A few posts back (nearly a year ago) I spoke of posting less and less in part because life just is. It's just happening to all of us. Shortly thereafter we moved out of the house that we had called home for five years and moved in with a friend. We were lucky enough to have a large bedroom, and could store some stuff on site, but almost everything went elsewhere including a shady storage unit place and a friend's basement.
That process was way more painful than I had expected it to be. For one I knew it would be the last place that our kiddo would ever live with us as a kid; there are no plans for her to move back in with us but if she did she would most certainly not be a kid and I would make her pay rent. It was also the longest place I have ever lived in my life. I'm sure I've mentioned previously that up until 2004 I (we) moved a LOT / almost every year for most of my life. Having then had the experience of living in a place for a long time and feeling so settled in, knowing the routine of life. I was nervous about stepping away from that, just as we had done six years earlier sorta throwing our faith into the unknown of moving across country. It was also overwhelming as we had a huge road trip planned back to Colorado to celebrate M's 40th birthday, departing almost immediately after packing everything up and moving into our new space. The room we were in was very large for a hundred year old home, but it was a room (not a house, not even an apt). I did my best to make it feel homey; but we knew this was only a short term solution.
We hunkered down for 8 months and finally felt ready to purchase our first and possibly forever home. It was exhausting and overwhelming, but I hear from some that comparatively we didn't look at very many houses, and we only lost one house in a bidding situation... thankfully at the end of the day we finally found our X that marks the spot.
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| Love my Narnia Lamp Post |
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| The Main Deck |
It ended up being in the part of town we wanted to live in. It feels like you are in the suburbs but we are the same distance from all the amenities we've always used. It is the perfect size for us, and the occasional guest. The yard is excellent for entertaining. My commute has been a little challenging, but I've embraced it wholeheartedly. I honestly could not have dreamed for a more perfect place to stake my claim on. After so many years, I'm finally dropping anchor. I've slowly been dismantling my stash of moving boxes or giving them away. I am home in Pittsburgh. I am becoming at home in myself. I'm excited about how transforming our property will contribute to my continual transformation. I am so thrilled to let my roots really start to grow into the the soil which is Pittsburgh. I am grateful that we actually have a lovely porch with which to sit on and grow old together watching sunsets (and there are jaw dropping sunsets on occasion).
This treasure island does require some work, but with all my years of HGTV watching experience, and M's handyman skills (and "This Old House" videos) I'm confident we'll keep ourselves busy with projects for years to come. I have fallen in love with Pittsburgh all over again, and I am excited about the adventure of homeownership, and sharing it with yinz who read this blog, and most certainly sharing it with anyone who wants to come visit. The accommodations are still a work in progress, but we will do our best to make you comfortable.
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| The Color Pallet |
If you are reading this, thank you. Thank you for taking time to "listen" to me. I am glad I have this record of the last seven years to remind me how we got to the now. Realistically I have no idea what the next seven years will look like even though I am contemplating the five year blow-out plan on the house. I am no longer out to sea (blatant blog title reference), but home-owner"ship" is new and definitely unfamiliar territory to me.
It may not always be here but I am already capturing as much of the experience as possible; because my favorite part of any home makeover show is the BEFORE and AFTER.
Find me almost daily on instagram: www.instagram.com/hazrithasit/ for up to date stories. Or flickr for the main shows: www.flickr.com/gp/tirzymcwirzy
xoxox until next time...