April 27, 2005
The Natural State
Anuenue forming in the clouds
Posted in the condo "Wedgewood Six" Holiday Island Arkansas
I was very surprised when we landed here 4-23 in the late afternoon. It was a lot cooler than it had been in Texas and the reports were that we were to have a frost that night. We took the drive from the airport to Holiday Island about 55 miles. It was lovely really, with wooded farmland... some tracts going in but none of the hustle bustle of Houston. The air smelled of the pollen but not of pollution and humanity like we were experiencing even in Conroe.
Our home away from home is a large well appointed town home on Table Rock Lake. Floor to ceiling glass gives us a birds eye few of the trees and springtime on the lake. We missed the redbuds but the dogwood trees are in full bloom. Its raining a bit every day and that is helping my allergies a whole lot. Not having dust from construction and road fumes is a plus too.
We spent the day sunday looking at some homes that the agent on duty could show us. We also had a bit of fun looking at the shops in
Eureka Springs. This lovely Victorian Town is full of shops and other fun things to look at and we had a good time taking the trolley around the town to see the sights.
Monday we were able to see a few more homes that we had seen on realtor.com, including one that Woody has been following since December. Turns out that home is owned by a 65 year old lady who has poured her life into it and wants her full price and a long time AFTER escrow closes (up to 45 days) to get out. Sice we are cash buyers we see no need for this and after trying to figure out a way to work this out we abandoned that house. I would have loved living there but I cant see trying to get her out after she has our money. Imagine the news of us having to evict her I dont think I want to go through that.
We have enjoyed shopping here for both food and homes, both of which are cheaper than in Texas. One thing for sure, the property taxes are a whole lot lower here. They cry in Texas is that you dont have a State Tax... Well that is true, but if you are low earners like we are we dont benefit from that. Property taxes to the tune of 3000.00 to 4000.00 per year in some of the areas that we are looking at are a scream. That doesnt go down... We nearly fell over laughing at the market here on Holiday Island. In a resort town 15 miles from anywhere milk is still $2.99 per gallon and we paid a dollar for a loaf of bread and got a DiGorno Pizza for $3.00.Gas is 2.09 in Bentonville, and we had a all you could eat buffet meal at a hotel in Eureka Springs, with hot food and all for all of $6.50.
Add to this the sunday want ads, pages of jobs in this area for things we can do, at pretty decent wages. It will be interesting to put a resume out and see what happens. Woody thinks that I would just have to go to one place, Walmart International Logistics, and they will hire me on the spot. I worked for one of the firms that handled their overseas freight for 5 years in LA...I have a sinking feeling that he is right. I dont know if I want that sort of stress in my life again...but its a different world now maybe...having a paycheck again would be a great thing... I havent earned a dime in over two years... Five car lots in Bentonville had "Experienced salesman wanted" out front... Woody is salivating to get to work I though that I would never see that day...
Then there is the beauty of this place... Hawaii it aint...make no mistake about that but its not called "The Natural State " for nothing. Forests and hills as far as the eye can see. Streams, and lakes abound. In town, deer cross the roads at all hours and we saw two foxes playing outside the condo this morning in the drizzing rain... As the lightning brought the air cleansing rain to us, I realized that in saying that Arkansas was not for us was the result of listening to what others say and not what God maybe saying... The friends that told us we would love it here were right. I think I could really learn to like it. But again I dont want to get ahead of God. Yet I can see that the road may be wide open here for a fresh start. I told Woody that this is his call, we shall see how things go.
