So what's new?

We'll be home by the time anyone reads this. We are wrapping up a month long auto tour of the western states of the U.S.

Hey we hear ya! Gas prices at record highs? Travel dates include Memorial day weekend?  Yes there were days when we pay more to get between two motels than we pay to stay in them. But our eyes were open. Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do when you can do it.

Between us we've been to most of the places we stop. We know a high  percentage of  the  people we stop to visit. But MY how some things do change. For instance?

The duplex I'm standing in front of there in Seal Beach, California?  I lived in the left side of it right out of college. My landlady, Mrs. Preeper, lived in the right side. A widow, even then, Mrs. Preeper would oft' times get lonely Oddly that was a blessing for the rest of us in the neighborhood. That's because Mrs. Preeper, when SAD? Would play some "mean" BLUES on her baby grand. 

And those BLUES would blend with the constant slapping of the waves on the beach THREE blocks away. GREAT MEMORIES.  I 'm told Mrs. Preeper died four years ago in her mid 90s.  And a current tenant says she was still pounding  out the BLUES on the ivory at the end.

As I look at the place? It hasn't changed much at all.  Some subtle peeping on my part shows the kitchen still has the marine paint job I contributed 40 years ago. 

But sometimes change sneaks up on you. You need to know that Mrs. Preeper felt really bad when she had to raise our rent to 90 dollars a month? Three blocks from the beach?

Well I loosely employ some journalistic probing and discover how lucky I was. A woman living in the duplex for the past nine years has never paid more than 750 dollars a month? Three blocks from the beach?

Well it turns out the party is finally over. Mrs. Preeper's family decides it's time to sell? Price? JUST A MERE ONE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS!

Apparently it closes

in about a week.

Oh, the long  time tenant? Well sure she can stick around, FOR NOW. That's if  she can come up with 2 grand a month. for the time being? Why time being? Because the new owner already has the duplex on the market. Price Tag? TWO MILLION DOLLARS.

FOR RENT: QUAINT LITTLE ONE BEDROOM, ONE BATH APARTMENT JUST THREE BLOCKS FROM  THE BEACH. JUST $$$$$$$ A MONTH FOR A GUARANTEED THREE MONTH LEASE. LIVE BLUES NOT INCLUDED.

"You know I've heard real estate prices in California are creeping up?"

That's one way to put it. More reflections to come.