01.22.26 The Fly Fishing show is back in Edison this weekend...

     I've likened attending The Fly Fishing Show (TFFS) to the many Grateful Dead shows I went to over the years, They always started with "Have a great show" and ended with "How was your show?". The reason I ask about 'your" show is because each person gets into their own grove and is either moved or not. TFFS circuit opened up with Marlborough last weekend and I heard mixed reviews. The general feeling I get after last years show, and the falls Inter-State Fly Tying Symposium is it's just more of the same. Same layout. Same people in the same spots. Same speakers. Same show, just a different year. And that's part of the problem when industry shows remain the same each year.    

     Some may say I've been kind of hard on fly fishing shows, and that's okay. Each year I kind of predict what we may see and always do a review, just from my opinion, a day or so after. Some things remain constant, Fridays the big opener with a push at the gate for those who had the day off or are retired, Saturdays are busy, while Sundays, well, are a waste of time. That may be a bit harsh, but really, a lot of vendors are coming off a Saturday night hang and bender and can't wait to break there booths down, pack up, and head back home. And for some the traveling is the hardest part. 

     When I was down at Southern Drawl Outfitters in Hilton Head I asked if they did the TFFS in Atlanta, they had not, and never will, as last year was the last year it was held. The show starts east, heads west, and then circles back for a finale in Lancaster. The circuit is Marlborough, Edison, Denver, Seattle/ Bellevue, Pleasanton, Ca, and then the last weekend Amish Country March 14-15. Of the six shows three are three dayers and three are two dayers. Many people say two days is all you need because that third day is torture. 

     One of the big factors about the TFFS in the northeast is the weather. I can remember testing for Federation of Fly Fishers Casting Instructor (FFF CI) test in January in the show outside the venue in Somerset back some 15 years ago. To note, I failed it twice. But the show went on and continues to go on each year whether or not. In those years that I can remember whether it always hits mid to late show, not the during the set up days or on the opener. 

     This weekend we, well maybe the entire country, is bracing for some type of weather event. Of course predictions are just that but they're calling for New Jersey to get somewhere between 2 inches to 2 feet, if that helps. It'll be cold Saturday and then the snow starts and may continue until Monday. So nobody knows exactly, but something is coming. 

     The other obstacle for some with the TFFS is what is happening with the NFL on any given year during the weekend. January is playoff time and there's usually a mix of games to be watched. Last week in Marlborough the Patriot's had a playoff game at home on the Sunday and that's a no-miss for many fly fishing New Englander's. This weekend the playoffs kick-off 

at 3pm with the Patriots vs Broncos and then the later game having the Rams go head to head with the Seahawks. By the time the games begin TFFS show is pretty much over, but throw in the weather and most have thrown in the towel. I feel bad for Josh Miller giving a seminar on Sunday at 245 PM titled "Dry Dropper- Beyond the Basics", I hate to say it but it won't be standing room only. 

     So what are some things to look for this weekend. Again, I'm seeing more of the same as last year. Let's start off with the vendors and places you can go and support your "local" fly shops. Hey since you don't go to them anymore they bring it to you. Tightlines in Parsippany is bringing the shop to the show having a 10 booth spot. TCO will be filling up 15 booths worth of space with a lot of it apparel to search through. The Bears Den will be on the back wall near Streams of Dreams where Harry Huff will have bins from all the fly shops he's bought out and exotic parts of animals from around the world. Keogh/Hairline/ AHREX/Regal Vices will be in their usual 

spots but this year Butch's Hot Stuff Hot Sauce will have a 10 x 10 right next to them. Precision Fly Tackle will have a row of booths, and I'm pretty sure they are the ones that have the picking-through bins which are always a big draw. 

     And on the other side of the casting booths the fly rod/reel/ line manufacturers will be in their usual spots. T&T, St.Croix, Hardy and Grey's, SA, and G. Loomis all have booths. I anticipate Loomis to get a lot of attention as anglers will wan to cast or at least see what a $1,750 fly rod looks like. Orvis is back with three booths which are mostly taken up by their van. Ok. But what 

else will they be pimping? I'm actually surprised they're still doing the show these days. They didn't do Marlborough which is in their neck of the woods but they are heading to Denver after Edison.  I'm sure whoever is there for them, will have a lot of 'splaining to do with all the stuff that's upended that company over the last year. TFO will be there but they're not hanging with the casting pond crowd. They're worth a look if you're in need of an affordable rod.

     And there will be the usual booths to stop by and browse and buy from. BuzzFly will be there with his tails, but an early warning, get there quick as Brad's production has been off and availability will be first come first served. He was missed at the symposium so if you need to stock up get there early. My to buds in the Joe's, Cordiero and Calcevechia, Flatwing and Saltwater Custom Flys, will be there with everything from saddles to eyes and flies to buy. Squimpish will be there as well and I'll be at that booth on Saturday from 9-12. 

     There will be a bunch of destinations, outfitters, and guides to stop and chat with. Ireland, Africa, and the Caribbean will be represented as well as some from the south, west, and north. It's good to see John McMurray of One More Cast Charters doing the show this year. And the guy from Dubarry of Ireland will be standing in that tub of water enticing people to buy some waterproof footwear. 

     And of course there will be the show space fillers. There will be booths full of fudge, pickles, sauces, and coffee. I'm also sure you'll be able to get some ink done at the show as there's always a tat guy or girl set up somewhere. There will insurance to buy and of course the two 

competing gutter guard operations to save you from clogged up gutters and ice dams. And I'll have to keep Theresa away from the handsome guy at the Cutco booth, last year I swore we were going home with $2,000 worth of new knives. 

     Along the perimeter there will be the single fly tier tables whose backs and butts will be cold as they back up to the large windows. If they're reading this I advise them to pack a sweatshirt or maybe bring a small heater to run around their table, if they've budgeted to flip Ben some money for an outlet to plug into. They've moved the clubs around and now they take up space 

on the floor in places rather than on the sides near the front entrance. Atlantic, Bayshore, Coastal, Main Line, Theodore Gordon, and the Catskills Guild will be on hand. On table I'll be stopping at is to visit with my main man Rich Murphy. As always, if you don't have his book, Fly Fishing for Striped Bass, stop being cheap and pick up a copy for him. 

     So that's about it. It appears, on paper, to be exactly what last year looked like. With the cold coming the non-carpeted floors will keep your feet hurting and cold if you plan on staying there for a long stretch. There will be casting demos and seminars included with your $20 one day pass. For some extra scratch you can take a class which will run you about $100. It appears that 

at one time some of these classes were presented as seminars, now they're behind close doors with pay-to-play entrance only. And kudos to Tim Flagler of Tightline Production fame. He's presenting at the show and what caught my eye was the (newly revised) next to his 

time slot. I've always said that presenters need to change it up a bit if they're going to do these shows year after year with the same presentation. It gets old and doesn't call for attendees to do a second visit. Content gets stale, especially if you have the same pictures from 2013. 

     So there you have it. TFFS Edison 2026. More of the same. So similar that I could take the 2025 pictures I took and use them on Monday's review post. That's the problem with TFFS, and not the vendors or people working the show. While the show must go on it has to change it up a bit. It hasn't changed or grown with the times. Yes, the money may be there, in the vendors rent and the cash only, genius move, entrance fees, but the content is really the same, and like an old presentation, it's gets stale. 

     So stop by the ATM before you go so you can get in and have a few bucks for the tiny items you may need to pick up. If you're in need of a bigger item check out some of the local fly shops to make a purchase and support them. Grab a bagel before you go inside that way you won't be appalled by the $10 draft beer prices at the bar. And, just like before the Dead concerts, have yourself a great show. And be careful driving home in the storm after the show. 

     And if anyone reading this wants to buy my Fish Skull, Flymen, Fly Tester drop me a text. They're now going for $198 new and I have the original which I'll let go for $80.

It's fun to play around with or a cool way to display your flies at the show or when doing a presentation. I'll be there Saturday if you want it. Here's my number 732 261 7291. 

01.21.26 "Hey, what's in your wallet"....

     "A $1,750 fly rod, that's stupid". "Ridiculous". "Overpriced". "Not needed". "I'd never pay that". "Lefty and Clouser said you don't need an expensive fly rod". I say to each his or her own. 

     Interestingly enough, and I'll see it this weekend, is I'll pull my 2002 Chevy Silverado with 300,000 miles on it into the parking lot at Edison and see just what everyone is tooling around in. I'll see vehicles old and new. I'll be envious of some of the pick-ups people have, especially the Chevy's and GMC's. They'll have big wheels, all leather interiors, four doors, LEER caps, 

and the DECKED storage systems in the bed. Throw in a roof rack with some long rod holders and they're all set. Those rides will cost you probably somewhere between $75,000- $85,000 dollars. I again used ChatGPT for the above image and had to laugh, it does so good, until it comes to the reels. What the hell are those things?

      While we both will wind up at TFFS early Saturday morning the difference lie in the start of our journeys. When I get in the cab and sit on the well worn seat I'll hope the truck turns over. And I pray, as I always do, that the homemade bed doesn't fly off on while on the road one day. The other side will wake up, go and take a leak, look outside and hit the remote start, with the heated seats, to get her ready for the ride. If I wanted a heated seat I'd need to bust out a lighter. 

     The point of all of the above is, no matter what kind of ride you're in, they'll both get you to where you want to be, but the confidence and experience may be different. And that brings me to the latest in fly rod technology and pricing. 

     So I did a little research from when I got my first saltwater fly rod. It was around 1999 and Choinard hooked me up while I hung around and occasionally worked at The Fly Hatch between shifts at the firehouse and the hospital. Back then the rod Orvis was 

pimping was their Orvis Trident PM 10+ rods. I'm not a techy guy so I don't know the difference between all of the rod technology out there. But below is a price list for the series,

     So in 1999 Orvis's top of the line 9 weight rod ran $495 dollars. Remember that when I circle back. And I'm sure someone is reading this saying, "See things were cheaper back then". 

     That brings me to the newly released fly rod from G. Loomis. For the saltwater anglers the "Asquith" would be for you offered in a range from 8- 12 weight rods. So I looked up "Asquith"

during a quick Google search and found, "Asquith is primarily an English surname of Old Norse origin, meaning ash tree wood". Funny, when I saw the price tag I thought it meant, "expensive", "overpriced", or "sucker". In the presser that G. Loomis released they explain this update in this series is "the most technologically advanced fly rod series ever produced". Well, haven't we all heard that before?. Remember, Orvis's newest was the "...most accurate ever". Loomis also states that the Asquith "...is purpose-built for passionate fly anglers who demand a rod capable of elevating every cast, presentation, and moment". But hey, don't we all want that? 

     This line of rods run from $1,635 to $1,750, the higher price for the 10, 11, and 12 weights. They are made with a "Spiral X Core" which means nothing to me, and probably most anglers. They are "rolled" over in Kumamoto, Japan and handcrafted in Woodland, Washington. Oh, well there you have it, now I see it. 

     If you know then you know when a new product comes out people love to get their hands on one and do a review. Now, for those invited to the try-it-out party, they get one from the manufacturer to try out and do a review. Most aren't paying retail prices for them which can lead to a biased review. They don't want to be that source, a magazine, a blog, or a dealer, that puts any such product or company in a bad light, so in the end they go easy as to not ruin that relationship.

     I read a review over at Flylords, written by Max Inchausti. He explains the rod and his experience in testing it. Again, these reviews are more for the fly gear techy people, not the average anglers out there. But below was Inchausti's take, or Final Verdict, 

     The line that got me was, "For the price of a new Asquith, anglers could get a new rod, reel, waders, and boots". Tru dat. This is for a very niche fly rodder, one that has very deep pockets. But to be fair all of the big rod manufacturers have crested the $1,000 mark. Although TFO's top 

of the line saltwater rod, the Moment, tops out at $649. It uses what they call a "Kevlar weave" in their technology, which again, means nothing to me. But like other companies out there

they have attracted the big guns to be a part of their team. Above is a picture from the TFO website featuring Blane Chocklett and Flip Pilot. If a $649 fly rod is good enough for them, maybe it should be good enough for you. I also saw a picture of Blane on the TFO site with a 

big bull redfish talking about another of the TFO's rods, The Blitz. That rod is touted as their best seller and comes in at a swallowable $499. You can see and hear Blane explaining it below,

To be honest anything that talks about redfish these days gets my attention. And truth be told I'm not here to boost up TFO over another company, but when you talk price point I had to look what's out there, and supported by the big names in fly fishing. Over the years we've seen Kreh, Clouser, Popovic's, Chocklett, and Pallot all part of the company. And if you compare them to a NBA basketball team that a pretty good starting lineup. 

     A lot of people want things that are made in America, although they shop on Amazon and Temu for the best deals for anything and everything. Companies are slick these days as they label their products, "Assembled in America", or, "Made in America with Overseas Parts". But that's for another time. Truth be told a ton, if not most, of all of the products you buy, in whole or in part, come from some overseas manufacturing company. In fly fishing that goes from flies, to waders, to rods and reels, and all of the apparel. Let's just be honest. 

     TFO is a big company. They have Canadian and United States "branches" with the bulk of the manufacturing taking place in Incheon/Seoul area of South Korea. I found an old "How It's Made" episode on You Tube which explains where and how TFO rods are made,

     But not all of their rods are built overseas as their Blue Bight series, a spinning rod line, is now exclusively made in Texas. 

     So what does money mean these days compared to 1998 when I purchased my first Trident PM -10+ for $495? Of course we think, and rightfully so, that things these days are far more expensive than they used to be. That goes from eggs and milk, to vehicles and houses, to fly rods and reels. I did a quick search to see what $495 from 1998 would look like today.

     If I were to buy that same rod today it would be about $1,000 dollars, which is just about where most of the upper fly rod price points are today. An example would be the Orvis Helios D, which comes in slightly higher at $1,198. But the Asquith, with that Spiral X Core, would be almost twice the cost. 

     The question is what company is going to hit the $2,000 fly rod first? It's funny how no one wants to ever be the first when it comes to the highest price. Back in my old guiding days on the 

Upper Delaware most lodge and guides would charge a max of $495 for a two-person drift boat trip. They figured that extra five bucks would deter people from booking. But if you add in a tip for the guide they were over that anyway. These days a guide trip will cost you a few bucks more with the West Branch Anglers at $550, Crosscurrent $575, and Dette's at $625. I have heard of some owner-operated guides already hitting the $700+ mark. 

     I've been out of the Upper Delaware guiding game since 2014. It was May of that year when I did a three day back to back to back run to end my guiding career. Above is a great picture of me and Charlie "Bunky" Limpert getting ready for a day outside of Steve Taggart's place where Charlie lived in what he called "The Sugar Shack", which was an apartment over Steve's garage. 

     While I always try and keep my licenses up to date I let my New York State guide license go. I was guide # 6225, and I'm sure the number these days is much higher. On my drift boat and truck was the National Park Service (NPS) sticker which meant I was a legit guide, as far as insurance and the required permits go, which included both NY and PA guide licenses. At the time NY's fee was $125 for five years, while PA's was $400 annually, which sucked. I was

NPS sticker number 11, and back then the lower the number you had the better, well, really it just meant you had a lower number. If you know then you know. So what's the reason I went down this rabbit hole? I guess was to explain the cost of things today. Truth be told when I first starting guiding the price tag for a day out on the water was $325, plus a tip, or not, for the guide. I think back on how much money I didn't make while guiding up there. Driving from New Jersey, the gas, the tolls, the gear and flies, the lunches, the shuttles, and the lodging, which some nights included sleeping in my truck to save the money. What was the point of getting a room at the Capra if I wouldn't be getting into bed until midnight? Add into that the insurance and fees, plus a cut if I was working for another guide, lodge, or outfitter. Not a good business move. But it was fun. I tip my hat to those guides that get it done, and don't just support a habit like I did. 

     Today I'll make my way into my fly tying room. I'll need to dig around and find my fly tying stuff to sit at the Squimpish booth this Saturday and not embarrass myself. And during that I'll be editing down and getting rid of things I don't need or use and pack the things that will head down to South Carolina, God willing. I'll also be looking at my gear, my rods and reels, and figure out what's still serviceable or not. So much of my stuff is beat to hell and is past it's life, but, I won't be replacing any of it soon. So for me an Asquith is out of the question, no matter what a Spiral X Core would do for my cast or the pressure I could put on a big fish. If there's one at TFFS this weekend I'll go and put hands on it, just to say I touched a $1,700 fly rod. 

01.20.26 And so it begins...

     If you're family, well more my Mom, is like ours then you know. There's something about a Mom's love that's different than one a day gives. And Mom's love, just love, when their kids were young. And there's no better way to celebrate Motherhood and witnessing as their kid hits all the milestones in life than saving...everything. It's a bitter-edged sword. While discovering all those things that have been tucked away it usually means boxes upon boxes of "stuff" that takes up visual and physical space. All you have to do is take a venture down into the basement or attic for proof. 

     I've, mostly for the good, am a chip of my Mom's own block as I have tons of "firsts" from my kids early lives. And one thing that is a super positive, is after you've lost one, finding these keepsakes can really be a beautiful albeit emotional, experience. 

     But then the question is what do you do with it all? For me, a lot of this stuff has made the journey from Red Bank, to Verona, to West Orange, back to Red Bank, to Middletown, to Ocean Township, to Deal, back to Red Bank, before settling in in Titusville. That some trip, and a lot of heavy lifting. Over the years I've added my own keepsakes, from days in the firehouse, a billion pictures of houses, celebrations, and vacations. Throw in that another bunch, like a ton, of bins of old Lionel Trains, and I could star in a re-make of Sanford & Son. 

      During an edit of my dresser, well not my dresser, but one of those wooden dresser storage valets, I found some things I've been holding onto. They've been around for 57 years now. They're my first curls and my first tooth, which my Mom harvested around my first birthday. 

     So the big question is what to do with them? These days kids want....NOTHING. And if they did want something it wouldn't be my firsts. I called my Mom and filled her in on my discovery. It's funny, when you're the oldest, you take on the role of gatekeeper of family keepsakes. So in the end I let the First Tooth go but kept the My First Curl because it was personalized. 

Imagine I'm worrying about two items that are a little more than a quarter in size. Yeah, how am doing? 

01.19.26 If you're looking for a boat in mint condition...

     Winter isn't only a good time to tie flies it's also a great time to buy a boat. Boat owners are either buying up or selling out. Also, like in fly fishing, it's show season, and the New York and Atlantic City shows are in January and February respectively. 

     When I saw Jersey guy Joe Nicosia had listed his boat I told him I'd put it up on the blog just in case someone here was in the market for a new ride. I'm not a boat expert, but I can tell you Joe is mentally-meticulous and clean, just look at his fly tying table when you see him at Edison this upcoming weekend. 

     What he's selling is his 2021 Layton Bay Backwater 16'. It's the perfect boat for someone wanting to fish the rivers and bays with a shot out front on good weather days. I'm sure Joe has pushed the limit and has taken it out a bit further off the beach. 

Here's the particulars;

     I've seen the boat out on the water and, most importantly, tucked away inside Joe's garage. This is a garage kept boat since it was delivered, and that's big. Theresa and I stopped by 

to drop off a push pole for the boat on our way down to Cape May in May of 2024. So if you're looking for a boat, but not a big boat, that can fish you inside and out front, without the big boat feeling and problems then start to do the numbers and figure out how you're going to ask your better half if and when you can buy it. Joe has it listed on The Hull Truth for another look, HERE.

     The current asking price is $29,900. I saw a reply on THT where a guy said he's building the same boat now with Layton and it's running just over $40,000. 

     And what does $30,000 get these days? Not much. In my planning on the move south I've been thinking, "Do I really need a pick-up anymore?". There's plenty of anglers that tow boats with vehicles other then pick-ups and my HOA fees will take care of the yard work, but then there's always those Yard Sales, oh wait I'm done with those, forever. 

     During my solo tour of Bluffton I stopped by the local Chevy dealer. It's been a while since I looked at a new vehicle and the $55 - $78,000 price tags threw me for a loop. One thing I can say you can't find just a new pick-up anymore, long gone are the days of a bench front seat, plastic floor coverings, and rims that come in less then 20 inches. 

     When I came home I looked up Chevy Tahoe's. I'm figuring I could tow with that since I don't need the bed in the back. Want a used 2018, an eight year old vehicle, with 58,000 miles on it? Well that'll run near $29,000?. "It's just been broken in....", yeah, no thanks. That would come out to $480 per month for 72 months, that's six years, at a rate of 12.58%, with $8,995 down. With a 700 + credit score. Six years from now would be 2032...... and the odometer would surely be over 125,000 miles, in which it would then be "broken in", if not broken. 

     You can find Joe on Facebook or message him off THT, or drop me an email and I'll get him in touch with you. It's a great boat, and it's time for you to be back on the water, before you die. 

01.18.26 Back from the Lowcountry...

     Sometimes trips wind up giving you more than just a pause from everyday life. Heading to any destination during their busy season can bring the best weather, the best fishing, the best restaurants, the best experience, and with that the busiest of crowds. We've now been down to the Hilton Head area three times over the last four years. We took 2025 off due to Tara's wedding and our trip to Ireland. Thankfully, Theresa found a deal with her timeshare putting us at the Barony Beach Resort for $400 for the week, and chose to celebrate her 60th alone with me down there. 

     It was no doubt different weatherize when we got off the plane in Savannah last Friday with temps hitting the high 70's, but that was short lived. The cold spell that hit from 

Maine down to Florida in the coming week had us bundled up with first light temps in the high 20's. So in our travels down there we've experienced the Africa-like temps of their summers and now they're dead of winter Northeast type of winter. Being there off season limited us as far as 

activities like the beach, pool, and dining, but gave us the opportunity to explore the area some more, and the possibility of confirming in our minds where we just might wind up. 

      While it was intended to be a vacation it really became a working trip, both physically and mentally. We didn't "do" Hilton Head and the Lowcountry but used our time to do a lot of exploring of the various towns and communities in and around Hilton Head. We didn't eat out a 

lot and most meals were of the fast food and take out variety. For the meals we did sit down for it was usually at one of the restaurants they had in the respective communities we visited. The 

first two days we were camped inside Latitude Margaritaville where we had our heads and hearts set as that being our go-to place. We did several open houses through the last weekend and came away with the feeling that that place was for us. And for each small roadtrip we took I was always stopping to scout out the water and the various boat ramps that would hopefully see my boat trailered down to.

     Out travels took us to Savannah, Beaufort, Bluffton, Hilton Head which was our base camp, and to Savannah. Theresa has a handful of friends already down there so she was able to visit them while I tagged along. The trip to Charlestown took us to the city center and the parking for the restaurant we were going to was $35. I told her there was a firehouse right near there so I popped in and asked if I could park in the back. In the end I wind up having a beer with the ladies before retreating to the firehouse for a hang in the kitchen for a couple of hours. And with each stop and interaction we had we always asked questions to increase our knowledge of the area and people's opinions of places to move to. 

     During a few of those conversations we were advised on things to consider before a move down south, which included being "sure" on Latitude Margairtaville. A friend of Theresa's friend lives in Sun City, a place we had dismissed, and invited us over for another look. I thought to myself, "Okay, I'll go, but we already know", being nice, but really thinking it was just a waste of time. But after being there, and rethinking out position, we came out with the lucky realization that Sun City was for us. Game. Set. Match. And so it began. 

     Sun City is a large, almost town like, 55 and over community located in Bluffton, well most of it, splitting Jasper and Beaufort Counties. It's broken up into four neighborhoods, or time of existence, the South Side, the North side, Riverbend, and the new and under construction West Side. Homes there vary in size and price, with the most affordable, but oldest, in the South, and the newest in the West, where they're higher in price. The thing that this trip did for me was confirm that moving isn't as much as a buying a home, but buying a lifestyle. One that's just not for me, but for Theresa as well. In the back of my mind I always keep the possibility of me checking out before she does, and what will she be left with and where. 

     That friend of a friend signed us in at the gatehouse and we had a two-day pass. We checked out the Town Center, the three golf courses, gyms, and amenities centers, and ate at two of their restaurants. We stopped people and asked questions, a lot of them. Yes, it's a 55 and over community, and a lot of these folks have been there since the jump, which puts them around 80' ish. But, that's also means those people are aging out and moving on to greener pastures, if you get what I mean, and new blood is moving in. We saw plenty of people in our age bracket, and the ones that were older were far more active and in better shape then we are anyways. 

     We hooked up with a realtor that we had sat with at Sun City in 2023. Even though we told her we're at least a year away she gave us the full tour which started with a stop at the new build sales office. And then we were off. Sun City can be a bit overwhelming with the various neighborhoods and models to choose from, but we liked what we saw. 

     If we moved, or when we move, we are looking at about a 1% real estate tax rate coupled with a $3,000 a year HOA fee, which covers everything from the amenities to the landscaping. That would come out to about $6,000 a year, far less than the near $20,000 real estate taxes alone we are staring down in New Jersey. If that alone didn't rattle my brain then the house choices did. 

     Too small? Too close? Privacy? Those HOA rules? All things to consider, but we'd be buying a lifestyle, not a custom built home on a large wooded lot. No basements, most no stairs, perfect for that post-stroke living. No more leaking, flooding, drafty, grass cutting, snow shoveling, New Jersey living? Sign us up. Now nothing is perfect, and the grass isn't always greener, well it is down there, but the consensus when asking many about the regrets of relocating down there, "We should have done it sooner", adding, "It's hard to find good pizza and bagels." But we found good bagels, and it's just outside the gates of Sun City. 

     Last year a couple from New Jersey opened Nosh New York Bagels. They're made everyday in New York and flown down to the Lowcountry and cooked onsite. The only 

negative was they don't sell those containers of white milk that I like to enjoy with a scooped out and toasted bagel. But once down there I can bring my own and save a couple of bucks at checkout. 

     And then the question is what would we do down there? How many ceramic crafts and exercise classes can you take? Would we take up golf or pickle ball? Moving down there would probably mean we'd still have to work but how many people hang up their work belts at 58 and 60 respectively? I could, and would love to, learn that fishery and start guiding again. Sitting in Sun City, where 278 and 170 meet, means I have a straight shot to the waters around Hilton Head and Beaufort, depending on which way you turn. And both put you on Port Royal Sound and out into the inshore waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Or we could put our multi-state nursing licenses to work. 

     While there we did some job searches and Theresa applied for a job and I stopped into the two colleges which are literally attached by border to Sun City. I met with the Dean of the Nursing program at Low Country Community College and she asked when I could start. The other is the University of South Carolina Beaufort- Bluffton Campus, which has a baccalaureate degree nursing program. I could walk through the woods or take our golf cart to work. That surely beats that commute I had to Essex County College, or even my current gig at Capital Health in Trenton. 

     So we left Hilton Head with a plan, one that we communicated with our real estate agent, "We'll see you in 2027". But then after some talking to each other, and a conversation with my Dad, "Why wait?". And that twisted up my head yet again. Yes, why wait. The only thing we physically have as a life changing anchor is the house, a place where we lay our head and have our worth tied into. And then of course we have our hoarding disorder stuff, and lots of that, but truth be told, anyone who's up there in age and has lived in a place for a bit, has too much stuff as well.

     While looking at Zillow can be like looking at a picture at yourself with all kinds of filters added on, the price of real estate just always seems to go up. I have to laugh at Zillow's 

$968,800 estimate, but anything remotely close to that would be a big win for us. How nice would it be to live without a mortgage and car and school loans, and of course those oil deliveries, each month? Over at Redfin they have a more realistic range of our home's worth  

coming in between $771,000 and $933,000. But getting ourselves and this big old home ready is going to be a huge undertaking, and that would be in time for a spring 2027 move. And what about an early summer 2026 move? Well probably delusional. But really what has to be done? First, get rid of it, all of it. They say when you move down there, "If you have to store it you don't need it". And what's funny is how many storage places there are located around 55 and over places from New Jersey down to Florida. My parents just downsized and they to have a selection of storage units they need to rid themselves of. 

     So yesterday it began. The start of a new chapter that may take 12 weeks or 12 months to write. We made a pile and dropped it off at the local church thrift store, picked up a bunch of those yellow and black bins from Home Depot, and then started with the what and what doesn't go down with us. 

     So as I wrap this post up I look out at a second round of snow falling here in Titusville. Yesterday's firing up the snow blower was fun but today it'll be a drag. And looking at the picture above I ask, if that's me to the left do I want to be working on the house and blowing snow in my Golden Years? And really how many years do we have left, and good ones at that? I remember the conversation between Andy Dufrense (Tim Robbins) and Ellis "Red" Redding (Morgan 

Freeman), in the 1994 movie, The Shawshank Redemption. (Yes, that came out 32 years ago). When Andy said to Red, "It comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living or get busy dying". Well now I have to get busy shoveling before getting busy packing.