More on Hermit Finances

Nothing realizes, thanks to input, that it has perhaps left out something of which others, hermits or not, might not be aware.

There is such an opportunity in Dioceses, for people to bequeath their homes to the Diocese, as a living estate. Nothing neglected to mention this, evidently, in previous posts. Over a year ago arrangements were made for Agnus Dei, but the Diocese estate planner, in research, learned that it can not be effected for five years due to IRS legalities. Nothing has a mortgage, at the wise counsel of its financial advisor, and so nothing waits five years to enter into the living estate arrangement.

How this works, in basic nothing terms, is that the diocese receives the property, and the deed to it, and if a mortgaged property, after it the loan has been paid for a minimum of five years. The person may continue to live in that property, and if mortgaged, continues to pay the mortgage as a kind of rent. The diocese handles (to nothing's knowledge, but others need to check this with their dioceses) major issues such as roofing or whatever. The "renter" handles the general upkeep.

Nothing's adult children and the financial advisor are aware of this arrangement, and it is to be reviewed by nothing's attorney for the will, in case something should happen in the interim. Then the mortgage would be paid from the estate, and the diocese would receive Agnus Dei Hermitage. If nothing lives longer, then the hermitage will become the diocese's in now less than five years.

The frettings of nothing's expenditures have more to do with thinking of its mother and father, and how hard they worked, and of wondering if they are pleased or not with the way nothing is spending their money. And even more so in some ways, lately nothing has noticed that the contacts with the lovely people involved in the purchases and plantings, as well as the book acquisitions, are coming to a close. It is another step into stricter separation from the world. Nothing was at just above national poverty level prior to its parents' passing, and so it is not used to spending money--and true, this hermitage is rather unique in its accoutrements!

The plants and trees are all purchased with significance to their names. Nothing was not going to allow "Cobra" (a var. of weeping Norway spruce), but then realized the Garden of Eden most certainly had a snake! Shawn, the nursery owner who says he went to Catholic schools as a youngster, got a chuckle out of that! It is all for God! Omnia pro Deo! Money is God's money.

Another hurdle for nothing has been the fact that across from Lake Immaculata (small subdivision pond) is a little common area, and beyond that is the railroad track. Yes! A railroad track with trains rumbling by several times a day! Now, fathom that and ask yourself why anyone would have a house so near a train track, and then invest in such lovely specimen trees and perennials and rocks and roses galore?

Well, just consider the joy when out weeding, a train comes along, and the engineer toots his horn and waves to nothing as he sees the gardens (and maybe even finds them refreshing to his day), or the other people in the subdivision who walk along the common area and shout over, "You should come over here and see! It is SO BEAUTIFUL!" And nothing smiles and calls back, "Can't quite yet--too busy watering and weeding, but someday!"

Granted, the financial advisor (a devout and orthodox Catholic family man and quite gifted with financial dealings) is not thrilled with nothing's plan. For he is concerned for nothing's well-being, in the long haul, if there is a long haul. Nothing lives monthly on disability income, and its parents' gift is what many earn annually. He knows nothing is not able to get any health insurance for at least eight more years, and then if Medicare will accept in a six-month window application period, someone whose past medical history has caused insurance companies to say, "Sorry. No."

But nothing has accepted this for the over two decades since accident and loss of career, and it has agreed with God to die the old-fashioned way should cancer or some other terminal illness come along. Many people, especially the poor, have no health insurance. But the financial advisor thinks of long-term care, if a time comes when nothing is not able to fend for itself. And this is a valid concern, and so he thinks it would be good to have the dwelling to be able to sell.

Nothing thinks it could sell the books, the ones it's read. Not now, though--not in this economic down-swing! And if nothing dies prior to needing money for care and assistance, then how lovely to have this library for others, in case the diocese would retain the hermitage for other hermits, or any guests, or priests or seminarians to come even for a day of quiet prayer and holy reading.

Nothing can envision others down on the little bench by Lake Immaculata, or on the adirondack chair with legs up on ottoman, or even lying on the huge rocks that nothing paid extra for a forklift to bring in, and even has photos of Tim, Nate and Ryan, standing by with Tim motioning the forklift driver just how to place those slabs.

In fact, another cypress is coming as soon as nothing is able to either get the body to the nursery or will mail the check. This cypress, var. "Shawnee Brave", will possibly be planted between the lower stone patio and the recliner slab rocks, for a shaded nook. These rocks are ones that Tim noticed could be partially stacked, as one had a natural slope in it, like a small hammock effect. Nothing had such fun last summer picking out stones, with Matt at the stone quarry getting a bit excited, too! As for Shawnee Brave, nothing noticed one that already has a bird's nest in it! We could use some bravery around Agnus Dei, nothing deduces.

Anyway, perhaps others might consider placing their dwellings in the assets of their dioceses. Even though someone once said to nothing that it might be sold and be used for that which was terrible, nothing said that if it is used to help pay some victim of a priest's abuse, then so be it. We are all accountable for the sins of others as well as our own. We are the Body of Christ. Perhaps if the Church had more income, lovely churches and religious houses may not have been sold off over the years. Maybe laity could have kept them up for some use or other, or to wait until religious vocations increased once more, as they are now on the uprise.

Nothing posts this, as its confessor does not seem in the least bit concerned about nothing possibly having scandalized in its writings. The canon lawyer is looking over the accusations, and praying, and says he will talk with nothing when he has insights from the Lord on this matter. The Bishop has been contacted and will hopefully let nothing know if he has any concerns about its writing a rather personal blog.

But so far, from the Mass readings of Ezekiel and of Jesus and so much encouragement to persevere, and looking back over messages given long ago, it seems that blog writing is something the Lord is allowing nothing, for perhaps someone out there will laugh or find company in suffering or in the bunglings and quite human expressions of someone trying to seek the Face of God along the daily ups and downs.

[This photo is of one angle taken from the hermitage (a small, ordinary subdivision house). And, forgot to mention that many plants and even the little stone bench, were purchased at end of season discount prices. But, most of the trees are full-price, and the nursery workers are very pleased to have nothing come shopping, especially this summer with the economy as it is, and also the college girl who works there each summer. Nothing must keep all these people in prayer. But it is sort of sad to know that the Mary Gardens are nearly full, at least for any more trees!]