Another Life Lesson Learned

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April 14th, 2018, 01:42 PM
BIG MAC

Another Life Lesson Learned

[COLOR=#000000] Good Stormy Saturday, something to read over while stuck inside. understand this isn't a Session of feel sorry for me moment, this is to pass along to the Members of our Fish Ontario Community so this doesn't happen to you or someone you
Know, also don't see how anyone can turn this into Politics :) :) Also if you feel you have something that I need to know
personally send me a Private Message.

I'm sending this along so HOPEFULLY NOBODY EVER finds themselves in the same situation my Wife and I found ourselves in this past Winter, chances are these same set of cirumstances will never happen to you but you never know. I have a brother-in-law and his wife and 2 kids who we DON'T SPEAK TO ( for past 10 years or so) and my other Brother-in-law who
was like a Brother to me living on the same lake up North. he is the one that lived on the island and we rented from.

So my BIL who was a widower lived on a island on this lake, he had built a (Highrise 1 bedroom apt. ) above his boathouse which we have rented for The past 6 seasons ( First week of May until end of Oct.) we Paid rent for the 6 months we occupied the place ( we also had a completely seperate storage room down below in the boathouse roughly 16' X 10' ) so our transportation to the island was a pontoon boat and 14' tinny, Pontoon boat was taken out Oct. 14th. I was up starting
Wed, Oct. 18th and staying to close up until Sat. Oct. 28th. And some fishing mixed in. During this time Frame my BIL
died, I found him Wed. Oct. 25th got his body removed and the next day I'm cleaning up and other BIL shows up to get something, see's me cleaning up comes over and tells me to leave ALL of our stuff there and get in the Springtime. I said okay, wife receives a phone call Sat. 28th from her Neice and she and told my wife that place had been left to BIL 2 kids and they would talk to us in the winter time about getting our Possesions off the Island in the spring. Below is the first email exactly 91 days after the end of Oct. in essence an eviction notice. Pretty easy to see they didn't plan On giving us ALL OF OUR STUFF. I Called the OPP that afternoon and basically found out that without a lease and Anything in writing we where at their mercy to get all of our stuff. If this had of been a drive In cottage we would have been there to the next weekend to remove everything , we did have a few Bigger items to remove.
This is the email

As I am sure you are aware we have been going through items on the island. We are going to be sorting through the boathouse soon to complete some repairs and upgrades and we would like to meet with you at the marina one weekend in Feb so you can pick up the items we have for you. Please let us know which Saturday or Sunday work best for you.We have decided that you are no longer permitted on the property without us present. Should we not hear from you by Feb 7, 2018 it will be assumed that you do not wish to have any of the items and we will dispose of them accordingly.

Not going to go into detail as it did get Ugly ( That was predictable ) but we did get Most of our stuff except for about 40 smaller items. I did ask for them ( Showed them Pictures I was smart enough to take ) but was told to either get the police involved or take them to Court. Thought about it but in midst of Fixing house up to sell and at my I don't need the involved to take them to court 10 years younger and would have in a Heart Beat on Principle alone.

SO LESSONS LEARNED THAT I WANT TO PASS ALONG

1) Under NO circumstances take anyone's word for anything ( even though my BIL had died the day before when my other BIL gave the okay to leave my stuff there I should have asked him to send me an email to that effect, same with when neice called my wife ) Obviously with my BIL ( and best friend ) dying I wasn't thinking with a clear head. and under those circumstance's thought we would be fine.

2) Always have a SIGNED LEASE, Because we didn't we where at their mercy. they actually had a legal right to keep it all and we would have had to take them to small claims court to try and get it back. Also because it was Seasonal we aren't covered by the landlord tenant act either.
April 14th, 2018, 02:44 PM
fratri

That has to suck..... money makes people do stupid things......sorry for the loss of your friend.
April 14th, 2018, 03:24 PM
BIG MAC

yes it does, yes very tough loss, I had supper with him on the Monday night, and figured he died sometime Tuesday during the day and I found him first thing Wed morning, he was the same age as me and a lot in common, good music, good food and good wine. We had a fire earlier in the day and had one of his fav meals for supper (beef stew) and watched 2 of his fav DVD's that night, Roy Orbison ( Black and White ) and the Last Waltz so at least he enjoyed his last full day on earth. I had a tough phone call to make to my wife on the Wed Morning as she was in the city, he was like a brother to her for 40 years.
April 14th, 2018, 03:26 PM
Rodbender

Sorry to hears this Big Mac
April 14th, 2018, 04:39 PM
trimmer21

Sorry for your loss,BigMac. Not only have you lost a close buddy,but,a vacation spot and likely a permanent rift with the rest of your family. Disfunctional families are always a heartbreak. L married into one of those,too. My wife has been the "whipping girl" of three siblings since childhood. She finally had enough about 20 years ago,washed her hands of them and never looked back. She's been a much happier person ever since.
April 14th, 2018, 05:14 PM
seabast

Sorry for your lost.

I'm not surprise about your story, it's very hard to find people with integrity.
April 14th, 2018, 05:33 PM
tom gobble

Sorry for your lost. Possessions don't matter and not worth getting stressed over. Keep the good memories of the island with the brother in law that has been like blood in your head and forget about the rest.
April 14th, 2018, 05:37 PM
terrym

Things are just that.....things, they can be replaced. Your true loss is your BIL who was a true friend. You can't replace him. Your other BIL is dirt and that will never change. My condolences.
April 14th, 2018, 08:03 PM
smitty55

There's a saying I like. Don't get mad, get even. I'm sure while he's at the cottage he must leave his vehicle somewhere on the shore. Call it karma for being an ahole and basically stealing from you.

Cheers
April 14th, 2018, 09:27 PM
fishermccann

Funny how karma can also get back ,at the one trying to get even. Seen it before.
April 14th, 2018, 09:49 PM
Deer Wrastler

Quote:

Originally Posted by smitty55

There's a saying I like. Don't get mad, get even. I'm sure while he's at the cottage he must leave his vehicle somewhere on the shore. Call it karma for being an ahole and basically stealing from you.

Cheers

Not the best advice for someone going through tragedy...if he follows your advice hes likely to end up in jail...Think before you type!

Condolences Bmac, hope things get better for you moving down this way. Spring walleye run is going good get in the water if you can!
April 15th, 2018, 06:50 AM
BIG MAC

Thanks Deer Wrestler, looking forward to the fishing on Lake St. Clair and Erie. following a few fishing forums down there and there is no shortage of Walleye to be caught that is for sure.
April 15th, 2018, 06:55 AM
BIG MAC

Yes Trimmer that is the same with my Wife and her older Sister, she just can't stand to see the fun my wife, BIL and I had together, supper together every weekend, parties fish frys etc. etc. Some weekends he'd be sitting on the dock with a coffee waiting for us to show up. I have 3 sisters and 1 Brother, on any given weekend I couldn't tell you what they are doing or who they are doing it with. They know I'm probably fishing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by trimmer21

Sorry for your loss,BigMac. Not only have you lost a close buddy,but,a vacation spot and likely a permanent rift with the rest of your family. Disfunctional families are always a heartbreak. L married into one of those,too. My wife has been the "whipping girl" of three siblings since childhood. She finally had enough about 20 years ago,washed her hands of them and never looked back. She's been a much happier person ever since.
April 15th, 2018, 09:28 AM
SongDog

Good advice given here, Money will do terrible things to people.

My dad's family have been at war with each other for 25 years over my grand father's estate, 11 siblings fighting over money and they have pissed away so much of it with lawyers it's enough to make you sick.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk
April 15th, 2018, 10:34 AM
73hunter

Sometimes the best revenge is moving on, living well, and being happy.

Then again, if after things settle down in a few months or even years and you want to follow Smitty’s advice have at ‘er, I wouldn’t blame you.
April 15th, 2018, 11:15 AM
jaycee

Quote:

Originally Posted by smitty55

There's a saying I like. Don't get mad, get even. I'm sure while he's at the cottage he must leave his vehicle somewhere on the shore. Call it karma for being an ahole and basically stealing from you.

Cheers

They will always have a very good idea as to who caused the damage or whatever , and will possibly seek retribution of some type .
Best to let the matter die and carry on with life, if you cannot do something about it legally.
April 15th, 2018, 11:25 AM
BIG MAC

already have moved on, the small claims court would have been only avenue and would have been done more on Principle than $ so yes moving on. Just wanted to pass it along as not a very good feeling when you are completely at someones else's mercy...