Life Transplanet

I had been thinking about making a new website/blog for some time. Something I am very interested in is personal finance and our money system. But it doesn’t just stop there. I am interested in disecting the reasons we do the things we do and how we are manipulated with marketing, advertising, regulations and social norms. Part of our pull and desire to move to Puerto Rico is the feeling that we are so tremendously manipulated and essentially hypnotized into the American “standard” way of life.  We want to expand our horizons and go forth and be fruitful in a new culture and a land of never-ending summer.

If you are interested in following along in some of my disections and discussions of these issues as well as tips and tricks I have learned along the way, check out Fruitfulista.com from time to time. The name is a play on words that mix being fruitful with fashionable frugalista. I have added it to the Transplanet sites link to the right on this website. If you have some feedback about different things I should cover that relate or have a magazine, book, or movie I should check out that speaks to these, I would love to hear from you. If I think it fits, I will then write a short summary/recommendation. If you’ve had any “aha” moments related to these things, help make the discussion even more well-rounded!

Well the city council has decided to put it back on the agenda for Feb 16 where they will hear public input and vote.

We are on a chicken rollercoaster.

We are getting very indifferent on the issue. Either situation isn’t completely desireable. The current code isn’t good but the proposed code is almost worse because of all the micromanagement and bureaucracy.

Reminds me of a saying. “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”

Now what you’ve all been waiting for…a makeover! Here are some of the before and after pictures of the new rental we have been working on. We even showed it tonight to a prospective tenant. I think the kitchen and bathroom are the most impressive changes.

KITCHEN:

Before

During

After!

BATHROOM

Before

During

After

TUB

During

After

LIVING ROOM

Living room before

Living room after from other angle

BEDROOM

Before…No…not….pink!!!

After -Actually we have the closet doors back on and curtains up too!

We felt tonight like we had accomplished the whole thing. There are a few things remaining (like fridge and oven are to be delivered this week), but overall, it is move-in ready! How quick a month goes when you are this busy! Fun but hard work on top of our 40++ hour jobs and various activities.

Here’s a walk through the house:

We just stopped by the rental and figured we would update some pictures. The tile is pretty much done, time to reassemble everything.

Its nice to have some good progress. The wood floors still need to be finished and lots of little things, but its coming along.

Houses built around this area in the 40′s – 60′s were pretty much all built out of wood.  Its odd to me that someone would cover up beautiful oak floors in favor of carpet, with grey carpet no less.  I was talking to my father in law Jack about it.  He mentioned that carpet used to be pretty expensive.  When prices came down people started to cover up their wood flooring.

In all the houses built in the 2000′s we have a subfloor made of plywood….Much less expensive and easier to install.  I’d prefer the oak.

floors at the new place

There are pros and cons to both new and old houses.  Older houses you never know what to expect and it’s fun to find a treasure every once in a while though!  

It seems that whatever the latest fashion, its usually the most difficult to obtain.  Maybe we should try to make the latest fashion the easiest?  But that’s never how it is.