Packing

You'd think that we would be pros at this by now. I mean we HAVE moved 10 times in the last 12 years. Each time though, it seems, gets harder and harder.

Every time we move, we condense, we declutter, we sell stuff, we donate. How is it then, that every time I get ready to start the process again, it seems as if we have amassed more shit than we came with?!

When we rented this beach house it came fully furnished and decorated. It used to be a vacation rental and part of the deal of allowing us to rent it annually was that it stayed fully furnished (and decorated), because the homeowners didn't want to have to pay to store their belongings. When we met with our landlords before we moved in, I asked them if they would be okay with us redecorating...putting our own touches on things and they said absolutely. I am just not sure when they said yes, they realized that I was going to COMPLETELY take down the house. From the wall hangings, to the kitchen pots, pans and plates, to the towels to the bedding, to every little thing in between.

If you have visited us here, you know I take pride in telling you where I have hid away and stored all of the homeowners things. Under every single bed, behind the TV, at the top of every closet where I can't reach, in unused drawers...pretty much if there's a nook or a cranny, I have stuffed something in there.

Which brings me to my dilemma now...putting it all back together! EEK!

Unfortunately, I wasn't smart enough to take photos of how she had it decorated. I have a few photos from the rental listing but that's it. I have a rough idea in my mind of where things went but it's mostly going to be a, I am putting this here and I hope that you are okay with that, kind of thing.
So, I have to pack away all of our nice things and figure out how to put the house back together the way it was.

It's going to be strange living in the house for the next 4 weeks as I pack and transition it back. It will no longer feel like our home, but truly, what it is, a rental home. I thought I would be okay with living in someone else's home with someone else things but it's been a bit weird to be honest. Not having any of our own furniture, save for a few small bits and pieces, has been like being back in college.

I cannot wait to move into our new home and begin picking out pieces that make it feel like ours. I cannot wait to decorate it and put back out all of our personal things that make my heart smile.

As I pack away our personal photos and mementos, I will remember fondly the year we have spent at the beach. It has certainly been an adventure. But I am ready...ready to settle down with my husband in a place that we can call all our very own!

Now if I can just remember where I put that packing tape?!

Homeward Bound

We are officially homeowners in Texas! Again! LOL

It's been a whirlwind week for us here at Gypsy Central.

Our original plan for buying a house was to fly to Texas together on June 4th for a week of house hunting. Last weekend, an amazing house came on the market so we put in an offer remotely. Our realtor showed us the house by FaceTime and we decided to take the jump and put our hat in the ring.  There were 5 other offers on the house and we were outbid. We were bummed but knew that there was reason we didn't get it. Something else was out there waiting for us.

Monday morning, after I woke up, Mike called me into his office to show me a house he found online. We both were in love but thought it would be best if at least one of us went to actually see the house just to make sure, as it was in an area we weren't that familiar with. We also thought we should gather a list of homes to look at just to see all our options. So I texted our realtor with a list of 16 homes that we narrowed down to 11 and Monday evening I was on my way to Texas. First thing Tuesday morning the house hunt was on. It was a long day...11 houses is A LOT to look at in one day but our realtor was a champ. She put the house we were in love with in the middle of the day and once we pulled up I knew that it was our house. Walking through the front door, my heart skipped a beat. It was perfect for us! I knew Mike would love it too. It was everything we wanted when we decide to make the move back to Texas. Country charm on 1/2 an acre with a beautiful pool, lots of mature trees and privacy and a bonus, there is a garage apartment that is a perfect office for Mike. Sold!

Mike and I have been together 12 years. In those 12 years, we have lived in 10 different homes, in 8 different cities in 4 different states. We are adventurers and have had so many amazing experiences in these last 12 years. Someone asked me recently, how do I know where home is with all the moving around we do? I replied, home is where my husband is. Simple as that.

I picture family BBQ's by the pool. Sleepovers with the nieces. Having the older nieces come to visit and having big family dinners. I picture it being the place that everyone comes to when they need some comfort or some love or just some fun.

Home truly is where the heart is.

I cannot wait for our new adventure to start and for those of you who think we are crazy...well maybe we are but you can't say we aren't having any fun!