Dear Ray, I am very fortunate having so maniy good friends and relatives. However, I do pay someone to go in every day, check the oil stove (cheaper than electric which was killing me), plow the snow and cut the grass when necessary. It costs me $100 for caretaker, $25 for electric, about $75 for oil. I do not winterize it as it is fully furnised etc. You cannot really winterize a home if it has upholestered furniture and beds. They would get moldy. I have the water turned on at the tap but the hot water heater is turned off. The washer and dryer are unplugged as is the fridge. The water is drained from the hot water heater. Probably not a good economic move, but it beats saying only a month and spending $3000 for a place. Judy Judy Corbett Barker St. Petersburg, Florida and Holyrood, Newfoundland, Canada Researching the Channel Islands, Ireland, Newfoundland and New Jersey. Visit my website at http://members.aol.com/judyb3753/index.html