I just learned that my coworker that is house hunting just won the bidding war on a place in Melrose. Here’s the list of reactions I went through:
1. That’s awesome - I’m so happy they found something.
2. Man that was fast - I thought I would be first in finding/buying a place.
3. The house is really nice. Why did I not more seriously consider buying it? (It’s a restored Victorian, but about 15% over my top limit and more house than I really need - 4 bedroom).
4. Wait, what about me. This isn’t fair, I’m the one with the looming deadline.
I’ve been operating on less than about 5 hours of sleep for the past few nights (late nights trying to figure this whole thing out plus restless sleeping) so I’m sure this is influencing things. I’m exhausted - mentally, physically, even emotionally. If it was just the house hunting, I’d be totally fine. But it’s not on my terms, so I’ve got the deadline thrown in, plus the financials not where I would like them to be, plus work has been wearing me thin with all the roles I end up playing, to all the other stuff in the mix. I’m just tired.
I’m looking at a multi-family tonight and hopefully another one tomorrow. I’m becoming more comfortable with this scenario than the others but the trick is the financing part. I’m pursuing multiple scenarios so hopefully one fits just right.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
Small World Stories
Started writing this Friday.
Last night I attended the AD2012 Gala. It was one of those networking events where you get to look at wonderful art that you could never afford. Ended up running into a few people I knew. But also was striking up conversations with random people. Ended up talking with this older fellow standing next to me. Turned out he was Mr. Arcari of Landry & Arcari rugs. He mentioned being involved in the 5 under 40 awards celebrating up and coming designers. I happen to know that a friend of mine, Nima won said award a few years back and designed a rug. Mr. Arcari knew of my friend Nima and spoke well of him. I was amazed, probably more than Mr. Arcari, what a small world it was. In this grand setting full of high class people, outside of my usual circle, I found a connection. And we ended up talking about other commissions he’s done. He was interested in potentially working my field into a motif for a design. He left me with a business card and the instructions to contact him with any ideas I come up with. I think I will pass for the moment. Wait for inspiration.
In the world of house hunting I’ve been taking advantage of working at a large firm with people living all over the metro Boston area. I’ve gotten into the habit of asking people where they live and what the neighborhoods are like. I’m slowly getting a feel for the areas. Friday, I asked a plumbing engineer I work with the usual question only to find out he and his wife are actively house hunting too. We compared notes and turns out we’ve been looking at the same places pretty much. Same towns and price range. At first we were leery sharing houses we liked. However, after the one Lexington property, nothing has grabbed me. He shared one place he really liked in Melrose but his wife didn’t like. It made me realize that although I would love to have a partner to bounce ideas off of and help in such a big decision making milestone, there are advantages to going it solo. If and when I find a place, I only have to convince myself that I like it. It’s been hard finding a place that just I like, can you imagine the odds of finding a place where there are two of us. I hadn’t thought of that before.
I still don’t feel any closer to coming to a decision and I have less than two weeks - ugh! My latest venture is looking into being a real estate investor and purchasing a multi-unit place. I’ve got a coworker who was running the numbers with me. Normally I wouldn’t even consider it, but right now I’m an open book. I don’t know if it’s due to my cautious upbringing (we are not a family of risk takers) or perhaps being female (women tend to take less risks overall - studies show). But part of me is wanting to buck these pre-conceived ideas I have and go out and invest. It would entail developing an LLC and everything - lots to study up on but I know several people who have gone this route (all men), so something to consider. Of course, the other part of me is yelling, “are you crazy”, what if… and there is a list of all that could go horribly wrong. But nothing ventured, nothing gained. Regardless, need to do due diligence and it’s a great exercise. I do wonder where I will end up. Change is good - I must keep repeating this as I grow old and comfy in my daily ways.
Last night I attended the AD2012 Gala. It was one of those networking events where you get to look at wonderful art that you could never afford. Ended up running into a few people I knew. But also was striking up conversations with random people. Ended up talking with this older fellow standing next to me. Turned out he was Mr. Arcari of Landry & Arcari rugs. He mentioned being involved in the 5 under 40 awards celebrating up and coming designers. I happen to know that a friend of mine, Nima won said award a few years back and designed a rug. Mr. Arcari knew of my friend Nima and spoke well of him. I was amazed, probably more than Mr. Arcari, what a small world it was. In this grand setting full of high class people, outside of my usual circle, I found a connection. And we ended up talking about other commissions he’s done. He was interested in potentially working my field into a motif for a design. He left me with a business card and the instructions to contact him with any ideas I come up with. I think I will pass for the moment. Wait for inspiration.
In the world of house hunting I’ve been taking advantage of working at a large firm with people living all over the metro Boston area. I’ve gotten into the habit of asking people where they live and what the neighborhoods are like. I’m slowly getting a feel for the areas. Friday, I asked a plumbing engineer I work with the usual question only to find out he and his wife are actively house hunting too. We compared notes and turns out we’ve been looking at the same places pretty much. Same towns and price range. At first we were leery sharing houses we liked. However, after the one Lexington property, nothing has grabbed me. He shared one place he really liked in Melrose but his wife didn’t like. It made me realize that although I would love to have a partner to bounce ideas off of and help in such a big decision making milestone, there are advantages to going it solo. If and when I find a place, I only have to convince myself that I like it. It’s been hard finding a place that just I like, can you imagine the odds of finding a place where there are two of us. I hadn’t thought of that before.
I still don’t feel any closer to coming to a decision and I have less than two weeks - ugh! My latest venture is looking into being a real estate investor and purchasing a multi-unit place. I’ve got a coworker who was running the numbers with me. Normally I wouldn’t even consider it, but right now I’m an open book. I don’t know if it’s due to my cautious upbringing (we are not a family of risk takers) or perhaps being female (women tend to take less risks overall - studies show). But part of me is wanting to buck these pre-conceived ideas I have and go out and invest. It would entail developing an LLC and everything - lots to study up on but I know several people who have gone this route (all men), so something to consider. Of course, the other part of me is yelling, “are you crazy”, what if… and there is a list of all that could go horribly wrong. But nothing ventured, nothing gained. Regardless, need to do due diligence and it’s a great exercise. I do wonder where I will end up. Change is good - I must keep repeating this as I grow old and comfy in my daily ways.
Friday, March 09, 2012
Butterflies
Note: wrote this awhile back in long hand and just got around to typing it up. Think this was around early October 2011.
Mondays. I was rushing out the door in a mad dash to get to work for an early morning meeting only to realize when I reach my desk I had meant to drive in today. I messed up. I could have been into the office at least 30 minutes earlier (or left a little later in a calmer stet) and now I had to figure out how to fix the issue.
The solution I came up with is lugging my laptop home at lunch to jump into my car and hoof it over to a meeting at an architect’s office two towns over from where I live. Then, instead of having a nice short commute home I need to drive into Boston to meet a friend for dinner on Newbury Street. Fingers crossed parking doesn’t annoy the dickens out of me. I’d reschedule, but we’ve already done that once and it’s taken us forever to find a new time that works.
So I leave the office a bit later then intended – hop onto the T and keep reminding myself it’s out of my control for the moment – to just relax. I grab a seat on the crowded car and a moment later in piles a dozen plus young teenagers.
I cannot even begin to describe the surreal experience I had for the next few stops. This is something I love about public transportation. It throws you into a larger mix you wouldn’t usually see or overlap with – it’s so much better than reality TV.
This group of youngsters was you’re typical bunch. I think there were one or two chaperons. The kids were from diverse cultural backgrounds and a mixture of young boys and girls. And they were talking a mile a minute, bouncing form one friend to another, choosing to stand and test their balance and talking to each other across the subway car. And there I was in the middle of it all. In and of its self, this isn’t that unusual – happened before. This time, there was a twist – they were all deaf. So there I am in the center of all this flurry of movement. They’re sitting and standing and moving back and forth between friends to get their attention. EVERYONE was talking. I was fascinated but didn’t want to appear I was staring. I suddenly became very conscious of my hands in my lap. At first there were half a dozen individual conversations. But then there was a point – in the silence of the train rumbling, where there was a burst of laughter. Someone had made a joke in all that flurry. I was intrigued at first that conversations could be carried on with one hand holding on and yet by the end my intrigue was refocused on the dynamics of the group – who was trying to talk with whom. The flirting, the playing it cool – all the regular teen stuff. Needless to say by the time my stop quickly arrived all my stress had dissipated and I made it to my meeting with time to spare. You gotta love city life!
Mondays. I was rushing out the door in a mad dash to get to work for an early morning meeting only to realize when I reach my desk I had meant to drive in today. I messed up. I could have been into the office at least 30 minutes earlier (or left a little later in a calmer stet) and now I had to figure out how to fix the issue.
The solution I came up with is lugging my laptop home at lunch to jump into my car and hoof it over to a meeting at an architect’s office two towns over from where I live. Then, instead of having a nice short commute home I need to drive into Boston to meet a friend for dinner on Newbury Street. Fingers crossed parking doesn’t annoy the dickens out of me. I’d reschedule, but we’ve already done that once and it’s taken us forever to find a new time that works.
So I leave the office a bit later then intended – hop onto the T and keep reminding myself it’s out of my control for the moment – to just relax. I grab a seat on the crowded car and a moment later in piles a dozen plus young teenagers.
I cannot even begin to describe the surreal experience I had for the next few stops. This is something I love about public transportation. It throws you into a larger mix you wouldn’t usually see or overlap with – it’s so much better than reality TV.
This group of youngsters was you’re typical bunch. I think there were one or two chaperons. The kids were from diverse cultural backgrounds and a mixture of young boys and girls. And they were talking a mile a minute, bouncing form one friend to another, choosing to stand and test their balance and talking to each other across the subway car. And there I was in the middle of it all. In and of its self, this isn’t that unusual – happened before. This time, there was a twist – they were all deaf. So there I am in the center of all this flurry of movement. They’re sitting and standing and moving back and forth between friends to get their attention. EVERYONE was talking. I was fascinated but didn’t want to appear I was staring. I suddenly became very conscious of my hands in my lap. At first there were half a dozen individual conversations. But then there was a point – in the silence of the train rumbling, where there was a burst of laughter. Someone had made a joke in all that flurry. I was intrigued at first that conversations could be carried on with one hand holding on and yet by the end my intrigue was refocused on the dynamics of the group – who was trying to talk with whom. The flirting, the playing it cool – all the regular teen stuff. Needless to say by the time my stop quickly arrived all my stress had dissipated and I made it to my meeting with time to spare. You gotta love city life!
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
DC Trip
I popped down to our DC office for a meeting yesterday and have the following observations:
- I remembered at the last minute that I could just drive and park at the airport and didn’t need a taxi - one less thing to worry about. So nice to be able to just pop out to your own car at 5:30 am!
- The only parking left was at the top of the parking garage - outside. As I was waiting for the elevator I was bombarded by fake bird chirping being piped through the sound system. Strange, and later I realize, slightly foretelling.
- As I walk up to my gate, I see a fellow starting to nod off while waiting to board. Turns out I knew him - he heads up our IT department and was heading down to our DC office too. So far I’m 2 and 0 for running into coworkers on my flights down to DC.
- I lugged my heavy work laptop and it was useless. Besides the battery being completely dead, it kept freezing and wouldn’t work. Apparently it only works at my work desk. Strange and annoying.
- The meeting I had went well and took a lot less prep work than I used to do. Nice to see the progression over the days.
- I saw the early buds of the cherry blossoms - they’re coming!
- Waiting for my flight home, I found a quiet corner away from my gate. I heard the familiar bird chirping and realized it wasn’t being piped in - there was an actual little bird trapped inside. I was starting to pack stuff up to go find someone when I saw him fly off into the ceiling. It looks like he’s made the airport his home and has a way in and out (I hope). And this, after waiting an extra long time to get through a very scrutinizing security check point. Funny seeing he has a much easier way in than I do.
- Of course, my flight was delayed. I don’t know why, but I have yet to catch a flight back home from these day trips that isn’t delayed. Luckily I had brought entertainment.
- I made good progress on a sock I brought. I love that jetblue has TV. I caught up on the cable shows I don’t have access to - some nice mindless watching after a long and busy day.
And on my way home from the airport, I couldn’t resist driving by a house I was interested in. The housing situation has been a roller coaster that doesn’t even stay on the coaster track but goes all over the place. I don’t like the time pressure I’m under. And yet this is not an unusual situation for many people. This was the first house I really felt good about - a good fit. It was in a solid town, cute little neighborhood, next to some conservation land, near public transportation, move in condition but allows for improvement. And I was just torturing myself by doing the drive by. It went on the market end of last week. I saw it on Sunday, contacted my realtor on Monday and by Monday night had scheduled to see it Wednesday morning. Only to have the meeting canceled an hour later. Turns out the owner already received 5 offers and accepted one. I’m so crushed. I was so close.
I can’t help but note that I feel like I’m in a relationship drama. I’m a homebody, so my residence is important to me. And it feels like my 6+ year relationship with my current place has come to a cross roads. It’s like “Jason” asked me to marry him and I just can’t decide if I want to commit. He’s a great “guy” and I feel comfortable with him, but is he really what I want to spend the next 10+ years with? Is he mature/large enough? So I’ve been looking around. I wouldn’t call it cheating, but I want to play the field to make sure I’m making the right decision. And I’m finding some crappy places out there that makes me really appreciate “Jason”. But I can’t help but see other places that look like better fits, only they’re too expensive, unavailable, etc. I’m in turmoil. And to add to it all “Jason” has put an ultimatum out there - you have to answer by xx date. I don’t actually have the date yet, but it’s bearing down on me. And I’m not one to settle. Ugh!
- I remembered at the last minute that I could just drive and park at the airport and didn’t need a taxi - one less thing to worry about. So nice to be able to just pop out to your own car at 5:30 am!
- The only parking left was at the top of the parking garage - outside. As I was waiting for the elevator I was bombarded by fake bird chirping being piped through the sound system. Strange, and later I realize, slightly foretelling.
- As I walk up to my gate, I see a fellow starting to nod off while waiting to board. Turns out I knew him - he heads up our IT department and was heading down to our DC office too. So far I’m 2 and 0 for running into coworkers on my flights down to DC.
- I lugged my heavy work laptop and it was useless. Besides the battery being completely dead, it kept freezing and wouldn’t work. Apparently it only works at my work desk. Strange and annoying.
- The meeting I had went well and took a lot less prep work than I used to do. Nice to see the progression over the days.
- I saw the early buds of the cherry blossoms - they’re coming!
- Waiting for my flight home, I found a quiet corner away from my gate. I heard the familiar bird chirping and realized it wasn’t being piped in - there was an actual little bird trapped inside. I was starting to pack stuff up to go find someone when I saw him fly off into the ceiling. It looks like he’s made the airport his home and has a way in and out (I hope). And this, after waiting an extra long time to get through a very scrutinizing security check point. Funny seeing he has a much easier way in than I do.
- Of course, my flight was delayed. I don’t know why, but I have yet to catch a flight back home from these day trips that isn’t delayed. Luckily I had brought entertainment.
- I made good progress on a sock I brought. I love that jetblue has TV. I caught up on the cable shows I don’t have access to - some nice mindless watching after a long and busy day.
And on my way home from the airport, I couldn’t resist driving by a house I was interested in. The housing situation has been a roller coaster that doesn’t even stay on the coaster track but goes all over the place. I don’t like the time pressure I’m under. And yet this is not an unusual situation for many people. This was the first house I really felt good about - a good fit. It was in a solid town, cute little neighborhood, next to some conservation land, near public transportation, move in condition but allows for improvement. And I was just torturing myself by doing the drive by. It went on the market end of last week. I saw it on Sunday, contacted my realtor on Monday and by Monday night had scheduled to see it Wednesday morning. Only to have the meeting canceled an hour later. Turns out the owner already received 5 offers and accepted one. I’m so crushed. I was so close.
I can’t help but note that I feel like I’m in a relationship drama. I’m a homebody, so my residence is important to me. And it feels like my 6+ year relationship with my current place has come to a cross roads. It’s like “Jason” asked me to marry him and I just can’t decide if I want to commit. He’s a great “guy” and I feel comfortable with him, but is he really what I want to spend the next 10+ years with? Is he mature/large enough? So I’ve been looking around. I wouldn’t call it cheating, but I want to play the field to make sure I’m making the right decision. And I’m finding some crappy places out there that makes me really appreciate “Jason”. But I can’t help but see other places that look like better fits, only they’re too expensive, unavailable, etc. I’m in turmoil. And to add to it all “Jason” has put an ultimatum out there - you have to answer by xx date. I don’t actually have the date yet, but it’s bearing down on me. And I’m not one to settle. Ugh!
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