Not so much a set back as lagging on my walking. We had to go see about getting gas at Costco on Wednesday so I didn't go walking the last two days. Well... the Costco thing was a total bust and hence the frustration and making two trips out there. We go there because it's the cheapest gas around right now and it's convenient when we need to do shopping there as well.
First Progress (the card I got) has a no chip card, it is swipe only, so it's almost like an old style debit card including having a pin for it. First time I tried it because it's a swipe and no chip wanted a pin. I forgot what it was so we got some food and went home. I found the insert with the pin for it and memorized it easily so we planned on going out the next day to get that done. It is a MasterCard so therefore Costco doesn't take it, kept giving me an error code or null message or something. Dammit. I am now down to 1/8th of a tank, EBT food money is low (that might get deposited in three days), I have about 3$ in the bank and waiting for SSI (no way other than calling SS to find out what the hold up is).
So as soon as I get the latest charges paid off I'm getting a different card that's a more modern, convenient and tech savvy card.
So done with being broke.
Again.
On the bright side, my credit score is a tad under 700 for the first time in years (682 on the two main scores) and if I make a few more payments on time it will likely jump up over that in the next month or two. That's another thing, First Progress website has lag between a payment (that is due on the first) and when the new cycle starts )on the 4th) that is confusing on their page. You made a payment on the first but the balance due is still the amount of the payment you just sent.....sigh.
This whole credit thing is a scam. Credit reporting wasn't around when my parents were buying a house, I think all you had to do was show income and two letters or something. Credit cards didn't exist until the 50's or 60's I remember my mom writing a check for more than the amount of groceries so she could have some cash for gas. Can't do that anymore either, we have ATM cards and banks with ATM's and I remember when those started getting installed back in the 80's. You could get any amount of cash and it didn't have to be all in $20 increments.
Anyway.
I'm still 'feeding my soul' looking at house plans and houses or land for sale in Washington. Acting as if I will play the winning lottery numbers and can pick my ideal style and layout.
The ideal layout doesn't exist pre made but there are some that are close.
One thing that I discovered with some of the more upscale mobile homes is the insistence of having a large tub. We don't need or use a tub. Only use would be for cleaning something that is larger than a sink (vertical blinds, tub mat, Rocky). So I started ruling out any potential homes with that feature. Double sinks in the master bath is a must for our convenience. A door to close off the shower and toilet from the sinks because I like to do just a wash up more often than taking a shower so while Jon takes his I could do that and not disturb him and we'll both be ready for the day roughly at the same time.
Another feature I love is a fireplace or wood stove for heating. Lots of windows and lots of wall space for displaying things. Minimum is 2 br but 3 is ideal for having a room for him, a room for me and a bedroom for us.
A two car garage so there is enough storage space, space for the car and space for work bench and tools for Jon to tinker with. Another must; a patio area that can be screened off at least partically for Rocky to have his space. That is actually a harder element to find than you would think. I started looking at mobile homes because a lot of them have a long patio area with an awning that is easy to screen off.
Knowing a little about how small changes can make a difference in cost and such, finding a design that is closest to what I am looking for is best. The only thing this particular one is missing is a patio and there's that large area off the living room that can be squared off for a patio. The fireplace is actually a stove, there is no chimney in the elevation drawing so it's not an 'actual' fireplace. Good size kitchen, the HVAC and water heater is in the garage which is another feature I liked. Washer and dryer right at the exit to the garage.
I have design elements that make sense in my head like the garage can have a door closer to the kitchen for unloading groceries. There are all kinds of details that I feel need changing, this one I gave 2 likes out of three I have two other designs that are three 'hearts' but am looking at all the ones I just picked out last night and going through those.
I
did this before when I was married when houseplans came in magazine
format. The site I settled on is America's Best House Plans because they
had the most variety and few of them were 'exclusive' designs. Most of
them I have discovered were drawn in the 90's. About when the magazines
started disappearing.
So that's what I am doing with my free time other than being on Second Life. Playing games, going for walks and dreaming about my ideal house.
Oh on a more family note, Amber discovered that the kids stepmom how had been spending time with them for the past few months, was unvaccinated. She was there when we came over for Christmas and everyone had masks on, I opened the sliding door and we kept our distance. The week before the boys were to start school again they all got tested and sure enough, Andrew has Covid. Everyone else is negative. He only has a stuffy nose and cold symptoms thankfully, they already had a first dose of vaccine. This irks me no end and their dad decided he couldn't make the trip out to see them for the holiday either because he didn't get vaccinated. Wellman and Amber laid down the rules, he had to wear a mask, could not stay overnight at their place and had to get a negative test before coming out. So that hurt Amber more I think having their dad be that selfish to not do whatever it was possible to be with his kids.
Anyway.
Life goes on and we're thankful for every day.
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