Where was I for 5 days...?

Here I am again: Time Lapse..., much longer than I realized with writing on my Blog. So much has happened, so much is happening and I even had time to get off our little rock in the Caribbean for 5 wonderful, busy, hectic, but yet, relaxing days. If you were to look at these photos, you might think that I am in the Caribbean, or in St. Tropez. Before reading on, scan down, look at the photos and ask yourself, where was Bill for 5 days?

What a beautiful place! What a beautiful location! And, What wonderful, friendly, warm, kind, and gracious people! I was in Florida. Yes, the good ole USA. The beaches of Ft. Myers, Sanibel Island and surrounding beaches are absolutely beautiful!

I went to Fort Myers, Florida. Believe it or not, it was my first time visiting this beautiful city and surrounding areas. You might be asking, "why would he travel to Ft. Myers?"

Phil and I are buying a vacation home in a small community out side of Ft. Myers called Lehigh Acres. It's a small community that is up and coming and can be considered"exclusive" by some. It's a small, quiet, community. Close to Naples Florida and Cape Coral Florida.

Phil and I decided that it was time to "consider" buying another home in the states. The economy and housing market is up for grabs for everybody. Houses are more than half of their value right now and you could "almost" consider buying 2 for 1 with the prices.

Here's how it happened....Phil & I started searching the internet looking at random areas throughout Florida. Remember, Forida is one of seven states where there are no income taxes. Having had a home, yes, "HAD" is the key word here, we decided to liquidate the house in upstate New York.

I still genereate an income in the states being a Mohegan Indian and having the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino as my income source of revenue; the house in New York consituted me to pay taxes to NY State.

In Florida, I don't have to pay income tax any longer. And, trust me, I pay "BIG" taxes in New York for having had a home located there.

So, like I said, we started searching the web for a home. North Florida, Central Florida, East Florida, South Florida and thennnnnnnn, Western Florida at Fort Myers and surrounding areas.

It is like being in the Caribbean without being in the Caribbean. The people are not stressed, polite, calm, easy going, extra friendly and most of all, helpful.

Prior to leaving St. Martin, we found a home, on a 1/2 acres, built in pool, concrete and not bad at all. I had been in contact with the broker/agent for almost 2 1/2 weeks getting information, photos, blueprints, price negotiations....blah blah blah. I finally told him that the house was "sold", prior to leaving and said, "I'll be there on the 28th of April and we'll close the deal".

I arrived on Monday, with a meeting planned at the house for Tuesday morning at 11am.

He finally arrives. I had already arrived 2 hours earlier, taking about 100 photos, walked around the neighborhood, talk to the "future neighbors". He arrives: all smiles, keys in hand, and as he's opening the door, he tells me "there's been a sudden change in events". Me: "oh really, what kind of change of events?" Him: I found out that this house has been in contract since last Thursday". Me: (to myself: "Fucking Asshole!), I now enter the house and in his brief case, he takes out about 40 printed copies of "other homes and lays them on the kitchen counter and says, I might be interested in looking at....." Me: "I've been in touch with you for almost 3 weeks, negotiating, having you draw blueprints, take photos, tell you outright that the house is sold, I get on a plane with the intention of buying THIS HOUSE, and you have the BALLs to tell me that this house is in contract?" Me to myself: ("Fucking Asshole!") I told him I was not interested in doing business with him and that he was "DISMISSED" I thought he was going to die first, then I thought he was going to cry, and then I thought he was going to Die again.....you get the picture. ("Fucking Asshole!")

I called the listing agent and made an appointment to see her. Same nonscense!

Meanwhile remember, I went to buy THIS house and now had 3 days left in Florida to do WHAT? I have the sun in St. Martin. ugh, fuck, ugh, shit, Fucking Asshole!!!!!! NOW, the call that I didn't think I would have to make. How I dreaded making this call. How do I tell Phil that we weren't going to buy that house? I call Phil and tell him the story.....HIS RESPONSE: "Fucking Asshole!" (not to himself) I won't elaborate, but it was worse than this. However, his response sounds much better with the French accent! lol

I started searching the web at the hotel room for hours and hours into the night. I go to sleep and at 4am Wednesday morning, I start searching and leaving messages for other agents to: "Call me, Be Serious, My time was LIMITED, I came to buy a house, DON'T WASTE My Time, I was leaving in 3 days and I Will leave with a house SOLD."

At 7:30am, a ReMax agent called me and told me that I could go and see him and he would make sure that the his Entire Day would be spent showing me houses. His name: Brian Goss of ReMax Edge in Lehigh, Florida. (239-470-9504 cell) You want to buy a house, call Brian.

Brian is/was the Best! He reserved his entire day showing me houses from one extreme to the other, one price range to the other, homes with views, homes without views, big, little, cute, fancy, PRETENSIOUS, which he learned very quickly was not the way to go with me, on the water, on ponds, on canals, "Simple Brian, nice, but, we like simple."

Well, after about 35-40 houses, we found a few that I liked, but, I couldn't make a descision without e-mailing the photos to Phil so he could help to decide which one?....1 hour, 2 hours, almost three hours later, we decided on THE ONE!

Believe it or not, I thought that THIS house would be the one that Phil wouldn't choose. I thought there was too much tile, too much glass, a screened in built in pool 34x18, smaller yard, 3 bedrooms, livingroom, dining room, kitchen, Florida Room overlooking the built in pool, 2 bathrooms, 2 car garage..... I thought it was too fancy. blah blah blah.

I called Brian back at 5:30pm that night and told him the house was sold and I would see him at 9am the next morning with a check in hand. He asked if Phil was alright with the descision and I told him that we made the descision together based on the pictures I had taken and e-mailed. I met with him and asked if I could have the keys to go back, take more pictures and measurements. No Problem! However, here's the best part. I didn't know where the house was located. (duh duh duh) I had to ask directions. How does a person buy a house and have to ask directions to get back to it? We had looked at so many houses, crisscrossed so many roads and avenues, that I honestly didn't even know where the house was located. lol lol lol lol

(now who's the fucking asshole? lol lol lol lol) Like I always say, "it's not easy being me!"

The end result is this: I arrive back in St. Martin on the 2nd of May. Productive Trip. I open my e-mail 3 days later and GUESS WHAT.........? The original house that Phil and I wanted to buy went back on the market.........................! Can you imagine? Both, the original agent that I had Dismissed and the listing agent had the balls to e-mail me to tell me the house went back on the market and asked me if I was still interested in the house because the other deal fell threw on the house.

I haven't responded and I don't think I will. Not even for courtesies sake! Phil and I are happy with our descision and hope to take a few weeks in July TOGETHER to go shopping for the house and do all the fun stuff that goes along with buying a new home! Caramel & Piccola will love the place as well as the pool.