Wisdom from a new home-owner (2 weeks after purchase):

*Not necessarily in order, or specifically related to home-owning, but just some things I've figured out.

1. If you want to get over your fear of bugs, buy a home in good old Tennessee. You'll conquer it in 4 days. Gaurenteed... well, unofficially gaurenteed. I can't have you taking me to court for buying a house in TN and not getting over your phobia in 4 days, now, can I?

2. When you own a home, all those "nitpicky" things your parents have always wanted to do suddenly become more real, and you do them with little hesitation. I now sweep my floor every other day, and mop it pretty constantly (I don't want the junk to build up, take over my kitchen, attract MORE bugs, and lead to shelling out thousands of dollars for a new floor). I close my fridge faster, turn the lights off when I don't need them, use only as much water as I need (for the most part), lock the front door, keep the thermostat around 78 degrees, wash the dishes and put them in the dishwasher immediately after use, and MORE... Suddenly these little things have become so real to me since it's MY investment. Not that I don't care about other houses, I do, but it really "hits home" now, if that's right to say. :)

3. I LOVE having a 600 square foot upstairs all to myself. LOVE IT.

4. Painting is fun, but a lot more work than I thought.

5. Plumbers are expensive. Connections/plumber friends are worth their weight in gold.

6. Totally a good idea to buy a house and rent out rooms... the rent money eliminates a lot of stress the new mortgage payment tends to put on.

7. Less is more... The furniture worked out, but I over-purchased on used (but nice) kitchenwares. I've already packed dishes in boxes to be stored in my attic. How pathetic. At least they're pretty dishes, right? I'll use them eventually.

8. Buying a house has SO MANY parrelells with dating. There is all that stuff about choosing the house, and accepting it for the points you love (realizing it has flaws and is not perfect), and then there is the mental state of obsession & excitement. Between the time things START, and when they become more PERMANENT in your mind, a lot changes - mentally, physically, etc... I went from EXCITED, nervous, but EXTREMELY happy on day one to lonely, stressed, overwhelmed, etc... by day 5. Now, about two weeks into ownership, I feel like I can manage it - It'll be a rollercoaster, but I'm finally feeling comfortable and at home. Excited, but not unrealistically.

9. It's great to have a place to entertain! Though I haven't done the house warming party yet, I love that friends can come over and I feel TOTALLY comfortable because it is MY PLACE. Gotta get going on the party plans, though!

10. Memory foam mattress are heaven on earth.


I'm sure there is more I've learned, but those are all the smart/entertainingly wise comments I can think of for now. Hopefully they were somewhat entertaining. If you're in Tennessee, look for the invite for a housewarming party soon. I hope to throw it for next week.

All is well - loving life even though it doesn't always show me as much love as I think I need. The job is tough, but the work is worth it. I owe thanks to my sisters and mom for listening to me and pushing me along... showing me that it'll pay off if I keep working hard. I can do this!

I want to go back to school. I need to finish my bachelors degree. I keep saying I'm going to start next semester, but I really am going to this time. I need to.

Things are going well with Javier. We talk casually about marriage, but I know he thinks about it more than he communicates... so it seems, and so he says. He has a goal - specifics in mind. I do know that much. I want to marry him, so I'm being patient. He's worth it. He's strong, loving, spiritually minded, responsible, secure, mature, and so fun to be with. There is a lot I don't know about him. I am hoping I'll learn a lot when I stay with his family for two weeks in December, but I know there will always be new things (negative & positive) we learn about eachother that we'll have to adapt to... We have things (like culture differences) going against us, but also have things (like religious beliefs) going for us. I love him so much.

Well, it's been fun, but I've gotta go!

Thanks for reading.

Kalli Dawn