Mansionmania Tournament: Round 3, Heat 1 (and a map of contenders)

[Dartgod]

I really want to hate the Alabama house because I don't want to live in Ala-****ing-bama for the rest of my life. But the house is really cool and that stipend!

I can't do it though. California, here I come.

[Buehler445]

So I've voted against both these houses. I think it's bearing out that I'm weird .

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

So I have a distant family member that has a house down in the woods right on the Tennessee River. I cannot state strongly enough how unbelievably cool it is living on a river. It's like living on a lake but way way WAY cooler.

I'd vote for the Alabama house here...but it's just not near anything. If I could get to Nashville I may well vote for Alabama here because that's an awesome place.

But man, owning a compound on thousands of acres within 100 miles of LA and Long Beach is going to require a perfect opponent and 'Bama's proximity to nothing of note. Huntsville and Athens just ain't gonna get it done.

That's good to know. I gotta say I went into this thinking that I wanted no part of living in Alabama. I mean, I can't stand the humidity in KC.

The difference between most of you all and me is I currently live in nowhere, and I'm fine with it. I want no part of LA life. I think I can stay out of that noise with this house, but the appeal of LA isn't really there for me.

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Yeah, I'm leasing a couple thousand acres of that to make up that stipend gap.

The farm I've referenced 'round here is about 1,000 acres and it's easily as much space as I truly need for most anything I'll be doing. So with 3,500 odd acres, I can spare 2,000 of 'em.

And yeah, the monthly nut on 2,000 acres within 100 miles of LA is gonna be MORE than enough to make up that stipend I'm missing out on in Alabama.

Yeah, I don't know what you're getting for leasing out 2000 acres. I know nothing about that orchard life. There might be real life money there, IDK, but you're not getting much out of those oat fields. There isn't much production there.

You have some revenue in selling the equipment there. I can't see much of the hay stuff, but just the ass end of that deere tractor, it's old enough, it's probably worth 30K. If those swathers (and presumably associated bailers) are high houred there isn't as much there as you'd think.

The thing you have to worry about with a lease program is your water. I'm guessing you have to behave there. If it's groundwater, I'd need to lock that down before I'd lease any of that out. House is pretty worthless if you can only get 3 GPM for the whole house.

This is a pretty tough decision, even though I voted against both these houses.

So back to it, I think I have to go to Alabama. Again, whore for money, as per usual. But with that stipend, I can spend real money on mitigating the, you know, Alabama.

[burt]

Cali...wild fires, earth quakes and traffic.

Alabama...11 million + a year.... I'll be a Bama Boy!

[Buehler445]

Holy shit. I'm the deciding vote here ATM.

I'm surprised its 20/20 before my vote. I figured the Cali house would run away with this.

[oldman]

I just can't see myself living in Alabama no matter how much extra money was involved. Nothing says you have to go to LA if you choose the CA place, it's that you can. Where would you go within a 100 miles in ****ing Alabama?? Even if you had that extra cash and could buy some of those cool cars pictured in the CA house, where would you drive them for fun? I'll bet the area around that AL place is chock full of slack-jawed LEOs itching to pull out their radar guns and relieve you of some of that cash.

[burt]

Originally Posted by oldman

I just can't see myself living in Alabama no matter how much extra money was involved. Nothing says you have to go to LA if you choose the CA place, it's that you can. Where would you go within a 100 miles in ****ing Alabama?? Even if you had that extra cash and could buy some of those cool cars pictured in the CA house, where would you drive them for fun? I'll bet the area around that AL place is chock full of slack-jawed LEOs itching to pull out their radar guns and relieve you of some of that cash.

I'm beginning to think you woke up on the wrong side of the floor this morning...

[Otter]

Originally Posted by burt

I'm beginning to think you woke up on the wrong side of the floor this morning...

When I was living in PA we went to spring break in FLA and had to drive through GA. Not much of an exaggeration.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by oldman

I just can't see myself living in Alabama no matter how much extra money was involved. Nothing says you have to go to LA if you choose the CA place, it's that you can. Where would you go within a 100 miles in ****ing Alabama?? Even if you had that extra cash and could buy some of those cool cars pictured in the CA house, where would you drive them for fun? I'll bet the area around that AL place is chock full of slack-jawed LEOs itching to pull out their radar guns and relieve you of some of that cash.

Not sure if your reply is aimed at me, but if it is, here goes. If not, disregard.

It isn't that I have to have LA, its that it's close enough that I don't want to get any of that on me.

And the thing you don't understand is its 4.5 HOURS from Wichita or Colorado Springs and Denver. Garden City is 45 minutes and sub 50K people. So not living by a sprawling metropolis or tons of traffic is certainly not a detractor, and probably a benefit.

And where I currently live already has the slack jawed LEOs.

The difference is, while I'm perfectly happy where I am, what I don't have is a ****ing million per. I can get it spent. Believe me.

[oldman]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

Not sure if your reply is aimed at me, but if it is, here goes. If not, disregard.

It isn't that I have to have LA, its that it's close enough that I don't want to get any of that on me.

And the thing you don't understand is its 4.5 HOURS from Wichita or Colorado Springs and Denver. Garden City is 45 minutes and sub 50K people. So not living by a sprawling metropolis or tons of traffic is certainly not a detractor, and probably a benefit.

And where I currently live already has the slack jawed LEOs.

The difference is, while I'm perfectly happy where I am, what I don't have is a ****ing million per. I can get it spent. Believe me.

No, it wasn't your comment. Trust me, I know all about living in western Kansas. Been there, done that, and wouldn't do it again. The point I was making is that the CA place has more of what I'd want to do than AL.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by MagicHef

What would happen if I just did nothing with the CA land? Obviously it would slowly return to its natural state, but would I get in trouble with any local or state regulations on farmland or something similar?

Well, before it returned to it's natural state, it would be a weed **** disaster mess.

Depending on if the farm is enrolled in any government programs, there may be requirements. Probably nothing serious. If there are noxious weeds, you may be required to terminate them.

If there is any local ordinances you have to comply with those would be on you too.

Smart money is rent it out.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by oldman

No, it wasn't your comment. Trust me, I know all about living in western Kansas. Been there, done that, and wouldn't do it again. The point I was making is that the CA place has more of what I'd want to do than AL.

I'm neither a young man, nor am I an old one. I know what I like to do now but I don't know what I'll like to do in 20, 30 or 40 years.

But I can be pretty sure that WHATEVER it is I'll want to do when I'm 70, I'll be able to do it at the Cali place. If I become a fan of the arts and want to get opera tickets - boom, done. Or if I become a hermit and never want to see another living soul - I can probably pull that off out there as well.

There really isn't any sort of hobby or pass-time I couldn't take up out there. If I suffer from some sort medical condition I'll have direct access to top shelf healthcare in LA.

Forever is a really long time and that's why I usually end up leaning heavily into proximity. You get 2 weeks a year for the rest of your LIFE outside of that 100 mile radius. I think the relative freedom we have to go wherever we wanted if we could kinda blinds us to how critical having those goods/services available to us can really be, even if we don't utilize them all that often.

And without knowing what I'll want to be doing in 2-3 decades, how can I just close the book on it and not focus on versatility?

[Graystoke]

Hard to say no to the California home.
Mountains and LA close by.
Yep, taking California

[burt]

Originally Posted by Graystoke

Hard to say no to the California home.
Mountains and LA close by.
Yep, taking California

YOU'LL FALL INTO THE OCEAN, when the "big one" hits!!!!

[Bowser]

Wow, neck and neck.

I'm not a fan of Alabaman summers or that humidity, but I really want it to move on to the next round, but I get it if it doesn't. The point about living on all that land in Cali with just the 25oK stipend is a great point, too.

[MagicHef]

What would happen if I just did nothing with the CA land? Obviously it would slowly return to its natural state, but would I get in trouble with any local or state regulations on farmland or something similar?