Ridgetop - our place and how we muddle along

[Ridgetop]

Baymule, Devonviolet, Latestarter: That would be wonderful to meet you all! DH is really stoked about meeting the people he only knows as "my friend, she is so funny", "my other friend" or "No, not that friend. My other friend!" Or by the hysterical laughter at your jokes! All you BYH guys have become very good friends. There are not so many people outside our family anymore who understand the basic tenets of hard work that go into the lifestyle we have all chosen. Every now and then, DH and I look at each other and ask why we don't just sell up and move into a condo. Then the reality of condos hit us - the people, the proximity to neighbors, no space around us to enjoy life's goodness, city life. No animals to enjoy watching, our LG dogs would not be able to go with us, they would be so sad without their charges. No Josey The Mule looking over the gate for DH to rub her ears and give her a hug.

No, it has to be Texas - Go East Old Folks! to misquote Greeley

 

[Senile_Texas_Aggie]

Holy cow, Miss @Ridgetop! It seems when it rains, it pours! I hope they find out who the thieves are.

Senile Texas Aggie

 

[greybeard]

One of the reasons thieves pull the meter is so they can more easily strip all the wiring and hard wired appliances (outside hivac units/well pumps etc) out of a residence. If it's not a 'call home' type meter, it also allows them to have free or reduced elec bills at their own homes, by substituting the stolen meter in place of their own a couple of weeks each month or all month, putting their own meter back in right before the meter reader shows up. Meter readers here are 3rd party contractors....they don't pay any attention to whether the safety lock is on the meter any more or not...probably don't pay any attention to the ser# on the meter either.

 

[Ridgetop]

The police didn;t seem hopeful since it could have happened anytime in the past week or few days, but like I said NO VANDALISM! God is good. We can handle this, and the loss will be tax deductible since this will be a rental property so we are OK. Of course, I sleep with the hammer next to my bed and DH has the heavy chains we locked the gate with. Oh, and there is an ax in the closet, so although we didn't bring our firearms we are heavily armed. LOLThe down side is that when we leave we have to lock the tools in the trailer, and take our computer, etc. with us. Annaaoying but doable.

 

[Ridgetop]

Absolutely, Greybeard! First things we checked were the well pump (brand new last year) and the split system HVAC (3 years new). Both still in place. Did not take the new stove or MW either. We think we disturbed the between trips.
The police officer wondered why the meter was missing and DH said right away that the reason they took the meter with them was to steal electricity on their own meter. He is a retired OH and UG lineman/cable splicer.

 

[greybeard]

I had to replace 6 small panes of glass in the windows to get the house ready to rent. The panes are about 8 x 10. The cost to replace them is over $600.00! Extortion

$600 for just the 6 panes or $600 for the materials + labor to get the panes replaced?
8x10x1/8" Single panes are $2.11 each at Lowes.......

 

[Bruce]

The panes are about 8 x 10. The cost to replace them is over $600.00! Extortion.

Are you sure that was regular window single pane glass?? Shouldn't cost $10/pane if custom cut to size I wouldn't think. Heck a whole triple pane window wouldn't cost $600.

he made me add 'Eat Lunch" and "Take Nap" in several places so he could cross off more! If he does anything not on the list he makes me put it on and cross it off so we feel more is accomplished!

Oh, I like the way he thinks!

 

[Ridgetop]

Supposedly it is because they are old fashioned windows that need puttying. The glass itself only comes to $84.00 but the labor and time to put them in is the difference in price. I have an old original window that was replaced by a dual pane one in the house that is back in the shed. It has 5 good panes of glass exactly the size and age I need. It seriously annoys me that I could replace them for nothing. The only panes that I need to order are the door panes since they need to be tempered glass. I should have just replaced the door! The entire new double glazed window we put in the bathroom only cost about $125.00! I just think that WA state is extortionate on all work you need done here. It could also be that we are not used to paying anyone to do stuff we usually do ourselves! DH is worried that we will not be able to finish all the work we have to do here before we have to leave for home. He has finally gotten a hearing on a VA claim he filed over 5 years ago so we can't miss it. He was a load master in the big transports during the Vietnam was and has lost most of his hearing so needs to see if they will take responsibility. He is already disabled with a torn up knee. Anyway, since this will be a rental the costs will be deductible. I just would rather do it myself and save the money!

Bruce: DH is exceptionally savvy, and appreciates your support! I have now added "eat lunch" and "take naps" to all his lists. LOL

May have gone too far! DH just got a drink of water and wanted to know if it was on the list.

 

[Mini Horses]

This winter our electric co-op installed new meters on EVERY customer location. They are read electronically. Maybe there is such a device in your stolen meter and they could then locate it from a signal. We used to have to self read and report. Now, we just get a bill -- text, etc. & we can check the reading our selves if in doubt.

 

[Latestarter]

Yeah, smart meters are the wave of the future. They installed one at my place in CO the summer I left for here. I have one here as well, so no meter reader, and no real need to communicate to them when the power goes out (though I still do and have had to twice in the past few days).

Sorry for the losses and extra time/work/expense involved for y'all who are doing a good deed. Hope you can get it all accomplished in time and good luck to DH with his VA hearing! Drive safe going home. Sure hope we can set up a meet and greet for when you're here in TX! That would be a blast!