It is a cuuuuuute house, all ranchy-looking, with some acreage, a big covered deck, a workshop, a great front porch, a seasonal stream running through the property....
*sigh*
After we saw it for the first time, we talked about the house, and let our perfect house fantasies run amok: Christmases with the grandkids running all around the big tree.....long visits from the in-laws, which they'll extend because they'll be so comfortable in their guest room....big barbecues on the patio......card parties......shorter commutes to work....ahhhhhhh
What the heck, we decided to just see if we can get the loan. Probably not, since we don't want to sell our current house. I mean, we don't owe much on the current place, but who in their right mind will give *me* 2 mortgages?
I get the call on my birthday from James the Wonder Mortgage Broker: no problem, you're approved.
I call Gina the Queen of Real Estate to tell her to go ahead and make an offer. Alas, someone had beaten us to it. We are sad. Our new home fantasies shattered, I made a list of all the things we don't like about our current home.
On the way from the airport, we learn the first offer was rejected! We get to put our offer in after all! The fantasies return with a vengeance when I realize we have enough room for a PONY!
Not to get off track from the story too much, but let me just explain the pony. I am a grandmother of 3, with the 4th one already in the crock pot and scheduled to pop this summer. These beloved grandchildren have other grandparents, which is good because children need LOTS of grandparents. The only thing is, they can really only have one FAVORITE grandparent. Do you know who every child's favorite grandparent is? That's right, the one with the pony. 'Nuff said.
Then I get the call that the offer is accepted. Holy crap!
Closing date is set. Our home fantasies now include a visit from the in-laws that surprise them with the new house. And paint....omigod, do I have paint fantasies! I promised my husband to not paint the new living room orange (as I did with the current living room) since he has no appreciation for my eclectic taste, but I'm still daydreaming about the exotic colors that will be adorning my new walls.
Today the stomach ache set in. I mean, ponies and patios and porches are all well and good, but I have to PAY for this house! And insure it! And furnish it! And improve it! That paint ain't cheap, my friend! The carpet has a case of the uglies! The kitchen light fixture was a leftover from a prison somewhere.....it's gotta go!
So here I sit in my little hotel room, trying to talk myself out of the panic. I try to envision the good parts, count my blessings, tell myself it's only money, but my stomach really hurts.
We better find a really cute pony, that's all I'm saying.
