Homeowner-ing and Other Reasons I Haven't Posted Enough Lately

Actually, the homeowner-ing is the reason I haven't posted enough lately. Owning a home is a lot of work. And really expensive. But that's not anything new or surprising. 

What was surprising was how sad Tom and I were to say goodbye to our apartment. Yesterday, he finished grabbing the last little odds and ends out of there. Today I turned in the keys. But not before one last look at the place. 

Good ol' J-305

Looks just like the day we moved in

We had a lot of good memories there. It was a nice apartment, with granite counter tops and a balcony and all brand new appliances. It felt like the first ADULT apartment we had. 

I will share just one memory with you, so bear with me while I get nostalgic to the long ago past (or, not quite two years ago)...

Fun fact: we moved into our apartment the day after we got engaged! Well, we got the keys, anyway, and moved in that weekend. Perhaps that is the reason we were feeling so attached to the place. It was the home where we were officially becoming a family. 

So, we got engaged on December 14, 2012. Our lease started December 15, 2012. It was an exciting and busy time to say the least. We had an appointment to pick up our keys at 10:30 that morning. Because we made an unexpected detour to share the good news with our parents, we were running a little late. At about 11am we arrived at the leasing office and sat down with Mecca, one of the ladies in the office. 

Me: I'm so sorry we're late! We actually just got engaged last night *giggle* and we had to stop by our family's houses on our way here. *flash her the ring*

Tom: *grins*

Mecca: (in a totally monotone voice) Well, that is just so cute I could punch you guys in the face. 

Us: Uhh...

Mecca: (same monotone voice) Please do not be confused by the sound of my voice. I am actually very excited for y'all. 

Us: (looks of utter confusion) Thanks?


And that was our introduction to the beautiful and welcoming 450 Green Apartments. It felt like home. In a weird, abusive kind of way. 

We never did get punched in the face, so I guess we didn't go too far over the cute threshold. 

Our balcony with the coveted "parking lot" view

The gazebo and pool that we never used once.

Today, four months after we were married, we close turn the page to a new chapter, one that actually started two weeks ago. We are now no longer apartment dwellers, but real live homeowners. With all the benefits and pitfalls that come with it. 

I couldn't even begin to start my to-do list here for what the house needs. So much. I have been trying to come to terms with the fact that my idea of how the house would look and how it actually looks may not align for quite some time. And I'm trying to be ok with that, I really am. 

One of the first things to go: ugly cabinet handles

Before

After. It's more dramatic if you see the whole kitchen.

I guess that happens to most first time homeowners. Burnout. My body, mind and wallet are getting a bit weary of all the activity. Even though Sunday is one of the best days I have to get stuff done since Tom and I are home together, I may just have to deem this a No-House-Project-Sunday. I think we need a full day together to just enjoy the house, without the house getting in the way.

And we ARE enjoying it. Don't get me wrong. Leaving J-305 and all our wonderful memories there is sad, but we love our new house. It is small and messy and not organized and the walls are white and the carpet is cheap and the rooms are half-empty (or half-full of displaced knick knacks and serving utensils) and it still needs lots of love and care, but it's ours. And that is pretty cool. 

I unwittingly set up our living room almost exactly as it was in our apartment

My to-do list for the rest of the week is to do a LITTLE tidying and unpacking around the house, but try to get caught up on the rest of my life that I've been neglecting. I ran four miles today, remembering just how soon the half-marathon we are signed up for is. Don't remind me. 

I'm also going to enjoy the house this weekend. I'm going to relax in it BEFORE it gets dark out. Not worry about the medicines that I have no place for or the curtains that our neighbors probably wish we had by now. That will all be there Monday and I'll be back at it. 

The first dinner we cooked in our house!

I will now leave you with a bit of fortune cookie wisdom I received last Tuesday. After trying and failing to hang curtains, after putting a few holes in the wall and a few tear drops on the carpet, Tom suggested we go to our favorite Thai place. It was just what I needed and perhaps this fortune is what we both needed to see:

Interesting insight AFTER a large meal

I guess we all need to remember to just let go sometimes.