I just started getting water in my basement.

 

Some people have different views on children. Even with all the folk that have never had kids, and don't intend to, there are those that have more than enough to pick up the slack.

My experiences as a male have led me to view children as more of a burden than a joy. (Read high divorce ratio and alienated father problems in this country. Marriage is too big of a risk.) The right woman may have changed my mind when I was younger; but, at 40 I don't want to be putting children through college at the age of 60.

I'm not saying that you are wrong. You just have a different perspective on the situation. 50 years ago, I would have felt differently. Today's society has made being a father and husband a huge risk for a man to take. I've probably passed up a few decent women over the years because I felt the odds were skewed against me.

I agree with Kobi on this one. I wouldn't give advice to anyone to make the same decisions I've made though. Situations are different for everyone. I would advise caution and serious consideration before taking on a family.

 

I probably should have used the above quote as better reference. Everyone's situation is different. And of course everyone is entitled to their own view. However, the way this was said, even though it may be in "Kobi humour", I take offense. I AM NOT in denial. I DO NOT consider my life "ruined" because I had children. In fact, they are the best thing I have ever done in my life.

 

X2!

I just watched my daughter graduate High School on Wednesday. She graduated 19th out of a class of over 500 students. She graduated with 37 hours of college credit. She also graduated DAP, distinguished achievement program, so she wore a black cap and gown where the other graduates wore red, she was in the national honor society, and she graduated in the top 10% so she got to wear gold ropes. (Actually she was in the top 5% of her class) I was a very proud father.

Yeah, having kids ruined me.

 

I can easily see how that would offend you. I can't tell if he's joking or not either.

I don't feel that everyone is destroyed by children, and have met very few mothers that feel that way. A lot of the men I know do rue the day they ever had kids though. Not all of them; but, a significant number nonetheless. I sometimes feel regret that I haven't had children; but, that's the way it worked out and it's rare for me to feel that way.

 

Damn dude . . . I hope that stating that you didn't have a sump pump didn't jinx you. Is it a measurable amount? Filling the entire floor of the basement?

What's happening, how are you handling it?

 

OK, so here's an update and a new question . . . .

So the kids in the town where I'm moving say they found a killer house for me. Hopefully it will still be on the market when I get out there. NOt to go into detail on the house . . . but it has a full basement that also has a 1/2 bath, a FULL sump pump. THe folks who currently own it have it "finished" and my friends tell me it is completely decorated and turned into an entertainment room, home theatre and a pool table.

So now I'm freaking . . . reading about DON'T have a bathroom, do have a bathroom . . . . oh well, I'll take all into consideration and examine and have an engineer or so other qualified person check it out . . . .

And now, here's my new question . . .

The realtor's written description of the house says it has central air conditioning . . . . (a must for me) and this is what it sez about heating:

Heating: Hot Water/Steam

The Hell?!?!?!?!

What is a hot water/steam heating system???? Never heard of it. Is it any good? Problematic? What is it? If it's no good, since there's central air, I assume you can add central gas or electric heating installed right alongside it . . .

 

Hot Water/Steam = Boiler.
Water is heated then the hot air/steam rises and travels through pipes with radiators usually

 

Any advantages? Disadvantages? Is it effective? Efficient?

 

We had this heating system in Juneau. There was a boiler in the garage that heated the water and the steam was piped into radiators that looked a lot like electric baseboard heaters (not electric obviously ). Our boiler ran on fuel oil, I'm not sure if all of them are like that or not. We only lived there for 2 years so I can't account for the system being problematic but I found it to be a very reliable source of heat.

 

Advantages...hmmm...our boiler also heated our water in our hot water heater, don't know if that's an advantage or not.

Disadvantages: with the cost of fuel oil these days it could be ugly. We filled a 650 gallon tank about 4-5 times a year. (The tank was never completely empty so we ran 4-500 gallons at a fillup)

Effective: Yes, if we ever install a different type of heat here in our house we should consider that type of system.

Efficient: depends a lot on the age of the system. A newer boiler would be a lot more efficient than the one we had in Juneau. That was pretty old and filling the tank 4-5 times a year was probably due in large part to the age of the boiler.

 

I've heard those type of heating systems are very efficient and save money.

Does it include the heated water running through the floors as well?

Here's a link courtesy of Bob Villa:
http://hvac.bobvila.com/Article/271.html

 

Welllllllll ......

It was a dare more than a request.



Either way, I've learned my lesson.

 

Kobi

When I was looking for a house years ago, I stayed away from Underground Storage Tanks (UST) as the fuel supply.

Most do leak which would be a enviromental hazard that you (or your insurance company) would have to clean up. Even if you get a clean bill at the closing (ie, the tank was tested OK), the potential for leaking over time still exists. Its like a time bomb.

If the house has an UST, try to get the tank above ground so you can monitor any potetial leaks. This is my advice.

 

To Tical84, Rose, Habibi (and his buddy Bob Villa), and srfd44, regarding my most recent question regarding hot water/steam heating systems . . .

Thanks. I have already emailed my agent about the points y'all bring up. (especially that UST thing).

Thanks

:santa: