New Job, New Car, New House, New Stratum of Society

So I mentioned we were going to go looking at a house to rent in my last entry. Here it is, and yes, we go to sign the paperwork tomorrow for moving. Our lease with our current apartment runs through August, and we have given them their outrageous sixty days notice. SIXTY days? Seriously? It's the new management. We're probably not going to get our security deposit back, having been here for four years of wear and tear. But we'll still be more than fine, I think.

So, nice house right? It's right across the street from grocery store, so I can get food while Raymond is away. The whole area is fenced in and densely vegetated, with a natural pond nearby full of fish. The backyard has a deck with a retaining wall, and it is very, very private. It has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a decently sized laundry room and a walk-in closet almsot the size of our guestroom. It will, quite simply, fit us perfectly.

But wait, what is that parked in front of the two car garage? That, my friends, is Eve, our very own 2007 Mustang convertible. She's lovely and a sheer joy to drive, and still has most of her manufacturer's warranty. The buying of this car has apparently increased our credit substantially. Eve has only two drawbacks for me: she can only take two passenger's in the backseat, and the front passenger seat was never designed for passengers my shape and size. I don't know who it was designed for, but I'm going to have to figure out some sort of cushion system that works or cripple myself riding in it. The driver's seat has all manner of bells and whistles for adjustment, and so does not have that problem.

For the first time in my adult life I am above the poverty line, and it feels wonderful. The simple fact that I can buy a book (a new book!) when I want one feels jawdroppingly amazing to me after so long hating to window-shop because I could never afford anything I looked at. It's like stretching after spending a lot of time inside a very small box. And who is responsible for this wonderful change of events in my life? That would be Raymond, pictured on the right, hard at work at his new job after earning his well-deserved degree in a subject he loves. In January we began not only a new year, but a new life. I'm very excited to see what comes next, and quite determined not to make a hash of it. Wish me luck!

Amazing New Things

There have been some amazing things happening lately. I went to Raleigh to compete in the NCSBDC, and my schoolmates looked out for me. I said I wanted to go on the architecture trip to DC, and the money magically appeared. My classmates invited me to go to Virgina Beach with them afterwards, and I went. I received a scholarship that made a lot of things possible for me. Raymond's new job made it possible for me to go to Animazement this year, my first Con ever. Raymond himself graduated, and he alternates between working at home and going to Raleigh for a week at a time, where the company puts him up in a nice hotel and he is vastly appreciated by his coworkers. We've actually begun to be able to pay off our accumulated debts to family and cards, and set aside money for rainy days. I can buy a book now, and not have to agonize over every penny. (I still try to buy them used though. *shrugs*)

Much of that extra money has been sucked up, of course, by all the things we needed but were doing without, or by the things that suddenly broke into a million pieces as soon as we could afford to replace or fix them. The fish of gobbled down a great deal of it. Nevertheless, there was enough to spare, provided we are thoughtful about our expenditures large and small, that when the van began to die at stoplights and on the highway, we were able to decide that we had had enough. That's right, as of today, you are reading the blog of a person who has sold her soul for a 2007 Mustang convertible. Yes, it has a leather interior. Her name is Eve, and she is one sweet ride, with less than 8,000 miles on her. Payments are steep, but not as steep as they could have been. We crunched the numbers and even with our debts we can afford her, especially since we can expect Raymond to begin accruing raises after a year at least.

But wait, there's more! Raymond got a good chunk of change back from his company expense account. Not all of it, but enough to be happy making. And then yesterday, right down the road from us, a three bedroom house in a forested, fenced in lot directly next to a supermarket came up. It is adorable, very nearly perfect. We are looking at it today, because our lease is up in August at the apartments, and we really want a house. This one happens to be in our price range.

I tend not to believe in coincidences. Thank you, Universe, for the helping hand up the ladder. I surely do appreciate it.