Moving week

mikim · Apr 14, 2009

Been talking about it for years and making preps ....and now the time has come. We're moving to the country! Currently all we have to live in is one room finished off in the barn (400sqft) but we want the grandson to finish the school year there so he has a chance to meet friends for the summer. The house in town is still for sale and we won't be building anything until it sells. Don't have any internet connection out there yet -- it will have to be satellite of some type......but if anyone really needs to reach me -- txdon knows where I live. Hopefully will be back online in a couple of weeks - this connection will be gone shortly after Friday.

Greenmountain Farmer · Apr 14, 2009

Way to go!!

Tom in Vermont

EddieWalker · Apr 14, 2009

Mike,

Congratulations on the move, and all the best of luck!!!!!!!!!

400 sq ft is about what I had in the barn when I first moved out here. It's cozy, but with the weather being nice, you can spend all day outside having fun.

For the internet, I was on satelitte for a few years and hated it. I can go on and on about all the problems I had with it, from weather to faulty equipment and lousy costomer service. I really don't have anything good to say about it.

Then I tried out cellular service. This is with Alltel. It's about the size of a lighter with an antenna on it. You just plug it into the USB port and you're online. It's fast, reliable and easy. Best of all, if it stops working, you can just go to the store and get another one. You don't have to wait for the latest company to show up, tell you what's wrong, but that he's all out of those because half of the new ones they just got didn't work. Hope to have new parts in a week or two, sorry, they'll get back to you.

Eddie

Egon · Apr 15, 2009

Best of all to you Mike.

We may be in the same type of situation in the near future.

Thomas · Apr 15, 2009

That's great news,and may you be turning the front door key before end of the year.

laen64 · Apr 15, 2009

Mike you and the family have my best wishes and Envy as well. LOL! I'm hopeing to do the same thing and building a Garage with a small living space seems to be a choice me and the wife are contenplating as well. We'll decide after finalizing the home plans and recieving the cost estimates in just a few weeks. We do plan to turn the Key before 31 Dec 09 God Willing.

My Hat's off 2 U

jinman · Apr 15, 2009

Woohoo! Mike is heading to beautiful Bastrop. Way to go Dude!

What Eddie said about the internet. If you have cellular service, you can get broadband service for about $65 a month or less. That sounds like alot, but that USB modem can be plugged into a desktop or laptop. You can get online while driving down the road. We have Verizon service, but you can also get it from AT&T or Alltel, as Eddie suggested, if they are in your area. Recently, when we were on a trip to East Texas, the motel's wireless network was quirky, so I just plugged in the modem and used my own service instead. It really gives you alot of freedom.

You owe me a tour of your place. I just might have to cool down a 12-pack of Shiners and head down your way. You could help me finish them off, couldn't you?

WantedWolf · Apr 15, 2009

congratulations, enjoy it.

Im doing a similar thing. Our house just sold and we have less than 5 wks to move 1300km.

The apx 400 sqft in our barn leaks bad, and if I suggested living there I would get smacked (wife saw snakes in the post pile last year.

So we are hoping to build a small cabin (max 500sqft) and use it as a guest house if we ever outgrow it. Like said above, if you spend all your time outside it will be easier to live with the small space.
We never relized it until now but weve been practicing over the last 8 years, by living in 1 bdrm apartments

mikim · Apr 17, 2009

Thanks for all the comments....It's Friday and I'm back in town to pick up the family and take them to the country for good at noon tomorrow. We'll be putting Trevor in school on Monday ....err I'LL be putting Trevor in school Monday. Bernice just learned Wed that she landed a state job downtown Austin and she starts work on Monday. She's worked for title companies for years -- now she's going to work for the Texas Dept of Insurance in the title branch. They are the regulatory agency for title companies. ....all insurance actually --but she'll just be dealing with title insurance. Talked to my realtor yesterday and she thinks she has a cash buyer for the house -- will be showing it Sunday afternoon. Now we decided to move before the house sold so Trevor could make new friends before summer started ....then Bernice gets a job in Austin ....then the realtor says she has a hot prospect..... Sometimes I think HE just taps me on the shoulder with stuff like this to say "I'm right here and watching". I'll be off the internet now for awhile....I don't think I can get cell service there ---I'm going to try --but I believe we'll end up with satellite as the only option. I can get voice cell service if I stand outside the metal barn -- but it won't connect for email on my iphone. LIFE CHANGES! exciting stuff.

txdon · Apr 18, 2009

Mike, the weather guy, the day you move to our area is the day the year-long drought ends it is raining a little slower now so my satellite internet is up again. We have had 6" the last two days and the ponds are filling. Good bye city life, welcome to the good life! (Come by if you need the net.)

mikim · Apr 18, 2009

thanks Don -- Bernice needs to get on for just a few minutes one evening before Friday to file her last unemployment week. We're leaving in about 30 minutes -- we'll call you --
It always rains whenever I move --
Jim -- show up with shiner and the work will stop for the day --;-)

Kyle_in_Tex · Apr 19, 2009

Shiner Bock I presume.....yum yum

Congrats Mike and Bernice!

The Dougster · Apr 23, 2009

I concur with the opinion of several others that have mentioned using your cellular coverage for internet access... We live near Liberty Hill and have used satellite ... we have a small ranch near Lampasas, and at times have needed internet access there but having been spoiled, couldn't stand the idea of using dial up again..... Then we learned of using our cellular coverage... we use Sprint and consequently decided to go with them and their"air card" (their term).... Mike, I gotta tell you, it is great... we were paying just over $50/month for satellite ... now we pay $60/month and use our Sprint service at home, at the ranch and when we travel to Houston, my wife uses it to check email and connect with her work computer as we travel down the highway.... We couldn't be more pleased ...
Enjoy your new digs at Paige... I had the pleasure of driving thru Paige just yesterday and am envious of all the rainfall you folks have received... If your moving causes rain, could you move closer to Lampasas? lol

bindian · May 30, 2009

Mike,
That is great to hear! I still got your cell number and directions. If you ever see a red dodge pickup clattering down the road, it is me coming for the Grand Tour.
hugs, Brandi

txdon · May 30, 2009

Well, because of Mike I had to take my Wildblue Satellite down and I'm trying the at&t cell card. The reception last night was dial-up-speed (two bars) but tonight at the same table it is three bars (almost satellite speed). The verdict is still out for three more days. Mike's tower deprived location made his air-card useless and he is going to Wildblue soon. Mike used a zboost to increase his cell phone reception but it did not help the air-card.

Is there a wireless boost that helps the air-card in a metal roof building in a remote area?

ronjhall · May 31, 2009

Need to stop and see Mike when we travel threw TX next year.
I have a Wilson trucker antenna and amplifier/booster. They make some great products for home use. http://www.wilsonelectronics.com////Products.php?Type=B]Wilson Electronics. As you know I have been using mine with great success for over 2 years. PM me if you need some more info. Maybe you need to consider Verizon in your area.
JINMAN got a router like I purchased for his air card. Put the air card & router where it gets best reception. Then run on wi-fi for computer/s.

jinman · May 31, 2009

ronjhall said:
JINMAN got a router like I purchased for his air card. Put the air card & router where it gets best reception. Then run on wi-fi for computer/s.

CradlePoint MBR-1000. . .WOOHOO! What a great product. Just one easy installation and then you can forget it. Recommended!