Big changes afoot for our family :-)

10 years ago

DH's local posting evaporated due to a reshuffle so he had to transfer to another position (he's a police). A post he has been keen on for a while came up so he applied and got it. He was reluctant to apply at first because it means he will have to live away for the weekdays as it is too far to commute, but I encouraged him to go for it- I'd rather have a happy husband two days a weeks than an unhappy one in a job he only took because it's close, for seven days a week.
So, a place to live for him. Again, he didn't want to impose on family, so as it's not much more expensive at the moment to buy rather than rent we went down that road, so we'll have something to show for the money when DH retires.
We went looking at apartments and townhouses, found one that was OK, didn't make our hearts run faster or anything but it ticked all the boxes if we couldn't find anything else. Then a chance call from an estate agent led to a possibility- but we'd have to wait a few days before we could see it. We went and had a look at the outside and thought, if the inside matches up, this is the one. Looked at the inside yesterday, decided, yep, this is it, only problem is several others thought the same :-) An hour later we were signing an offer, impressed on the agent that we were serious, didn't want to mess around, had finance organised and were ready to go. Seller also didn't want to mess around, and our rivals didn't have their ducks in a row so it's ours!!!!!!!!! Now there will be a bit of belt tightening to pay it off but I've got a better paying job now so it won't be penury.
Best part, it's near buses and trains that will take DH into work and back every day- and police get free public transport so he won't be paying to commute :-)

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Comments (13)

User
10 years ago
Wow, things sure came together well. Looks like this was meant to be!
ann_t
10 years ago
Colleen, How nice that everything came together. Like it was 'meant to be'. Is the new home, in a place that you would consider retiring to?

Ann
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colleenoz
Original Author
10 years ago
It's a possibility Ann, we hope to retire in our current home but if it comes to a time when we have to move to the city for medical reasons etc, it will do nicely for that as well since it is big enough for two to live in as opposed to a single person getting by, if you know what I mean. In addition it's only a few blocks away from a house that DD and her fiance have bought as an investment for now, which they may eventually settle in and raise a family (I wish :-) ). So we would be near our grandchild/ren if that happened.
annie1992
10 years ago
Wow, Colleen, that happened fast!

Elery and I did that "live apart" thing for several years, and while not ideal, it wasn't the problem that other people thought it would be. We talked every night on the telephone, sometimes for a few minutes, sometimes for much longer.

Living together is better, of course, but your course is "doable", especially with the hope of grandchildren in the future, LOL.

Good luck to both of you, DH in his new job and you as your both adjust to a new way of life. And congratulations!

Annie
mustangs81
10 years ago
Colleen, Everything came together so well and it seems like you both have a smile on your face--it must be meant to be.

Let us know how it's working out and what affects it has on your cooking.
chase_gw
10 years ago
Collen, it must have all been meant to be this way,,,,,

You sound happy and I am sure that happiness is in large part because your DH will be happy......it's all good.
dedtired
10 years ago
Wow, that is a big change, and fast. It sounds like a good plan. I'm sure he would have always felt bad about a missed opportunity if he did not do this and you are a good wife to support him.

My ex and I got along best when he wasn't around. ;)
triciae
10 years ago
Big changes. It went so easy and quick though I'm the sort who believes those things are meant to happen. The new place sounds perfect. DH & I did the separate thing for 6 years also for a job opportunity. He was in NY and I in CT. I sent him to NY on Sunday nights with an ice chest loaded with food I'd prepared to last a week. The two places were 3 hours apart.

Best of luck! I'm sure your DH is glad to have this opportunity.

/tricia
tami_ohio
10 years ago
Congratulations! It sounds like it was meant to be.
colleenoz
Original Author
10 years ago
Because we've both worked weird shift jobs where we might not see each other properly for days, we're used to not living in each other's pockets. I think that's been a strength for our marriage to not be dependent on one another but to complement each other. It's worked for 30 years now :-)

I too think this was meant to be. The electronic age has helped immensely. We teleconferenced our loan application with a bank officer on the other side of the country, got our finanicals emailed to us by our accountant in the city, which we emailed on to the bank, had copies of the offer and acceptance emailed by the real estate agent which we've also forwarded to the bank, paid the deposit by electronic transfer and organised the inspections (building and termite) by email and paid by electronic transfer. All in a few days. If we'd been using snail mail it would have taken a couple of weeks.

I'm hoping to organise a family painting party to give the place a quick coat of something neutral and maybe recarpet before DH moves it, it will be much easier when it's empty. We had a family painting party for DH's brother when he built his home.

DH wants to do some of his own cooking but I will set him up with a few defrost and heat meals for nights when he can't be bothered. The area he is moving into is one of the gourmet suburbs of Perth and he's about 500 metres away in either direction from two well known cafe and specialty gourmet shop strips. I'm planning to cook a few meals for two each week and send DH off with half- otherwise I'll be tempted to just have cheese and crackers in front of the TV or PC :-)
annie1992
10 years ago
Colleen, that is one of the problems of living apart, I didn't cook nearly as much when I was alone as I did when Elery was here.

Funny, he cooked for himself, but I didn't cook for myself, I was happy with a bowl of Raisin Bran or an egg....

It doesn't sound like he's lacking for meal possibilities, although it could get expensive!

Annie
rob333 (zone 7b)
10 years ago
Colleen that couldn't be any more perfect. Fantastic!
sally2_gw
10 years ago
How exciting, Colleen, congratulations to your hubby and you for the good fortune. I hope it all continues to work out.

Sally

Big changes afoot for our family :-)

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