to do some upgrading and renovating, takiing down the lath and plaster and putting up insulation and drywall so I had to move.

I moved to a small apartment in a building I've taken care of for years and started looking for a permanent (ha! Is there such a thing?) place to land with my dog and my cat. I didn't/don't want just a normal rental- the idea of paying thousands of dollars a year just for a roof over my head bores me; I like interesting things and novel concepts. What I mostly dwelt on while I was looking was the idea of renting a large house in my name and then finding my own renters. But I also considered some other things, things like another caretaker position or doing in-home care and a bunch of other stuff. So I never did focus on any one thing which made it difficult to bring it to pass.

In the meantime, the apartment house sold (the owner died in 04 and her heirs put the place up for sale). I told the new owner that I don't want to pay rent on this apartment because it is so substandard on so many fronts (I nearly froze in last March's cold snap- there is no piped in heat) and we agreed that I'd be out by August 1. Along about the middle of July I saw that wasn't going to happen and talked with them again. We agreed I could stay until September 1.

Anda that's where I was until a couple of hours ago.

Just got back from the grocery store where I ran into the wife who bought this place. She aaid she wanted to talk with me and joined me at a table.

The upshot: They are asking me to stay because in due time they want to turn this apartment house into a kind of bed and breakfast with emphasis on tourists in the summertime and legislators in the winter, and they think I'd be perfect for the project. I'll check them in and out and ride herd. Mostly just rent free, unless we work out something else in addition.

This is right up my alley- I operated a motel for years and later trained managers for other motels. I like working with people, I like doing research, I like helping people have a good time.

Oh, and they're putting in a Monitor stove.

So hoist those cups and celebrate with me!