Year’s End

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With the holidays behind us. I can’t help but feel like we were put through the ringer this year emotionally. Believe it or not I keep a lot of my life and its events under wraps. I prefer it that way as it is, but it’s been hard to keep some things quiet out of respect for my family. For the first time I feel the urge to share new discoveries and joys online – yet I can’t. That is especially difficult for me.

Censorship is the suck.

At any rate, December was a roller coaster of emotions. Pits and Peaks galore. But after the dust settled and smoke cleared, we emerged as a stronger family unit with more understanding, appreciation, and a game plan for next year. We do our best to not let other people’s opinions fester, we will stand our ground, and do what is best for our itty bitty family. I think a lesson was learned – you cannot please everyone. Deep down we already knew this, but we still tried. Next year will be better.

Also, we’re quickly approaching the 2-year mark on our house hunt. Time flies when you’re having fun, eh? I haven’t written about this simply because I didn’t want to jinx anything. But so much has changed in the 5 or so months that we’ve had an offer in on a house. Now we’re not even sure it’s a good fit for us anymore. Figures, right? Here’s the run down ::

• July 28th: Put an offer in on this house. Listing price because we knew it was already an approved price by the seller’s bank {Bank of America}.
• Waited. Seller approves our offer, now wait on Bank of America to approve our offer. Short sales are fun! Not.
• Waited again. And waited. Annnnd waited some more. Apparently BoA needs someone else to approve our offer…?!
• Listing agent assures us we’re “really close now” just need to sign a revision…Sign, send it back immediately because we are trying to speed up the process. *snort*
• Even more time passes…finally hear from the listing agent who just learned there was a lien {if not multiple} on the house that was not taken care of. So our offer is at a standstill until the legal stuff is taken care of on the seller’s end.

Now you’re pretty much caught up to speed on our house hunt. In the mean time we’re looking for another place to lease. We looked at a few about 20 minutes south, which would shave time off the mister’s commute and put us in a quieter city. Who’da thunk that our house hunt would turn into an apartment hunt?

We’ve made some calls, looked online, and drove around the area we want to live in. So far we’ve come across ::

• A place that wants over $1000 upfront much of which is non-refundable not to mention the first month’s rent.
• A few in our price range with community laundry rooms. Considering I’ve had unmentionables stolen from a community laundry in the past… that doesn’t sit well with me.
• One that seemed great but no cats. Which is a deal breaker for us. Athena and Char are a part of our family and I will not send them to live with someone else just to get into an apartment. They’ve dealt with many moves in the past, a new baby now toddler… They deserve to be with their family.
• One that seems okay – no wow factor. Price is in range, location a little skeevie. Meh.
• Then, there’s the glorious condo that is for rent. Similar to what we’d pay if we re-signed here…. beautiful views, newer appliances, gobs of storage, etc.

So we’re stuck debating. Do we suck it up and lower our living space quality and to save money? Or do we bask in the beauty for a year while we continue our house hunt in a new location? *ponder* Ideally we’d find a place to rent that takes cats, for equal if not a little lower to our current rent, with equal living accommodations.

I pray the New Year brings us some peace and resolve. I’m growing weary of battles {but I realize they are laid before us for a reason}. I’m looking forward to continuing our house hunt in a new location. 2011 will be a great year. I have a feeling…