Apologies, folks, for being absent for three months. Life has been…involved with a lot of it taken up by having to find a new place to live as well as arranging my mother’s affairs.
At my age I decided not to get into a mortgage to buy out my brother and sister’s share to stay in my mother’s house. Yes, it’s been home for fifteen years, but it’s more than twenty-five years old and it’s somewhat bigger than I need just for myself. I will have a generous inheritance and have no interest of putting the bulk of it into paying off debt.
Initially, when the grief was raw, I couldn’t imagine leaving my home. But as time passed and I calmed down and sat alone thinking more I realized putting myself into a serious financial commitment was likely not a smart thing to do. Once I decided that I started considering my options and what I would have to compromise and adjust moving to a smaller residence and renting.
Coincidentally more than a year ago while driving to work I noticed new buildings being constructed practically, no literally, around the corner from where I live presently. At first zi thought it might be a small new strip mall in our area. But soon enough I realized I was not seeing the outline of store windows, but of garage doors. So they were building a string of new townhouses. I even drove my mother past them so she could see for herself.
Fast forward a year and circumstances were now very different. Awhile back my sister was visiting and we went out for dinner. On the way back home she was curious about those homes I had told her about so we pulled into the street to peak inside some of the units still under construction yet not near finished. We were both quite impressed.
About a week and a half later curiosity pushed me to email the advertised realtor to ask about seeing the new units more formally. She answered a day later and we made an appointment.
We met outside and she took me on a tour of the first end unit given it was one of the closest to completion. I was generally low-key in my reaction, but I was suitably impressed. I made a point of asking as many pertinent questions as I could think of on the spot. No decision was made as we went our separate ways.
But I couldn’t stop thinking about it and kept turning it over in my my mind. It is rare in life that almost everything you could ask for presents itself to you—usually you suspect a catch of some kind. But here was something tailor made for my needs. It was smaller overall than my current residence, but not in any meaningful way for my needs. It had a garage for my car. It was literally around the corner from my present location and a minute closer to work. It was a house rather than being stuck in a cube of an apartment some floors off the ground—meaning I could go outside to a (not so small) veranda or small rear deck. It will be surrounded by grass, trees and bushes rather than other buildings and pavement. And finally it was affordable for my situation.
There had to be something off, but I still haven’t found it.
Nearly two weeks after seeing the unit formally for the first time I called to ask to see it again and we made another appointment after work. I was there a bit longer and looked at two other units to compare them. We went back to the first unit where I asked a few more questions then stood there thinking for a moment.
I then said, “Yes. I’ll take it.”
So the past couple of months have been taken up planning for my new home. I took possession of the keys Aug. 1st. Presently I’m painting throughout before bringing in (mostly new) furniture, which is much easier than trying to cover up, move and paint around existing furniture. Yesterday the first piece of furniture was delivered: a Stressless recliner I found on clearance. The day before they put in sod in so now I have some greenery. The tress and brush are coming soon.
The past while has been a matter of looking at furniture, window blinds and shades, arranging utilities and still managing this house. My sister is a high-end interior decorator and has been very helpful in advice, suggestions and differing perspective. I’m hoping to be fully established by the end of August or at least mid September (some furniture won’t arrive until then).
In the interim I still have to take care of this place until the government finishes with probate and we can list the house for sale.
The outside of my new digs. The end unit is mine.
It’s green!
The real estate agaent sent me this a few weeks ago when the unit was complete.
First room painted.
First piece of furniture delivered. This chair is sinful to sit in with a gimbal mechanism that mechanically (not electrical) adjusts to your weight.
