We Found It!

We Found It!

Phil is standing at the path that leads to our new abode.

We just returned from a very comforting experience in finding a rental for ourselves for the next number of months....at of all places, a lovely farm-style place on five acres.  Another diamond we are blessed to have found!

Exactly three months ago today, while Lunel was in ICU for a surprise seizure/coma (for which there is still no definitive diagnosis or prognosis) our lovely retirement home burned to the ground.

As blog readers already know, we have been housed safe and sound since then but have always recognized that this was only a temporary respite. Two days ago we began our search for a new place in earnest, searching on line through Craig's List as well as utilizing other sources. We sent out our introductory letter (including photos of ourselves and of our "kid" corgi dogs) to a variety of realtors, property managers, rental ads, etc..

Our unit is in the back with patio and picnic table in front.

Today we met the owner of a lovely old-fashioned farm/ranch that has a lovely, fully furnished studio unit with covered lanai. The property, in Volcano Village, is surrounded on all sides by giant Sugi pines, housing  mating and nesting pairs of Io (Hawaiian Hawks).

There are a dozen kinds of chickens, ducks, rabbits, goats and a token horse.  Phil's wood shop is -- get this -- a building under an old fashioned functioning redwood water tank!! The woman (our age) who owns this ranch grows and raises nearly all of her own food and runs a farm stand as well. She bakes bread, makes a variety of cheeses and is getting started on making her own soap. Additionally, she runs a charming B&B, separate from our small place. Needless to say, her day begins at 4am.

The elevation is about 3000+ feet, so the air is fresh and cool -- and will be chilly this winter, so we will have, as the song goes, "Three Dog Nights." Volcano Village is well-known for its artists community and it feels like home because we have visited there so many times. There will be some "earthquakes" that are not true earthquakes but tremors from parts of the inner walls of Kilauea caldera that are collapsing -- but after what we have been through -- what's an occasional 3.1 jolt!

Just yesterday we received a generous check from one of Phil's relatives in Michigan that will cover the security deposit and we will be moving in around Lunel's Birthday!! This means of course, that she will have to get some work boots and gloves, but Joan has a full contingency of appropriate tools -- and while Lunel can't wait to get out in the garden again Phil will have a great new wood working space too.

PS Several people from "The Continent" have been puzzled by our move to "Volcano."  And, it can be a little confusing.  No, we are not moving TO or ON a volcano! (The entire island is made up of 5 volcanoes itself.) Volcano is a small town (3000 or so folks) up at the 3200 foot level adjacent to Kilauea National Park. Now, if that sounds crazy, you need to know that all lava activity at the crater of Kilauea has stopped, and is now flowing down and through Fissure #8 -- which, ironically enough, opened in our front yard. So, we are actually moving AWAY from lava activity. Volcano Village is a small subset along Highway 11 -- an artists community with galleries, B&B's, and restaurants.