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Scout
Queen of Imperfection
Joined: 20 Dec 2002
Posts: 3390
Location: home of the blues
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 Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 2:07 pm Post subject: Check-In Week of 1/1/2006 |
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Aw, why you gotta hate on Florida? Lol, I love the beaches, and am spoiled by the white-sand gulf coast beaches. But I would never live in Panama city again (aka "LA," as in "Lower Alabama"). Pensacola is pretty cool, though. I think it's a good blend of what I like about the south plus what I like about the beach, KWIM? And our favorite part of Fl is scenic Hwy 30-A, where Seaside is, so we'll be close enough to head over there on weekends and stuff if we want (since we could never afford to live there).
And then, Southern FL is like a whole other country. |
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honeybee
Queen of Imperfection
Joined: 20 Dec 2002
Posts: 3163
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| Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 2:43 pm Post subject: Re: Check-In Week of 1/1/2006 |
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| Scout wrote: |
Maybe you should move near Nashville with Honeybee. It really is a nice area, and Nashville is a city of surprising amenities and all the things you want in a city. |
ditto! 
I love it here! There is everything I have ever wanted to be near right here. It is clean! The people are freindly! No litter! No graffiti! Our county has a great school system. Low cost of living and no income tax! Our home was affordable and our city has no property tax!
What more could you ask for?  |
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prescott
Community Techie
Joined: 21 Apr 2002
Posts: 3348
Location: Outside your window
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| Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 4:46 pm Post subject: Re: Check-In Week of 1/1/2006 |
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| honeybee wrote: |
| our city has no property tax! |
That would literally save us over $500/mo. I didn't know such places existed! How the hell does that work? What's your sales tax, 20%?  |
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MainstreamMom
Certifiably Imperfect
Joined: 29 Apr 2002
Posts: 1222
Location: New England
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| Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 5:19 pm Post subject: Check-In Week of 1/1/2006 |
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Maybe we need to move there Honeybee! My fucking tax bills are outrageous and I still have to pay for water, sewer and trash! That's what i get for living in Taxachusetts! It's not even like the tax money gets me good schools and the people sure aren't nice....hmmmmmmmm
At least we have the Sox and the Pats! GO PATS!!!!!!!!!!!! THREE-PEAT!
On topic, I made it to my class today and am going to spinning tomorrow while J is in school! I'm going to try to do the weights class and switch off with spinning every other day! I need to shake off this fat ARSE!
Jessica, where are you originally "from" and Kristy too? What about you Honeybee? Dh and I are both from the Boston area and we talk about moving but I don't think either of us ever could. We are die hard yankees. |
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Scout
Queen of Imperfection
Joined: 20 Dec 2002
Posts: 3390
Location: home of the blues
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| Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 5:31 pm Post subject: Check-In Week of 1/1/2006 |
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We do pay just shy of 10% sales tax, and that includes groceries. I think that's state-wide. But no state income tax is nice. We pay property taxes here but they aren't as bad as Chicagoland's. Ours are paid with the mortgage so I'm not even sure how much they are. I think it's something like $600 a year though.
I'm originally from Memphis. |
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honeybee
Queen of Imperfection
Joined: 20 Dec 2002
Posts: 3163
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| Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 5:53 pm Post subject: Check-In Week of 1/1/2006 |
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Our city, Spring Hill, is under so much growth and development and the city is making so much money off of that, that the mayor has written off all taxes indefinitely. 
Have I said I love it here?  I am sooooo glad we moved! All I miss is Red Robin, Trader Joe's and my best friend. |
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honeybee
Queen of Imperfection
Joined: 20 Dec 2002
Posts: 3163
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| Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 5:56 pm Post subject: Check-In Week of 1/1/2006 |
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I should add, that if you are working from home and Jess just needs a retail job -- there is mega retail going on here and I see Help Wanted signs in just about every window.
I think I'm going to get a part time job at Gymboree. 
eta: and our sales tax is high, like 9.25% and groceries are just a smidge lower than that, but considering CA was 8.75%, it's not a big difference. And from what I gather on reading up tax info, you can take a sales tax deduction on your taxes in leiu of the income tax deduction, and since TN has no income tax... it is a great beny.  |
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DietCokeHead
Queen of Imperfection
Joined: 29 Apr 2002
Posts: 3805
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| Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 8:42 pm Post subject: Check-In Week of 1/1/2006 |
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I think it's something like $600 a year though.
Ours is $3600 a year.  |
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prescott
Community Techie
Joined: 21 Apr 2002
Posts: 3348
Location: Outside your window
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| Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 8:52 pm Post subject: Re: Check-In Week of 1/1/2006 |
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| Scout wrote: |
| I think it's something like $600 a year though. |
OMG, that's the amount our taxes will increase if a currently proposed referrendum goes through. Take your current taxes and times by 10 for us... and our town has the lowest tax rate in the county.....
Our sales tax is over 8%, so it's not too far off! Although only 2 or 3% for groceries. And of course we have state income tax.
Holy shit, reviewing all this I should just be grateful not to live in a cardboard box! |
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Scout
Queen of Imperfection
Joined: 20 Dec 2002
Posts: 3390
Location: home of the blues
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| Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 8:23 am Post subject: Check-In Week of 1/1/2006 |
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That is insane! Y'all need to get outta there.
HB, that's true, you can take a deduction for sales tax. |
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Anthromomma
Seen Better Days
Joined: 05 Jun 2004
Posts: 493
Location: Gateway to the West
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| Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 9:48 am Post subject: Check-In Week of 1/1/2006 |
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| This discussion is very interesting to me-- my dh has an interview in Nashville next week, so obviously, we're considering a move. Anything else I should consider? Maybe I should put this in its own thread. Let me go find the appropriate board, maybe... |
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Jessica
Queen of Imperfection
Joined: 20 Apr 2002
Posts: 4811
Location: Chi-town
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| Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 10:53 am Post subject: Re: Check-In Week of 1/1/2006 |
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| DietCokeHead wrote: |
Has G had another eval recently that is stressing you out or is he due for one soon? What's up with the preschool situation? |
| Scout wrote: |
So, what all is going on with Graham? |
Graham is fine, it's just the waiting in limbo until his evaluation next week. I feel like our lives our in the balance until we determine what pre-school he is going to go to and I know of no other options if the state doesn't take him into the special needs school, however, I hope and pray if they do take him, that it will give him what he needs.
His speech therapist told me last week that she truly believes Graham has Asperger syndrome - apparently she's attended many conventions and classes on the subject. I just hope the school district knows what they're doing because obviously he is not going to have the same needs as other special needs children. I worry that they won't do anything to keep him intellectually challenged since he might be one of the few kids who is years ahead of the curve in that area, yet he cannot go into a "normal" preschool because I see him totally regressing in that situation. He still has a lot of sensory issues and transition issues. And, what if they focus on his academica abilities during the evaluation and decide that he doesn't need the program, what do I do then?? I'm such a worry-wart!!! |
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DietCokeHead
Queen of Imperfection
Joined: 29 Apr 2002
Posts: 3805
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| Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 11:00 am Post subject: Check-In Week of 1/1/2006 |
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| Jessica, from my experience, state preschool evals always have many components so his academics would only be one part. There should also be physical, adaptive, social, and I think there is something else. I would worry about him not qualifying because of how smart he is, they will take his other areas into consideration too. And then when he gets in there should be special education teachers working with him and they will know about Aspegers and how to work with him! Don't worry!! |
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Jessica
Queen of Imperfection
Joined: 20 Apr 2002
Posts: 4811
Location: Chi-town
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| Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 11:06 am Post subject: Re: Check-In Week of 1/1/2006 |
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| Scout wrote: |
| Jessica, I totally feel your pain! As of the moment, it looks like we are moving to Pensacola. It's going to take prolly a year though, to get both the house and the shop in shape and sold. But I do feel less stressed just having made the decision. I stll feel the daily stresses though, and just like you, am feeling like I rarely do anything fun or see my friends. |
Oh, I am glad you made a decision and I'm glad you didn't pull a Harrison Ford in Mosquito Coast and move to the Galapago (sp?) Islands or anthing.
A year isn't so bad, especially when you have the eye on the prize to keep you focused.
| Scout wrote: |
| We picked Pensacola because it is an easy day's drive from both my family and dh's, plus one of his sisters will be moving back there from Southern FL. It has a lot of well-protected (from development) beaches, but also is a small city with the kinds of houses we like in one area (very hard to find in FL), and that area has some great public school options, including a magnet school for the arts and free 4 yo pre-k, which will help us with childcare costs. Florida teacher salaries suck, but I can't give up the hours and holidays now with young kids and a new baby. |
It sounds perfect for you guys!!
| Scout wrote: |
| Anyway, sorry I steered that right back to me, lol. |
Oh, I'm the queen of doing that! (I didn't think you were doing that anyway.)
| Scout wrote: |
| I do so know where you are coming from. I hope you guys can figure out some things to make life more fun and less stressful soon. Maybe you should move near Nashville with Honeybee. It really is a nice area, and Nashville is a city of surprising amenities and all the things you want in a city. It's too bad Memphis sucks in so many ways, because the high salaries and low cost of living can be really great. It's one of the reasons it's so hard for people to leave here. |
Yeah, I just think, given that I'm closer to 40 than I am to 30, that I should be comfortable at this age and that I wouldn't be so tired. Part of that is that Graham has been home with us since he was born, or with a Nanny for a short time, but it has been a financial burden for us not to be able to put him in daycare (*he's* not a financial burden, but the situation is).
I also feel like I have kid overload -- when I'm home I can't sit for a minute if both kids are home, one is always wanting something and sometimes I just a "woo is me" feeling. Even though we have family around, they are worthless as far as watching or helping out with the kids and we really can't afford a babysitter and a whole night out, sometimes we go 6 months to a year without ever going on a "date". I think a big part of that is what you give up for kids, and it's what you're supposed to do, but Scott and I never get a break.
I also want to travel with the kids and be able to do things, like spend a weekend in the city without thinking about how much money it will cost. I know everybody goes through this, I'm just feeling very stressed right now, I know it will pass.
BTW, Honeybee, I'm from Seattle. Most of my family lives there, the family that I like, but it's too damn gloomy and they don't allow Republicans to live there -- seriously, it's downright dangerous to be a republican there, so I'll settle for visiting and keeping silent when I do! I dunno, Seattle is kinda depressing. Sometimes I think I could go back, but I'm not really sure I'd be better off there. Their COL really isn't spectacular either. |
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Scout
Queen of Imperfection
Joined: 20 Dec 2002
Posts: 3390
Location: home of the blues
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| Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 11:46 am Post subject: Check-In Week of 1/1/2006 |
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| Jessica wrote: |
I also feel like I have kid overload -- when I'm home I can't sit for a minute if both kids are home, one is always wanting something and sometimes I just a "woo is me" feeling. Even though we have family around, they are worthless as far as watching or helping out with the kids and we really can't afford a babysitter and a whole night out, sometimes we go 6 months to a year without ever going on a "date". I think a big part of that is what you give up for kids, and it's what you're supposed to do, but Scott and I never get a break.
I also want to travel with the kids and be able to do things, like spend a weekend in the city without thinking about how much money it will cost. I know everybody goes through this, I'm just feeling very stressed right now, I know it will pass. |
I know exactly what you mean. I could have written those exact words at several points in the last year. Right now I'm in an upward phase, luckily. But still, I feel ya! That is a sucky way to be feeling, and hopefully things will get better for you guys soon.
I'm sure that once Graham's evaluation is over, there will be some relief on that front as well. I can only imagine how stressful all of this must be for you guys. Hopefully you will be able to get the information and services you need to help Graham be happy and meet his full potential. I know that for Robyn (SIL's friend with the Asperger's child), things were much harder in the beginning than they were once they knew what they were dealing with and how to get him what he needs. My kids' Montessori school goes up to 8th grade and there is a 12 yo boy there with Asperger's. He seems to be a happy, well-adjusted kid. I mean, I know that's all anecdotal, but I feel like I want to say something reassuring! |
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