About two weeks ago I discovered a leak in my roof over the garage. I did not see it until after the water broke through the garage ceiling. Ouch! I had another leak (other side of the same gable) fixed about a year ago and the roofer fought with me over it. He insisted that I needed a new roof; that a repair could not be warrantied because my present roof is 16 years old. I have been mulling that over and thinking about some of the other repairs that I need done- like a handle for the tub diverter. Every handle in that tub/shower has broken and I do not know why. I ordered a new handle ($16 plus shipping) and it did not fit.???? Chit!

I have tried to just not think about it for now despite knowing for certain that a leak in a roof cannot be ignored. I have other issues- like auto repairs that need to be made, a visit to the dentist that will not be cheap (need a molar extracted), and my HOA is pressuring me to repaint my house. Any day/month they will take me to court like they did some of my other neighbors. I am NOT responsible for the drop in property values; neither are my neighbors. I guess I have been thinking about what needed to be done first; what was most pressing.

Last night I discovered a new crisis: There is a leak in the wall between my kitchen and the water heater in my garage. Chit! Chit! Chit! Because of the extremely high risk of deadly mold, that must be fixed- now.

What do I do? (I don't really want/expect an answer- I am asking myself.)Go into more debt and try to make all of the critical repairs, or finally throw in the towel? I can't sell it because I am still top-heavy due to the extreme drop in property values- from $260k in 2009 to $140k+ today. Florida is not recovering like some of the other areas of the country. I don't have enough in savings to pay for these things. Sigh!

Decisions, decisions.