Buying a House

 

It sounds simple enough- you save up enough money for a down payment, borrow the rest from a bank and pass it over to agent.  But nothing in life is ever simple.

 

The Down-payment. 

By the time you have enough money for a down payment you have already been struggling for a good while. With this house, I didn’t save a thing.  My parents passed away and I inherited money. It was painful.  I miss them.  I miss my siblings that scattered when the going got rough.  I miss the partner I lost while I was losing my parents.  It took forever to finally get life to some sort of new normal.  But eventually I had a decision to make- what do you do with extra cash these days?  I decided I wanted to see my money, not just a number electronically on my computer but actually see it.  Hence..

 

Buying a House

 

It is all about timing with houses.  The people that bought my parents’ place got a heck of a deal.  Too bad my family couldn’t get along well enough to keep it, but, that wasn’t going to happen.  So.. I had to decide on first – a country.

 

I was looking in Australia, weather and job opportunities making it my first choice, but only if I was able to stay in relatively close touch with my kids.  Then- the pandemic.  I panicked – quit my job in the Northern Territory (something I wanted to do anyway) and headed home. 

 

North America would have been good.  But Trump was in the US, and his presidency affected so many of us in such profound ways.  The US was out.  But then there was Mexico.  I was already relatively settled there.  But no, to get there required going through the US.  And, like I said, Trump was the president, and even after that passed, the fall out?  Well, who knew.  The world was not what it was. 

 

In the end, the choice of countries turned out not to be a decision made by my mind, but my heart.  When the going got tough, there was no choice to be made - I was, after all, Canadian. 

 

But, where in Canada? 

I grew up in Fernie.  It is a wonderful ski town and I still had friends in the area.  But, real estate was ridiculously expensive and the mountains, although a drawing factor, were also detrimental.  Days were short.  By the time the sun has worked its way over the mountain tops and into town, the day is half done, and then by three, it is already getting dark. No.. not Fernie.

 

The coast?  Rain Rain Rain.. lots of friends there though, but too depressing. 

The East coast would be good?  Lots of friends there and affordable real estate.  But, it also got a lot of rain and crazy weather.  After spending time in countries where the weather was fine, most of the time, I just couldn’t see myself in place where ice-burgs floated by occasionally.  No. 

 

So I started to look back in BC, half way between Fernie and the coast.  It was central to where the kids were living (of course they were scattered about) and a few good friends were also settling.  It had water, large lakes, and a culture and people I understood, a little at least. 

 

Then one day, I was looking at houses in an area too far from where I wanted to be, and there was my house.  Of course, it wasn't for sale, so I called and asked about it.  That meant no agent and buying a house with no agent off a stranger, well, a bit of a shit show.  And now I worry about it sliding down the hill and into the lake.  It was well beyond my budget but I didn't even argue. It was my house after all, and I did what needed to be done to get it.

 

When you buy a house, even a furnished one, it doesn’t end there.  I now have a mortgage and no income.  While the owner left me a few things, I still had to go out and buy more to make it even more my house and not hers.   I am dealing with four seasons, and as lovely as they are, it means four wardrobes, shoveling snow, weeding and watering gardens and worrying about things when you are away all comes with home ownership in Canada.  The cost of living, paying heating bills for one thing, is ridiculous.  I had to buy a snow blower and find people to hook up the television and move the table.  The choices in the grocery stores, the ability to chat with friends and family, the general feeling of familiarity, is both comforting and a little strange.

 

I have not been creative.

I am not financially free to do what I like. 

I worry about friends who have it tough this Christmas. 

I worry about a lot of things.

I don’t have a dog.

 

So, at 64, I am still trying to figuring it out.  This is probably not my ‘forever’ home, but it is pretty close.  I figure I can do forever when I am gone. For now, it is a good place to get creative, settle my finances, support friends and family as best I can and maybe get a dog, while I weather this bloody pandemic. I can see my investments, take care of this place as best I can while it takes care of me while the world goes crazy.  I have a fire, a hot tub and an amazing view of Shuswap Lake. 

 

Today, I will make Christmas stockings with a friend- the government allows me two I think.  We will drink Keto Baileys, laugh and eat egg sandwiches on wheat-free bread.  Today, I will be present.. and this evening I will be home, grateful for the day.  I will reflect,  maybe chat a bit on-line, write something, paint something and relax in my own house.  Nothing is simple, but I am grateful to my parents, for the down payment and the self confidence to spend it all in one swell swoop.  If it doesn't work out, well, life is an adventure.