A new chapter in our lives

We are entering upon another personal

adventure in our lives...

As our trip around the sun grows shorter, we

have begun planning for our old age and are

moving closer to family (and the darkroom) in

Venice, Florida. Of course the Big Cypress

Gallery is still in our hearts and will remain so.

Everything Clyde does he does with a KABOOM!...

and this project is no exception!

We are building a home in Venice at Harbor Lights

Mobile Home Park. We've owned the property

for many years, but until this year the ability to

put a two story modular home in a mobile home

park on the water had not been possible. This year

Harbor Lights will become the first mobile

home park on the water in Sarasota County to

allow a residence to build a modular home

and also elevate it to 13 feet or more, which

allows us to qualify for FEMA insurance.

With the creation of this first modular home

built above flood level, a precedent has been

set for other mobile home parks to follow.

Now a person can purchase an older mobile

home and replace it with a hurricane safe

structure at the height required by FEMA.

This new law will change the future of

mobile home parks.

Our home is strapped around the sides and also

down the middle. It has hurricane proof windows,

a white reflective metal roof, and solar panels.

Because we own one of the smallest lots on the

water in Harbor Lights, our home is 940 sq feet.

The small amount of footage will mean our

energy impact will be minor. We are two stories

with a 'break-away' garage.

The house is a mile from our Venice Gallery & Studio,

less than a mile from downtown Venice, the Art

Center; Library, Theatre, good food & shops. It

is also less than a mile from Rails to Trails bike

route from Venice Beach to Sarasota. And, since

we love the water, our house is on the water

with about a mile distance from the Gulf. But,

best of all...we are close to the grandkids!

Lots to look forward to in this new chapter of life!

Old mobile home

Our old home travels down the road to

supply someone new with a home.

There was a lot of trash involved in the removal,

however it was good to know that the mobile

home was saved intact and will be used by someone.

Foundation

HOUSE RAISING

Delivery of the first half of the house

This was "THE" big summer event at

Harbor Lights and everyone turned out!

First half of house is put onto pilings

First half in place...

Now comes the other half...

Clyde with Jacobsen Homes and LeeCorp Homes.

This project would never have happened

without the hard work of LeeCorp Homes. They

were a great group of folks to work with.

After the "house raising" the folks at

Harbor Lights gave a reception in the

club house. We were able to meet so

many wonderful people who live here.

We left town for the trip out west and

returned to our finished home. All we had

to do was move in...easier said than done.

Needless to say, moving a life time worth

of "stuff" into a 940 sq foot home

is a challenge. However, as we turn the

page into this new chapter of our life,

it felt good to reduce our "stuff" and

simplify our life.

Looking out over Roberts Bay.

A great view complete with beautiful sunsets!

A new home, a new chapter and a joyful life....