An Interesting Turn of Events

Sunday afternoon I stopped by to return a book to a friend who was moving and casually took a tour through her house. She offered me an incredible deal on the place. I mean, really incredible. So I'm considering -- and not just "I" but the "we" that includes "I". It would mean a little bit of a commute and more gas. And it would mean making a commitment to stay put at least until my hubby gets out of school. But we would be investing . . . and starting out "ahead."

So I called up the bank I have the best relationship with and began to ask questions about finances, etc. My financial advisor turned out to be a pastor working a second job. And he seemed to know things. Like, he asked if I was a PCA or PCUSA pastor. Most people don't know to ask that. And he knew financial things too. Within the hour I had been advised against purchasing a house unless I truly could afford it and I knew what that meant because he walked me through it. I also had a savings plan for immediate and long term needs and discovered I'd almost reached the beginning savings goal (that's a first!) He helped me set up longer term savings goals in a money market fund and evaluated me for term life insurance to insure that my family would be provided for if I lost my life. I'd say I was "taken" except that I had been "meaning" to do all of these things for a long time and he took an hour of my day by phone and not only walked me through why they were important but also helped me set them up . . . affordably and in my budget.

So will we buy a house a settle down a few years? I don't know. She'd sell me the house that low if it was a quick sale so I'll know in the next 2 weeks if my life is going to turn upside down or not. After that it will go on the market almost $50K more than she's quoting me. I know the real estate agent she spoke with. We'll think through it all as clearly as we can and we'll also pay attention to the other stirrings that are going on beneath it all -- missing each other, wondering if it's time for me to consider other options for work, etc. It's all a "weighing options" game.

So that's the news from Arbuckle Creek, where gas is $3.78, children commute across county lines to orthodontist appointments, and raccoons, deer, otters, fox, and other wildlife are still a part of the natural landscape.