Let Me Count The Why's

Often someone asks me, "How do you like living in East Texas?" My simple reply is, "I hate it and that’s putting it mildly." And, I have some very good reasons - at least to me.

First, I do not like the house we bought. My financial controller wanted the house and she gets her way 12 out of 10 times. As we begin to move a few things from the old place, on the first trip, I stepped out of my truck and thought I was going to die with pain. Plantar fasciitis. Up until that moment, I had never heard of it.

The movers broke, bent or bashed everything and then informed us that they really didn't have insurance that would cover the damages.  Oh, they tried to hide and cover us damages until they got out of the house, but I found some of them.

My next joy came while having a pizza, I broke a tooth. It’s true. A broken tooth on a Sunday night in a strange land is not where one wants to be. And, I have been sniffling and sneezing since the day I got here. Not to mention the headaches.

Then there is what I call, East Texas jungle rot", which covered my left hand and didn’t get better for almost two years. Yes, I went to doctors, which is another negative. I was spoiled to the doctor I’d had for almost 20 years. He actually knew something. I’ve had one internal medicine doctor tell me that there is no such thing as Lyme disease. Since I’ve had chronic Lyme disease since 1987, that really impressed me.

As I have written about in previous posts, if you need a plumber, painter, electrician, appliance repairman or other service, you are better served to go to school and learn how to fix everything yourself. And, if you do find someone, you had better get the job cost in writing. These folks have no intention of charging you what they tell you. Then, they act like they are doing you a favor by misleading you.

The cost of groceries is about 30% higher. Utilities cost twice what we used to pay. Phone and internet are terrible services from the only two providers and the rates are 50% higher that what we used to pay. Yes, they quote you a rate and then send you a bill for twice that amount. Then, they argue about what a good deal you are getting. Without exception, every service we’ve had to have, comes with a chuck in a truck, who greets you with an attitude of how can I stick it to you today. Even my banker didn’t tell the tax assessor to send the tax bills to me, and not the bank. The tax bill went directly to her and who knows where it went. We had to pay a penalty. She didn’t even say she was sorry.

If you have a few years, I can go on and on. But, you are probably thinking why don’t we move?

Daughter and two granddaughters - one with special needs - is why.

PMO
©2014