I’m interrupting my regularly scheduled essay to say that I don’t actually have an essay for this month because I have not had the time to write one because.…*
We bought a house!
After living in six different addresses in three different states over the past three years (four in Washington alone!), we are thrilled to not have to pick up and move again for a long, long time. Since we moved to Washington in 2020, we rented three homes for 10 months, 8 months, and 4 months, respectively; the last one being a cozy, one-bedroom cabin for all of three of us.
While it’s a time-sucking, money-hungry BEAST to rent and move and rent and move (wash, rinse, repeat), fortunately we were blessed with kind landlords all the way through, and even got really close to the last ones, who sent us on our way with some lovely goodbye flowers and a fairy garden for our daughter.
Owning this home would not have been possible without a unique, generous arrangement with the previous owner, David’s decade-plus of professional knowledge about homeownership, and the notion that “there is still good in the world.” (Truly)! Perhaps in a year or so, I’ll share the story of how all of this came to pass, but right now, I’m still humbled in partial disbelief that this was even able to happen.
We know that the United States, as a whole, is facing an incredible housing crisis at the moment. We ended up moving to one of the most desirable locations in the entire country, where median home prices are absolutely skyrocketing. Currently, the median home price in town is $650,000, and, given the trends of 2022, may surpass $800,000 before the end of the year. INSANE.
This purchase would also not have been possible without assistance from family members (you know who you are) and additional assistance from other family members (you know who you are) who painted the interior in the colors we chose (especially “Forever Lilac”, the one our daughter chose for her room, and is happy to tell you about if you ask her).
Most of all, I’m so incredibly thankful that in the fall, our daughter will start at a new school for the last time until she heads off to middle school. It has been difficult and traumatic for her to have to pick up and start over, over and over, and that is what we would be facing if we had been forced to continue to rent. While we’re grateful that this isn’t as pressing for us anymore, we know that this is a very real issue for millions of families in this country, and it’s not okay.
For now, we’re unpacking and unpacking (and unpacking…), and will be for a while. We are excited about our new neighborhood and our neighbors, and I’m so happy we landed here in this place at this moment in time. We got very, very lucky.
More writing to come next month! Happy summer!
*It’s a pretty good excuse to not be able to write about “Home” because we bought a home, right?! Or did I just write an essay about it after all….!
Image: Our dormer windows. The house is over 110 years old!
This is FANTASTIC, Ashleigh!! Revel in the goodness, magic, and grace of this gift! I am so happy for you! And especially your little girl. This will make a huge impact in her life. This home will be the basis of all her home imprints to come. This is where she’ll explore in new ways and you three will share laughter and good memories.
Truly worth celebrating! 🎉
Many blessings! 🌈🏡🧡🔆