Just keep swimming...
I knew it had been a minute or two since I last blogged but did not realize it had been close to two weeks. Oops. The dry spell was somewhat intentional as I had hoped my next blog post would be to celebrate condo ownership. But then the journey toward condo ownership kept getting longer and longer and I figured I might as well just blog.
In retrospect, this journey I am on somewhat feels like when you're a young tot first learning to swim and your parent (or swim instructor) stands close to the wall and asks you to swim to them. No problemo. But then when you start swimming, you realize you are swimming for longer than you thought because the person keeps taking steps back moving further and further away from the wall. Before you know it, you're halfway down the pool when you thought you would only have to swim a couple strokes. In swimming, we call that a win. What an accomplishment! Look how far you've come! In condo ownership, it's a nuisance more than anything else.
The shift from stalking Craigslist for apartment deals and quests to be the first to lay my hands on an affordable, cute apartment in a great neighborhood to pursuing home ownership happened in about 24 hours. After I had a particularly exhausting day trying to set up apartment viewings, my frustration rising, my father saw a condo listed for sale and we decided to go view it the next day. A couple viewings led to putting in an offer on one place, the offer being accepted, inspections taking place, inspection reports and checks being written, lenders being contacted, and loans being applied and approved for all in the span of the last two weeks. How had it only been two weeks? Felt like months. Yet just when it appeared I had reached the arms of my swim teacher after kicking and thrashing my way down the pool, a hiccup in a looming project with the building caused me to look up and find out I was not nearly as close to safety as I had thought. In the end, it's been an incredible learning experience for me in the world of adulthood. Perhaps this condo will work out; perhaps not. If not, I'll pursue other ventures. If so, I'll be ecstatic about my new digs and you will be too (once you see it!) For now, I keep swimming. At least until the middle of next week.
Socially, things have kicked up a notch. I joined a service group and will begin Saturday morning service projects next weekend. I had coffee with someone my cousin recommended who gave a few names of people to connect with and some solid ideas about ways to get more involved in the city. I've caught up with old college friends, spent time sampling and falling in love with the new strip on Freret, and am building relationships with colleagues I am hoping will become friends. This weekend should be full of adventure so stay tuned for a recap after the weekend.
Cheers.
In retrospect, this journey I am on somewhat feels like when you're a young tot first learning to swim and your parent (or swim instructor) stands close to the wall and asks you to swim to them. No problemo. But then when you start swimming, you realize you are swimming for longer than you thought because the person keeps taking steps back moving further and further away from the wall. Before you know it, you're halfway down the pool when you thought you would only have to swim a couple strokes. In swimming, we call that a win. What an accomplishment! Look how far you've come! In condo ownership, it's a nuisance more than anything else.
The shift from stalking Craigslist for apartment deals and quests to be the first to lay my hands on an affordable, cute apartment in a great neighborhood to pursuing home ownership happened in about 24 hours. After I had a particularly exhausting day trying to set up apartment viewings, my frustration rising, my father saw a condo listed for sale and we decided to go view it the next day. A couple viewings led to putting in an offer on one place, the offer being accepted, inspections taking place, inspection reports and checks being written, lenders being contacted, and loans being applied and approved for all in the span of the last two weeks. How had it only been two weeks? Felt like months. Yet just when it appeared I had reached the arms of my swim teacher after kicking and thrashing my way down the pool, a hiccup in a looming project with the building caused me to look up and find out I was not nearly as close to safety as I had thought. In the end, it's been an incredible learning experience for me in the world of adulthood. Perhaps this condo will work out; perhaps not. If not, I'll pursue other ventures. If so, I'll be ecstatic about my new digs and you will be too (once you see it!) For now, I keep swimming. At least until the middle of next week.
Socially, things have kicked up a notch. I joined a service group and will begin Saturday morning service projects next weekend. I had coffee with someone my cousin recommended who gave a few names of people to connect with and some solid ideas about ways to get more involved in the city. I've caught up with old college friends, spent time sampling and falling in love with the new strip on Freret, and am building relationships with colleagues I am hoping will become friends. This weekend should be full of adventure so stay tuned for a recap after the weekend.
Cheers.
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