McClelland Minute - May 10, 2009

A Tale of Three Generations

It was just a white stucco bungalow on a quiet side street in a small town.  The Sold sign was posted at the end of the gravel driveway in front of the single garage.  The elderly gentleman who had owned it had been widowed four years, and was now in the nursing home.  He had instructed his two sons to sell the property and divide the proceeds between them.

He and his wife had bought it after much deliberation in the spring of 1971.  The old farmhouse they lived in had stood since 1917 but was literally falling into the dirt cellar underneath, and it was time to either re-build on the farm or buy in town.  Neither of them was really ready to move into such close quarters, but something had to be done. 

They got a letter from a lawyer in England saying that an elderly aunt had passed away leaving her four nephews and nieces a small inheritance.  It was almost enough to purchase the property they were interested in; maybe it was a sign.  The money was certainly welcome to a household where the sale of eggs, hens, and garden produce bought most of the groceries.

A compromise was struck.  They would live in the house during the winter, and “camp” on the farm in the summer.  It meant two yards to be kept up, but it fit their lifestyle as they shifted gears toward retirement.  Who knows, maybe one of the boys might decide to move back from the cities they lived in someday and would appreciate having a place to build in the country.

As it turned out both sons came home to raise their families.  One eventually bought the other out, and started re-building the family farm, but this time with cattle and horses only, having decided that the capital investment for grain farming was too much to handle.  The other moved to another province to enjoy his own retirement, but made regular trips back to help out the family as needed.

The son that stayed, now the same age as when his parents made their decision, gave each of his two children land of their own, and eventually one of them took over management of the ranch.  The other lives in the near by city and helps as much as he can; he too may  build on his property at some point in the future. 

Mom and Dad sold the house they had built on the home place in 1980 to the ranching son, and replaced it with a modest country home nearby.  They help out with ranch duties when they can, enjoying regular visits with their sons and young granddaughter.  If God blesses them, they hope to age in place.   The good life is one of continual renewal.

Vern McClelland is an associate broker with RE/MAX of Lloydminster.  For more helpful hints on buying or selling real estate visit www.vernmcclelland.com or call him at 306.821.0611

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