Today I received my new debit card in the mail. It expires in 2021, by which time Trump will no longer be president. I mean, I suppose he could be re-elected for a second term, but I sincerely hope that the pendulum will swing back a bit faster this time. There is a light at the end of this tunnel and it's getting closer every day.
Today I encountered the word Coca-Colonialism. The concise description of a particular phenomenon delighted me. All those people who revere German for having such delightfully specific words are clearly not paying attention to English. Or language in general.
Today I successfully held Child's Pose. This doesn't seem like a lot. I think it's widely regarded as the easiest yoga pose, and it's certainly a resting pose. But in the past my stomach has always gotten in the way. I couldn't breath unless I widened my knees to provide a space. Today I didn't have to do that. I held it. I breathed. I felt a lovely stretch in my back and neck. Small victories are still victories and Downward Dog feels a bit less impossible now.
Showing posts with label future. Show all posts
Showing posts with label future. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Thirty
I spent my thirtieth birthday moving into a new house and gestating my first kid. Which is pretty much exactly how I've been wanting to celebrate my thirtieth birthday for several years now. Well, maybe not the actively moving part. But it's nice to be looking forward to so much positive change during a milestone birthday. Also, I'm hoping that the round numbers will make it easier for me to remember my own and my kids' age in the decades to come.
We got the keys to our new house the day before my birthday, so we had planned to spend the day taking over things we didn't want to bother the official movers with. Things that were fragile or too hard to pack. We also took Kina over to the new house, since we had to get her out of the old house for a few showings.
The air conditioner was out at the new house, which killed some of our plans. We got a load of stuff moved over, but it was ultimately too hot (and I was too pregnant) for us to do too much. It was a good start, though.
In the evening, Kevin and I went out for a nice steak dinner, as we always do to celebrate birthdays. I almost ate too much, but managed to keep from feeling like I was going to explode. And I celebrated with a glass of wine, which I once again managed to nurse for about an hour. I'm really going to have to figure out how to hold on to that skill in the future.
All in all, it was a pretty low-key day. But, as I said, it's exactly what I wanted for my thirtieth. I'm really looking forward to the coming year, which promises to be both excellent and busy. And given that I'm posting this nearly three weeks after my birthday, you can tell that the business has already started.
We got the keys to our new house the day before my birthday, so we had planned to spend the day taking over things we didn't want to bother the official movers with. Things that were fragile or too hard to pack. We also took Kina over to the new house, since we had to get her out of the old house for a few showings.
The air conditioner was out at the new house, which killed some of our plans. We got a load of stuff moved over, but it was ultimately too hot (and I was too pregnant) for us to do too much. It was a good start, though.
In the evening, Kevin and I went out for a nice steak dinner, as we always do to celebrate birthdays. I almost ate too much, but managed to keep from feeling like I was going to explode. And I celebrated with a glass of wine, which I once again managed to nurse for about an hour. I'm really going to have to figure out how to hold on to that skill in the future.
All in all, it was a pretty low-key day. But, as I said, it's exactly what I wanted for my thirtieth. I'm really looking forward to the coming year, which promises to be both excellent and busy. And given that I'm posting this nearly three weeks after my birthday, you can tell that the business has already started.
Monday, May 23, 2016
Preparing to Sell
Once we knew I was pregnant, Kevin and I knew that we wanted to try and move into a bigger house by the time the kid came. Before he went to Hawaii we figured out what we could afford and looked at a few open houses. We developed a pretty good idea of what we wanted and what we could afford. But there wasn't much else we could do until he came home.
We hit the ground running when he did get home. We made a list of the work we knew needed to be done to the house (paint and new carpeting). We went to a few more open houses to make sure we were still on the same page. And then we met with a realtor to figure out some of the details.
The meeting left me reeling a little. It turns out there's a lot you need to do to get a house ready to sell. And considering that it takes 60 days to close we suddenly realized that we needed to move fast. Our to-do list exploded, our time frame shrank, and both of us are busy enough at work that we're not sure how it's going to all get done.
It was incredibly stressful for a while. I was already wondering if we could actually get into a new house in time to prepare for the baby, or if there would end up being a major crunch. But we made a to do list, and we've slowly been knocking things off of it all weekend. Most of the work right now is packing up stuff we don't need to get ready for an open house. This includes my library, a bunch of clothes, and a surprising amount of furniture and kitchen stuff.
At the moment our house is a mess of boxes and trash bags. Despite the way it looks, we've made good progress this weekend, and we're much more confident about our time table. The goal is to have the open house in three weeks, or at least be ready to. We won't put the house on the market until we're ready to make an offer, because we're expecting it to sell very quickly. But we want to be ready to pull that trigger at a moment's notice.
Now we just have to hope that everything else comes together. The goal is to be in a new place by August, which would then give us two months to unpack and prepare for the baby. Which should be enough time. If we can't get our act together, then it isn't the end of the world. We can have a kid in our current house, we'd just have to forfeit the guest room to do it. But we could make it work. I just hope we can get this all settled before hand.
We hit the ground running when he did get home. We made a list of the work we knew needed to be done to the house (paint and new carpeting). We went to a few more open houses to make sure we were still on the same page. And then we met with a realtor to figure out some of the details.
The meeting left me reeling a little. It turns out there's a lot you need to do to get a house ready to sell. And considering that it takes 60 days to close we suddenly realized that we needed to move fast. Our to-do list exploded, our time frame shrank, and both of us are busy enough at work that we're not sure how it's going to all get done.
It was incredibly stressful for a while. I was already wondering if we could actually get into a new house in time to prepare for the baby, or if there would end up being a major crunch. But we made a to do list, and we've slowly been knocking things off of it all weekend. Most of the work right now is packing up stuff we don't need to get ready for an open house. This includes my library, a bunch of clothes, and a surprising amount of furniture and kitchen stuff.
At the moment our house is a mess of boxes and trash bags. Despite the way it looks, we've made good progress this weekend, and we're much more confident about our time table. The goal is to have the open house in three weeks, or at least be ready to. We won't put the house on the market until we're ready to make an offer, because we're expecting it to sell very quickly. But we want to be ready to pull that trigger at a moment's notice.
Now we just have to hope that everything else comes together. The goal is to be in a new place by August, which would then give us two months to unpack and prepare for the baby. Which should be enough time. If we can't get our act together, then it isn't the end of the world. We can have a kid in our current house, we'd just have to forfeit the guest room to do it. But we could make it work. I just hope we can get this all settled before hand.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Ringing in the New Year
This year, as always, I spent New Year's Eve with Sarah and Zach.
It started the year after college, when it was just me and Sarah and her dog, Lily, and wine (some of which ended up on her wall)
The next year, Zach lived in Colorado and Kevin and I were back together, so it was the four of us, barhopping on Pearl Street and then retreating to my apartment for margaritas and monopoly (or maybe that came first?)
That spring I moved to DC, and by some miracle of the universe, Sarah moved to Pittsburgh in the fall, so we were able to spend the holiday together again without traveling too far.
And so a tradition was born. Zach and Sarah hosted and Kevin and I arranged our travel schedule so that we'd always be there to celebrate with them. We drink champagne and play beer pong and rage cage, and in the morning we have mimosas and play board games for as long as we can stand it.
This year things changed, ever so slightly. I still celebrated with Zach and Sarah. I brought Kina down and spent the night and in the morning we played a couple of board games. But Kevin was in Hawaii, working.
In some ways this was harder than spending Thanksgiving and Christmas without Kevin. Thanksgiving and Christmas have always been about family, my blood relations. I spent Thanksgiving with my dad and aunt and the following days were spent visiting my mom and her sisters. Christmas was a quiet affair, but Connor came over for a few days and we drank wine and watched old TV shows. The traditions around these holidays have been in flux since my parents separated when I was twelve, but they've always centered on family. In the ways that mattered, this year wasn't any different.
New Year's Day has come to be about my found family. It's the holiday I spend with Kevin and Zach and Sarah. One of many at this point. But this is the first post-college tradition that we established, one of the things that continued to bind us together after graduation.
It was fun this year, don't get me wrong. The group of people who attend this party is ever shifting, ever growing, and it was nice to see faces both familiar and new. We played games and I had a wonderfully nerdy discussion about Star Trek with some of those new friends. There was a fancy cocktail and plenty of champagne and a dog to cuddle with at the end of the night.
But there was also a subtle loneliness, a little something missing. New Year's Eve isn't one of the holidays that can shift and slide to fit around schedules. We can make a Thanksgiving feast two weeks early. We can gather and open presents before or after the actual holiday. But the new year can only be rung in once each year. And even though I was surrounded by friends, by the bulk of my found family, the most important member of that family was missing.
2016 promises to be a good year. We're turning 30. Most of us are turning 30 on a Saturday, which will make it easy to celebrate with abandon. We're trying for a kid, which will hopefully give us more reasons to celebrate. We already have trips planned for Vermont in February and NYC in April with more of our found family, and we're hosting them in June. The calendar is filling up faster than I remember from past years. Even January, usually a month of retreat and hibernation, has already contained multiple parties.
There are times in your life when you feel like you're suddenly accelerating towards adult hood, approaching important milestones with a mix of excitement and anxiety. Things you want with all your heart that manage to scare you silly at the same time. Graduating high school. Moving into a dorm. Graduating college. Starting your first job. Moving in to your first apartment. Moving in to your first apartment together. Getting a dog.
This is where I am right now. Coming up on the next big milestones and hitting the gas. Time is doing that funny thing where it speeds up sometimes and then slows to a crawl at other times. I'm looking forward to the changes that are coming this year, but part of me is scared, too. The homebody part of my that doesn't want anything to change, ever, must be soothed and coaxed and convinced that change is for the best. The anxious part of me that wants the change now, damnit, just get it over with, must also be soothed and calmed and reminded that time keeps moving forward and all we can do is plan.
I think the manner of ringing in the new year was an appropriate portent for how this year will go. We put rage cage aside, just as we're leaving our twenties behind. And if I occasionally feel lonely in the coming year, as I expect to, it will only be temporary. Traditions come and go and change with the years. Family is forever, and 2016 will hopefully see its expansion.
It started the year after college, when it was just me and Sarah and her dog, Lily, and wine (some of which ended up on her wall)
The next year, Zach lived in Colorado and Kevin and I were back together, so it was the four of us, barhopping on Pearl Street and then retreating to my apartment for margaritas and monopoly (or maybe that came first?)
That spring I moved to DC, and by some miracle of the universe, Sarah moved to Pittsburgh in the fall, so we were able to spend the holiday together again without traveling too far.
And so a tradition was born. Zach and Sarah hosted and Kevin and I arranged our travel schedule so that we'd always be there to celebrate with them. We drink champagne and play beer pong and rage cage, and in the morning we have mimosas and play board games for as long as we can stand it.
This year things changed, ever so slightly. I still celebrated with Zach and Sarah. I brought Kina down and spent the night and in the morning we played a couple of board games. But Kevin was in Hawaii, working.
In some ways this was harder than spending Thanksgiving and Christmas without Kevin. Thanksgiving and Christmas have always been about family, my blood relations. I spent Thanksgiving with my dad and aunt and the following days were spent visiting my mom and her sisters. Christmas was a quiet affair, but Connor came over for a few days and we drank wine and watched old TV shows. The traditions around these holidays have been in flux since my parents separated when I was twelve, but they've always centered on family. In the ways that mattered, this year wasn't any different.
New Year's Day has come to be about my found family. It's the holiday I spend with Kevin and Zach and Sarah. One of many at this point. But this is the first post-college tradition that we established, one of the things that continued to bind us together after graduation.
It was fun this year, don't get me wrong. The group of people who attend this party is ever shifting, ever growing, and it was nice to see faces both familiar and new. We played games and I had a wonderfully nerdy discussion about Star Trek with some of those new friends. There was a fancy cocktail and plenty of champagne and a dog to cuddle with at the end of the night.
But there was also a subtle loneliness, a little something missing. New Year's Eve isn't one of the holidays that can shift and slide to fit around schedules. We can make a Thanksgiving feast two weeks early. We can gather and open presents before or after the actual holiday. But the new year can only be rung in once each year. And even though I was surrounded by friends, by the bulk of my found family, the most important member of that family was missing.
2016 promises to be a good year. We're turning 30. Most of us are turning 30 on a Saturday, which will make it easy to celebrate with abandon. We're trying for a kid, which will hopefully give us more reasons to celebrate. We already have trips planned for Vermont in February and NYC in April with more of our found family, and we're hosting them in June. The calendar is filling up faster than I remember from past years. Even January, usually a month of retreat and hibernation, has already contained multiple parties.
There are times in your life when you feel like you're suddenly accelerating towards adult hood, approaching important milestones with a mix of excitement and anxiety. Things you want with all your heart that manage to scare you silly at the same time. Graduating high school. Moving into a dorm. Graduating college. Starting your first job. Moving in to your first apartment. Moving in to your first apartment together. Getting a dog.
This is where I am right now. Coming up on the next big milestones and hitting the gas. Time is doing that funny thing where it speeds up sometimes and then slows to a crawl at other times. I'm looking forward to the changes that are coming this year, but part of me is scared, too. The homebody part of my that doesn't want anything to change, ever, must be soothed and coaxed and convinced that change is for the best. The anxious part of me that wants the change now, damnit, just get it over with, must also be soothed and calmed and reminded that time keeps moving forward and all we can do is plan.
I think the manner of ringing in the new year was an appropriate portent for how this year will go. We put rage cage aside, just as we're leaving our twenties behind. And if I occasionally feel lonely in the coming year, as I expect to, it will only be temporary. Traditions come and go and change with the years. Family is forever, and 2016 will hopefully see its expansion.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
New Car
If adulthood were simply a series of things that you need to check off, then Kevin and I would be one step closer. We just purchased our first new car!
This has been on the radar for a while. At the beginning of the year, when I was trying to figure out our expected 5-year expenses, I knew that it wouldn't be long before we had to replace both of our cars. At the time we were expecting to get two newer used cars. Or maybe one new and one more used, depending on our needs and when things ended up happening. Then Kevin's car started struggling more and more. As his annual safety inspection approached, we knew we should get serious about looking for a new car. There was a chance his car wouldn't pass, and it's just too old to pour a significant amount of money into.
A bit of internet research led me to the conclusion that buying a new car would definitely be worth it. The prices of used cars simply aren't dropping the way they used to. A certified pre-owned car isn't that much cheaper than a new car, and they're much harder to find. I believe this has something to do with all the computers and electronics in cars these days. Those don't lose value quickly; they just lose it all at once after several years.
The next step was to start narrowing down types of cars. I definitely wanted a lot of cargo space, more than we have now. And I had my heart set on a Subaru Outback, because I still miss my first car. But we looked at some other models with hatchbacks.
Then it was time to go for some test drives. All the dealerships are lined up along one road just a few miles from our house. It made it easy to go after work during the week. We started at Subaru, where I was surprised to learn that the Forester is actually smaller than the Outback. But it does have you sitting higher, which neither of us liked. Then it was over to Hyundai. Kevin has driven several Hyundais as rental cars over the years, and he likes the way they handle. We drove a couple, and I quickly fell in love with the Elantra GT.
We did go out one more day to try out a Prius. But honestly, a new car is a new car on some level. Kevin wasn't really interested in a Kia or a Mazda, and the Elantra fit our needs pretty well. Plus it was nearly half the cost of the Outback, thanks to a variety of specials the dealership was advertising. They also do free oil changes, tires, and loaner cars for life, and we got a really good deal on extending the warranty from 5 years/50,000 miles to 10 years/100,000 miles, which will hopefully cover that gap when all the electronics fail.
At the end of the day, I didn't get my Subaru. The truth is that it just doesn't make sense for us. All-Wheel Drive was necessary in Colorado, but we'd never need it in Virginia, where we just stay home if the roads get that bad. It was bigger than what we need now and significantly more expensive.
We do probably want a bigger car eventually. Once we have kids. But the reality is that the Camry probably only has 2-3 years left in it (if that). We'll be doing this again before long, and by that time we should have a better idea of what we actually need in a bigger vehicle. Hopefully it doesn't happen until after the Elantra is paid off.
This has been on the radar for a while. At the beginning of the year, when I was trying to figure out our expected 5-year expenses, I knew that it wouldn't be long before we had to replace both of our cars. At the time we were expecting to get two newer used cars. Or maybe one new and one more used, depending on our needs and when things ended up happening. Then Kevin's car started struggling more and more. As his annual safety inspection approached, we knew we should get serious about looking for a new car. There was a chance his car wouldn't pass, and it's just too old to pour a significant amount of money into.
A bit of internet research led me to the conclusion that buying a new car would definitely be worth it. The prices of used cars simply aren't dropping the way they used to. A certified pre-owned car isn't that much cheaper than a new car, and they're much harder to find. I believe this has something to do with all the computers and electronics in cars these days. Those don't lose value quickly; they just lose it all at once after several years.
The next step was to start narrowing down types of cars. I definitely wanted a lot of cargo space, more than we have now. And I had my heart set on a Subaru Outback, because I still miss my first car. But we looked at some other models with hatchbacks.
Then it was time to go for some test drives. All the dealerships are lined up along one road just a few miles from our house. It made it easy to go after work during the week. We started at Subaru, where I was surprised to learn that the Forester is actually smaller than the Outback. But it does have you sitting higher, which neither of us liked. Then it was over to Hyundai. Kevin has driven several Hyundais as rental cars over the years, and he likes the way they handle. We drove a couple, and I quickly fell in love with the Elantra GT.
 |
| Our new Elantra GT! |
We did go out one more day to try out a Prius. But honestly, a new car is a new car on some level. Kevin wasn't really interested in a Kia or a Mazda, and the Elantra fit our needs pretty well. Plus it was nearly half the cost of the Outback, thanks to a variety of specials the dealership was advertising. They also do free oil changes, tires, and loaner cars for life, and we got a really good deal on extending the warranty from 5 years/50,000 miles to 10 years/100,000 miles, which will hopefully cover that gap when all the electronics fail.
At the end of the day, I didn't get my Subaru. The truth is that it just doesn't make sense for us. All-Wheel Drive was necessary in Colorado, but we'd never need it in Virginia, where we just stay home if the roads get that bad. It was bigger than what we need now and significantly more expensive.
We do probably want a bigger car eventually. Once we have kids. But the reality is that the Camry probably only has 2-3 years left in it (if that). We'll be doing this again before long, and by that time we should have a better idea of what we actually need in a bigger vehicle. Hopefully it doesn't happen until after the Elantra is paid off.
Friday, February 27, 2015
Boring People
January and February are a time for hibernation. The world gets cold, snow comes and slows everything down. Plans made with friends are few and far between because, honestly, who wants to go outside this time of year? Even just to travel to another location. No, late winter is the time to curl up on your couch. Time to wait and reflect, to make plans for the future and enjoy the present.
I've spent the last few weeks reveling in my bring little life. I got to work and come home. Walk the dog, get on the bike, cook and eat dinner. I watch TV and read, and let everything stagnate a bit.
This isn't to say we haven't done anything. We went to the Kennedy Center to see Kevin's mom sing. We went down to Zach and Sarah's for a delicious dinner. We hosted my aunt, who got stranded here by the snow. But there hasn't been a ton of excitement. And I'm perfectly happy with that.
Our social lives are about to go into high gear. Well, a higher gear. I'm never one to be moving all the time. But we have the next three weekends planned. After that, the weather will warm up and we'll be doing more. Wine tastings and game nights and whatever else we come up with. I'll throw the windows open and give the house a good spring cleaning. I'll start taking the dog on longer walks and hopefully find more time to take her to the dog park.
All of that is coming.
For now, I've been enjoying the couch and tea. Long days and evenings spent doing not much of anything. Storing up strength for the months to come.
I really love winter. I also love when it ends and the world picks up the pace once more.
I've spent the last few weeks reveling in my bring little life. I got to work and come home. Walk the dog, get on the bike, cook and eat dinner. I watch TV and read, and let everything stagnate a bit.
This isn't to say we haven't done anything. We went to the Kennedy Center to see Kevin's mom sing. We went down to Zach and Sarah's for a delicious dinner. We hosted my aunt, who got stranded here by the snow. But there hasn't been a ton of excitement. And I'm perfectly happy with that.
Our social lives are about to go into high gear. Well, a higher gear. I'm never one to be moving all the time. But we have the next three weekends planned. After that, the weather will warm up and we'll be doing more. Wine tastings and game nights and whatever else we come up with. I'll throw the windows open and give the house a good spring cleaning. I'll start taking the dog on longer walks and hopefully find more time to take her to the dog park.
All of that is coming.
For now, I've been enjoying the couch and tea. Long days and evenings spent doing not much of anything. Storing up strength for the months to come.
I really love winter. I also love when it ends and the world picks up the pace once more.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Three Weeks
After a summer when, despite buying a house together, it felt like we had reverted to a long-distance relationship, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Boyfriend just left for another three weeks in Alabama. But at the end of that he should be home for good.
Since the beginning of June, Boyfriend has spent most of his time in Alabama. All of June, three weeks in July, one in August, four weeks in September, and one week in October. We managed to get weekends together here and there, most of which had been planned vacations. We visited friends and attended a couple of weddings. We spent a week in August on the lake and moved into our new house. But mostly we haven't really had much time to just hang out. To establish a routine in the new house and just live our lives.
In three weeks that should be over. He should be home for good and we can hang out without running all over the country to visit friends. There's another wedding, a few more trips with friends, and the family filled holidays to round out the year. But we'll have the weeks. Evenings after work and time to watch Community and eat dinner and stuff.
Three more weeks.
I can do this.
Since the beginning of June, Boyfriend has spent most of his time in Alabama. All of June, three weeks in July, one in August, four weeks in September, and one week in October. We managed to get weekends together here and there, most of which had been planned vacations. We visited friends and attended a couple of weddings. We spent a week in August on the lake and moved into our new house. But mostly we haven't really had much time to just hang out. To establish a routine in the new house and just live our lives.
In three weeks that should be over. He should be home for good and we can hang out without running all over the country to visit friends. There's another wedding, a few more trips with friends, and the family filled holidays to round out the year. But we'll have the weeks. Evenings after work and time to watch Community and eat dinner and stuff.
Three more weeks.
I can do this.
Monday, April 18, 2011
House Hunting
Boyfriend and I have begun looking at houses. The plan is to buy one sometime soonish. It's not a very fleshed out plan. We're not sure whether we want to get a real house now, if we can afford a real house now, or if we want to get a townhouse that we'd be in for a few years before upgrading. It's all very vague and confusing and exciting. But the best part (and the only part we've really done so far) is driving around and going to open houses.
Open houses are awesome. We ended up touring a bunch of houses that we absolutely can't afford. Houses with price tags of $1 million or more. And seriously, who needs 8000 square feet of space? It sure was fun to look at them, though.
The first house we looked at was actually reasonable, and more or less in our price range. It was move-in ready, but would certainly need work over the years (updating the kitchen, finishing the basement). That's pretty much fine with us. As long as the lot and the floor plan are good, and the house isn't actually falling apart or unlivable, we can certainly make those upgrades as we have time and money. Plus, that's a great way for us to add value to the house. But the bedroom situation was a little weird. Five bedrooms upstairs sharing two bathrooms. One of the bedrooms was actually off the master bathroom, and it was tiny. It would really only work as a nursery or office .
After that, we just started driving around looking for any open houses. The second house we came across was huge. The plot was over two acres, and there was a wooden deck, a stone patio, and a fireplace outside. Inside it was like a maze. Seriously, this house just kept going. I think there were six bedrooms and three offices, plus a workout room. Two kitchens, and a "coffee bar" in the master suite. Because it's just too hard to walk to the kitchen for a cup of coffee or nightcap.
Let's talk about master suites. Apparently, they need to be huge. Some of the suites we saw were bigger than the apartment we're currently living in. One was 1400 square feet. I mean, what do you do, besides sleep in there? But there's always a massive bedroom, two walk in closets, a ginormous bathroom, and at least one sitting room/office. Some had two sitting rooms (his and hers, I guess?). Several also had bar areas, complete with granite counter top and sink. I guess this is for those people who never want to see their kids. Because you would basically never have to leave one of those suites. We joked about renting out the master suite as a separate apartment, but then you get the headache of dealing with a tenant.
All in all we saw about six houses. Most of them were far out of our price range. And they also had more space than the two of us would ever fill. Boyfriend has started teasing me that his mom could move in, both to help us afford one of these houses and to help us furnish it. I shot that down pretty quick. Nothing against his mom, I just don't want to live with her. I want our space, where our is limited to Boyfriend and me.
At any rate, it was fun to look at the mansions. We got to ooh and aah and figure out which extravagances we actually want to spend money on and which ones are just ridiculous. So here's the current wish list
This neighborhood is walking distance from the metro. That would cut about 15 minutes off my commute, plus all the headache of sitting in traffic. The dining room/living room layout was a bit weird, but there was a really nice rec room in the basement. And it had three bedrooms, which means we would each get an office. There's even a nook where I could set up a table to do puzzles (which I totally just realized is what the nook is perfect for). The location means it would completely retain its value. And all the town houses in the development have basically the same floor plan (let's face it, all town houses are basically going to have the same floor plan).
So now even though we're at the very beginning of our search, I've managed to completely fall in love with one of the first place we saw. To be fair, though, we still don't know what we can afford (though that town house was certainly in our price range) or even exactly what we want. I'm sure we'll have a better idea in the weeks and months to come.
In the meantime I feel like an adult and like I'm just playing at being an adult all at the same time. I mean, I'm looking at houses? To buy? This is a huge life thing. And it's all sorts of awesome.
Open houses are awesome. We ended up touring a bunch of houses that we absolutely can't afford. Houses with price tags of $1 million or more. And seriously, who needs 8000 square feet of space? It sure was fun to look at them, though.
The first house we looked at was actually reasonable, and more or less in our price range. It was move-in ready, but would certainly need work over the years (updating the kitchen, finishing the basement). That's pretty much fine with us. As long as the lot and the floor plan are good, and the house isn't actually falling apart or unlivable, we can certainly make those upgrades as we have time and money. Plus, that's a great way for us to add value to the house. But the bedroom situation was a little weird. Five bedrooms upstairs sharing two bathrooms. One of the bedrooms was actually off the master bathroom, and it was tiny. It would really only work as a nursery or office .
After that, we just started driving around looking for any open houses. The second house we came across was huge. The plot was over two acres, and there was a wooden deck, a stone patio, and a fireplace outside. Inside it was like a maze. Seriously, this house just kept going. I think there were six bedrooms and three offices, plus a workout room. Two kitchens, and a "coffee bar" in the master suite. Because it's just too hard to walk to the kitchen for a cup of coffee or nightcap.
Let's talk about master suites. Apparently, they need to be huge. Some of the suites we saw were bigger than the apartment we're currently living in. One was 1400 square feet. I mean, what do you do, besides sleep in there? But there's always a massive bedroom, two walk in closets, a ginormous bathroom, and at least one sitting room/office. Some had two sitting rooms (his and hers, I guess?). Several also had bar areas, complete with granite counter top and sink. I guess this is for those people who never want to see their kids. Because you would basically never have to leave one of those suites. We joked about renting out the master suite as a separate apartment, but then you get the headache of dealing with a tenant.
All in all we saw about six houses. Most of them were far out of our price range. And they also had more space than the two of us would ever fill. Boyfriend has started teasing me that his mom could move in, both to help us afford one of these houses and to help us furnish it. I shot that down pretty quick. Nothing against his mom, I just don't want to live with her. I want our space, where our is limited to Boyfriend and me.
At any rate, it was fun to look at the mansions. We got to ooh and aah and figure out which extravagances we actually want to spend money on and which ones are just ridiculous. So here's the current wish list
- Nice kitchen, with a good amount of counter space and cabinet space (more than we currently have)
- Deck/porch with space for a grill
- Media room This basically boils down to a room that doesn't have windows or at least doesn't get much sun, where we can stick a TV and some couches
- Two offices. Boyfriend and I currently share an office, and it can get a bit crowded when we're both doing things on our computers that require sound. Also the air mattress barely fits in there since I got my own desk. It would be nice to have more space for guests
- Big closet in the master bedroom
- Bathtub
- Close to metro. My commute is already an hour long and I don't want it to be much longer
This neighborhood is walking distance from the metro. That would cut about 15 minutes off my commute, plus all the headache of sitting in traffic. The dining room/living room layout was a bit weird, but there was a really nice rec room in the basement. And it had three bedrooms, which means we would each get an office. There's even a nook where I could set up a table to do puzzles (which I totally just realized is what the nook is perfect for). The location means it would completely retain its value. And all the town houses in the development have basically the same floor plan (let's face it, all town houses are basically going to have the same floor plan).
So now even though we're at the very beginning of our search, I've managed to completely fall in love with one of the first place we saw. To be fair, though, we still don't know what we can afford (though that town house was certainly in our price range) or even exactly what we want. I'm sure we'll have a better idea in the weeks and months to come.
In the meantime I feel like an adult and like I'm just playing at being an adult all at the same time. I mean, I'm looking at houses? To buy? This is a huge life thing. And it's all sorts of awesome.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Update
I haven't been blogging lately (except for my Buffy meme updates). I don't know if any of you even care or not. But I'll try not to abandon this thing completely. Work has gotten a lot busier and a lot better. This has left me with less time to whine and fewer things to whine about.
My boss left the company at the beginning of the month. This was sad, but my new boss is awesome (and the exact person I was hoping would be promoted to the position). We met after her promotion and she managed to make me feel a lot better about my position in the company and my future with it. Also, a bunch of my projects have deliverables soon. This accounts for the sudden business of my life. It also makes me feel like I'm actually accomplishing something. Work is still frustrating, but it's the good kind of frustrating now.
Also, Boyfriend and I are starting to look at houses. Everything is still very up in the air and our plans are pretty vague. We went to a bunch of open houses this weekend (and I am planning to write a post about some of the ridiculous houses we got to tour) and I'm suddenly really excited about the idea of a house. Which means I'm far more inclined to keep my current job with it's nice paycheck.
I think I've been in a slump or a rut for the past couple of months and I'm starting to come out of it. Hopefully this trend continues. My job really is awesome and I'm pretty excited to keep it at this point.
My boss left the company at the beginning of the month. This was sad, but my new boss is awesome (and the exact person I was hoping would be promoted to the position). We met after her promotion and she managed to make me feel a lot better about my position in the company and my future with it. Also, a bunch of my projects have deliverables soon. This accounts for the sudden business of my life. It also makes me feel like I'm actually accomplishing something. Work is still frustrating, but it's the good kind of frustrating now.
Also, Boyfriend and I are starting to look at houses. Everything is still very up in the air and our plans are pretty vague. We went to a bunch of open houses this weekend (and I am planning to write a post about some of the ridiculous houses we got to tour) and I'm suddenly really excited about the idea of a house. Which means I'm far more inclined to keep my current job with it's nice paycheck.
I think I've been in a slump or a rut for the past couple of months and I'm starting to come out of it. Hopefully this trend continues. My job really is awesome and I'm pretty excited to keep it at this point.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Take a Breath
Anya:What happens next?
Xander:Well, at some point we take off our clothes.
Anya:I mean, what happens next in our lives? When do we get a car?
Xander:A car?
Anya:And a boat. No, wait, I don't mean a boat. I mean a puppy, or a child. I have a list somewhere.
Xander:What are you talking about?
Anya:Just, we have to get going. I don't have time just to let these things happen.
Xander:There's no hurry.
~The Replacement
In this scenario I am Anya. I want the next thing. The house, the child, the dog. Just need a reminder that there is no hurry.
Xander:Well, at some point we take off our clothes.
Anya:I mean, what happens next in our lives? When do we get a car?
Xander:A car?
Anya:And a boat. No, wait, I don't mean a boat. I mean a puppy, or a child. I have a list somewhere.
Xander:What are you talking about?
Anya:Just, we have to get going. I don't have time just to let these things happen.
Xander:There's no hurry.
~The Replacement
In this scenario I am Anya. I want the next thing. The house, the child, the dog. Just need a reminder that there is no hurry.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Where do I go from here?
I'm 24 with a top-notch education, a wonderful boyfriend, and a great job that could easily become a career. I'm living "the dream", but I don't think I want it. I don't think this is my dream. And I have no idea how to figure out what my dream is, or how to go about chasing it down.
I know how I got here. I basically fell into this life through a combination of luck, opportunity, intelligence, and a complete lack of goals. I took a lot of math and science classes in high school because these subjects were easy for me. This led me to Harvey Mudd College where I majored in physics because... Well, because it was more interesting than math and easier than chemistry. It had fewer requirements than any of the other majors which meant more time for electives.
By my senior year I was tired of it. Quantum mechanics frustrated me. General relativity confused me. Electromagnetism made me want to bang my head against a wall, which I actually did at least once a week. I hated everything I was studying and dealt with it by drinking far too much and smoking more. I remember thinking that if I had to do it over again, I'd major in history or literature. Because what's the point of understanding the universe if we can't even understand each other? With only one semester to go, I realized that the best option was to stick it out. So at 21 I graduated with a BS in physics, and the only thing I knew was that I didn't want a PhD in it.
After months of job hunting, applying, interviewing, and being rejected, I discovered a small company that did cognitive modeling research. Cognitive modeling is equal parts computer science, artificial intelligence, and psychology. It seemed like a good fit. At least I was shifting towards understanding other people while still using my very expensive education.
So that's the field I'm in now, though my job is a bit less psychology and a bit more computer science. Everyone I work with has an MS or a PhD in some field related to this. They're starting to pressure me to get one, too. Except I don't want another degree. The idea of going back to school repels me. I don't even know what I would study. I love to read. I love learning about people. So I'd be drawn, once again, to history or literature. Neither of these degrees is exactly related to my job. Psychology or sociology would be a good compromise. Do I want to base my career on a compromise?
The problem really is that I have a dream job, but it isn't my dream job. I have great colleagues, flexible work hours, interesting problems to solve, and the freedom to pursue a variety of different types of work. But I'm not passionate about it.
So where do I go from here? Do I keep my wonderful job, with it's steady pay and benefits? Do I look for something else to do? Do I bite the bullet and head back to school, pushing off other dreams of a house and kids?
The only solid answer I've really gotten is "start a blog". So that's what I'm doing. This is my place to figure out who I am and what I want out of life. I don't know what exactly will end up in here. I don't know if anyone will even read it. But I'm going to try and stick to it. Hopefully I'll figure out my life in the process.
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