Some kind of good news from me for a change :)

I am selling out and moving. Going to Auction the farm in mid May with a $350,000 reserve. Everyone involved believes it will go for $600,000-$650,000 LOL no one can find anything comparable to my place in a 10 County Radius. So having a full appraisal done next week. I am basing the $350,000 on what it is worth per acre based on what the average ag land has been selling for over the last 6 Months. My Bank offered a bridge loan of 95% of what the appraised value is since I have 100% equity in it. I am only going to take a $250,000 loan no matter what. That is all I need to buy the new property. I am selling most of my equipment low end it will pull another $85,000 in if it all sells for asking price closer to $110,000. The $85,000 will cover everything else and $110,000 would give me some extras.

So the new place. I was initially only buy the portion in blue but decided to just buy the whole 67 acres. It is $242,000. Not going to say where exactly it is yes. And it is pending putting it under contract, a title search and a survey. I have a refundable hold deposit down on it until I can get there and sign the contract. Anyway the closing date on it will be April 10th or 11th.


I am kind of on a ticking down clock and need to get this bought and closed on by the April Dates. My Place will Auction the Second week of May and close the last week of June. So between the Closing on the new one and the Closing on this one I have to get some serious Dozer and Excavator and concrete work done.

My plan to get done before July 1st........ Going to have a 5 acre square in the middle clear cut slash and burn logged and the Dozer make it clean and level and scarified. Then The Concrete crews come in and pour the pads I need. At the same time as the concrete is going on the ravines to either side will be clear cut logged and yes there is a good chunk of money for the timber. And then the Dozer and excavator go to work cleaning it up and building 2 dams at the end of the ravines. And I then have two nice sized ponds/lakes on either side of the buildings site.


A friend that has a heavy hauling trucking company with low boys flat beds and a big crane truck that can lift 80,000 pounds is going to roll into this place and pick up every portable building and container and set them on low boys and flat beds and move them all to the new property. For the low price of $16,000 and once there set them on the concrete pads. Including my Cabin that cough weighs 47,000 pounds now days. Thus the crane truck and if it is here for one it may as well load them all. And a Convoy of 6 tractor trailers two with over sized loads and a crane truck going down the road should be interesting.

I have already sold most of my trailers but I am keeping these. My Camper will be the first thing to move when I go to Close. The bulk of my stuff is going to move on the tractor trailers in the shipping containers. So most of these trailers will be one way trips. With the more fragile and important stuff in them. I hate selling stuff so I am having my Ag Dealership Consignment Sell all of the equipment for me...... Well worth a 10% commission for me not to have to deal with potential buyers with 9000 stupid questions. And the Girl selling it gets the Job done the stuff just went on their website and their used lot yesterday and she had $40,000 worth of checks for me this afternoon. She is GOOD!

This one kind of hurt....... Oliver was my oldest and longest owned tractor. Watching him leave this evening was a little painful. Like saying good bye to a old friend of 26 years. Might not be the prettiest old tractor but purrs like a kitten and puts out 102HP and is better than well maintained. Someone got a damned good tractor and decent GN Trailer Figure $18,000 for the pair was fair.... I get that check tomorrow I opened a savings acct today to put all of the equipment and loan money into. So it isn't in my pay the bills checking account. Going to keep the Kubota M5660 it is the 59.7 HP Version and the old Kubota BX25D With the backhoe and their implements and quick connect attachments. Oliver was the last piece to head to the Dealership and him and the GN were already sold when they pulled in the lot as a pair.


That Bridge loan is no payments until the farm sells and then the bank takes their $250,000 and the 4.75% Interest out and I get everything over that. LOL more like a big cash advance on the farm than a loan.

So now it is getting everything here cleaned up and looking pristine for the Auction advertising. The Agent/broker/Auction outfit I am using is good and the owner a long time friend of 30+ years and is a real straight shooter. He is going to advertise heavy in STL and Chicago to a more wealthy set of folks and believes given everything this place offers and its location that the bidding will go very high on it.......... Me I will be happy with the $350,000 but won't turn down more LOL.

Going to be working the hell out of the old rice trailer (Also Keeping it) and my friend Boon hauling all the scrap metal Junk piles in with his trailer and mine. I am going to be here loading while he is hauling. So far he is making out real good on the money from the scrap. Figure we will have it all cleaned up in a couple of weeks. Show me a working farm that doesn't have some scrap/junk piles and I will show you a farm that isn't really working


LOL when I am settled into the new place and all set up, I will say where it is And folks will be like how in the hell did you get that much land there that cheap!?!?

I intentionally went with a property that is heavily wooded with old trees. Very simply to avoid the temptation of pastures, cattle and hay being in my future LOL. I am officially retired and need to start acting like it and doing more hunting, fishing and spending some quality time in my wood working shop. Not burning my ass off in a hayfield and getting trampled by pissed off bulls LOL. I also went with a property that had a big mostly level spot and the right terrain to build at least one big pond. And I wanted to do it all on a budget that left me at least $100,000 to keep in the bank and supplement the Pension until I turn 60 and collect Dee's (Mrs Krap) SSD she was approved for a few Months before she passed away. I am doing fine financially on the pension but I am a easy keeper and don't spend a lot. But there are times that things get real tight or I see something I just want to buy and just can't right now. I told myself that I would only live on and use the Pension Money until I turned 60 and then I get like $3800 and some change per month on top of the pension. Hey Social Securities Rules for SSD survivor benefits and they figured it up that I will get 97% of what she would have gotten...... I ain't gonna turn it down What I don't want to do is touch my own retirement accts and just let them roll until I have to start taking RMDs. LOL if I can't live on $6000 per Month after age 60 there is something seriously wrong with me!

And the poisoning.......... Doc believes it is all out of my system now and we just wait and see what gets better over time and what doesn't. A lot has already gotten better or at least tolerable. The burning skin sensation is gone and replaced by kind of a tickle and tingle sensation........ I will take that! The right arm has improved a lot and instead of constant uncontrollable shaking from the elbow down it is only occasional shaking in it now. The mental focus and clarity is pretty much back to normal but do struggle with remembering things here and there. Going to see Doc Thursday after getting some neurological testing and bloodwork done. Pretty much see him every week on Thursdays now LOL he wants to keep a closer eye on me than usual. I think he has said 1000 times now "Do you have any idea how lucky you are to even be alive right now and recovering as much as you already have???" I guess in 2-3 months we will know what is going to be permanent and what isn't. Looks like she is going to get away with it........ at least in the criminal justice system. The States Attorney says he probably won't pursue it or prosecute because "It is hard to to prove." All I will say is you don't get to try and kill me and just walk away clean and without consequence from it. And of course I am talking legal stuff like a civil suit against her that might bring out more that could be used in criminal.

 

Good news that you are out of danger, and that you are on the mend...Onwards and upwards!

 

Glad to hear you're healing up, and hopefully with no serious long term effects .

I thought you had paradise there ,, but I guess you've found another one.
I kind of enjoyed watching your progress on your spread there ,, and if your so inclined to carry us thru your next project ,, I'll be watching that one as well.
Just watch out for them wacky women,,,

 

Glad you are well on the way to recovery. Kind of surprised you are selling out you put so much work into the place. You say you are going to retire how long will that last Ha Ha I just don't see you sitting around Kamp

 

Yeah, this selling out is a big surprise but you are one for big surprises. The first thing I noticed looking at your photos was your new property was heavily wooded, couldn't tell what type of trees or their size, and it was pretty flat which is a big deal as around here lots of folks have big spreads of 40+ acres or more but most of it is unusable. Man-oh-man, 67 acres for $242K is dirt cheap now days. My guess it is someplace far away from anywhere, far in the boonies, otherwise developers would have jump on this. Anyway, it will be interesting to see in what state, in what location you end up.

What I have always admired about you is your ability to 'plan your moves then move your plan.' An old Sergeant Major told me that years ago as a young man. I hope you keep us inform about the implementation of your plan on the new property, especially the ponds. It's seldom that one meets a person that really knows how to build these that understand what the hell they are doing as it's much more than simply a hole in the ground, so I have always found interest and gained knowledge in your pond building.

Best of luck on the new adventure and we look forward to seeing it take shape!

EDIT: What kind of shape are the roads that lead to your new place? Are they county roads or private?

 

Oh I love this place and everything I have done and built here. Couple of things I can't get around though LOL it is Illinois. This last 2 Months of winter was brutal. And I just can't get around the sheer volume of emotional baggage chained to this place. A fresh start someplace new and totally different, I have decided is the best course of action at this point.

Ponds are easy it is all about the clay content, the core and the key. Clay content at the new place concerns me a bit as it is a more sandy soil than I am used to working with. That is where getting to know the local pond and lake builders is useful and getting educated and up to speed. Nobody knows the dirt better than the guys that play in for a living

They are very well maintained gravel roads. Not thrilled with the roads on two sides but I can get far enough away from them back in the woods to not notice them LOL. Woods are mostly Oaks and Hickories with a fair amount of beech, gum and tulip trees. Was last logged out like 90 years ago so there are a good number old trees with some size.

 

Facing possible death gives you a different outlook on things. As I have gotten older I tend to pay for labor that helps others out instead of doing things myself. A man has to know his limitations.

 

For an old, retired guy you stay in neck deep oldman, Glad you are up and abouts!

 

After reading all of that, I'd say you're overdue for some boredom! Glad it's working out for you!

 

Glad to hear that you are better. This project should keep you out of trouble for a year or two, plus just imagine what you can accomplish with the experience gained from the first farm.

 

Glad to have you in SC Kamp!

 

I think that is a sound idea, starting with a new canvas can be hard work, but also invigorating. Jettisoning the negative associations of the property that you are selling, will free you to devote yourself utterly to your new endeavours. HUZZAH!

 

I am constantly in admiration of your energy to do things, and have learned from it. Keep healing from the rat toxins, and keep us all informed of your creative adventures among the trees and in the dirt!

 

So is Kamp relocating to SC ----if so glad to to have him here

 

SC ??
Cool ,,

 

Figured it couldn't be Alabama, Mississippi or Georgia...no pine trees!

 

I wuz joking to get a rise outta Kamp. I have no idea.....

 

That ain't the only rise you got ,,,