Hal's blog

This is just too good to not re-blog.

Patience is a VIRTUE! How did you fair in the latest test?

As a man of minimal patience I thought I would write on this issue. Patiences is a virtue, one that I continually strive to acquire.

We are often times in a hurry with no reason other then we expect instant results. Be it in the checkout line of our favorite Department Store, grocery store, Post Office, etc. we just don't like to wait. That thought furthered, we are also accustom to instant response when we click our mouse while working on the computer and gliding from one web-site to another. If we don't get an instant response we fret and fret.

These thoughts were brought to mind this morning as I read the various post pertaining to the error messages here on Rain for most of yesterday.

I have written post before because things were tied up in some kind of a glitch, one that tested my early morning patience or lack thereof. I know the frustrations many of my fellow Rain members were feeling. Thankfully I wasn't subjected to the latest series.

Bottom line, growth comes at a price. Rain obviously is no exception to the rule. The tried and true fact of it all, however, is that those responsible for the maintenance of this, very beneficial site, respond promptly to correct their ills. It happens, YES, we like it NO! When all is said and done the technical support works diligently to bring us back up to speed.

Time for all concerned to take a deep breath and give thanks for all we have been blessed with. Our blessing far out number the little glitches we experience in the course of our day.

Residence of Sun City Center and Kings Point enjoy many benefits living in their retirement community. One benefit that many, if any, don't enjoy is Free Ambulance Service!

Sun City Center Emergency Squad offers Ambulance transportation to local hospitals free of charge to residents. They also provide EMT services and other medical related transportation to those in need. For example,

Sun City Center resident patients that have recovered enough to be transferred from a hospital to a rehabilitation facility can call the Emergency Squad and arrange for transportation. Yes, Free of charge.

Recently a resident, confined to a wheelchair needed to under go radiation treatment. Her program called for 30 daily treatments. The Emergency Squad provided wheelchair accessible transportation to and from the treatment center, again free of charge.

Sun City Center is a Del Webb planed community designed to attract active retirees. The original planning did not include free medical service however. In 1966 resident, Ray Watson thought it would be a huge benefit. Through his efforts and hard work the Emergency Squad became a reality. It was made possible with donations and a host of volunteer personnel and continues the same way today.

In addition to more then 400 volunteers the squad has four fully equipped ambulances and three wheelchair equipped transport vehicles.

In 2007 Ambulance service responded to more then 6400 calls and the transport vehicles made just under 2500 runs.

A new state of the art headquarters was also opened in 2007 providing accommodations for administrative personnel and on duty squad members.

The 400 volunteers are divided into eight teams and provide coverage 24 hours a day seven days a week. Each ambulance crew consist of an EMT, First Responder and Driver. Van service is staffed with a First Responder and Driver.

All training meets Florida standards and the volunteers are properly licensed according to State guidelines for their respective positions.

Sun City Center Emergency Squad operates under the direction of a local physician and is recognized by Florida as a Basic Life Support facility.

Last weeks report by the National Association of Realtors, stated existing home sales for the month of September rose 5.5%. It was the largest increase in more than five years.

The report went on to say housing inventory at the end of September had fallen 1.6% to 4.27 million existing homes available for sale, a 9.9 month supply at the current rate of sales. The previous month inventory was at a 10.6-month supply.

September marked the second consecutive month inventories declined since their peak in July.

This is positive information that we as Realtors should spread and share. When ask, How is business? Or how does the market stand, this is the information that should be related.

Building a positive conversation base is one of the first steps toward helping a cautious buyer move forward.

Locally we continue to see prices falling and expect the trend to continue for a time. With Season upon us, homeowners and Real Estate professionals are hopeful sales will increase and days on the market will fall.

Homeowners who harden their homes against storm damage are realizing a substantial premium reduction on their Homeowners Insurance.

We had hurricane shutters installed on our windows, doors and sliding glass doors two years ago. When our Insurance police renewed we were given a credit of over $500.00 because of the additions.

Citizens Insurance, the insure of last resort in the State of Florida, has credited 470 million dollars to 46% of their policy holders. These policy holders hardened their homes and applied for the mitigation credit.

Citizens expect to credit back more then 640 million to policy holders in 2009.

At the outset homeowners may consider the hardening expenditures to be too costly, however the premium savings alone will cover the expenditure in most cases in less then five years. Beyond that the savings would be like new found money.

In our case, we will have recovered our outlay in full with-in the first four years.

The top of Guell park is supported by huge columns and has a terraced area where you get a wonderful view of the park and of Barcelona City. Multi-coloured tiled mosaic seats surround the edges of the raised park, as shown in the picture below. The vibrant colors and designs of the tiles are truly fascinating.

    

The park contains amazing stone structures, stunning tiling and fascinating buildings. 

  

I wish now I had taken more pictures.  I hope you enjoyed my guided tour.