Lords of the Manor

Mary and I closed on the mortgage on our home (known to Mary's family as LCB, for La Casa Blanca) Tuesday, signing what seemed like dozens of papers down at our attorney's office in Columbus. This is the second mortgage for Mary -- the first is on a house in Atlanta we are about the put back on the market after two years of frustration with nightmarish tenants -- but the first for me. I'm 40,and I'll be 55 by the time we own the place outright. Not bad, I suppose.

Saluda is in many ways, an ideal community in which to settle down. The lack of industry of any consequence and the small size (580 residents) makes for high property taxes, but the tranquility and pastoral surroundings are worth it. Next up: the monthly City Council meeting...