RamblingNana's Blog

Whose idea was it for us to move anyhow?
Jul 11, 2008 | 10:55 PM PST
Tags: condo , moving , selling , real estate , market
Well, we would appear to have survived the first week of having our apartment on the market.  I think I've aged at least 10 years in the process . . . at least my face certainly looks 10 years older.  Can you say "haggard?"  OMG!!!  Talk about stress! What a production this is!  I don't ever recall moving (or attempting to move as the case may be) being such a trial.  I'm too darned old to move.  I've got roots here for Pete's sake!  I'm settled.  I need to sit quietly by the window and just watch the world go by . . . maybe rock back and forth a little.

Our real estate agent tells us to make sure the apartment is absolutely perfect.  It is totally staged.  We've put a ton of "stuff" in storage so that it's de-cluttered. Actually it looks very nice.  I couldn't even tell you what I'm missing.  I may be hitting Craig's list with a vengeance once we get moved.  I'll try to sell off some of my treasures.  That will thrill my husband.  I just hope my Mother isn't watching.

We get sudden phone calls that announce "someone" is coming for a viewing in 30 minutes and can we be ready to clear out and go hide during this process.  We've had 9 viewers.  We've spent a lot of time sitting in our underground parking lot . . . waiting.

I can't believe the cleaning I'm doing.  It never stops!  I don't want to cook or bake because my stove and oven will get messy.  I don't want to eat because I'll mess up the counters and the sink.  I don't want to comb my hair because I'll leave hair somewhere for sure.  I get up at the crack of dawn so that my bed looks like no one has ever slept in it.  We never stop Swiffering and washing floors and vacuuming carpets.  I dust and polish incessantly.  There is absolutely nothing out of place.  We even hide the laundry and our golf clubs in a janitorial cupboard down the hall.  We don't want anyone to think we have any dirty clothes.  Actually I'm thinking I may look into buying some disposable underwear (hee hee).

We are getting very positive comments on our place. We had our first negative comment yesterday from a really sweet couple who I think really suited this place.  The condo was "perfect."  Unfortunately our balcony was too small.  They were coming from a big house and ... they were right.  It would be too small for them to enjoy sitting out.  

Unfortunately the market here has been affected by the real estate shmozzle in the US.  It shouldn't be, but fact is, it is.  We got our first offer today:  $25,000.00 lower than our asking price . . . and our asking price is right in line with what it should be. Our price is what other condos in our building have gone for in the past year.  I was choked!  We were so disappointed. All I could think of was:  How DARE she insult me with such a low-ball offer?  How DARE she?!!!  If she can't afford to pay the advertised price she should go condo shopping somewhere else!  Grrrrr.

Whew!  Got that off my chest.  Obviously I'd make a lousy real estate agent.

So, that was the end of that offer.  Now we start all over again. It's awful.  There is so much product on the market right now.  People just aren't buying like they were a few months ago.  Of course if our new place had been completed when it was supposed to be completed, we would have sold our place in the blink of an eye . . . months ago!

Still no word as to when we can move into the new place.  They wont tell us anything other than "the end of Summer."  That may be a blessing in disguise if this place doesn't sell.

And the saga continues . . .

Touching base.
Jan 18, 2008 | 3:00 PM PST
Tags: baby , balcony , cruising , baskets , moving

Hi there!

Thought it was about time I popped by and said "hello!"  Wish I had some fascinating garden news to share, but, alas, there's nothing outside my window but grey, grey, grey!  Logic tells me there is still a sun residing up there above the grey - but you coudn't prove it by me.  We've had such a depressing Winter.  Tons of rain and rarely a glimpse of sunshine.  It's getting everyone down.

We had a fantastic 36 day trip, starting in Rome (without any luggage for three days!!!) and then cruising the Mediterranean, crossing the Atlantic and cruising the Caribbean until October 28th. 

I can't believe our trips have come and gone. It was over in the blink of an eye.  I have to look at our photos to remind myself of all the wonderful ports we went to and the fun we had.  2007 was truly an exciting year for us, starting with our cruise to the Panama in April/May.  Hey, if you want to see photos of our adventures ... just ask me, I've got lots! :-)

The last time I wrote I think I told you my youngest son and his family had put their 20 acres on the market and were about to pack up and move waaaaay up country.  Well, that plan has come and gone (thank goodness).  The house and land is still up for sale, but the plan to re-locate appears to be on the back burner.  I think there's still discussion going on that involves moving farther North and building  another house.  We shall see.  So far they haven't found a buyer, but that's not surprising.  Spring will likely bring more interest in large land purchases in the area.

I put together a collage of the two babies at the same stage of development.  We were all surprised how similar they were.  The "new" one is the one on the bottom. 

Well, our new condo is STILL not ready.  We bought it a year ago last November and it doesn't look like we are going to be moving until the Summer of 08.  Can you believe it?  Delay, delay, delay.  We are so disappointed.  I even got my husband to bring home a bunch of boxes the other day so that I could start packing up "stuff" I want to put in storage when we put this place on the market - thinking that would be February!  Ha!!!  Not likely!!!  Now we are surrounded by boxes!

So, I guess I'm going to be hanging up my baskets on this little balcony here again this Spring.  Oh well, it will make the place look prettier when the "for sale" sign goes up.

So, bye for now. 

Cheers,

RN

 

Sad, sad news!
Sep 15, 2007 | 10:20 PM PST
Tags: view , lake , boat , boats , country , moving , move

My son made the announcement tonight that he is putting his home and 20 acres on the market and they are moving up country.

I almost fainted.

What about my  grandbabies??!!

They have apparently discussed it and they have decided they want to move up to an area in BC that is on a lake and about four hours from here.  They are concerned about the quality of life their children will have in the area they are now living in, and they feel there is less crime and greater opportunity for the kind of lifestyle they want to have, further inland.  They are both keen on the outdoors.  They have boats and they will be able to use them up there.

I've vacationed in the area they are hoping to move to and it really is very lovely - at least in the Summer.  I'm not so sure about the Winter.

So much for my Nana role huh?  So much for my gardener's paradise.  Whatever will I do?

Both of us Nanas are down here on the coast.  Apparently we are the only reason that they feel bad about this plan.  Both of us will be very sad to not be able to drive for 30 minutes and see our grandbabies.  Sad.  Sad.  Sad.- ;-(

Whose garden will I weed?  How will I show my face on GG?  I'll have nothing to talk about!  I'll have to find a new forum where I can talk about ... I dunno ... vacuuming or dusting or the weather. :-(

No more playing in the garden with my little pal.  :-(

All those treasured moments - finished.;-(

I think I'm gonna cry!

Oh well, they are young and they should spread their wings and do what makes them happy.  I did.  I'm sure we will go back and forth ... and we'll have that lovely new guest room in our new place and they will come to visit.  My d.i.l. says she is going to insist that their new home has a full suite in the basement so that us Nanas can come to visit for a week or so, and feel that they can have a little privacy if we want it.

They seem pretty excited about this idea.  I hope their place sells fast.  It's pretty gloomy out there when Winter sets in.  It's much more appealing when the sun is shining and the flowers are in bloom.  What a lovely piece of farmland it is.  Sniffle.

This is just a tiny view out back.