9 Oct 1973
Dorothy Griffin to Paul and Marolynn Griffin
Dearest Paul and Marolynn:
It was great getting your letter, Paul, and learning that you feel challenged, and, satisfied. with this job of yours. It may be that you will want to go that direction instead, of finishing law. The only advantage that I can see to finishing law is that you have something no one can take away from you, but there is no guarantee that you would, make more money or get more satisfaction-so that is something you will have to work out yourself.
You asked, if I had. bought the condominium -- and the answer is that Saturday Bob went with me to see them--he didn't like the one group at all, because of the smallness, but he was quite impressed with the Capistrano Villas, and in about a half hour's time I was signed up for a 30 year loan on one. When I got home and thought it out, I figured that the 9 and. 3/8 percent interest was upping the monthly payment from $250 a month total to $300 a month, and with this remodeling job we are doing to this house at this time, which looks like it will go one until almost Christmas, your letter came just as I was deciding that I'd, better not act in haste, so I took advantage of the 5 day clause allowing me to reneg the whole thing, and. wrote a big letter yesterday doing just that. I had a phone call from the agent yssta today telling me he had, made a mistake on thepayments, and. that they would, total $255, instead of the $255 plus 49 dollars per month for taxes, but I told. him I didn't want to act in haste and. to let me know when the next phase was ready and, let me choose a good, location.
I don't know if he will do so or not, but there is a lot of stuff going up all down the coast. I just think I'll build. up my reserves this winter so that I have some cushion after I go into this thing, because if I don't rent it part of the time I'll find. myself without extra money to travel when I retire. The remodeling job here is costing over $9,000, so I have payments on that for the next three years. Also, until this job gets down I just don't have the time to keep going down there to make selections on colors for vinyl, formica, carpeting, wallpaper, etc., all of which must be done. So come down for Christmas and I will take you down to look at the model and. you both can help me make some decisions - actually I'd. like to have an escrow for closing about June or even the next September, and, go down weekends to pick and choose.
In the meantime, back at the ranch ... if if you see a good bargain for an ocean-front lot, up on a cliff for looking, or whatever, don't hesttate to urge me to invest in it -- if I can buy it on installment -- it would be a great investment, I think-and. I don't have to be there to decide -- I'll invest in what you and Marolynn think is a real good deal -- I keep telling you that, but so far you won't make any decisions. If you decide to live in Oregon the rest of your lives think what a great thing it would be for us all to have a vacation place -- interesting and not big, looking over the ocean: I'm all for it I even have Robley's house plan I can get that would be a great one to work from in making a house plan. I don't think we could go wrong on getting ocean view property -- about all that's left is up there!
Right here in the house we live the lives of bombed out war victims -- the kitchen and, bathroom are at their lowest point-the tear-out stage is just being finished.--even tearing out the wall between the service porch and kitchen -- it really will make this television room much more of part of the house, now. And. the kitchen will be about 8 feet longer But what a life at present. For two days we were without water and no cooking now possible; no tub, no sink, its wierd -- but its bound to get better.
Write oftener and take some pictures of your apartment and tell me if you plan to come down for Christmas, so that I can make some plans. One thing is sure, I won't go up to the doctors during the holidays and cut them short, as we have done before.
love always, Mother
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