Our dad has always been a wandering guy, like something out of one of those beat generation novels. Our mother loved him, and he loved her, but she wanted to have a stable home, and he wanted to move us around every six months to a year. It would just be for any reason, like he missed the ocean, or was tired of his job, or any other whim. So, they split up, but never got divorced. When he passed away recently, of course he left no will because that would have taken too much organization on his part. Yes, I’m not happy about having to look at Sacramento probate attorneys to figure this all out. Since mom was still legally married to him, does that make her his heir? What about this weird woman Dad was dating that showed up wanting to take half the stuff in his house? What a mess, and of course as the oldest kid I’m the one who has to get it all settled.