Time is runnning out....  

This house is pretty high up there - its likely snowing. Its cold here in Albuquerque and looks like snow but it likely won't. I know, you'd think desert - hot all year right? I lived in Anchorage Alaska which isn't too far north as Alaska goes, and since it was a dry cold - I remembered colder winters in Maryland.

Its a raffle. So if they sell 2500 tickets its worth it, otherwise they send the money back. They're going through a real estate company but many people try to do this on their own. The first time I saw something like this was when I was living in Alaska and Remax was helping a family do this. You can look homes like this up on the web - there's one in Marin, CA going for 150 dollars a ticket - no essay neceassry- in CA the raffle has to be run by a non profit agency - with much of the proceeds going to them. My husband spent so much on the huge screen tv and his wow subscription and other computer stuff - yet we're so frugal in other areas - and recently started renting out a room for a hundred a month that its worth it...I rarely ask for money.

I know someone who won one of these - but the tickets were a 1000 dollars each and bought 15! And he wound up selling it - it was a nice house but he says the house he and his wife has is better.

Amy and Ross Wainwright want everyone to write what they feel the Greatness America is all about, for some this will be political for others historical for some largely autobiographical. I mentioned the beginnings of our Nation - not the country and brought in my own history as well. But you're right - to want to live in this house, as I do, you'd have to be into history to some extent and preservation. Did you read the comments, I guess some people are very nervous about what to write and how it will be judged. Amy says, if gunslingers and hamburgers are how you perceive it write about it, however you see it.

And in answer to my query she says don't worry about little bureaucratic things disqualifying one, as long as its an essay, it can be be typed, hand done, even written in crayon or lipstick on a napkin.

Yes it would be fun to decorate the house in the old style and maybe have a weaving wheel. Since the home is so old, you may be able to get out of the heavy Capital Gains Tax that way, buy trying to get it declared a historic landmark, not sure. And its right next to Historic Los Luceros so the traffic will already be there certain times of year. This is the third house this couple has restored, the SF newspaper tells the very interesting story of these two lawyers. I suppose wherever Ross's job is taking them, they likely plan to do the same thing.

I sent my essay off today with my money order. I'm not so much worried about my essay as I am the essay getting to them. I'm afraid something may happen on the way - even though its the same state.

I would add a studio to the house or land for Thai Massage and Morita Therapy. Maybe learn to teach yoga and have some classes of that. And just a studio for writing and mixed media - my cards and word hangings. Heck I'd probably finally learn looming or weaving. I would also try to get the house completely off grid - attached to grid but independent of it.

The fee was hefty for us, although some called it a few dinners out. Which I guess it could be. But when I asked my husband to get me a money order, he only asked what for (amount) and got it along with other errands. I'm frugal in other areas and rarely ask for money solely for myself.

So I sent my in today - and people have until the 15th to send it in - has to postmarked that - and they have to get at least 2500 for it to be worth it or they send it all back to the essay writers. I don't envy them reading all of that as there will be many kinds of essays and like here, people who don't read the rules. One reason they chose this as the theme is because they didn't want to read a bunch of sob stories boo hoooing about why someone needs the house.

I hope you get it. You have such good ideas!

Thank you, I will make a post here if I do and maybe post my essay here.