Four Things Not To Worry About
The title might be a little misleading and for that I apologize.
What it really should be is “Four Things About Which I Need No Longer Worry.” But that’s too long and doesn’t fit this program’s scheme of things.
Besides, the shorter, more generic, title might bring in a new visitor or two to The Lime Springs Page. I appreciate the visitors to this site, but feel that, perhaps, my visitors are simply loyal friends of mine, of Lime Springs, or of someone else from Lime Springs and they just keep coming back. That’s great, of course, but I’d like some new blood viewing and reading this site!
Four things not to worry about are four things which I, Keith, no longer need to worry. Your four, or two, or a dozen, things not to worry about will be different. The point is, we all have had them and should rejoice that we no longer need to worry about them.
1. Owning, Managing, and Maintaining an Apartment House
Shortly after we moved to Cedar Rapids, we purchased a small apartment house. Not long after the purchase, the value decreased. Being of good Welsh blood, I was not about to sell it at a loss so lovingly(?) cared for it for over ten years. (My boss referred to it as “Albatross Arms!”)
Finally, it was sold—at a modest profit. The relief that provided was immense.
2. Timeshare in Branson
A timeshare in Branson was probably the worst “investment” I’ve ever made. We bought it thinking it would more-or-less force us to take a vacation, plus would be something that our family could enjoy both while we were here and after we were gone.
Plus, we were told what a great investment it would be! Surely it would be worth much more in the years to come, the salesman assured us.
It didn’t fit our scheme of vacation, was a nuisance to schedule, declined in value, and our children have already gone to their eternal reward. Shysters promised to sell it for us, for an up-front fee, of course.
Eventually, I actually paid someone to take it! Can you believe that? Thus the value of timeshares!!
The good news: it’s one of four things not to worry about! And for that we are overjoyed!
3. Downsizing
Our House in the Country
We lived in a modest ranch house on one acre, out in the country. I loved living there! But we knew we were getting older and it would be harder to care for and, eventually, harder for us to get around, get to town, and so on.
And we had no family nearby to help us when we got old and decrepit. We decided we should downsize while we could do so under our own power.
It all started innocently enough when, one Sunday afternoon, Pat said, “Let’s go look at condos.” In due course we bought one.
J U N K
Then one of the most painful few months of my life began: getting rid of our house, getting rid of well over 30 years accumulation of stuff (yes, some was actually junk!) and getting all the approvals needed before we could transfer the house. (Selling a house is a really good way to spend money.)
Finally, about four years ago, it was all done and we were moved into our condo. This ol’ country boy now actually lives in town.
We’re thankful for this one of four things not to worry about.
4. “Old” Motorcycle
Finally, I sold my old motorcycle a week ago. Or more accurately, for a small fee I allowed someone to steal it. It was a good, 1983, Honda motorcycle which Dave (Pat’s son) had owned. I bought it and rode it for five or six years, then purchased a Suzuki Burgman 400 maxi-scooter. (That’s what Ray Gasser has now. We both love ’em!) It serves my needs much better than the big, heavy, Honda so she sat outside, neglected, for a couple of years. Sad.
But now she, too, is not part of my life. No more neglect; no more feeling guilty on my part. And, just yesterday I met her on the road with her new owner; she can feel loved once again.
The Honda is the last of the four things not to worry about in my life.
Anything You Should Shed?
Have anything in your life that’s a drag on your mental energy? This article just might encourage or embolden you to to part with it. Just bite the bullet and get rid of it/them. Oh, it’s painful alright!!! But it is soooo relieving when these things are gone, done, over with, and out of our lives.