 |
| yesterday's sunset and my Mother's Day ranunculus |
I'm sure I've retconned this in my head, but I swear I woke up this morning to sun coming through the curtains and birdsong and a feeling of calm and wellbeing. PA was upstairs laughing with Mister G and the universe was unfolding exactly as it should. Until I checked my emails on my phone. Seldom a good idea. We just heard from our landlady that she has different plans for 'our' flat (I added the scare quotes in post) and so won't be renewing our lease at the beginning of June. We'd had this discussion in January and, after thinking it over (and given my current freelance status) we decided that we would rather stay where we are for another year or two than look for another rental. Ha. Guess again, suckers.
That's the shit thing about renting. That's why people bust their asses to buy, isn't it? Forget 'building equity' or 'investment value', people want a home that they can rely on to be there. When you rent you're only ever there at the grace of your landlady and it can be whipped out from under you just like that. And I feel sort of dumb (especially after 12 years of renting in London, moving on every year or two) for forgetting that, for taking it for granted. How can you build a home on a temporary foundation?
And even writing that, I know it's crap. Call the wahmbulance etcetera.
We are so lucky all round. I really like this place with its light and excellent water pressure. Sometimes I still like to reminisce about how we nearly didn't rent it and then did (high octane action there) and it's been a great place for our first couple of years with Mister G (I think a little part of me is stupidly wistful at leaving that part of our lives behind.) And I prefer change when it comes at a predictable, preferably glacially slow, not really changey pace. But, whatever - it's just a flat - a home isn't your period semi or your mature garden or your off street effing parking. It's more than that.
So I said screw all that moping and freaking out and spent the morning in the bath looking on rightmove for new options.
If I can just gloss over the actual moving part (god but I hate moving. Can we just burn everything?) there is something a little exciting about it.
So.
That *is* exciting. (I'm choosing to focus on moving being exciting, as opposed to it being as annoying as fuck.) You've got a whole new home in your future.
ReplyDeleteThank you - and you're right, of course, exciting is the part to focus on
DeleteOh, renting. It really is a blessing and a curse, isn't it? The boiler breaks: hooray, I don't have to pay for it! Oh, wait, you want the flat back? And what do you mean I'm not supposed to have a dog? Err, what dog? That's not a dog. Nope.
ReplyDeleteI hate flat-hunting and moving too. Hate it, hate it, hate it. But every time I do it, it's cathartic, and finding a new little space to call home can be fun. Making it your own is wonderful.
May the rental gods be kind to you.
Definitely not a dog, no sir!
DeleteMy main fear about this move is that I no longer have a ready supply of law firm boxes to pack in ;)
I can completely understand that initial hesitance. But as Cara and Kirsty said it is exciting. The option to discover a new area, get something bigger, find something without that thing which really annoyed you etc. With regards the stuff, I would think about starting now, a little sorting every week will make that final push that much easier. (Or just pay people to do it for you...) All good luck!
ReplyDeleteExactly - I'm thinking a place without wall to wall beige carpeting throughout might be a bit more Mister G friendly..fingers crossed!
DeleteI'm a terrible one for packing denial then late night sweeping armfuls of stuff into boxes. Your method does sound better.
We have wall to wall beige carpets too! Thankfully not in the bathroom though :) Beige carpets are not really anything friendly, I like red wine for example...
DeleteAlso my method sounds better in theory, until you have to motivate yourself to actually do it. Sweeping armfuls works pretty damn well too.
It's always good not to have to pay for a new boiler. We are cursed by boilers. We bought a little one bed in dalston 4 years ago. Pretty much the second we moved in, boiler goes. Then when we upped and moved to brighton, the house we buy here...oh what do you know the damn boiler packs in. Over Christmas. In fricking freezing winter. So I don't even want to tell you what I've spent on boilers in the last few years. But yes moving does bore me. But buying in London, anything bigger than a box - yikes indeed...hence why we are outside of london town.
ReplyDeleteI say get excited, renting often offers up places you could never afford to buy - so enjoy that while you can, before you make a major commitment.
Good luck, and look forward to seeing what you find x
Eesh. There's definitely more stress with ownership!
DeleteAnd thanks - you're totally right, focusing on the exciting part is the way to go. I quite enjoy flat hunting - its just the moving itself I hate.
Good luck with the boiler
x
We rent too and I'm with you on the need to put the precarious nature of your home life at the back of your mind whilst you do. It's something too stressy to think deeply about isn't it? Being at the mercy of someone else is always the flip side of not having to worry about repairs, mortgages and the like but when you freelance, sometimes it's the only option. I hope your rightmove search is fruitful, I am a great believer in one door opening as another closes - good luck!
ReplyDelete