making it feel more like home

Living in a house with white walls and virtually little stuff is depressing.  Thank goodness my roommate had some furniture, like chairs, tables, rugs and plants.  That alone made the place look better.

My room needed help.  I had an air mattress, clothes and random things.  It was a sad room. Sad rooms don't help your mental state, so I knew I had to invest in some pieces to make it look better, a place that I didn't mind being in.  I already changed so much about my life - my location, no job, no family, few friends...I didn't need more to depress me.

I've become a thrift store shopper, mostly because I needed my money to go farther and will this stuff be temporary?

Thrift Store:
Curtains - $18 (2 panels)

Night Stand - $5 (got for 50% off; needs work, another DIY project - post forthcoming)

Picture holders - $4 for both

Candle holders - $3 for all four (50% off)

4 Glass things - used for makeup & hair stuff in medicine cabinet $4

Mirror - $10 (got for 50% off)

Filing Cabinet - $2.50 (50% off)

2 Picture Frames - $4 for both (small one will probably get painted)

Garage/Estate Sales:
Dresser - $20 (plus the cost to fix it, see other post)

Night Stand - $3.50 (50% off, plus the cost to fix it, see other post)

Chair - $15 (50% off)

New From Store:
Vase - $2.98

Vase - $1.98

six month lease

I, or rather, we...my friend and I decided to rent the place I am currently house sitting in.  They will do a 6 month lease and are sympathetic to understanding my nonemployment.

While the rent isn't bad...I am very concerned about the utilities. I hope they will not be as much as I fear.  Water is more pricey in Colorado than NY.  The electricity will be quite a bit...and garbage is not included as a town service so that is extra, and of course internet.  

What will be nice is that the small house has a two car garage, so for the winter months especially, this is great.  It also has a washer/dryer in the house (many places have hookups), and two bathrooms so we each get our own bathroom which is quite fabulous.  Add it the extra 3rd bedroom, which is small...but will be helpful for all our stuff.

Now that I have a place I'll be for 6 months, I can work on finding a part-time job that is close by in addition to a full-time position (that can be anywhere provided the salary is good).

With this lease, I can also get a PO box and transfer to license and apply for health insurance since I'll be a resident and get a library card.  These things have been on the top of my list...but because I was sort of homeless, I couldn't proceed.

Hopefully this is what was needed to make other things work out.

November’s living situation: week 1

My friend’s rental house tenants moved out and for the month of November we are fixing it up so she can list it again.  Aside from the regular cleaning, she wanted to get estimates on a kitchen floor and new windows, so the house was going to be vacant while these things were being done.  When she asked if I’d like to stay there, for free for the month of November, I said sure.  Of course ‘free’ comes with a price, while I don’t have to pay rent, I am living most minimally, on an air mattress and two folding chairs in the living room and helping with the cleaning and repairs.  They were able to hook my iPad up to a cable hot spot, so I am able to stream Netflix or check my email from certain areas of the house, depending on how the wind blows.

I’ll be honest, cleaning isn’t really my thing, and cleaning other people’s filth is even worse.  So a little about this house.  It was built around 1972.  The windows are original.  The kitchen floor is all scuffed up.  The kitchen cabinets are falling apart and need to be touched up.  The fridge is broken, but the freezer, stove, oven and dishwasher work.  The carpet is dirty and a little skivvy in parts. And all the walls need touch-up or repainting.   There are two bathrooms and both cabinets were filthy and one tub was disgusting. 

Day 0, Friday – we stopped by after the tenants moved out to see the state of the house.  We were there about 20 minutes.  No appliances were in the kitchen, the grass was cut but the bushes were overgrown, all the batteries were taken out of the smoke detectors and garage door openers, the blinds were all broken, and maybe 9 out of 25 light bulbs worked and the place smelled and was just kinda gross overall.  I thought I can’t believe I am going to live here starting tomorrow…and that I hoped the four weeks went by quickly.  Just another part of this exciting adventure.  That night they called the tenants and told them to move the appliances back into the kitchen; they did.

Day 1, Saturday – we spent 8 hours cleaning and assessing the damage.  Her husband took care of wrapping the swamp cooler, installing a toilet seat I bought (I didn’t want to sit on what was here), smoke detectors, looking at paint, getting stuff at the store, etc.  She & I started scrubbing one bathroom and wiped the kitchen cabinets with the magic eraser (what an amazing cleaning product).   Yes, it took hours to clean the surface of those items.

They left and I was left alone in my new temporary accommodations.  I was exhausted.  I took a shower in the cleaner bathroom and went to RedBox to pick up a movie. 

Day 2, Sunday – everyone was exhausted so they didn’t come over.  I trimmed the front hedge, and went out driving a few times.  I started to have a lazy day until power was lost at about 3:30.  I went to a friend’s house for a few hours and returned ‘home’ to power at 9pm.

My neighbor’s diagonal from me must run a side business on weekends fixing cars because all day there was revving of engines and cars coming and going and it was just so loud and very ghetto like.

Day 3, Monday – three people came over for estimates, two window people and one floor guy.  As my friend was talking with each of these guys, I was peeling contact paper out of the kitchen cabinets and drawers and applying new cushiony foam stuff.  We then went to two places to look at refrigerators.  Not having a fridge is harder than I realized.  I’ve had to really think about what time I went to the store and when I would be making dinner.  What can I make that does not require refrigeration or defrosting (no microwave).  No making things in advance to reheat later or the next day.

I bought a pair of DearFoam slippers for $10 at BigLots. I am not a slipper kind of gal, but I didn’t want to waste all my socks walking around,

Day 4, Tuesday - I needed to get out of the house for a while, so I left early in the morning, even though I knew my friend was coming over to work.  I want to help her, I do...but I also need to think about ME and finding a damn job.  So I went to a new library and sat there for a few hours reading job postings and not really making too much progress applying for anything.

In the evening I scrapped contact paper off one cabinet.  Friend told me that the new fridge would be delivered on Friday, but they may not put it in the kitchen since they want to get the floors redone...I hope they plug it in somewhere because no fridge/freezer would be even harder than just having a freezer now.

Day 5, Wednesday - Back to the library for more job searching and an 'online job fair'.

Taped a bedroom for painting in the evening.

Sleeping much better on the air mattress.  It took 4 nights, but I adjusted.

Day 6, Thursday - Taped the second bedroom for painting.  Cut the paint in bedroom #1, did all the painting in bedroom #2.

Went to the library in the afternoon.  Didn't have a such a productive job search day. Went home but friend was still there, and honestly I just couldn't handle having 'company' so I turned around, drove around, ran an errand and by the time I got back, she was gone, so I made some spinach and paneer cheese dinner, finished my book, and went to bed by 8:30.  Yup, the depressed life of Denise.

Day 7, Friday - I moved out of bedroom #3 and into bedroom #1 so my friend can paint the room.  Had a few ravioli's for breakfast, then I headed to the library to do....I don't know. I only applied to a few temp jobs.  But it is good to get out of the house and use the internet.  Starting to wonder where in the world I belong.

Fridge delivery window was from 4:15 - 6:15pm, so I was home for that and then went to the grocery store for some food for the next few days....hopefully I will start to eat better since I have this 'luxury' of keeping food good a few extra days!

sleeping on air mattress

I haven’t slept on an air mattress in about eight years and ended up sleeping on an air mattress for about a year or year and a half.  It was hard to adjust, but eventually I did.  I am having the same ‘problem’ now.  I bought this air mattress from a girl who was moving knowing I’d probably need a bed to sleep on if I wasn’t renting a furnished bedroom.  The air mattress is queen sized and is higher up off the ground then the one I slept on years ago.  I went out and purchased some beige 650 thread count sheets from Ross for Less for $16.95 plus tax, a pillow and king size down alternative comforter from Kohl’s with a 30% coupon to total about $70.  I started to price duvet covers, but they are just too expensive for me to justify right now.  Maybe around Thanksgiving when everything starts going on sale I will be able to buy something.  I wasn’t sure if I should keep the king size comforter for a queen size bed, so I didn’t open it right away. 

My first night I was freezing.  The air in the mattress really cooled me.  I had the microfiber sheets and a small fleece throw blanket on the bed.  Night two I raised the heat just 3 degrees and I was less cold.  But night three was going to get below 30 degrees…so I had to do something.  My friend lent me a really old mattress pad and blanket.  I put the mattress pad on under the sheets hoping it would get that extra chill off me.

free rent for cleaning

This wouldn't be much of an adventure if everything went according to 'the plan'.  The place I am 'living' in now is a room in a lady's house.  We agreed on a rent for the first three months and then she was going to be away for three months and wanted to increase the rent by $400 since I'd have the whole house.  I already use the bathroom, kitchen and living room...I stay clear of her bedroom, so I couldn't justify another $400 for something I wouldn't be using.

As I was contemplating not staying here but where would I go, a friend told me her tenants were moving out of her house and I could stay there for free for the month of November as they prepare to list it again.  That sounds great - save money and good timing!  The decision to leave this 'home' was an easy one.

The day my friends tenants moved out, I went over with her to check out the state of the house.  It needed a major scrubbing.  I don't mind a little cleaning, but scrubbing other people's yuckiness is not my thing, it skives me out.  But, it is something that I have to do - her letting me stay there, the least I can do is help clean it, paint it, fix it, etc.

Since I will only be there 3 1/2 - 4 weeks, I am not bothering with cable or internet...so that will be a little bit of a challenge, but a good one I think because it will get me out of the house.  I also bought a few used books at the library so I will have something to do in the evenings.

It will be a good test.  Of my mental health as well as perhaps deciding on where I want to live.  It will be a tough month, but like everything else so far, I am up for the challenge.

roommate possibility

I have this friend out here that I knew in middle/high school.  I think we were more of acquaintances with a mutual good friend, but we never hung out alone and only sometimes in groups.  Seventeen years have passed since we last saw each other, but in May she agreed to get together and talk to me about Colorado.  After I moved here we hung out a little bit and it was 'safe' - I didn't know know her, but I knew her.  We shared the common element of growing up in the same area and since I knew her at one time and she wasn't crazy then, I didn't think she would be now.  And I was right, and our friendship accelerated in the short time I've been here.

She knows all about my crazy living situations and wanting to find a place to settle into for a while (to establish residency).  About a month ago she tells me she applied for and was accepted into a college program and she recently reviewed her finances and thought it would be best to give up her apartment and live with someone to save money.  

We started to discuss the possibility of being roommates.  I am not sure if I ever told you about the time I had a female roommate in college - it was a nightmare and I vowed to myself I would never live with another woman.  But, the last three months I've rented a room in a house, which is like having a roommate and it was hard and scary at the beginning and I didn't start to be comfortable with it for at least a month or 8 weeks.  So, I think I can live with someone.  And if it means I can save a few hundred dollars a month for a while....especially because I eventually want to live near a job - a 6 month to a year lease might work well.  It is sort of temporary but it is enough time to figure out my next step.

The option of renting a room in someone else's place or even getting my own place is still a possibility, I hope that the month of November will have answers.

the closing

On Friday when I was in the car on the way to the airport, I emailed my attorney for an update...hopefully by then we would have heard if they were going through with the purchase or if I would have to relist the apartment.  He said they have the money and hope to close Monday morning.

All day Monday I kept checking my email for notification if they closed...or perhaps didn't show up again.  Finally, I received the email I was waiting for...they closed that day.  It is done. I am glad I signed over power of attorney so they were able to do this in my absence and that I didn't have to be there and see the buyers that caused me so much stress and delayed giving my notice and moving. I am so happy that it is over and done with...but yet, I really can't share my good news with anyone here.  Mountain Man left early Monday morning otherwise I knew he would have celebrated with me.  Of course I messaged my family right away!

On a break, I went up to my room to call and re-turn off the electricity.  The last order of business for the apartment.  So...it is done.  I can now move on with my life.

another crazy excuse

The closing last Friday was cancelled and rescheduled for today.  I was hesitant that it would go through, but the few times I checked my phone throughout the day, I didn't get a message that it was off.  Work was insanely busy trying to get ready for the upcoming trip and I had to leave 2 hours early to get to the closing on time.

I arrive at my attorney's office before him, so I have a seat in the lobby.  A few minutes later this man walks in that reminds me so much of ManFriend.  He comes straight over to me and tells me how familiar I look to him and that we must have met.  It was strange because I felt the same way...but figured it was just the similar features of ManFriend; we chat about 15 minutes.

My attorney comes in and said he needed to talk to me.  I knew right away that the closing wasn't happening.  So, we sit in the conference room and he tells me their new excuse why they weren't showing up today.  Of course I am disappointed and upset.  They wasted my time, they've lied.  Fortunately, these are all emotions I am very familiar with and I've gotten much better in the last two years realizing that I have no control over these things and I can't let it upset me.  I sat there and listened to my attorney, the excuses and then I heard they hope to close by mid-month.  that is still 13 days away, plus/minus a few.  That is three months after signing the contract, 1 1/2 months after they told me they were going cash, and about 4 weeks after our first scheduled attempted closing.  The attorney advises me not to give my notice at work...but yet, I need to give three weeks - that puts me in quite a predicament with my current plans...but I am flexible because it isn't like I am going for a job at a start date and I didn't sign a lease yet.

And now, I am not sure if it is even going to happen.  We gave them until tomorrow to let us know if they are dropping out or to supply proof they have the home equity.

If they do...great.  I signed a power of attorney because I'll be away for 8 days and I can't make some times this week because of the work commitments (and I've been telling everyone since February that the next two weeks are really bad for me, that I needed to close prior to this).  If they don't....then I am back to relisting the apartment and I keep the down payment.  Sure, I'll have the 10% but that means that I'll be paying for an empty apartment for who knows how long.  While that would cover the mortgage, it also means I would be more hesitant to move not knowing how long it will sit there.  The spring market is over.  And remember, the apartment looks way better with things in it...and it is empty. I've sold or gotten rid of all my living room furniture and I am not going to buy furniture to stage the apartment a second time!  So this is NOT ideal.  

the walkthrough

The apartment has been stressing me out.  I've been out of it for about 3 weeks, waiting for a closing.  But I can't let delays get to me, that is all out of my control and even though I have a work trip coming up...I know everything will work out.  So I need to be better about not getting boggled down with it.

With a closing date/time not set, we had the walk-through.  It was just me, the buyer and his real estate agent.  I arrived at the apartment, and as soon as I opened the door, I remembered back to the first time I saw the place.  The apartment was empty (well, mostly) and the light coming through the windows...it is a cute little place.  The buyer arrived a few minutes later, so I walked him through so he knew I fixed the holes in the wall, that the fridge worked and how to use the ice maker.  We turned on the stove and microwave, I showed him how to change the thermostat and the drawer full of all the papers from the manuals, remote controls and other things that belong with the apartment.  I was selling him my couch so he checked it out gave me a check.

Everything went smoothly and in 10-15 minutes we were all done.  We walked out together, so I didn't really have last thoughts upon exiting...but I was the furthest thing from sad or emotional.

isn't as traumatizing

This morning I spent a few hours packing the last of the items at the apartment and giving it a good scrubbing for the new owner.  The last time I scrubbed the apartment this good was after ManFriend moved out last April/May.  That time I was crying and cleaning.  I missed him and knew that his moving would be the end of our relationship, even though we kept saying it wouldn't be.

This time, it hasn't been as sad.  I have thought about him constantly as I am emptying the place that the one thing we had in common is almost no more.  Everything about the apartment reminds me of ManFriend and it is bittersweet to have that end.  It will be nice to give my brain a break and I know that he will stay with me in memories and I continue to thank him for watching over me - making the move happen.  So this isn't as traumatizing; I am very happy with the decision and I am looking forward to the uncertainty ahead.

And when I closed the apartment door for the second to last time, I took a moment to think about how far I came in the last 6 years.

It wasn't until I picked up my mom at a restaurant that I got teary eyed, it was the place ManFriend and I went for drinks the night he told me he wanted our relationship to progress, and when we got back home he told me he loved me.  Amazing that a restaurant brought more water to my eyes than vacating the apartment...then again, I had four months of watery eyes in the apartment.  At least now when I get emotional and shed a few tears, it ends quickly and then I am OK again.

becoming reality

Little by little the apartment is looking emptier and emptier, but it wasn't until today (May 4th) when it really sunk it that I am moving out of this place I've called home for the last 6 years.  It is both exciting and a little scary not knowing what the next few months will bring, but I suppose that is part of the appeal as well.

A complete new beginning.  Something I've been talking about for so long is becoming a reality.  And most importantly my family has adjusted to knowing I am leaving.  They still aren't thrilled about my future absence, but they are all extremely supportive and hope I find the happiness I am looking for.

forgo a mortgage

Excellent news.  I heard that the buyer is going to forgo the mortgage and provide cash.  A cash deal is faster and easier, with less people to schedule at the closing.  They want to close 'sooner rather than later'.  Mind you, I've been asking for a 'sooner' closing as I have big plans.  I need to close before June, before I go away for a work trip because I don't want to keep paying for something I am not living in.

Now, I'll have to begin moving out when I come back from my trip...it will be a very busy few days to get this done quickly...but if it means I can close memorial day weekend or right after I would be thrilled.

contract signing

I left work a little early to sign the papers for the closing.  As it is early April, we are targeting an end of May closing.  Considering this whole process started the first week of February, I am anxious to get this done.

I arrived at my attorney's office; this was the first time I met him.  We went into the conference room and he took out the papers and pointed where to sign.  He explained some of the terms and the requests from the buyers and what he was going to allow and what he is rejecting.  It all sounded great and reasonable.  I signed where I needed to without reading every word and hoped the two months would go by quickly.

Oh, I have a dog

My apartment listing was clear that all pets required approval by the Board.  After I accepted the buyer's offer and stopped showing the apartment but before they signed the contract, I was told they had a dog.  The rules of the building are vague when it comes to dogs, so I reached out to the Board to tell them the offer I got was for a guy with a dog...would they consider it?  I go back to my broker to ask about the dog, the size, the breed, the weight.   A few days later I get a response and I go back to the Board.  They all OK it.

That night, I was at bookclub and my friend's husband is on the Board.  The gals were asking about the progress and I told them I could move forward with this because the Board approved the dog that afternoon!  One lady asked what kind of dog it was, so I responded it was a doberman-rottweiler mix.  The wife of the Board member flipped out saying there was no way the dog was under 40 pounds, there is no way I can sell to these folks.  The next morning, the Board rescinded their approval.

Unsatisfied with that because I want to sell the place, I ask my broker if the buyers can send a picture and something from the vet stating its size.  A few days later I get this information and send to the Board asking them to but their assumptions to the side, and to review what I sent, and I am the one that suggested a 'dog interview' since the buyer insisted the dog didn't bark and was very well behaved.  The Board must have deliberated this for 2-3 weeks.  There was so much back and forth between them (and I president of the Board for 3 years not that long ago!) and between me.

I thought I brought up good points.  As a non-dog person, dogs in the apartment bother me.  The little dogs bark quite a bit, but yet, they are under the 25 pound rule.  When I asked about this 25 pounds, where it says there is a weight limit...no one could find it, it was just something they felt appropriate for the size of the apartments.  Understandable, but clearly not a deal breaker.  So then I ask about the barkiness of the dog. Here we have a big dog that doesn't bark...are they really not going to allow that in favor of another small one that will?  And what about the few people that claimed they didn't know about the dog rule and got a dog without permission, the Board allowed them to keep it!  And here we have someone following the rules, what happens if he didn't, would he have been allowed to keep it if no one complained?  And lastly they were concerned about the breed.  A stereotype indeed.  Not all dogs of a certain breed behaved the same way.  Meet the dog, you'll get a good idea of its personality.  Like I said, I had these conversations over and over again for weeks.

Finally, it was decided one Board member would meet the dog.  A day/time was set.  I happened to follow up and was told the day/time was for that evening...hmm, did they call the buyer? They don't have the information.  Woops, the Board forgot to check his schedule!  So we had to reschedule for the following week.

It was a March Madness game night.  I told the buyer to come 10 minutes early or so, so the dog could get familiar with the apartment prior to the interview.  Last thing I wanted was for it to bark or jump because of the new surroundings.  The buyer and his real estate agent arrived 30 minutes early.  Now, I am not a small talk person.  But here we all are in my apartment and I tried hard to make them feel comfortable.  The dog was unbelievably well behaved.  Not one peep or jump or anything.  It made me consider for a moment that having a dog like that would be a great thing.

Eventually the Board member showed up.  He was the most resistant to allowing the dog but yet, he also had a non-barking bigger dog so I was not sure why he was so against this.  He was in the apartment for all of 5 minutes.  Met the dog asked a few question to the owner.  Then left.

The buyer and the agent must have felt comfortable enough because they said another 15 minutes.

A hurdle was overcome.  A three to four week delay...but now things could start to move along.  Now we can sign the contract.

inspection takeback

The buyers decided they wanted an inspection, and after all the back and forth between the two offers a whole week passed, I said yes of course.   I doubted the inspection would turn up anything alarming and I wanted to be as accommodating as possible to make this transaction move along.

They had the inspection the following day, and sure enough nothing came up that would make them decide against purchasing so it was time to sign the contract.

the offer

I had a couple look at the apartment a few times, they were considering purchasing it as an investment by renting it out.  But time kept passing and I never heard back.  They were also purchasing an apartment in Manhattan and that took priority.  A few months later they resurfaced and looked at the apartment an additional two or three times.  I was so happy they were still interested and I figured an offer would come soon.

It did.  But it was extremely low.  My real estate agent even told them I wouldn't accept their first offer, they had to do better before she even contacted me.  Bonus point for my agent.  For about a week we negotiated, they were not going to come up to where I needed, so I started to crunch numbers to see if I could go as low as their maximum offer.  I'd still walk away with some cash, but not as much as I would have liked...but then again, I'd save some of that money after closing which would help put a small dent in the difference.

But before the contract was signed, I had another showing and they did not leave any feedback.  My agent called them to ask if they were interested because I had an offer.  Turns off they were interested, they also submitted an offer at asking price.

Asking price would have been great!  Their offer letter also stated no inspection would be necessary.  Aside from the more money, what I liked about offer #2 was that the person was going to live in the building and not rent it.  Since I lived there and was on the Board, I know the importance of not having too many renters. I accepted this second offer.

selling the apartment

Eight years ago after I breakup, I considered moving far away, but I realized I was sad and needed my family more, so I moved near them and bought a condo.  Three years ago, I was doing a lot better and again thought about moving far away.  I applied to jobs in all locations, and decided to rent my apartment so if these far away places contacted me, I could leave quickly and accept the job.  I ended up taking a job in NYC.  When my tenant left, I listed it the apartment for sale but moved back in after a few months because it looked better with furniture.

Having a place on the market while living in it, as many of you know is a lot of work.  Before I left for work everyday, I walked around the apartment to straighten it up and then in the evenings I would dust, clean, wash dishes, etc.  The apartment was always immaculate just in case someone decided to stop by to look at it. 

The apartment generated some traffic, but I didn't have any biters until February, and then I had two.  There were pros and cons with each, and in the end I chose the buyer that offered more money but I spent hours for a few weeks working on getting his pet approved by the Board, delaying everything by 3-4 weeks.  We signed the contract in April and hope to have a late May closing.  

Selling this apartment means a lot to me, not only because it gives me the freedom to move wherever, but also because of what this apartment symbolized.  The apartment was purchased in heartache and was good for me to live alone and be independent; heal from that sadness and emptiness.  In the end the apartment is sold in heartache because it reminds me of ManFriend and all the time we spent here together.  While the apartment was a constant in my life for six years, it is time for those memories to fade even more as both of those men are out of my life forever.

like I never left

I spent the last few days moving some of my stuff over to the apartment.  I didn't want to move everything because that is a lot of work for something that might be temporary.  I bought some furniture because I sold the living room stuff, and I am very happy with the way it looks.  The new furniture has more shelves - so I had to pick up a few things to fill those shelves.  Items at Pier 1 and Home Goods are great...I bought more than I needed, but it was so hard to decide!  The good thing about the larger entertainment area is that I probably can get away with not hanging pictures on the wall.  I have some amazing photos, but I don't want to worry about fixing the holes and paint upon my departure, if my departure is right around the corner.

Being back here is a little weird, but it is like I never left.  I am very comfortable in the apartment but at the same time it brings back memories of the heartache I had from SI and then the awful relationship with ManFriend.  I am sitting on my couch and all I think about is kissing ManFriend because that is where we did the most kissing.  And I smile because the kissing was amazing but I got teary eyes because I remember I am alone again.  This apartment is becoming a recovery zone.

I am looking forward to living alone again.  I do worry about being a little lonely, but that will pass.  But more on my mind is that this is supposed to be temporary, the apartment is still on the market.  I could get an offer at any time.  Am I going to fall in love with the apartment again and not want to leave?  Am I crazy for wanting  to move (I am sure renting a place I like will be more expensive)?  I hate all the uncertainty; I want to be established and I want stability.

Independence Day

I moved my big furniture on July 4th.  So not only was it the country's Independence Day, but it was mine as well.  

Instead of renting a moving truck, my family arranged for a flat bed tow truck to come and get those few big items I have - the king size bed, a couch and a chair. It was an easy move because it was just a few miles...and it was even better for me because I had a few men to do most of the hard work...although everyone was sweating because it was so hot and humid - not the best day to move!

The rest of the small stuff I was bringing over took a few trips back and forth and will continue when I realize I need something else here....but until then it is quite minimal living.

eviction

My apartment is still listed for sale. It has only been two months and the Realtor wants me to drop the price by $10,000 even though it hasn't been shown more than 30 times.  After discussing the options with my family, they all agreed it looks better with furniture in the place than it does empty.  I agree, it does look a little bigger, but I don't have a lot of extra furniture to stage the apartment and I am not going to spend a lot of money on furniture that I may not want for my next place.

It was decided that I had to move out and live there. While my parents went about this in a sort of nice way...I know this isn't the only reason they want me out.  I am a quiet tenant. I do all the grocery shopping and about half the cooking. I keep to myself.  What more could they want?

But two weekends ago, ManFriend came over.  He was supposed to pick me up to take me to dinner, but he wasn't hungry even though I was. And when he saw me he tried to devour me, calling me irresistible.  We didn't go out; instead we went inside to my room.  We had our customary 3 minutes of sex and then we laid in bed chatting.  I heard the garage door open - my father was home.  We stayed in my room/living room chatting and then my mother came home.  One of them had to park in the street since his car was in the driveway.  90 minutes or so later, I walked him to his car and he left (the last time I was to see ManFriend).  Then thirty minutes later my parents left for dinner.  They didn't make eye contact with me.

So this weekend was the first weekend we were all home since that day...and I am sure that while they know I am an adult, they are not comfortable with me seeing men in their house, especially while they are home.  They might not say it, but they want me out so I can carry on with my shenanigans without them knowing about it.

The problem however is that ManFriend is over and hence the sex has ended.  If I am going to live by myself, I will need to find a man to copulate with, make good use of the living alone situation.

"So, Denise, when are you going to move all your stuff?"  "I have a few days off coming up, maybe then" I replied. "hmm, maybe we will move you on Tuesday while you are at work" said my mother.

I am not going to move everything I own back over there...I am going to keep it simple.  They even suggested that I come over every weekend so I can cook in their kitchen and only bring enough clothes for 2-3 weeks at a time.  I am excited to live alone again...and even though that apartment is great, I know I am being crazy for not wanting to stay there longer.  But between buying it to get over SI and the last year and a half with ManFriend and the noise - I don't want to be there more than I have to be.  Time to move on.  Better things are waiting for me.