{Maria} and {Matt}. Ugh, my words are inadequate.

sj, I will tell you what I wish someone had told me before we bought our house: you don't have to buy a house! It's a lot of.money that you may never see again and also a general money pit and bundle of stress. See if you can rent a house or get into a better rental situation. Or not. I just want to say that don't think that because you have to move, you have to buy something. I don't want to stress you out or seem unsupportive, but I think that the homeownership ideal myth of adulthood and happiness is bullshit. I wish i'd never fallen for it.

Poking my head back in after far too long wrapped up in my own universe to offer many hugs, especially to my darling Maria and to Matt, many thoughts that you'll find some equilibrium and sj, a steadying peace through the coming months.

Thanks everyone for all the encouraging thoughts today. I feel guilty being so whiny. I'm extremely depressed today for no really good reason and really didn't get much done except for babysitting for an incredibly cranky and manipulative three year old for 2 hours. But reading all your kind words here helps a lot.

sj, I will tell you what I wish someone had told me before we bought our house: you don't have to buy a house! It's a lot of.money that you may never see again and also a general money pit and bundle of stress. See if you can rent a house or get into a better rental situation. Or not. I just want to say that don't think that because you have to move, you have to buy something. I don't want to stress you out or seem unsupportive, but I think that the homeownership ideal myth of adulthood and happiness is bullshit. I wish i'd never fallen for it.

Nora, we really do want to buy. There's not a lot of houses for rent around here, and the ones that there are are extraordinarily expensive. And I don't want to deal with renting a place with others in the same building ever again. We really do want a place of our own before we try to start a family. It's the process of buying more than the idea of home ownership that is really freaking me out.

but I think that the homeownership ideal myth of adulthood and happiness is bullshit. I wish i'd never fallen for it.

Ahahahahahaha. Um, yeah.

But people who want to buy a house, do!

Also, if you want to invest in changes to make the place more user-friendly, which sj might want to do, you are more likely to do that in a place you own.

It's the process of buying more than the idea of home ownership that is really freaking me out.

It's been a while for me now (11 years! WTF TIME?!) but, yeah, the process was pretty stressful. But it has been TOTALLY worth it. To sum it up very simply.

Yeah, I have to say, I love being a homeowner.

And considering how the first few months have gone - that's saying a lot!!

sj, do you have a realtor?

Also, if you want to invest in changes to make the place more user-friendly, which sj might want to do, you are more likely to do that in a place you own.

Yes, this too.

sj, do you have a realtor?

Not yet. We are going to find out from the bank what we will be approved for first, then narrow down what area we are interested in buying in, and then find a realtor that specializes in that town or neighborhood.

Sounds like a plan!! Exciting! And it should be a good time to buy.

Sounds like a plan!!

Yes, TCG is a good plan guy. I'm usually planless.