3 Tango Charlie is Sold

 

My last picture with 3 Tango Charlie. Friday was bittersweet, sad to end our airplane ownership but happy that 3 Tango Charlie is going to a good home and will be flying on a regular basis. It's never good to let an airplane sit and that was my main concern. Mary and I also found it harder each year to climb in and out of the plane, case in point she just had a hip replaced and I went in for surgery to have two screws removed from my right leg.  Sadly my surgery will not be the last, with a sign of infection that is working its way to the metal rod I will need to have the rod removed. If infection sets in I could lose the leg.

We have no regrets. Mary and I have enjoyed many wonderful journeys over our years of ownership, from the first flight home in our Sundowner to our last flight together in our Commander. 

It is now time for a new chapter, more adventures, but it will be in the rental fleet. There are two clubs, one local, and the other near our winter home in Estero. I will investigate both. For now we are going to concentrate on the healing process.

Stay tuned, there will be more adventures to write about and pictures to share.  

Florida Winter Home

Rental unit

Mary and I took the winter off and spent three months in Estero Florida. We rented a place  on the lake in the Corkscrew Woodlands over 55 community. Thankfully, we were able to take the boys with us and they really enjoyed the lake view and all the birds. Shout out to Rusty and his bride Mary, now good friends.

Mary and I felt at home, the people were so friendly and there are so many activities to participate in. Each circle within the community hosts events to include breakfast, strawberry shortcake desserts, Spud fest, sausage and peppers, Wine tasting, block parties, a talent show and much more. The clubhouse is always buzzing with something going on and the pool is really nice. There is tennis and pickle ball courts, shuffleboard,  bocce ball and putting greens.

I think you get the picture, not a dull moment. Now I'll admit I'm not Mr Social but my bride is a social butterfly. I honestly had fun, and it was very relaxing. The best part, we missed the nasty winter storms here in Ocean City which was the worst in our 12 years retired in the Ocean Pines.

Mary and I decided it was the right place for us to winter in warmth so we purchased a place. The hunt was fun, so many places to explore and the buying process was interesting. Mary and I did not miss doing the purchase paperwork. A shout out to our agent Josh Cowan.

Josh really helped us in a new to us market. He was professional in every way. The good ones always have no problem switching hats or sometimes collars. Josh was the calm, he was the force and sometimes the confidant when I was getting to the point of going full Italian. If you're looking for an agent in the Ft. Myers area he IS your guy.

This is the home Mary and I purchased in March. Designated as a single with an add-on the home is 700 sq-ft, very well maintained and fully furnished. Mary and I met the owner who happened to be in town when we requested a second walk through. Here are some pictures of the place as we purchased it. We have already had the bathroom gutted with a new walk-in shower and other fixtures going in. I have replaced the pole lamp with a solar unit and I updated the porch lighting with a more modern fixture.

Mary and I made a few more changes, adding a TV and sofa table in the bedroom and repainting the back door from scare me yellow to dark grey. We also replaced the like new dining room table with a beautiful rutan set we had here in Ocean City. A few new pictures were added and a few relocated throughout the home as we make it our place. We are already looking forward to this winters get-away.