I’m really agitated at the moment. I came home from a wonderful tea date with a friend (my first formal tea ever) to a letter from our landlords. They want to give the house to their son (which we knew upon moving in they might do in 3-4 years, so we were hoping to get through next year here). We need to vacate the house by February 15.
What’s distressing about this? One, it’s not on our timetable or by our choosing, and we were content living here. The rent is a really good deal. It’s a cute little house, 2-story with a garage and small lawn. Two, we are going away for holidays next week and lose housing search time.
The landlords were happy to have us, saying we are excellent tenants and so on. It’s just that we had a month-to-month rental agreement, and they want to use the house now.
*sigh*
Often times surprises like this open the door to something even better. But I can’t embrace it quite yet. I see the amount of stuff we own and blanch. I looked at Craigslists and choked on the rental prices: $2600 monthly not including utilities for a 3 BR/ 2.5 bath, no pets allowed. Ack.
I took one look at the rental price and knew you must be in california!! It sounds like such a difficult situation; have you thought of moving most of the stuff into a storage, rent a studio, until you find the right place. I know how hard it can be finding a place in these parts!!
Oh, we’ll find a place. There’s no way I’d go through the interim living process of a studio, not with 2 cats and husband. It’s going to be all right — just inconvenient. And yeah, we live in the Bay Area. We’ve got company. Thanks for the empathy. 🙂
So strange. I awoke this morning to a dream of being unsettled about my housing, and having inadequate resources to do anything about it. Then I read your post. Fear of being homeless has loomed in me for years–and I’m not sure why.
I know everything will work out for you, Kathryn, but it it the unexpected that throws us for awhile! I do think you’ll find an even better place, but the time pressure is a pain.
maybe if you’re such good tenants, they’d be open to an extra couple weeks, in case that helps with the hunt…
bummer! second story like this that I’ve heard recently — I guess the lesson is, never let your leases slide into month-to-month unless you’re already in boxes! meh.
good luck!
Wow, what a curve ball. As you said one door closes and another one opens. Still, I would be a little freaked out too.
Not to completely change the subject but hey, you could use the distraction (grin), so….
how was the tea?
Who elected to pour?
Were there scones and crumpets and jam and marmalade and clotted cream?
Earl grey? Or something exotic?
My parents traveled to England twice to visit my mother’s life long pen pal (they’ve been corresponding for as long as both women have been married–my parents would’ve been married 40 years in 2001 when my father died) and they loved, really loved the whole ritual of proper English tea time. They’d be out and about, seeing the sights, and my mother’s pen pal would say: I’m feeling a bit peckish. I believe it’s tea time.
(gosh, my mom & dad had some damned good times together…)
Relax and enjoy your holiday and travel, friend. Worry about moving when you get back. (easy for me to say….)
Hey L,
The tea was excellent, and plentiful.
Each of us had our own pot wrapped in a cozy. I had English Breakfast, since it was my first tea/caffeine of the day. My friend had a seasonal black tea with plum and cinnamon.
We both selected the Christmas menu, which included a savory wild mushroom tomato bisque soup, tiny little cheese puff things, a small cinnamon scone, and little sandwiches (one had cheese and pine nuts). For dessert I had a chocolate cake that was so rich I couldn’t finish. Oh, and there was clotted cream (my first time and sooooo heavenly), lemon curd on gingerbread crackers, and sugared violet petals.
I want to do this again and again! I do make an afternoon small pot of tea many days, but nothing this elaborate. 🙂
Mmm… tea… once when I still had my best girl friend, we went to high tea with a group of friends at the Four Seasons at Christmastime. That was pretty awesome, and there were about a dozen beautifully trimmed Christmas trees. It was really a magical day!
But, things do change, and we are no longer friends. Sigh.
Anyway, your move will work out for the better, I’m sure. Think of it as moving into the next phase of your life, and away from the depressions and frustrations that have haunted you this year.
Hope everything really comes together for you in the New Year.
Oooh, I feel for you. This is why we ended up leaving the tropics. Our landlords (who were friends) lived in the condo above us and had hand-picked us as tenants. We were blissfully happy there for four years…until her mother’s health deteriorated to the point that they needed to close up her house in N.Y. and move her down to be cared for by her kids. They felt horrible telling us they needed the unit for her…we would have gone on living there for probably several more years. So you never know what changes sudden, unexpected (seemingly ‘bad’) news like this will bring. Within about 4 hours of getting our notice, we’d planned a new life back on the West Coast…and didn’t even know we were seriously pondering moving back! 🙂 Here’s hoping this all works out smoothly for you.
What a surprise! This could be an opportunity, however, to locate your household at bicycling distance from work! Think of the health benefits! Priceless! And, back to one car….
I enjoyed our visit together last week…..
Blessings upon you and your great family in Syracuse
Bill