The pool water is starting to heat up after final installation yesterday. It was a little less of a rush hopping in this morning for my swim, as outside temperatures remain cool by Florida standards. The water was warm at my feet but with the rain, a bit chilly on the surface. It’s been a big spending week with annual Marriott Vacation Club maintenance dues, this heater purchase, and two big urns plus a matching fountain for the front of the house. It is all possible thanks to a somewhat unexpected insurance claim check that will arrive soon. It was a benefit paid for the loss of our September family vacation in Tahoe due to the fires. It was a policy I bought with points that were about to expire from our usage bank with little else to spend them on. I had also used them for some rental car certificates. It turned out to be a smart investment, one of the few in my life. 

The first year of owning a home continues to be a money drain. It was a relief getting some extra help from this insurance claim. The urns and fountain will be delivered next week, leaving overhead light fixtures, the outdoor kitchen, office cabinets, and custom closet remodel on the yet-to-do list. Undoubtedly, there will be more but some of the spending strain will soon  lift from our shoulders. These are all things that we will enjoy for many years to come, and so far our property values continue to rapidly increase. All the lots in our resort community have been sold while construction is in the final phase. I’m just glad that the concrete trucks are diminishing in numbers. Most all of the foundations have finally been poured, so they can move on to the adjoining addition. 

We toured the orchid show at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens yesterday in Sarasota as part of “Tourist Thursday.” It was worthy of purchasing an annual membership to accompany our similar arrangement with the nearby  Ringling Museum and historic Spanish Point campus. These small contributions make us part of the community, with additional visits planned for the holidays. I wish I had the money to do more as we see what other families donate and the endless expanse of giant homes with their accompanying yachts that make us poorer folks less worthy. It’s all relative, but to have a new home with a heated pool is all the luxury I need. I know that there are many others that have less, even though the bank owns most of ours. Coming all too soon will be the added electric bills associated with our new fountain and heater.