Retirement home search started

[gsganzer]

I moved to Texas from CA in 2002 and like it a lot better. But for the life of me, I don't have a clue what somebody should do or see if they come to visit here. I've never done the tourist thing here. I'm here for the economy, cheap land and low crime. If I go on vacation, it's somewhere with mountains!!!

It's kind of tough to guide people on what to do in TX. There's not any one spot or concentration. I think to really get the "TX Experience", it involves lots of different smaller things. For people that visit Dallas, I always steer them to Ft. Worth. You could easily fill a day and evening in Ft. Worth. Good sites (Stockyards and Billy Bob's, Sid Richardson gallery, Amon Carter Museum, Kimble Museum, Will Rogers Equestrian center, Cowgirl Hall of Fame), great cuisine (Joe T. Garcias, Tim Love Restaurants) and some nice hotels (Stockyards Hotel, Drover Hotel).

But to get a better TX experience, you need to step off the beaten path. Go to a small town rodeo, stay at a B&B in the hill country during the wildflower season, visit the Round Top antiques fair or Canton trade days, visit San Antonio and stay at the Menger Hotel, visit the old Spanish Missions, stroll the river walk and have dinner at Rosario's. Take a steam train ride in east TX at Rusk in the fall. Go to the gulf coast and watch the hatching sea turtles at the national seashore on Padre Island.

The list goes on and on.

 

[Torvy]

+1 on Ft. Worth being > Dallas.

Dallas wants to be a fancy place. It has a few nice spots, but FtW is better.

 

[gsganzer]

My dog had one of these on the patio.

I got to looking and it turns out he's been pulling the covers of the sprinkler system boxes and pulling out the controllers. Good grief man!

Now I have to figure out how they wire back in.

 

[EddieWalker]

Could be worse. You could have goats!!!!!

 

[grsthegreat]

Dogs….ya gots to love them.

One day my brother and I were heading off to the lake with his boat. I arrived at his house and found his dog ate the entire wiring system off of the rear of his boat.

And our neighbors dog decided the heat tape in their downspout shouldn’t be there. Decided to pull it out one day. Pealing the downspout apart.

My dogs….they have always been little angels. My old golden retriever even once found I had dropped my keys somewheres and returned them to me. Little angels every one.

 

[jmc]

What size is the shop? Both it and the house look really nice.

Reminds me of that old joke, "Wanted: new girl friend with bass boat. Please send picture of bass boat."

 

[Torvy]

Mine recently yanked out my utility trailer plug and wiring.

 

[ultrarunner]

Chewed up both trailer lights and Battery Charger Leads… while dog sitting at my house.

 

[ponytug]

I want to buy a recliner. I want a brown recliner that doesn't have power, it doesn't rock and it doesn't swivel. This should be simple, but it's proven to be overwhelming and painful to find one that I like without all that extra stuff that I don't want. The worse part is dealing with the sales people in the stores!!!!!

I hear you with dealing with furniture sales people, especially when looking for a chair. I could care less who made it, or the available fabrics, etc. I just want to sit in it and find out if it is comfortable for me.

I haven't bought a recliner recently, but I remember how long it took- but it was so worth it. Non-powered, easy to fix at a comfortable angle, and easy on the back. A friend recently treated himself to a Flight recliner. I think that he found it for half off somewhere. Supposedly they are very comfortable as the designer used to design first and business class seats for airlines. (Hence the name.)

Good luck!

All the best, Peter

 

[ultrarunner]

Chairs… seen nonsense at work…

30 years ago I bought 120 assorted chairs, end tables, love seats for the new hospital lobby… Sauder American made… not a single failure and clean regularly and met all flame spread ratings, etc.

The problem is much was around teal scheme back then with varnished wood.

The last 5 years the business manager has made many office chair buys… saying my colors are dated… she likes grey and black and the plastic chrome finishes and they may look great and about the same price point as what I paid 30 years ago…

Thing is the beautiful stylish furnishing have about 18 to 30 month life… fabric tears or seams open, welds break or you get that sinking feeling when sitting down…

I truly believe too many focus on trendy style and ignore quality of construction/longevity… at least from what I am seeing.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

My wife has been drawing a floor plan for ours. We are in our 40s. But I'm retired and she is nearly. Ideally I'd spend the last half of my life in a home we built for us not one that someone else built for themselves.

 

[Duds13]

I want to buy a recliner. I want a brown recliner that doesn't have power, it doesn't rock and it doesn't swivel. This should be simple, but it's proven to be overwhelming and painful to find one that I like without all that extra stuff that I don't want. The worse part is dealing with the sales people in the stores!!!!!

Did you look at Pottery Barn? They have manual recliners. I just got a really nice leather chair with an ottoman from them

 

[EddieWalker]

Did you look at Pottery Barn? They have manual recliners. I just got a really nice leather chair with an ottoman from them

I've never been to a Pottery Barn. I'm not sure if there is one here, I've seen it, or noticed it before.

 

[Duds13]

I've never been to a Pottery Barn. I'm not sure if there is one here, I've seen it, or noticed it before.

I took a chance and just ordered it without sitting in it. We do have one about 45 minutes away but not a fan of driving to the location.

 

[Torvy]

I've never been to a Pottery Barn. I'm not sure if there is one here, I've seen it, or noticed it before.

Checked out what my wife got. It's manual, brown and doesn't swivel, but it does rock.

Not sure if you are holding out for one with all of what you want, but you can maybe get close.

She got it through a small independent furniture outlet nearby. They got it through Ashley. She bought it with her mattress and got a great deal on the two together. Owner could probably source exactly what you want if you have time.

 

[dmccarty]

I want to buy a recliner. I want a brown recliner that doesn't have power, it doesn't rock and it doesn't swivel. This should be simple, but it's proven to be overwhelming and painful to find one that I like without all that extra stuff that I don't want. The worse part is dealing with the sales people in the stores!!!!!

"The worse part is dealing with the sales people in the stores!!!!!"

Gracoius but that brings back memories. Decades ago, well, last century I was looking for some furniture. The sales people in one store were worse than any car stealership I have visited. I cussed one sales person out because they would not leave me alone but continued to harass us. It was unreal. I told them we just wanted to look, have a discussion, and if I needed anything, I would come and talk to them. I understand sales and they need a commission so I would get back to the sales person that approached me. But they were so rude and aggressive, I chewed them out and left the store.

Ended up spending quite a bit of money but I will NEVER, EVER step foot in that store again.

Check out Ikea. We bought our couch and recliners there a decade or so back and they have held up with no problems. They are leather and comfortable. The chairs do swivel though but are just simple recliners. Ikea has some cheap stuff but they also have decent quality for a fair price.

 

[JJT]

I took a chance and just ordered it without sitting in it. We do have one about 45 minutes away but not a fan of driving to the location.

Duds13, You aren't too far from Livingstons, (showrooms in Gloversville and Queensbury). It's the only place we go for furniture. Bought a pair of Barclounger Leather Mission style manual recliners from them 20 years ago and they are still going strong. For Christmas we treated ourselves to a Barcolounger leather couch. Highly recommended.

 

[Duds13]

Duds13, You aren't too far from Livingstons, (showrooms in Gloversville and Queensbury). It's the only place we go for furniture. Bought a pair of Barclounger Leather Mission style manual recliners from them 20 years ago and they are still going strong. For Christmas we treated ourselves to a Barcolounger leather couch. Highly recommended.

Thanks for the head's up! I will definitely check them out in the future!

 

[fiddlearound]

Anybody out there invest in a good massage chair?

I'm looking for recommendations.

Sorry Eddie, thought this was a good place to ask.