Ridgetop - our place and how we muddle along

[Mike CHS]

I see Bruce and I were writing at the same time but the point is that once you let that dream go, there is no getting it back. All that is left is wondering how it would be. I go out every day and check on my flocks several times and walk with the big guardian dogs and often have to ask myself, how would it have been if I had stayed in that subdivision with my 10' x 10' garden bed.

 

[Latestarter]

Thing is, Ridgetop has lived and is still living to some degree, a farmer's life. I believe it's more a function of where the kids move or if they stay in CA. Coupled with the sheer amount of work involved in simply moving in the first place. Getting everything cleaned up and ready to sell, followed by moving, then getting averything re-established and back to what you want when you get to where you're going.

 

[Bruce]

Yeah but even somewhat flat land!! I shudder at the description of their current property.

 

[Latestarter]

Have to say... they and the kids would be able to live much more comfortably (money/space/freedom) virtually anywhere other than the state they are presently located in. Of course they won't have access to the same paychecks they can get there, but their earned $$ will go much farther here. And yeah... that little gully that has been described would turn me off.

 

[Bruce]

Not everywhere in CA is stupid expensive. Only the places that are stupid overpopulated. Of course that is where the high paying jobs are so (some) people can afford the stupid expensive postage stamp properties.

 

[Baymule]

I need to stop being such a pessimist - 70 is the new 40 after all!

I am 63, my husband is 73. We uprooted from where we had lived for 30+years and moved. We are so glad we did, we're having a great time and the farm work keeps us in good shape and healthy.

Just land, no house.

https://www.landsoftexas.com/property/TBD-CR-442-Lindale-Texas-75771/5631121

This one has a house, but distant pictures and no interior pictures...….

https://www.landsoftexas.com/property/18845-CR-223-Arp-Texas-75750/3459238

Ready to move in!

https://www.landsoftexas.com/property/21087-CR-2115-Troup-Texas-75789/5526262

 

[Ridgetop]

Thanks everyone for showing me that our dream can still be attained! I am 68, DH is 75. We both have had cancer but are fine now. DH has a knee replacement but if we were not on this extremely steep property could use a tractor (he has driven large equipment during his work life as a high power lineman, and we could also get a 4WD mule.

Latestarter is right. We have been living this life for 35 years now and LOVING it. We are not tired of it, but know the work required to make the dream reality in another location. Leaving our grandchildren and DD would be rough. We are the only relatives they have in this area and it is important for me to be able to attend the little ceremonies and events that are in their lives. My children had no relatives to attend those for them when they were small and I feel it is important to be there for them. Once gone, due to the prices of property, we will not be able to come back if we don't like the new location.

Being in a location where we would have friends and neighbors whose interests are the same would be wonderful. I am sure there are plenty of bridge players there too. LOL

Tentatively we planned to wait 2 years and sell the Yelm property. It is currenty a rental, but on 3.6 acres, so we can 1031 into another piece of acreage property in Texas. That will be a rental too until we complete the fencing, barns, etc. while living in our 5th wheel. Then we can roll it over into our primary residence. If we decide we don't want to stay we can eturn to our 6 acres in California which we will be renting out. OR if we want we can then 1031 that property into a larger ranch with more acreage for hay or pasture rental as we get older and can no longer ranch ourselves.

I plan everything to the last detail, but maybe there is too much planning and not enough leap right in. When we come to Texas next year, we wanted to allow some time to look at properties, check out medical facilities, etc. When we were young the only medical facilities we were interested were pediatrics and obstetrics. Now it is geriatrics.


The laws being passed in California are increasingly hard to live with. New "fees" because they cannot raise taxes more than a certain amount (Proposition 13). Increasing state taxes which cannot be deducted over a certain amount from federal taxes, all have to be taken into consideration for people who are retired. Luckily, DH and I scrimped and saved for all our lives to save money for investments to help us in our retirement. But will it be enough in a new state? California is becoming harder to live in with increased population, many illegal and receiving free services and welfare which comes out of our state taxes, a frankly insane group of liberal lawmakers, and more interest in making life easier for non working indigents on the backs of taxpayers. Northern California has a lot more farm area but they also suffer with water regulations and our constantly raised state income tax.

Texas has no state tax, but the property taxes are higher and go up each year, requiring owner to appeal. On the other hand the values are lower than here in southern California so maybe it woud all even out.

Surprisingly, the move itself does not worry me. I have packed and gone into storage numerous times on behalf of my relatives and also when we have done large renos here. We would come to the new property for several months to get everything fenced, fixed, etc. before moving. I would ship the horses out commercially, leaving the stock trailer (3 divisions) for the sheep and dogs. Rotating 3 Anatolians between the front compartment of the stock trailer and the back seat of the truck would hopefully keep them reassured. The fencing would be most important for the dogs since they will be hyper on guard until they are accustomed to the local perimeters and dangers, etc. We want a larger piece of property in order to grow hay or pasture, whether we rent it out or cut it ourselves.

Thanks everyone for showing me that our dream does not have to be abandoned. You guys are wonderful and y greatest pleasure is being on here and reading all your posts. Humor and kind help for our problems is what everyone here is all about!

Love you guys.

 

[Bruce]

IIRC, folks here living in TX have said that property taxes have caps for senior citizens.

 

[Senile_Texas_Aggie]

property taxes have caps for senior citizens.

That is true. Once a citizen reaches 65, they can freeze (defer) their taxes until either they die or sell the property. Then the backlog of deferred taxes becomes due and payable.

 

[Bruce]

Then the backlog of deferred taxes becomes due and payable.

OH, painful!!!! I wasn't aware that the taxes were accrued. One could potentially owe a ton of money!