I have nothing but love for Christmas, but shouldn't we get through Thanksgiving first? All the shops around here (as well as some neighbors) are all decked out for Christmas, and that makes me nervous. I am no where being ready for Christmas, in fact, I am getting ready to go shop for Thanksgiving meal once I finish this post. Generally, I am not one to leave things for the last minute, but my life has been hectic to put it mildly for the past month. My mom finds that amusing since I am not even working. And you would think with the large inventory of houses for sale, shopping for a home should not be hard. Well, it was. We spent the last six weeks here in Jacksonville shopping for a home that we can make our base for travels. We got to Jacksonville on a Monday, September 28th, and decided on a house we like on Wednesday, submitted an offer and waited.
I need to go back here a bit, I have been fighting all kind of guilty emotions over buying a home. The truth of the matter is, here in Jacksonville and most likely most of the country, the large percentage of houses available are foreclosures and bank owned. Homes that belonged to people who for some reason or another defaulted on their payment and were put out of their homes. And here we come, shatter their dreams of ever getting their home back. Our new neighbors are happy we bought a home in their area "you are helping the economy and other homeowners" they say. I still have nightmares mixed in with the happy dreams of owning a home we like in an area we love.
Back to the tedious process of buying a home from a bank. One would think banks should be eager to sell the houses they own. My experience proves otherwise. Price negotiations took decades, and once the agreement was reached, paper work process took what seemed like millennia. Mind you, there wasn't even a loan application involved. What were they doing all this time? Boy, I'd like to have their job with no stressful monitors beeping at me, or angry doctors calling for results, just do things when I get to them. I was almost ready to just drop the whole thing and go back to work. Finally, when I was all out of patience and understanding for this worker, whose our whole life is depending upon his paperwork, not doing his job in a timely manner, our agent informed us that closing was the next day. Yay! And so comes the happy ending to a long, stressful journey and we closed on our home ten days ago.
Last week we got our Florida driver licenses, and for the first time since we've been married, we have the same address on driver licenses issued by the same state. A big deal for me, since the whole time we've been married, I had a SC driver license with a SC permanent address, and Bill had a HI license with a TX permanent address. Even to our employers, our address were different. My car has a SC license tag, Bill's had one from TX. We were not able to apply for the same health insurance, because we are "residents" of different states. Our life is taking a more normal approach now, and I am liking it.
We will still travel to work, as for us, travel brings a joy settling down doesn't, not to mention more freedom and a life style we like. But I am liking combining both worlds; not always away, but not always home ether. It will add a nice sensation longing to come home after an assignment is over.
We own nothing other then the house right now. Since we both have been traveling for while, living in furnished agency housing, and vacationing or visiting family when off work, we have nothing to our names other than what would fit in my SUV trunk; mostly personal belongings. No furniture, no appliances bog or small, no mattress, really nothing that a home needs. So, we've been enjoying setting up a home. So far we have a bed, a dining table and most of the kitchen stuff. We are driving home tomorrow, and I am going to go through some of the things I left at my parents, I am sure I'll find nick-nacks from a vacation here, or a visit there. I remember a ceramic tile I bought from Positano that I am eager to get to my kitchen.
I think I'll skip Christmas this year, decoration that is, not the holiday. We are spending the holiday with Bill's family in Houston this year, it isn't going to be white like in Spokane last year, I am sure of that. It'll be nice spending time with family though. it'll be my first Christmas with them, and it's been years since Bill spent Christmas in TX. I am not even ready to think about Christmas shopping, I generally don't like it anyway, this year, I am hating the idea of it. I'll get through though.
The last Thanksgiving I spent with my family was maybe three or four years ago, so I am excited about going home for Thanksgiving, I am making the pies and taking them to SC. I am still trying to decide on a couple of side dishes or maybe salads to make when I get there. My mom, sister, cousin and aunt are taking care of the rest. I am looking forward to it.
I think I'll end my rant here. I wish you all safe and happy Thanksgiving. Eat your fill, drink well and be thankful for all you have. I know that is what I'll be doing.
Comments (11)
Poor Candi! It certainly sounds like you've been through a stressful time.
Buying a house is a huge event!
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, safe travels, and a good time settling into your new house!
Posted by sandrac | November 24, 2009 7:17 PM
Posted on November 24, 2009 19:17
Congratulations on your new house, that's exciting! Sorry the process was such a pain but at least it's done. I bet it feels good to have a home base.
You are smart to skip the Xmas decorations this year. Have a great Thanksgiving with your family!
Posted by Annie | November 25, 2009 12:03 AM
Posted on November 25, 2009 00:03
Congratulations on your new home!
Posted by amy | November 25, 2009 5:24 AM
Posted on November 25, 2009 05:24
Congratulations on the new home! And Happy Thanksgiving too.
Posted by Eden | November 25, 2009 6:18 PM
Posted on November 25, 2009 18:18
Sounds like it has been a hectic few months,Candi. Congrats on the new house! These arly XMAS Decorations drive me nuts,too.
Posted by sheri | November 26, 2009 11:00 AM
Posted on November 26, 2009 11:00
I'm so glad you finally got your home! And how cool about the *matching* driver's licences :)
I too think you're wise to skip the decorating. I've never been into decorating for any holiday. I even opted not to decorate my tree last year and it looked beautiful with just its 1,000 white lights.
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. :)
Posted by Anne | November 27, 2009 4:54 PM
Posted on November 27, 2009 16:54
Exciting news!!! The process is a drag, but now that it is over, CONGRATULATIONS!!! It will be fun filling it up with furniture and appliances.
I am guessing you are driving to SC if you are taking pies with you. How long is the drive from Jacksonville. I hope you had a nice time with your family.
Happy Belated Thanksgiving.
Posted by girasoli | November 27, 2009 11:20 PM
Posted on November 27, 2009 23:20
Yay! I'm thrilled to hear that you finally closed on your new home! Congratulations to you and Bill!
I hope you are enjoying your time with your family and had a lovely Thanksgiving.
Posted by Maria I. | November 29, 2009 10:10 AM
Posted on November 29, 2009 10:10
Thank you all! Thanksgiving was wonderful, lots of food and great company.
girasoli, it is just under a five-hour drive from my door to my parents'.
Posted by candi | November 29, 2009 6:00 PM
Posted on November 29, 2009 18:00
Candi, I know exactly what you mean about the Christmas hoopla starting too soon. I have decided that I like Thanksgiving much better - Christmas has gotten way too commercial in the US.
Congrats on the new house - 2010 will be a great year for you!
Posted by nancyhol | November 29, 2009 8:30 PM
Posted on November 29, 2009 20:30
That is great that it is so close! Well, I guess not that close (but everything is relative, yes?).
Posted by girasoli | December 4, 2009 10:53 PM
Posted on December 4, 2009 22:53