A Year in the Making

[CateP]

Just wanted to let all my forum friends know that I have bought a house in Wolfeboro and will be closing in March.

It has been over a year since I joined this forum and so many of you have provided knowledge, guidance, recommendations (and a multitude of opinions) throughout my journey. I just want to thank everyone who has written to me privately and so many more who have just been here on the forum joining the discussion. It is because of you that this transition has been so much easier.

The last time I made a big move like this, there were no forums like this where people could connect and share information. It was much more a shot in dark fraught with unknowns. Where is there a good car mechanic? Where will I bank? Where will I get groceries? Where can I get this or that? Where is there a car wash with guys who will dry off your car with warm towels for $12? (ha ha ha)

I have spent the last several months renting in Wolfeboro and that was a really good move. It allowed me to get offline and into the community to experience real life in the area I wanted to live in. Now I feel like I may have something to give back to this forum as I continue to explore and get involved in things.

I will probably be spending much more time in the Home and Cottage section of the forum for awhile because as a new homeowner in the region I will be looking for all kinds of resources and services. I will share those experiences.

Lastly, I want to thank all the forum members who I have met in person. I can't tell you how much your kindness and generosity has meant to me. In this world that seems so determined to keep us polarized , fearful, and apart from each other... finding connections with people who just open their door and heart to you is indeed a precious thing not to be taken for granted. So I thank you and hope to show the same in return.

ONWARD Winni FORUM!!!

[ishoot308]

What a wonderful post Cate!

Congratulations on your new home! You certainly have been a great addition to this forum as I am sure you will be to Wolfeboro!

Dan

[eillac@dow]

Congratulations on your purchase. I hope you will be very happy! :)

[Bear247]

Congratulations to you.....:liplick:

[Bear247]

Ps. very nice picture also...:)

[Pineedles]

Congratulations on your purchase Cate! As a NJ transplant to CT I hope to make the next and same move some day. Your post is wonderful, but remember, you will always be the the new person down the street. Don't let it get to you. Just a Northern New England thing, that everyone that "weren't born here", has to deal with.:laugh:

[codeman671]

Congrats. We too are looking in the area, between wolfeboro, gilford, and Alton. My move though is a lot shorter, we are moving up from Dover.

[Broadsider]

Congratulations Cate. I belong to good coop for home heating called Our Town Energy Alliance. Here is the website. www.otchoice.com

Good luck with your new home!

[Greene's Basin Girl]

Kate-
Congratulations on finding & buying the house you wanted!!!!!

[dpg]

What's that a picture from? Please don't tell me it's looking out your back door! :eek:

[riverat]

Congratulations Cate, So happy for you.

[CateP]

What's that a picture from? Please don't tell me it's looking out your back door! :eek:

DPG- Ha. Ha. Ha. I did not buy a waterfront home, but I'm about 3 minutes from Carry Beach and 5 minutes to Mirror Lake where the doggies can swim.

The picture was taken on January 1st, 2012, from a point near Winter Harbor. (don't know the name) What a warm beautiful day that was.

[winnisummergal]

Congratulations on your new home Cate! Enjoy the next chapter of your life..

[Airedale1]

Congratulations and welcome to NH.

[DickR]

....Just a Northern New England thing, that everyone that "weren't born here", has to deal with.:laugh:

"weren't born here?" I thought it was "from away."

Welcome home, Cate.

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Best of luck! I hope everything from the sale and on through the move to New Hampshire goes smoothly. Welcome home. :D

[old coot]

DPG- Ha. Ha. Ha. I did not buy a waterfront home, but I'm about 3 minutes from Carry Beach and 5 minutes to Mirror Lake where the doggies can swim.

It sounds as if we are practically going to be neighbors. Welcome, Cate!

[KBoater]

Congratulations Cate. Sounds like your going to be near me of the correct side of town.:coolsm:

[SteveA]

Cate,
We made the move from the Boston area (Saugus) almost 26 years ago and have never regretted having made Gilford our home. Wonderful community in a most beautiful place.

Welcome to NH!

[SAMIAM]

Welcome Cate, and don't believe a single word from those that say you won't be accepted unless you're a native.
I have no idea where that thought even came from because I am a native and I can tell you that everyone I know appreciates people who have the kind of values that you seem to have.
I know it sounds crazy in this day and age,but there are people you may deal with whose word is their bond.Many old "timers" need only a handshake to make a deal.
Wishing you much happiness in your new home.

[Rag Top Daze]

Congrats, Cate. Wishing you much happiness in your new home. We're so looking forward to another Song Circle with you when you're settled in. Let me know if I can help you with anything!

[Pineedles]

Welcome Cate, and don't believe a single word from those that say you won't be accepted unless you're a native.
I have no idea where that thought even came from because I am a native and I can tell you that everyone I know appreciates people who have the kind of values that you seem to have.
I know it sounds crazy in this day and age,but there are people you may deal with whose word is their bond.Many old "timers" need only a handshake to make a deal.
Wishing you much happiness in your new home.

It was said with a little tongue in cheek, but it came from my grandparents who moved to Center Sandwich from Melrose Mass back in the 50's. Maybe not so much is made of it today with the heavy influx of folks from Mass these past several decades. Also, it wasn't a derogatory term, it was just a way in which natives classified some people. Rarely spoken, but in mind.:)

[SAMIAM]

I knew that Pineedles......just didn't want her to have a 'flatlander" complex :laugh:

[SteveA]

Welcome Cate, and don't believe a single word from those that say you won't be accepted unless you're a native.

Don't be so sure... :rolleye1:

Had to laugh, when I first moved here, and our kids were young, and commented to a "real" native, that I knew I could never be considered a "native", but at least my kids could be.

His response was "If your cat had kittens in the oven, you wouldn't call them muffins... would you?" He told me he was just kidding... but I'm not so sure! :laugh::laugh:

Either way Cate... you'll love NH!

[Jonas Pilot]

Welcome to our great little town. For my wife and I it has been the perfect place. I hope it is for you. I hope we get to meet some day. From the incorrect side of town.

JP

[WakeboardMom]

Congratulations, Cate! Enjoy every sandwich!

[CateP]

Back in NJ to pack and move after being in Wolfeboro for 4 months. First impressions...more frowns than smiles, kinda ugly scenery, long lines at stores. Good pizza!!

Interviewed two NJ moving companies on Monday. Found them both to be rather abrupt, rough and condescending. Both promised an estimate Monday night and I received none. Actually had to call one back to get an estimate. Woke this morning feeling down about the whole thing. Then I called WC Huff in NH. Long story short...great communication, great planning, great deal. The NH guys got my business!! Being honest and friendly goes a long way in my book.

Miss the beautiful lakes region. It really is special there.

[tis]

Welcome to our great little town. For my wife and I it has been the perfect place. I hope it is for you. I hope we get to meet some day. From the incorrect side of town.

JP

From the incorrect side of town???? :laugh::laugh: Which side is that?

[Jonas Pilot]

From the incorrect side of town???? :laugh::laugh: Which side is that?

Tis, you have to ask KBoater about that.

[tis]

OK. Kboater?????? Can you answer my question??

[KBoater]

YOu can't go wrong with Huff. I had the same experience with moving back from Florida

[tis]

Well, Jonas, I don't think he is going to answer me do you?

[KBoater]

the side with the least amount of traffic on thr 4th.

[Jonas Pilot]

the side with the least amount of traffic on thr 4th.

Yeah, sure.

[BrownstoneNorth]

Back in NJ to pack and move after being in Wolfeboro for 4 months. First impressions...more frowns than smiles, kinda ugly scenery, long lines at stores. Good pizza!!

Interviewed two NJ moving companies on Monday. Found them both to be rather abrupt, rough and condescending. Both promised an estimate Monday night and I received none. Actually had to call one back to get an estimate. Woke this morning feeling down about the whole thing. Then I called WC Huff in NH. Long story short...great communication, great planning, great deal. The NH guys got my business!! Being honest and friendly goes a long way in my book.

Miss the beautiful lakes region. It really is special there.

The movers themselves were fine, but I hope whoever gave you the estimate was indeed honest, as well as friendly, because ours was only the latter. His estimate was a total crock, way below what Huff actually charged, although he saw everything that was to be moved and there were no unforeseen complications. Because the estimate was low and we had been impressed with the estimator, we didn't get estimates from other companies, which was obviously his intention.

We were so exhausted from the moving experience and our renovation having been completed just in the nick of time that we didn't put up a fight, which we should have. Don't let this happen to you!

[tis]

Yeah, sure.

Yeah, sure is right! :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh: The truth, K!!!

[CateP]

Just wanted to follow up on my moving adventures. WC Huff was excellent!! Two guys arrived on time at my NJ location and after driving all day from NH they spent the rest of the afternoon loading up the truck. Moving machines!! They were super careful with my family antiques and even with my less valuable furniture. Professional all the way. No surprise charges. Everything on the up and up.

In all my years of moving about New England and then NJ, this was the BEST moving experience I have had.

Now back in the "boro" waiting for house closings in NJ and NH.

[Lakesrider]

Good to hear Cate. Welcome home.:D