Sugarmom
09-19-2006, 08:18 AM
I've been gone so much and so busy I haven't been posting much. Just lurking on occasion! I've been very actively interviewing with several companies in Washington state, and two are moving toward the offer stage. I may hear on one today. We previously lived there for six years, and I still know lots and lot of people and have been networking like crazy. I can't explain why, but I've had virtually no activity from any of the jobs for which I've applied in Texas.
After a second summer in Texas, I've concluded that I just can't stay here. I'm fair-skinned, red-haired and just wilt in the heat and humidity. I've spent very little time with our horses because of it. As much as I've tried to like Texas, it's just been a hard adjustment for me, no offense to my fellow Texans. The best part about Texas is the friendliness of the people, and having become friends with our horsey neighbors who have taught me a lot. Overall, it just hasn't been a great experience. We moved here for Robert's job, which has gone well for him. We've moved three times in five years for his work, and I just finally put my foot down and told him I'm going back to what feels like home, namely Washington. We've been having a lot of problems, which doesn't help. My career has suffered because of the moves. And our closest friends are all still in Washington.
I bought a new travel trailer this week and pick it up on Friday. It's an ArubaLite 26' with a slideout, and I can pull it with my Sequoia. I leave Sunday to head back to Washington and expect to arrive next Wednesday. I'm just pushing straight through so that I can get set up at the very nice RV park in Preston where I'll be living in the trailer for the foreseeable future. Much less expensive than renting a studio apartment for about $1200/month, which seems to be the going rate. I may have a job, I may not. If not, I have the ability to interview immediately, and can do more networking. The worst case scenario is that I run out of my unemployment and we have to start digging into our 401k. I hope that doesn't happen, and my gut tells me it won't.
Assuming we stay together, the plan would be for Robert to sell the house and for him to find a job in Seattle. We've talked about finding raw land and building the house we want instead of constantly fixing the houses we buy. And it's the only way we'll be able to afford the land for our mares. Looks like we may be living in the trailer for a long time. Land and housing prices have gone through the roof in the Seattle area. We sold our log house on 5 acres for $425K four years ago, and it's worth over $700K now. Do I wish we had never sold it? Boy, don't you know it.
Being in Washington for an extended visit was like being home again. I miss it so much. In my heart and gut, I'm doing the right thing by getting out there again. So sorry for not being around. I hope everyone's doing well, and I have a lot of catching up to do here.
After a second summer in Texas, I've concluded that I just can't stay here. I'm fair-skinned, red-haired and just wilt in the heat and humidity. I've spent very little time with our horses because of it. As much as I've tried to like Texas, it's just been a hard adjustment for me, no offense to my fellow Texans. The best part about Texas is the friendliness of the people, and having become friends with our horsey neighbors who have taught me a lot. Overall, it just hasn't been a great experience. We moved here for Robert's job, which has gone well for him. We've moved three times in five years for his work, and I just finally put my foot down and told him I'm going back to what feels like home, namely Washington. We've been having a lot of problems, which doesn't help. My career has suffered because of the moves. And our closest friends are all still in Washington.
I bought a new travel trailer this week and pick it up on Friday. It's an ArubaLite 26' with a slideout, and I can pull it with my Sequoia. I leave Sunday to head back to Washington and expect to arrive next Wednesday. I'm just pushing straight through so that I can get set up at the very nice RV park in Preston where I'll be living in the trailer for the foreseeable future. Much less expensive than renting a studio apartment for about $1200/month, which seems to be the going rate. I may have a job, I may not. If not, I have the ability to interview immediately, and can do more networking. The worst case scenario is that I run out of my unemployment and we have to start digging into our 401k. I hope that doesn't happen, and my gut tells me it won't.
Assuming we stay together, the plan would be for Robert to sell the house and for him to find a job in Seattle. We've talked about finding raw land and building the house we want instead of constantly fixing the houses we buy. And it's the only way we'll be able to afford the land for our mares. Looks like we may be living in the trailer for a long time. Land and housing prices have gone through the roof in the Seattle area. We sold our log house on 5 acres for $425K four years ago, and it's worth over $700K now. Do I wish we had never sold it? Boy, don't you know it.
Being in Washington for an extended visit was like being home again. I miss it so much. In my heart and gut, I'm doing the right thing by getting out there again. So sorry for not being around. I hope everyone's doing well, and I have a lot of catching up to do here.