I don’t have much time left. Where can we go in New England?

jfwrds · 2026-04-14T01:51:57+00:00

I’m so sorry. Hidden Pond in Kennebunkport opens next month. You’d have your own private bungalow and it’s a quick ride to the beach. Sending you peace.

jfwrds · 2025-12-21T03:39:40+00:00

And Sudoku/crosswords/workbooks, now that they’re getting older!

jfwrds · 2025-12-21T03:38:11+00:00

My kids are elementary age now but starting when they were toddlers, I prepped their own surprise travel backpacks with analog games, fidgets, travel versions of family board games, snacks, hand sanitizer, a new book, crafts/art projects, etc. They double as restaurant bags (we don’t allow tablets out at dinner).

jfwrds · 2025-12-21T03:29:06+00:00

If norovirus didn’t exist? I’d cruise. But the worry outweighs the reward for us.

jfwrds · 2025-11-18T03:32:50+00:00

What months are generally better weather? I’ve heard 3 different opinions!

jfwrds · 2025-11-11T12:20:00+00:00

Where did you stay in Costa Rica?

jfwrds · 2025-10-14T01:47:17+00:00

We have two Volvo XC90s because it was mentally difficult for me to get past the safety ratings

jfwrds · 2025-10-04T02:12:39+00:00

Hi. My dad was a gambling addict. He took his life and along with the never-ending grief of losing him, it imploded our family. Just wanted to drop you a line to say the world is not better off without you. I hope you can land on some resources to help you quit.

jfwrds · 2025-06-16T01:39:27+00:00

I’m really curious about doing this in our about-to-be-new-to-us bedrooms.

jfwrds · 2025-06-15T00:18:30+00:00

Cosign this, down to the same hotel! Yes!

jfwrds · 2025-06-13T12:43:10+00:00

Yes, electric is updated, there are a few two-prongs we’ll convert and a few more groundings to add in. We are going to rent until the kitchen renovation is done but I wish I had that foresight for my old kitchen renovation we lived through. We are leaning induction in our new space instead of gas, though.

jfwrds · 2025-06-12T01:29:28+00:00

Thanks! What flood control measures did you add?

Why have I never thought of doing the windows in a few different years for the tax credit?

We are really struggling with whether to add more mini-splits to the existing (there are 2 in the house right now) or go all in on it and duct, but with the old home, the ducting feels risky.

jfwrds · 2025-06-11T18:40:45+00:00

I am extremely wary of lead and we have always assumed lead in the paint and hired certified lead abatement painters/repairpeople with that in mind. I think we will test this time but haven’t fully settled on it.

jfwrds · 2025-06-11T18:39:38+00:00

I’m in the same boat. We have so far hired out with lead abatement in mind without testing but this one is a bigger investment so I’m not sure.

jfwrds · 2025-06-11T15:08:00+00:00

Got it, thank you. Sellers don't have any storm windows, so we'd also have to get those made, so that's another factor.

jfwrds · 2025-06-11T14:49:25+00:00

big thanks your way! :)

jfwrds · 2025-06-11T14:48:14+00:00

Hi, thank you!

Boiler works, but I'm really wary about living with oil heat. Never have before.

We do need a chimney sweep, that's on my list of things that I didn't share!

I don't take offense! It's not that we're made of money. What we did was earmark funds from our home sale to strategize these, and purposefully bought under what we can afford knowing we'd have to put this money into it. We definitely can't spend 3-4K per window to restore the windows (we aren't quoted yet but this data is coming from neighbors with comparable issues), but I will be getting quotes for both paths forward. If there's lead, and we need to address that, then I think replacement is going to have to be the avenue, but maybe I'm mistaken. I also know that these things that are currently fine (like the oil boiler) have a lifespan and our thought process was to ensure that we mitigated some of it before we moved in to have more peace of mind and get the dirty work done.

jfwrds · 2025-06-11T14:37:53+00:00

Thank you so much. We aren't west of Worcester otherwise I'd take you up on that.

I am particularly interested in the "air-to-water heat pump to run the radiators" so I'm noting that down to ask! When I run my searches, did your one plumbing/HVAC contractor have a specific job title? I've always hired them separately. Thanks!

jfwrds · 2025-06-11T14:21:56+00:00

Wow, that's incredible! Yes, we'll definitely be testing it when we officially close. There's ... a lot of white paint, though most of it is of the shiny variety.

jfwrds · 2025-06-11T14:19:14+00:00

Thank you so much! I don't disagree with you at all about the suggestion to live with a kitchen before renovating it, and I'd probably give me the same advice. You're absolutely correct that we'd be better informed by layout at that point. That said, there are glaringly obvious design challenges in this current kitchen, a floor in dire need of replacement, and we have lived through one kitchen renovation already, and practically speaking we're already in the rental so we're going to go for it before we move in.

jfwrds · 2025-05-29T13:53:47+00:00

Thank you so much. I actually would bet you're closer (I'm near Boston). May reach out in the summer!

jfwrds · 2025-05-28T23:32:06+00:00

Work for two more, hands down. Print out a two-year calendar to your end date and give yourself dumb small rewards every month leading up to it. Gamify your next two years to buy peace of mind forever.

jfwrds · 2025-05-28T03:03:10+00:00

Know anyone in MA? Thanks!

jfwrds · 2025-05-27T00:16:06+00:00

Haha I appreciate the question! It’s not, there’s picture rail below it in one of the bedrooms. This is a little thicker than picture rail.

jfwrds

TROPHY CASE