I believe I neglected to write about this, though I did sob about it on Facebook. About a month, maybe a month and a half ago, we found a place to live. It was cute! It was the end unit in a row of three townhouses in a little townhouse community. It had a shared backyard but a private deck, a community swimming pool (heated even! With lifeguards and lessons!), nice space, and a cool kitchen. I spoke a few times to the owner and she and I really hit it off immediately. She really liked me and the way I described how our family is moving out to Halifax, and she also liked George’s cousin a lot when he went to check it out.

On the Friday she told me it was ours if we wanted it and when I said an emphatic yes she sent me the application and told me that she’d get the lease to me in a day or so. We paid the security deposit and I was so motivated to pack, picturing where all our stuff would go in our new home.

On the Saturday I found out that she actually co-owned the place with a family member who had given it over to new tenants on the Thursday; the lease was signed, they had the keys, and they had scheduled a set-up with all the utilities. We were once again without a home. (Yes, we got the deposit back immediately.) I was really down. I mean REALLY down. I don’t take elation followed by instant disappointment well.

Anyway. A couple of weeks ago we did actually sign a lease on a new place. George’s cousin saw it and said it was great and that we’d be very happy with it. I liked what I saw of the pictures on the Kijiji listing, though they weren’t great shots, leaving me wondering just how big or small each room was, and there were no exterior shots nor were there any pictures of the kitchen, dining area, or the two bathrooms. Still, we trusted his judgment and grabbed it.

It’s in a great location with a bus I can take downtown for work, and there are several conveniences nearby in the form of grocery stores, Tim Hortons, and the NSLC (it will take time for me to get used to the fact that you can’t buy beer at the corner store but must instead go to the liquor store!).

Then his cousin went last night to pay the security deposit and next month’s rent. That was one thing I immediately liked about our new landlord – that should have been paid upon signing the lease but he wanted to repaint the place first and refused to accept any money until he had completed that job satisfactorily. That’s a huge step up from this place where they don’t give a crap about things like missing screens, leaky taps, or “minor inconveniences” like mold.

While he was there he was able to get pictures of all the rooms and suffice it to say I am ecstatic after seeing them. I had also gotten some great exterior shots earlier in the week from a friend who lives out that way (hi Patricia!), and I’m just in love with this house.

Unlike the townhouse it’s a semi-detached house and we have our own private yard. The yard isn’t big but it’s quite nice with a deck off the dining room, a patio down on the ground with a gazebo, a big shed, some nice plants, a fence, and even a spot for a wee garden. The kitchen is the only unfortunate part in that it’s still a galley kitchen like what we have in the current apartment BUT it’s bigger than this one with more counter space. The counters, tiles, and cupboards are much nicer, there’s a double sink which is something I’ve always wanted, and we have an actual pantry. For years we had to sacrifice two kitchen cupboards as a makeshift pantry, so that makes me happy. All that’s missing is a window over the sink (and, well, a dishwasher, but I’ve never had one anyway so it’s not a huge deal), but I’ll just hand a nice ocean picture there and use that as my “window” instead!

It’s such a relief to have a home. The kids are excited to each have their own room and I’m excited about that too since I’m tired of hearing them bicker in one room together! George has space for a music room and we will be able to have both a living room AND a family room. I’m thrilled!

If you’re my friend on Facebook you’ve already seen the pictures but if not, I also have them uploaded here. (In the close-up of the front those aren’t graffiti marks, that’s just me using Photoshop to hide our street number!)

I’m very happy and can’t wait to get set up!