Lake House Diaries 13

      The family was not sure about the source of the information, but someone came up with an assessment of the property, considering the up turn in the market, and the potential for water and sewer service possibly coming in the near future. Neither Greg and Ethel, nor any of their children, ever considered the possibility of sitting on such a valuable property. The bare piece of desert all those years ago was purchased for US$40,000. Nobody really knew what the cost of the development of the lot, or the cost of construction of the house and cabin were, but it was quite evident that those costs were nowhere near what the property was worth now. 

     The lot was 3/4 of an acre. The percolation tests for septic limited the number and sizes of dwellings on the property and it was not possible to utilize any of the land for more dwellings as in sub-dividing lots. But with city water and sewer, those limitations would no longer exist and there was room on the back of the property, behind the garden and the orchard to carve off two small lots. With water and sewer, and no sub-dividing, the assessed value was US$1.8 million. With the two lots staked off and services put in to them, the value went to US$2.1 million. 

     Naturally, this topic came up at the 'Oroville Meeting' held by Greg and Ethel's children and their spouses. Some, including Tod, had heard Greg express some excitement over the windfall, and he did not outright reject the idea of at least talking about it. All in attendance at the meeting agreed that nothing would be investigated or explored regarding this topic and any action or even discussion would have to be initiated by Greg and Ethel. The Lake House was their dream, they owned it, and even they were 'hands off' owners and residents, they would still be in total control. 

     One day, Greg and Ethel would be out of the picture, due to health or death, and then the family, who would inherit the property, could take any action they saw fit. At that meeting, the topic came up as to what each couple thought the future would hold for the Lake House. What was the 'dream' for the future. 

     There were various ideas floated, and it was just talk, but perhaps a loose guideline for the future. Again, the consensus was that nothing be done until the aging parents were out of the picture. It was agreed that the Lake House was not only a dream come true, but it was a legacy, something to be cherished and held dear for Greg and Ethel's sake and as a lasting remembrance of them. 

     And then a seemingly innocent comment was made and it dropped like a bombshell, forever changing the dynamics of the family and the Lake House legacy.