I Bought a House?!

I still can't wrap my damn head around it.

I. Bought. A. House.

I am a HOMEOWNER?!

Who thought I could be trusted with a WHOLE ASS HOUSE?!

(Welcome to a long over-due life update!)

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Okay, don't stress too much, because I've now had the keys for a few months, and I haven't burned anything to the ground... yet. Actually, renovations and decorations have been going quite well. I feel like a full-fledged big kid in this big scary world. I suppose I'm doing pretty alright!

So here's the gist of the tale: my person and I decided it was time to do the scary "move in together" thing. However the math involved in renting a place made literally no sense in the market of the small town we were looking at moving to. In fact, the housing market was so cheap here, that a mere three years of renting would cost about the same as a mortgage for a decent-sized house. Once we decided we could swing the big purchase, it just seemed dumb not to.

Of course, affordable houses ended up meaning a lot of houses we were interested in were bought up from under us faster than we could even tour them, let alone make an offer! Then THE HOUSE came along, and I knew it was meant to be. I walked up on to a huge shaded front porch and could visualize a cozy chair and a book in hand on a crisp fall morning. I stepped into the living room and saw a fireplace sandwiched between rich oak recessed bookshelves. The faux bay window with a bench seat was going to be Stella's favorite place to sun-bathe. The huge downstairs bedroom was destined to become my haven from the trials of the world, where I'd line the walls with brilliantly colored books on shelves and read or play video games to my heart's content. This house was going to be ours. It just had to be.

Spoiler: I was right about all of these things.

Don't get me wrong, none of these dreams would come true without their fair shake of set-backs. The house is 105 years old... and the previous owner didn't seem to love it as much as I do. I knew I had my work cut out for me... but years of HGTV watching wasn't about to go to waste. I was prepared--excited!--to put in the work to restore this home to the beauty it was decades ago.

I... just didn't quite realize how long some of these projects would take me. Don't get me wrong, I'm very much enjoying all of the work I've put into this house, but things aren't moving quite as quickly as I had anticipated.

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For instance, I thought I could tape the woodwork, cover the carpets, and paint every room in the matter of a week. How silly of me. That particular project took over two weeks, and I haven't yet even finished or started all of the painting I meant to get to! However, the finished products all warm my heart whenever I take the time to look and admire them.

I also thought I'd repaint the entire exterior, make flower beds, and plant tons of flowers and rose bushes. I only just attempted to paint some of the porch trim like a week ago... I've had these keys since May...

I also thought I'd pull up all of the shaggy carpeting the reveal beautiful original oak floors, which I'd sand and completely restore to their formal glory. In reality, I pulled up the carpet in the dining room to find asbestos-laced black mastic, which I had to prime over and replace with a floating floor. (The floating floor, mind you, has yet to be installed.) I did find beautiful wood under the carpet of aforementioned library/gaming room. Yet have I refinished the wood? BWAHAHA! ...I mean, no.

My shower lends half of its water pressure out to the bath spout, making shower time very cold quickly.

My kitchen sink faucet sprays out of the handle if you turn it on a tad too much.

There are three windows completely devoid of glass.

A skunk lives under my kitchen. I named him Jerry.

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And yet... I've never felt more at peace in my entire life. I have a home. I have a place where no one can barge in unnanounced to show my bedroom to prospective buyers (true story), nor do I have to be in a huge city which stresses me out beyond coping. I come home to as much peace or as much crazy as I want to have, because the space is mine to share only with my Stella and my favorite person in the whole world.

I have a wall of books to brighten up my day whenever I need it. I purchased our first couch and loveseat, which we have spent many a movie-date-night on. I got to paint my bedroom pink, and consequently trick my color-blind fiance into thinking I painted it his favorite color--orange. I can hang my own artwork up to decorate the very walls we have painted together. I can do as much or as little work renovating this house as I want, because no matter what I do, it will always feel like home. I am so damn happy that this is a life update I get to share with you today!