Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

TGIF

Our House in Austin

Such an interesting week. We closed on the house in Port Aransas and will be closing on the house in the Austin area today. In between, we loaded up a truck which we rented and moved. The estimates for a move did not make any sense. The prices were way too high. The primary factor was not the labor but the milage from Port Aransas to Austin. By renting a truck, we had unlimited mileage, and the cost was under $300.  We did have to gas up the vehicle which was another $60.00. We hired two able-bodied men in Port Aransas to load the truck and were willing to pay $50.00 each for about an hour and a half. Unfortunately, they did not show up (island time and all that), and we were fortunate our neighbors helped load.

When we got to Austin, we had hired a group named Bell Hops, and they were there on time and had the truck unloaded in an hour. So, all in all, it worked out and at a price significantly less than the lowest quote. Today’s JohnKu talks about being ready to take care of yourself. I hope you all have a great weekend.

Self Reliance by John W. Howell.

When plans made fall through,

There is only one way out . . .

Your skills put in play.

83 comments

  1. Sounds like a smooth move, John! Congratulations on your beautiful new home. I love it!

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    1. The house is totally different. Contemporary on one floor. Thanks Jill.

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      1. It reminded me of the Brady Bunch house, except bigger!

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      2. Derek wanted to know how many families were living there…it looks huge! I hope Twiggy and Lucy don’t get lost. 🙂

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      3. Ha ha ha. Tell Derek we have locaters on the pups and they always come back for dinner. 😀

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  2. I’m glad it all worked out well for you, John. The house in Austin looks quite roomy and nice. All the best in getting settled in. 🙂 — Suzanne

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    1. Thank you, Suzanne. We think we will be happy here. 😊

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  3. Congratulations on making it working and for keeping many dollars in your pocket!

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    1. Yes two important items. 😀

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  4. Congrats on the move. Good to hear it was a small and successful adventure. 🙂

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    1. Thank you, Charles.

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  5. Moving is always a crap shoot. Glad that all ended well. Love the new house!!

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    1. Thank you, Lori. 😊

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  6. Glad your neighbors helped out.

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    1. Believe me I would not have made it. 😕

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  7. Gwen Plano · ·

    Congratulations, John. Happy Days accompany you. May blessings be abundant! ♥

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    1. Thank you, Gwen.

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  8. Happy new home. aAfew years back we hired ‘Van and 2 men’ to take heavy furniture and piano from our home to daughter and son-in-law’s new house 182 miles away. When they arrived the older of the two men ( Dad we assumed ) told us about all his major operations. I messaged my daughter that in the unlikley event of them arriving at all be on amber alert to call an ambulance! Amazingly the chaps did get there and unloaded.

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    1. Ha haha. Always a worry with those older ones. 😀

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  9. karenringalls · ·

    John, I am happy for you that all worked out. Such events can be lessons from which we can learn. I am excited for your new adventure. Blessings!

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    1. Thank you so much, Karen. 😀

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  10. Inland time vs. island time – I’m glad the Austin crew showed up and you’re unpacked. I like the look of the house. I hope you’re getting used to it.

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    1. The house suits us. Little things need to be done (like a fenced yard) but all in all it is home. Thanks, Dan

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  11. I love your house! Mazel Tov:). and Little Mazels for the puppies!

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    1. Ha haha. Thanks, Kimberly.

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      1. yep, the Jewish girl in me popped out!

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      2. Loved that. 😊

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  12. Never better served than by ourselves! Glad you got all that snafu sorted out and had fabulous neighbours in Port Aransas… Hopefully the Austin ones are as wonderful!
    Are you all unpacked already? I bet you are. You just seem the type 😉 Warning us about no internet and then posting daily…

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    1. Ha haha. We have everything unpacked that we need. You are right. The Producer and I are Type A squared. 😂

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      1. Why am I not in the least surprised? 😀

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  13. John, I hope your new home 🏡 will be filled with precious moments. Congratulations and all the best for a happy life there.
    Isadora 😎

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    1. Thank you so much, Isadore. 😁

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  14. The house looks great! You are so right about being self-reliant. We’ve moved enough to have banged into our heads 😉😁 Enjoy your new home! Happy Friday!!

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    1. Thank you, Marie.

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  15. Sorry your hired help flaked on you. I’m glad it all worked out in the end, though. It’s great to have nice neighbors. I hope your new ones are as wonderful as those you left behind.

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    1. I hope so too. So far everyone has smiled and waved but no one has come over with a pitcher of margaritas.

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      1. It’s hard to trust neighbors who don’t drink margaritas.

        Then again, maybe they do and just don’t want to share. Either way, that’s just wrong.

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  16. Great plan to rent a truck.

    One of the most interesting things I have seen is the use of truck rental rates to study demography and migration patterns. Look up the cost to rent a truck from LA to Austin then look at the cost to rent a truck to move from Austin to LA. Wow!

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    1. Everything costs more moving west it seems. I’ll do the exercise when I get a minute. 😁

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      1. In that instance it is more the case of people fleeing the high cost of California

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  17. I’m glad everything worked out n the end, John. Congratulations on the fabulous new home. Wishing you all the best getting settled in!

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    1. Thank you, Mae.

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  18. I laughed at your use of the phrase “island time.” It reminded me of the affectionate use of “Port Mañana” to refer to Port Mansfield. You’re in a different world now. Speaking of bilingual, have you learned to say “Grande, Iced, Sugar-Free, Vanilla Latte With Soy Milk” yet?

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    1. We are working to keep Austin weird for sure. Your bilingual lesson made me laugh out loud. Thank you.

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  19. Seems like moving never goes smoothly – can’t believe those guys didn’t show up. Glad it worked out – Happy Friday, John!

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    1. I know right?

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  20. John, congrats on your move and beautiful house. It’s an interesting model, look forward to the details! Enjoy settling in and discovering new adventures in the neighborhood. 📚🎶 Christine

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    1. It does stand out in the neighborhood for sure, Christine. I wonder if the neighbors like it. We do. 😀

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  21. Looks very different than Port A. Does the pelican up top get evicted now?

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    1. Yes. The Producer just mentioned a new header shot needed.

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  22. You’ve yet to meet the mountain you couldn’t climb, John.
    Well done.

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    1. Thank you, Hook. 😀

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  23. I am glad the move went well and you were able to improvise. The new home is lovely with very practical natural landscaping with a Hill Country look with a contemporary twist. Perfect for Austin and there is always something going on there. Cheers!

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    1. Thank you so much, Jo.

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  24. Yep! Sometimes all we can count on is ourselves and our resources. Glad you are moved and unloaded!

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    1. Thank you, Jan

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  25. D.L Finn, Author · ·

    Sorry that the two helpers didn’t show, but happy everyone pitched in to help. Sounds like a good move otherwise. Nice you have a one level house. That has always been my preference. Looks like a beautiful spot and house. Enjoy!

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    1. Thank you, Denise. 😁

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  26. Congratulations on the move, John. You’re a lot closer to WholeFoods now.

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    1. Thank you, Guy. Yup right down the street. Happy weekend.

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  27. Glad the move went so well, John, despite the snafus. Isn’t it nice to be resettled?? Your new digs look interesting, the kind of house I’d love to explore. So many possible nooks and crannies for clever doggies to hide in!!

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    1. They love the interior. 100% tile and lots of running room.

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      1. Dallas would greatly appreciate the scarcity of stairs!!

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      2. These guys d as well. In fact Lucy hasn’t climbed stairs in several years. (Elevator)

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  28. We’re thinking about doing the same thing because the cost of moving is nuts.

    Glad it all worked out for you!

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    1. Thanks Deborah.

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  29. Austin Ikw well! We lived in Round Rock for over four years. I love Austin. Hope you are happy there John.

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    1. We love Austin too. I think we will be happy.

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  30. I’m so pleased the move went well, my friend. How are the fur-babies adapting so far?

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    1. I finally blocked off a section of the yard so they can wander at will. They love it.

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      1. I can hear them discussing their approval from here.❤️️

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      2. They are happy now. Thanks, Soooz

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    1. Thank you , Traci 😀

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  31. Sounds like it went well, John. There are so many windows on the upper floor of your new home. How lovely!

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    1. The windows run across the top of the living, dining and kitchen.(all one room) We are on one floor and the ceiling is 25 feet high. The windows let in natural light. Very contemporary.

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      1. It must be wonderful! All that natural light fills the soul, doesn’t it? A haven for writing, too.

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