Another house viewing - another hot day.
This house was SO high in the sky - the views were awesome. The sea, the city, the golf course spread out before us.
Inside the house was also spectacular. Huge windows everywhere - something vaguely "oriental" about the color scheme.
I like to see a place unfurnished. Realtors say this is unusual - "Oh no, they can't imagine the place with no furniture".
I have trouble getting past the "stuff" - beautiful choices in art, or bedspreads, or carpets. I even scan the library to see what they like to read. And that's not what we're there for. If the place is empty, you know exactly what the product is, exactly how it's going to look when the furniture arrives. Speaking of which, the grand piano gets a "lot of press".
"She's got a beautiful grand piano", he says. From then on, everyone is picking out the perfect spot for the grand piano. I'm vaguely uncomfortable with this, convinced that they are imagining me whirling up and down the keys with extreme precision and talent. I find myself trying to change the subject.
Today the realtor says "It's easy to show you a place - you're so enthusiastic. Lots of folks never make any positive or negative comments". Hmmmm. Could this be that I lived for too long in one house? Could it be that I don't get out much? Could it be that I don't want to hurt his feelings?
Yesterday I said to him. "You keep asking us what we're looking for. Don't you have people who give you all those answers, and then end up choosing something completely off the chart?"
"Oh yes, there's always some of those".
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Movin' On -HEAT WAVE!!!
The golf course at 4 in the afternoon strikes me as a dangerous place to be. "I won't walk today. It's too hot"
But the seat on the golf cart is too hot, and I go back to walking. There are shadows along the tree line, and that's where I try to shoot my ball. I do surprisingly well on the first nine, considering my state of mind. Which is "What am I doing here?"
Yes, there's a major heat wave here. Records are being set, and people are starting to tell their "I was so hot that . . . . ." stories.
I bought a tube of sun block - my first one in a long time. Where I come from, it's been so cool that by the time you found a day to use your sun block, it was way out of date.
I bought hot weather clothes - my first such attire in a long time. No need.
Our vehicle lost it's air-conditioning a while back and we wondered whether to spend the money to fix it, as we're getting rid of it soon. Thank goodness we went through with the repair. Our car is one of the coolest places to be right now.
I feel sorry for the people who have to tidy up their homes so that a possible buyer can look at it. That's what we're doing right now a lot of the time, and what a hassle it must be for them.
My sandals have left marks on my feet, so if I wear other shoes, it looks funny, and I have the feeling it will take a year to get rid of this dark tan.
People are sitting outside of an evening visiting with friends - such happy voices. Others just enjoying a book, perhaps, or doing a bit of gardening, saw a lady knitting yesterday. It occurred to me that we never did this in our other life. Either too hot, too cold, too windy, too many bugs.
The beach is busy right now. At 5:30 this morning a woman sat in the wooden chair on the lawn taking pictures of the sun rising. I never saw her before.
But the seat on the golf cart is too hot, and I go back to walking. There are shadows along the tree line, and that's where I try to shoot my ball. I do surprisingly well on the first nine, considering my state of mind. Which is "What am I doing here?"
Yes, there's a major heat wave here. Records are being set, and people are starting to tell their "I was so hot that . . . . ." stories.
I bought a tube of sun block - my first one in a long time. Where I come from, it's been so cool that by the time you found a day to use your sun block, it was way out of date.
I bought hot weather clothes - my first such attire in a long time. No need.
Our vehicle lost it's air-conditioning a while back and we wondered whether to spend the money to fix it, as we're getting rid of it soon. Thank goodness we went through with the repair. Our car is one of the coolest places to be right now.
I feel sorry for the people who have to tidy up their homes so that a possible buyer can look at it. That's what we're doing right now a lot of the time, and what a hassle it must be for them.
My sandals have left marks on my feet, so if I wear other shoes, it looks funny, and I have the feeling it will take a year to get rid of this dark tan.
People are sitting outside of an evening visiting with friends - such happy voices. Others just enjoying a book, perhaps, or doing a bit of gardening, saw a lady knitting yesterday. It occurred to me that we never did this in our other life. Either too hot, too cold, too windy, too many bugs.
The beach is busy right now. At 5:30 this morning a woman sat in the wooden chair on the lawn taking pictures of the sun rising. I never saw her before.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Movin' On - morning
The crows wake me up. 7:00.
The tide is way out - the beach and sand spread far. One lone walker way off in the distance.
I stand on the deck and before long a young man comes running with his dog. The dog is in "sheer delight" mode. He runs fast, then stops looking back at his master, tail wagging mightily. Then bounds off again and becomes so joyful he lays down and wiggles on his back in the sand, gets up again and bounds off. This is a happy dog.
On the other side, another dog walker. This is a small dog - on a leash. I kid you not. Acres and acres of virtually empty beach, and this gal has her little dog on a leash. Do you suppose she lives her whole life on a leash? Views her actions narrowly, carefully, and seriously? Maybe she doesn't laugh a lot? Act silly? Take a chance? Who knows? Perhaps the dog is completely content to be on the leash.
I wanted the happy dog and the careful dog to meet, but they went their different ways.
Little kids out on the beach - So early! - each with their little styrofoam pink, blue, and yellow "rafts" - pulling the string and the raft coming along so obediently behind them. They start out slowly, and then one of them does a little hop. The other one skips a bit, and suddenly the three of them are bounding with abandon across the sand. This beach works magic at every moment. The kids seem to quickly fill up their "joy juice" tank, and they are smitten for the rest of the day. Wow! They must sleep so well at night.
The tide is way out - the beach and sand spread far. One lone walker way off in the distance.
I stand on the deck and before long a young man comes running with his dog. The dog is in "sheer delight" mode. He runs fast, then stops looking back at his master, tail wagging mightily. Then bounds off again and becomes so joyful he lays down and wiggles on his back in the sand, gets up again and bounds off. This is a happy dog.
On the other side, another dog walker. This is a small dog - on a leash. I kid you not. Acres and acres of virtually empty beach, and this gal has her little dog on a leash. Do you suppose she lives her whole life on a leash? Views her actions narrowly, carefully, and seriously? Maybe she doesn't laugh a lot? Act silly? Take a chance? Who knows? Perhaps the dog is completely content to be on the leash.
I wanted the happy dog and the careful dog to meet, but they went their different ways.
Little kids out on the beach - So early! - each with their little styrofoam pink, blue, and yellow "rafts" - pulling the string and the raft coming along so obediently behind them. They start out slowly, and then one of them does a little hop. The other one skips a bit, and suddenly the three of them are bounding with abandon across the sand. This beach works magic at every moment. The kids seem to quickly fill up their "joy juice" tank, and they are smitten for the rest of the day. Wow! They must sleep so well at night.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Movin' On - the beach
We just signed on to a miracle. A cottage in the forest looking out on a huge ocean beach!
We couldn't quite figure it out last night. We arrived late to sign into this place we'd booked a few days back.
We looked out on the beach at 9 in the evening, and there was a group of children having a ball swimming in the ocean. They seemed so far away and vulnerable somehow, but not a parent was to be seen, and they were laughing a splashing about. The water seemed so shallow, and their footing completely comfortable.
This morning I looked out again at 7:30. Long, long beach. Where the children were swimming last night was all sand. People were out for early walks. A boy was trying to get his little surfer going in the shallow water.
Then I noticed that the sand were disappearing and the tide was coming in fast.
In an hour, the families were appearing with the sand pails, and floppy hats, and rubber dingies, and all the paraphernalia of a day at the beach.
What a thrill to have it so quiet. Little cottages all in a row. A perfect washer and dryer just down the road. Golf clubs being loaded next door - a big smile on his face. Friendly faces asking how they can help. "towels? Oh, laundry! Yes, right over there". Is this heaven or not. And we're here for a week.
Realty things today, but tomorrow I'm promised myself a walk on that beach - We even have the different tide times for high and low on a chart in the room. It's amazing how different they are each day. As he says "Yes, this is something we're going to learn about now - the tides. That's what it's all about here - the tides".
Way off in the distance. Children laughing. A breeze in the trees. That's it. The laughter and the breeze.
That's the agenda - to keep those miracles comin' on!
We couldn't quite figure it out last night. We arrived late to sign into this place we'd booked a few days back.
We looked out on the beach at 9 in the evening, and there was a group of children having a ball swimming in the ocean. They seemed so far away and vulnerable somehow, but not a parent was to be seen, and they were laughing a splashing about. The water seemed so shallow, and their footing completely comfortable.
This morning I looked out again at 7:30. Long, long beach. Where the children were swimming last night was all sand. People were out for early walks. A boy was trying to get his little surfer going in the shallow water.
Then I noticed that the sand were disappearing and the tide was coming in fast.
In an hour, the families were appearing with the sand pails, and floppy hats, and rubber dingies, and all the paraphernalia of a day at the beach.
What a thrill to have it so quiet. Little cottages all in a row. A perfect washer and dryer just down the road. Golf clubs being loaded next door - a big smile on his face. Friendly faces asking how they can help. "towels? Oh, laundry! Yes, right over there". Is this heaven or not. And we're here for a week.
Realty things today, but tomorrow I'm promised myself a walk on that beach - We even have the different tide times for high and low on a chart in the room. It's amazing how different they are each day. As he says "Yes, this is something we're going to learn about now - the tides. That's what it's all about here - the tides".
Way off in the distance. Children laughing. A breeze in the trees. That's it. The laughter and the breeze.
That's the agenda - to keep those miracles comin' on!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Movin' On - summer wedding
The summer wedding - out in the country - the wonderful easy feeling of a Saturday afternoon with friends and family bound together in this ritual of love.
The flower girl empties her basket of rose petals with a squeal of delight just as the bride and groom start their vows. Their baby boy in a miniature tuxedo is upside down trying to reach the daisy decoration on the wheel of his wagon. We're sure he will fall out and start wailing just as his Mom and Dad start the "I do"'s.
Cameras everywhere, but nothing bothers this man and woman as they proudly proclaim their promise to "honor each other" forever. We smile, and squeeze the hand of the loved one next to us.
The giggles and hugs, handshakes and toasts continue till sundown.
The next day we meet again with stories of the day before. We've left the stillness of the country and join in the din of city life.
Off in the distance the dragon boats slice the water, the bicycles spin their wheels, and the dogs seem attached to invisible leashes - who would believe there are so many different kinds of dogs!
We meet for lunch outdoors the next day on the wharf. The warm sunshine has made everyone a bit giddy, and the lunch crowd is noisy and talkative.
We are lucky. We are a lucky country to be able to live this way in security, and freedom against this stunning background of the mountains and the sea.
We're sorry to see it end with all the goodbyes "until the next time". Such great family. Such great friends.
Next day we leave the city again and head back to quieter roads and highways, back to our search for "home".
The flower girl empties her basket of rose petals with a squeal of delight just as the bride and groom start their vows. Their baby boy in a miniature tuxedo is upside down trying to reach the daisy decoration on the wheel of his wagon. We're sure he will fall out and start wailing just as his Mom and Dad start the "I do"'s.
Cameras everywhere, but nothing bothers this man and woman as they proudly proclaim their promise to "honor each other" forever. We smile, and squeeze the hand of the loved one next to us.
The giggles and hugs, handshakes and toasts continue till sundown.
The next day we meet again with stories of the day before. We've left the stillness of the country and join in the din of city life.
Off in the distance the dragon boats slice the water, the bicycles spin their wheels, and the dogs seem attached to invisible leashes - who would believe there are so many different kinds of dogs!
We meet for lunch outdoors the next day on the wharf. The warm sunshine has made everyone a bit giddy, and the lunch crowd is noisy and talkative.
We are lucky. We are a lucky country to be able to live this way in security, and freedom against this stunning background of the mountains and the sea.
We're sorry to see it end with all the goodbyes "until the next time". Such great family. Such great friends.
Next day we leave the city again and head back to quieter roads and highways, back to our search for "home".
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Movin' On - the neighbors
He has lots of white hair. Good looking guy - he's up early every morning standing on the deck in front of his room - smoking.
The guy downstairs is also standing in front of his room in his stocking feet - he's standing right where his car should be parked - smoking. He's a happy cat - loves watching the world - the planes taking off, the dogs heading out for their walk - the gardener with his hose.
The woman is big - a big good looking woman. Blond hair, white shorts, blue shirt. She's standing behind a parked car - smoking.
The tough guy is standing beside his truck with a cup of coffee. Big work boots, heavy pants, bit of a belly. He's smoking in a hasty sort of way and gulping his coffee as if he were late.
The woman's guy appears. Long white hair - surprisingly beautiful white hair. He holds out his hand to her and then lights his cigarette. Next time I look she's gone, and he's taken her place. Just standing quietly - smoking.
Now this is a nice place we're in. Perhaps a bit blue collar. But immaculate, well managed, beautiful gardens, happy staff, often full to the brim of a summer evening. So where does all this smoking come from?
And they all seem to know that under the stairwells leading to the second deck, there is a secret place for the cigarette butts. I wonder how come they know this?
The beleaguered smoker. "This room has been serviced for our non-smoking guests. A $200 cleaning fee will be assessed if anyone smokes in this non-smoking room".
It must get cold standing outside in the winter time. They must feel as if the teacher had told them to go stand in the corner for mis-behaviour. And they all hold their cigarettes in a furtive sort of manner, as if they were trying to hide it, as if they weren't really smoking -
The guy downstairs is also standing in front of his room in his stocking feet - he's standing right where his car should be parked - smoking. He's a happy cat - loves watching the world - the planes taking off, the dogs heading out for their walk - the gardener with his hose.
The woman is big - a big good looking woman. Blond hair, white shorts, blue shirt. She's standing behind a parked car - smoking.
The tough guy is standing beside his truck with a cup of coffee. Big work boots, heavy pants, bit of a belly. He's smoking in a hasty sort of way and gulping his coffee as if he were late.
The woman's guy appears. Long white hair - surprisingly beautiful white hair. He holds out his hand to her and then lights his cigarette. Next time I look she's gone, and he's taken her place. Just standing quietly - smoking.
Now this is a nice place we're in. Perhaps a bit blue collar. But immaculate, well managed, beautiful gardens, happy staff, often full to the brim of a summer evening. So where does all this smoking come from?
And they all seem to know that under the stairwells leading to the second deck, there is a secret place for the cigarette butts. I wonder how come they know this?
The beleaguered smoker. "This room has been serviced for our non-smoking guests. A $200 cleaning fee will be assessed if anyone smokes in this non-smoking room".
It must get cold standing outside in the winter time. They must feel as if the teacher had told them to go stand in the corner for mis-behaviour. And they all hold their cigarettes in a furtive sort of manner, as if they were trying to hide it, as if they weren't really smoking -
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Movin' On - the real estate guy
This blog thing of mine has been compromised a bit. I've got a new computer, a new email address, and a different ISP connection every few days. It's daunting. But we struggle along.
We love talking to real estate guys.
And the guy yesterday was very perceptive.
He said "You know, if you guys like to golf a lot, you should concentrate on that when you're looking for a place."
He's right. We've been noticing that there isn't a lot of golf around here. Yes, there's an ocean view, a "laid back" environment, so on and so on. But, like the real estate guy said - FOCUS!
So, we're going to do that. We're looking more closely at what we're looking at. This is a good thing.
As far as the size, and the shape, and the color, and the newness - there's a lot of stuff out here. Greater Victoria - as it's called - really DID overbuild back in 2007.
So the roof over our heads won't be the problem. It's time to find out what to put down in the one, two, and three most important things categories.
He was a nice guy too - had some good properties - and all that. But he didn't try to sell us them. He gave us good advice and we thanked him for it.
Who would have thought?
We love talking to real estate guys.
And the guy yesterday was very perceptive.
He said "You know, if you guys like to golf a lot, you should concentrate on that when you're looking for a place."
He's right. We've been noticing that there isn't a lot of golf around here. Yes, there's an ocean view, a "laid back" environment, so on and so on. But, like the real estate guy said - FOCUS!
So, we're going to do that. We're looking more closely at what we're looking at. This is a good thing.
As far as the size, and the shape, and the color, and the newness - there's a lot of stuff out here. Greater Victoria - as it's called - really DID overbuild back in 2007.
So the roof over our heads won't be the problem. It's time to find out what to put down in the one, two, and three most important things categories.
He was a nice guy too - had some good properties - and all that. But he didn't try to sell us them. He gave us good advice and we thanked him for it.
Who would have thought?
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