One week ago today (last Sunday), Miguel and the dogs and I were out for one of our "round the neighborhood" walks in the middle of the day (usually we go at night).  We walked our normal route and passed by a house we'd seen several times already with a "for sale" sign out in front.  Today, however, there was a new sign that read "Open House".  We'd never really took much interest in the place - except for an occasional oooohhh and aaaahhh over the huge south facing yard that is practically a blank slate for landscaping.  We noted the sign and didn't really know what that meant, as we continued on.  Then I said "Well, why not?  Why don't we just knock on the door and see if we can have a "free" look-see?"

So we came back around after talking about all the reasons we wouldn't like the place, an then tied the dogs up on a street sign out front.  We knocked on the door and a gentleman invited us in and said to take as long as we wanted.  Upon entering the house, I think our entire opinion of the place transformed from "it's ok" to "I really like this".  The floors were nicely finished hardwood, and there was stained moulding around all the windows - crown moulding throughout.  The kitchen was beatuful - usable space with an artistic mix of granite, attractive cabinetry and plenty of counterspace.  The icing on the cake was the enormous basement with concrete floors that added about 900 sq feet to the place.  We were both impressed with the inside of the house and thought that this might just be a place where we could live. 

Back home, I spent several nights tossing and turning thinking about living in that house and toiling over the cost of it all - and the commitment!  We're doing fine in this little house with enough money to go out to dinner once in a while and enjoy some of the local entertainment Bellingham has to offer.  But yikes, having 2 houses all of a sudden with renters involved, extra money each month going to a new house payment, moving costs, new neighbors, finding the right 'spot' for our collection of furniture...this may be too much.  Plus, we just finished putting in a new patio in the backyard, and we're considering leaving before we even get to enjoy it!

Luckily, the sleepless nights only lasted a week or so - until we put an offer in on the place.  Then the owners of the house didn't even respond one way or the other to our little offering (much below the asking price).  So, we're off the hook now, and still thinking about moving into that house someday - when the owners get tired of having it on the market.  For now, however, I'll be sleeping better knowing that nothing's going to change just yet.