Shopping for Houses

Lately I've been shopping online for houses in another city because we're considering a move. Our town is wonderful, but only one of us has a job. Fortunately we can live pretty well here on one income. We don't eat out very often, don't go out, make do with a lot of old stuff, have one car, etc.

We don't need to move, especially if it means moving to a place known for its high personal crime rate. It's got three times the national average rate of car theft, arson, and rape. That's not something I'm going to sign up for if I don't have to. On the other hand, if the pay is significantly better for my husband and I also have a job, then it's hard to argue we shouldn't move. We can easily find a great place to live if two incomes contribute to the mortgage.

We might even be able to find one with a mature fruit tree so Newfers can continue her new found game - picking plums off the tree. It's so cute!

We've lived for so long on one income since I've been in school for years. I haven't had to work just so we could get by. After looking at this other market, it seems that in order to get into a house that is at least as nice as ours in a neighborhood that isn't "ghetto" or on an arterial street, then we need two incomes. What if I hate my job? What if in spite of the endometriosis that has rendered my body incapable of being pregnant a miracle happens and I get pregnant?

We've spent a lot of time talking about "what if" scenarios. We have figured out how much the pay offer and benefits package would need to be in order to consider moving on one income, but after looking at houses, I think it would have to be even higher. Almost all of the houses that I am interested in already have offers in on them and the others either need work, are near the airport, or on an artery. Argh. I would be much less anxious if I had an interview scheduled too.

There's a lot to be said for staying here in this idyllic place of lavender and vineyards.