It all started with a company Christmas Party. I was working for Boston Technology. Pam wanted to go outside and smoke a cigarette. While outside I ran into Frank Girard, company CEO. During the chat with Frank, we were talking about stock options. He said that we should cash in 25% of our options every year, "because you never know what is going to happen". Was it really a coincidence, that several months later the company was bought out by the Israeli company, Comverse? Pam and I had begun look for a small parcel of land somewhere in Maine and the conversation with Frank accelerated that search. Eventually, we looked at a 35-acre parcel in Old Orchard Beach. The house and garage were a disaster and we complained to the realtor that the description did not match reality. She informed us that she had another parcel that was not yet listed owned by the same person. We agreed to take a look although it was much more than we were really seeking. After viewing the property, we informed our agent that we wanted to make an offer. The offer was accepted with the condition that they continue to stay there a couple of months. On the 14th day of July 2000, we became the owners of lot R2-44 on Shaving Hill Road in Limington, Maine.
The farm consisted of two parcels located about one mile down Shaving Hill Road, a dead-end road. The main parcel, on the left was 98+ acres with a two story home, a barn, detached 3-car garage, and a swimming pool. The second parcel was only 5.5 acres located directly across the street. The house was a post & beam building about 200 years old. The barn, located behind the house, was about the same age, although it had been refurbished with new siding and flooring within the past few years. The interior had been remodeled sometime in the 1970, based on the color of the walls. A more recent 3-season room was added on the left side. There was a 40-foot shed attached to the right side of the main house, and a deck and screen house was added in front of that shed. The shed smelled like horses.
For the first year, we visited the farm for long weekends, vacation, and holidays.