movin’ on up (part 1)

So a couple of weeks ago I told you there was “something” going on. Something I couldn’t talk about just yet.  But now it’s official, so I guess I can talk about it.

Finally, finally, FINALLY!  I’ve been sitting on this & biting back saying anything for so long, I swear my tongue is a bloody stub.

But here it goes…  The Big News…

I.

Am.

Moving.

Yes, yes, yes, yesssss!

FINALLY!  Thank You, Jesus!  (And if not moving UP, I’m at least moving sideways.)

I don’t mind telling you that I’ve been wanting to move & have been house-hunting semi-seriously for a very long time.  Even though there are still a few really nice folks in town, the area where I live (where my family has lived for nearly 50 years, thank you very much!) has slowly been going downhill.  You know how they say “It only takes one” & “The few ruin it for the many”?  Yeah, that.

I’ll tell you flat-out that I can be one of the best neighbors you’ll ever have.  I’ve done things for neighbors that normally only family members will do.  I’ve babysat, pet-sat, baked goodies, helped people move in &/or out…  I’ve mowed yards other than my own for two years straight just to make things easier for someone…  I’ve offered up pet supplies & advice when asked, & even paid for an emergency veterinary visit when a neighbor’s cat was electrocuted & they didn’t have the money to have the poor boy checked out.  And I’ve got a scar—an ugly, permanent scar—on the back of my hand from the time I tried to rescue a couple of cats that one neighbor had abandoned, but another wanted to rehabilitate.  I’ve attended weddings, bridal showers, baby showers, birthday parties, etc….gone to church with, parties with, & on vacation with some of my neighbors—& vice versa.  In short, I treat others as I would like to be treated, & for the most part, I have been very lucky that the neighbors I treat with kindness have often repaid the favor.  Sometimes they’re even kind to me first, so I get to repay them. img25   That’s how close a community we used to be.

And then there are those few.  A few who moved in five minutes ago & suddenly think they own the town.  A few who do whatever they want, whenever they want, without a single thought to the fact that they don’t live on a 30-acre estate, but have neighbors within shouting distance (or closer) on every side.  A few who don’t understand the concept of boundaries or being a good neighbor, & make you realize that living on a deserted island or out in the I-hear-banjos boonies may not be such a bad prospect, after all.

Which isn’t to say that I haven’t always wanted a bigger house with a bit more personal & storage space, even when I was surrounded by fabulous neighbors, but I may not have been spurred to actually look for one quite so seriously if it weren’t for—as my father would call them—the yahoos.  Should I have to move because a couple of assholes move into the neighborhood & immediately send property values plummeting?  Of course not.  But let’s put it this way:  I know what kind of person I am, & I know what kind of people they are.  I know how I live, & I know how they live.  I know my future potential, & I know their future potential.  I am definitely the clear winner in this situation.

So even though there’s still a handful of really good neighbors I’m going to miss, the long-dreamt-of moving thing is finally, FINALLY happening. img20

Wanna see it?  Here it is:

photo lfacf3445-m0o_zpsfof47juu.jpg

Squeeeeeee! img26

I have to be honest:  this isn’t quite my Dream House.  That would be a multimillion-dollar mansion with an indoor pool, live-in servants, &, like, an indoor theatre or bowling alley or something.  Think Mary Fisher’s big pink estate in She-Devil. img30

Or some gorgeous modern home right on the beach. img15

But for where it’s located & what I can afford, it is—as Mary Poppins might say—Practically Perfect in Every Way.

In case you can’t tell, I’m really excited. But I’m also scared half to death.  So this should be a fun few months while everything comes together & all the details are ironed out.

Don’t worry, though—I will definitely be sharing a lot more about this momentous event as we go along. img22

Comments

28 Comments  •  Comments Feed

  1. PattiF says:

    Congrats Heidi! img32 img19

    On July 20, 2015 at 12:46 am

    • Heidi says:

      Wow, you sure are an early popper-inner. img18 You get the Golden Halo today for sure. img24

      Thanks so much. Nervous as all get-out, but very excited, too.

      On July 20, 2015 at 12:50 am

  2. sharon says:

    img19 Congratulations, Heidi! Moving can be a task, but it is also exciting!
    Your new house looks beautiful!!
    I know what you mean about neighbors. Most of us have lived here for 10 – 15 years. Then someone bought a house with the idea of renting….where do these people come from? Not one has been “a good neighbor” Long story, but we love our neighborhood!
    Congrats, again! img17

    On July 20, 2015 at 9:20 am

    • Heidi says:

      Oh, man, Sharon – you just took a page from my diary. That’s exactly what’s been going on here. The folks who have been here a while or buy are great. And I have nothing against renters, but the ones we’ve been dealing with…yep, not one good neighbor in the bunch. img10

      But thank you! I’ve already begun packing & taking a few loads to the new house & it is a HUGE task. But I’m excited to be there already, so I keep telling myself the faster I get moved the sooner I’l *be* moved. img20

      On July 20, 2015 at 11:47 am

  3. Pamela Cayne says:

    Heidi–I’m so excited for you! That house looks fabulous with a great big yard for the kitties to look out over from the windows. And, this may be just me, but I can see writing juju just *oozing* from the bricks–great things are gonna happen here, believe you me!

    Congrats!!!!! img32

    On July 20, 2015 at 11:53 am

    • Heidi says:

      Thank you, Pam! I’m really hoping for good writing juju. There’s a lot of work to be done in the basement yet, but once it’s cleaned up & rearranged, I’m hoping to make almost the entire thing into my “office.” img39

      And speaking of the bricks…can you believe there’s actually an H built into the side of the detached garage? Mr. Handyman discovered it & said, “Oh, my gosh, it’s like you were meant to live here!” img38

      On July 20, 2015 at 1:50 pm

  4. Dee says:

    Congratulations! By the end of the summer I should be moving too.

    On July 20, 2015 at 12:16 pm

  5. Karla says:

    I think I know where that is.. 🙂 Congrats Heidi.. need a new kitty for the new home?? 🙂

    img32

    On July 20, 2015 at 12:19 pm

    • Heidi says:

      You probably do. img42 But no thanks on the new kitty. I’ve got enough, believe me, & am already worried about how they’ll adjust to the move. But you just lost one last year, didn’t you? That means *you* need a new one. img32

      On July 20, 2015 at 1:52 pm

      • Karla says:

        Well, since we found 6 kitties, plus mom and dad.. not so sure.. lol.. We are keeping mom, dad and one kitty..

        need homes for the other 5 (if you know anyone that’s looking lol)

        On July 20, 2015 at 2:03 pm

  6. Patti Albert says:

    YAY YOU!!!!! Congratulations Heidi! So very happy for you and family. Best wishes for a healthy, happy community and wonderful neighbors…as your family was to ours <3

    On July 20, 2015 at 12:43 pm

    • Heidi says:

      Thank you, Patti! So many of our good, long-time neighbors have moved out, this place just isn’t the same…so we decided to follow in your footsteps. img18

      On July 20, 2015 at 1:53 pm

      • Patti Albert says:

        You will not be sorry. Although you were our closest neighbor in many ways, moving out of Ktown was one the best decisions we ever made. Love it here in the country…quiet and peaceful!

        On July 20, 2015 at 3:47 pm

  7. Hollie says:

    Congratulations!! I’m so happy for you!!

    On July 20, 2015 at 4:22 pm

  8. Kathy says:

    Congratulations! We just moved the middle of Dec. and it is something I’ve been wanting to do for years!! Mainly for the same reasons you had. We had wonderful neighbors on one side but that was about it plus a horrible HOA that was like the Gestapo. Your new home looks beautiful and Iknow you’ll be very happy there img22

    On July 20, 2015 at 6:55 pm

    • Heidi says:

      I sure hope so, Kathy! I hope you’re happy in your new home, too. Such a big step, but it’s been a long time coming. img15

      On July 20, 2015 at 7:34 pm

  9. Donna Antonio says:

    Congratulations! I wish you much happiness in your new digs.

    On July 20, 2015 at 9:13 pm

  10. Ruth C. says:

    Congrats Heidi on the new house. I will be looking to down size in a couple years when I retire. I know what you mean by bad neighbors. The one renting the other half of the twin I live in has not said one word to me in the 4 years he has been there. And he only cuts half of the hedge that divides our front walkways. I always cut the whole thing when my elderly neighbor was alive. He’s also an alcoholic from what the men working on my house last year told me. img17

    On July 20, 2015 at 9:19 pm

    • Heidi says:

      Thanks, Ruth! And, yep, I know what you mean. I’ve always been the type to mow more rather than less, too; my one neighbor & I take turns mowing up to her fence because I don’t mind doing it when I’m out there & she’s happy to do a bit of our yard when she is.

      The neighbor I have trouble with, tho, is the opposite—way oversteps his bounds. At the moment he’s chopping down trees & mowing down landscaping on property that SO does not belong to him. I can’t wait until the true owners find out; they’re going to flip & I’ll just stand back & img27 .

      On July 21, 2015 at 3:36 pm

  11. Mary Kirkland says:

    Congrats! That’s great news. We have been wanting to move into a different apartment for many of the same reasons..the neighborhood has gone down hill. Hope you’ll love the new house and neighbors.

    On July 21, 2015 at 8:36 am

    • Heidi says:

      Thanks, Mary! Boy, it seems like that’s happening more & more, huh? But here’s my worry: what’s to stop the nice, new neighborhood we all move to from following suit in a few years? img10

      On July 21, 2015 at 3:36 pm

  12. Brooke C says:

    Congratulations Heidi, your new house looks gorgeous! I hope it’s a very friendly and welcoming neighbourhood without all the yahoos you’ve been dealing with, and that you and the kitties are very happy there. img20 img19
    Although I wish you could move into my neighbourhood, sounds like you’d fit in nicely. Plus, you’d love our local pet store owner: she takes care of feral cats and has been rescuing for 30 years! But considering I live in Canada, it’s maybe a bit far img33 img11

    On July 21, 2015 at 4:32 pm

  13. Felicia Forella says:

    What a beautiful house! Congrats on the new digs!

    On July 21, 2015 at 5:33 pm

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