Day 10 – Retirement Virgins
For those of you who are a HGTV groupie like me, you know the joys of virtual house hunting in your underwear. My favorite program is hosted by the realtor/life coach, Sandra Rinomato, who counsels first-timers in the seduction of home ownership.
As some-day retirement virgins, the Mrs. and I decided to bite from the forbidden apple and have our nakedness revealed. What kind of house might be out there for us? Of course, there’s the danger of peaking too soon since retirement is several years away. But I decided to practice tantric house hunting to avoid such premature exhalation.
While not as buxom, our trusted realtor could out-diva Sandra any day. He helped us buy our first training condo and understands our turns-ons and turn-offs. And he’s introduced us to a couple of new tricks as well. At our age, you’re always looking for ways to bring some spice to the 3-bed, 2-bath, walkout.
And so the episode begins.
House 1 – Lucy, I’m Home
House number one is a 2,000 square foot territorial style house in the Ridgecrest area of Albuquerque. It had three bedrooms and 1.75 baths. It also had the requisite stainless steel appliances and granite tile counter tops that someone decided any house worth considering must have. And the fenced in patio had a mountain view.
Built in 1960, the homeowners managed to freeze time. This included a paneled den, brick wall fireplace with gold-finished grate and vintage porcelain bathroom sinks (in pink, course). Perhaps my favorite was the master with twin beds, perfect for two virgins. Can Lucy and Desi be far behind?
House 2 – Ranched in Rio
House number two was a 1,800 square foot, pueblo style in Rio Rancho with three bedrooms and two baths. It included our requisite kiva fireplace and viga ceiling in the main room. The desert landscaping had some great stone tiling and the front of the house boasts a panoramic view of the Sandia Mountains.
Only 4 years old, the home had many of the modern features including surround sound. But the only windows in the living room were four small glass blocks located near the ceiling line. There’s no amount of lamps that the Mrs. could turn on to read the paper in that room.
House 3 – High Desert Dessert
House three was a 1,560 square foot pueblo style in the High Desert area of Albuquerque. Nested in the foothills, it offers full frontal views of the Sandias. Like the others, it was a three bedroom, two bath but with the toilet in a water closet (a much appreciated respite from the aftermath of a bean burrito).
The layout is well planned with strategically placed windows everywhere to enjoy the mountain view yet maintain privacy. It also takes advantage of natural light skylights in rooms without windows.
The desert landscaping was outstanding with little or no maintenance required. And it’s part of a complex that includes access to a pool.
So which home did our almost retirement virgins choose – the Dated Territorial in Ridgecrest, the Darken Ranch in Rio or the High Desert Dessert?
The Territorial was spacious but might require more fixing-up than we were willing undertake. The Rio Ranch pueblo had many of the elements we wanted but we just couldn’t get past how dark it was inside. The High Dessert was the smallest of the three but compensated for that with good design and natural lighting.
And our choice was . . . the High Desert home.
“Ah, sweet mystery of life at last we’ve found you,” we sang as we lie back and took another puff from the Virginia Slims. We can only hope to find the same bliss when the real retirement virgins mature one day.
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