Progress in the new year

Sorry that I've not posted in a while (really, I doubt that many read this blog, so I guess I'm feeling sorry to myself ;-)

On the last day of last year, We took our ninth carload of donations to goodwill. This load contained three computers. workhorses that have performed flawlessly over the years and it was actually hard to let them go. I know that sounds strange, but I've formed a small bond with the machines that I've used over the years. Like a viking names his sword and is later buried with it, my steady companions were my Macs, each giving me the power to slay many dragons over the years and allowing me to survive.

I'm going to go watch "electric Dreams" (for those of you who rightfully don't know, this is a very bad movie made in the eighties about a living computer ;-)

So anyway, nine loads. Nine full Honda Element loads. That figures out to somewhere around 900 square feet of donations. I'm sure that if I took a ton of time, I could have sold all of that on eBay for a good amount of cash, but the hassle of doing all that and the fact that I would have to have continued living with all of that stuff until it sold tells me that donations were the right decision. Of course, I'm sure that I'll have much more to donate as I continue to go through everything around the house, but I think we got most of it.

It feels good.

I've been spending a lot of time recently thinking about one of the next steps that I'm taking, which is refinancing. I'm really trying to figure out if this is a good idea, but I think I have to if I plan on keeping my rental house. I purchased it on a short term interest only loan. while I can (and do) pay over the interest only payment in order to reduce the principal, the interest rate will increase in two years and if I don't refinance, keeping the house could cost me a good deal. My research is leading me to believe that I can still get a good rate for a reasonable cost, but I have yet to do the emotional math on whether I want to keep the property or sell it. (Tax deduction and possible income versus Tax liability for profit made and possible deflating market - ugh!)

On another topic, my brother sent me an email the other day. I've not spoken with him for two years now. Not because I haven't wanted to, but because of all the work that I was doing. I know, this sounds nuts, but it was really easy to let happen. I find this to be the saddest thing that I've written here. I hope to rectify it as soon as I can with a visit to San Francisco to see him.

-Don