Back from my sabbatical, time for a major change!

**ccga3359** · 20th August 07, 03:53 PM

We don't get frost bite in winter here in Ontario! Well if you won't move here then follow your dream there. Best of luck to you and your wife in whatever decision you make.

**Mr. Kilt** · 21st August 07, 01:23 PM

Thanks for all the input and well wishes, guys! The whole idea of getting away from the rat race here and living quietly in a village is so appealing. We cannot wait to get started!

So, unless something drastic happens, I think this will be a done deal. We wouldn't be selling our house and moving till sometime in the spring/summer of next year as we have alot to sort out here before we could move.

Once we do move, we'd have to spend some time getting things set up and running. I expect that to take as long as a year to do right. We'd need to work out a menu as well as find some antiques and collectibles to display for sale. As Manitoba has a rich Scottish & Irish history, I hope to find some great old Celtic items, including old kilts.

Originally Posted by Kid Cossack

Strike out, Al!

I won't run down big cities or bus driving, because everyone brings their own preferences to the world with them. But if you've found a plan that lets you do what you want to do, and you can cash out of the Calgary housing market before it crashes, I'd say go for it.

Success!

One of my big fears is what will happen when the Calgary market crashes. And it will! If we can get out while the market is still hot, we'll have it made. We can afford to move and have enough money left over that we can take our time setting the new business up properly, plus be able to bank a bunch for the future.

Originally Posted by Rampant Lion

Al,
I say go for it! From a financial stand-point it makes sense, and you'll be closer to friends and family. Just make sure we can do one more kilt night before you go.

But of course!! We have to have at least one more kilt night here, if not more. My fall schedule kinda sucks for days off as I'll have Tue/Wed off, but I'm sure we can work around that.

Originally Posted by BEEDEE

Looks like a good opportunity - but be sure you can both handle the stress of being on the job full time with the tea room and/or handling staff. Celtic theme with good tea and scones, oatcakes, toast and marmalade etc would certainly get me stopping if I was in the area.

Good luck,

Brian

Thanks! I think the stress levels of running our own place will be less than what we currently have working for others. It will be a ton of hard work to make it happen, but the opportunites could be endless! Part of the initial fun will be figuring out menu items that will draw in the crowds, plus hunting the area for antiques and collectibles to sell.

Originally Posted by turpin

So is high-speed internet available in this littel town, or will it be dial-up? A minor consideration against a major stree-reduction, but worth asking.

A very good question! I spoke with the town administrator and was pleased to discover the whole town is set up for wireless internet. A nice little bonus.

Originally Posted by beowulf67

It does sound like a good deal, and from what I've gathered you seem like you would enjoy the change, and the new challenges. As long as the family is in agreement, I'd say give it a go.

And how much of a discount will X-markers get?

For the most part both of our families think it's a good plan. X-markers will certainly get a "clan" discount on everything we offer.

Originally Posted by Archangel

My house is very similar to the ones in the pictures, especially the first one. Mine was built in 1914. It's now in a Historic Protected area, which doesn't affect my house except some rules for the front.

Most of my friends have opted for newer homes and have to suffer through the growing pains and lower quality. The older houses have usually adjusted, the trees have grown and previous owners have usually done sensible things somewhere along the line.

Check for a I-beam in the basement for a centre bearing support. If it's there, great. If not, get an estimate on doing it. That's usually your biggest surprise expense in an old house like those two.

Always remember, you're really working for your time off. If this gives you more time and close enough income, that's the equation.

How far off the main highway is it?

I've never been a fan of newer houses. I like alot of character, which new homes really can't offer. Sadly, in Calgary all the old character houses are either priced way out of our range or are in really bad parts of town and are in poor condition. Most of them get bought by developers and bulldozed. It really makes me sad.

As the house we're looking at is currently used as a business, it has had alot of upgrades done including all new electrical, plumbing, and it had 4 extra teleposts installed under the main beam of the house for added support. It is rated to be able to hold as many as 150 people in the house at any given time, not that there's room for quite that many.

The village it's in is right on a main highway that gets a lot of traffic. The current Tea House that's in the place is swamped with business. They get tour buses coming out specifically to stop there!