Climate Shift

This real estate transaction has become like Texas Panhandle weather—if you don't like it, just wait a moment and it will change. Yesterday morning as I was getting ready for work (running late and still hadn't even vacuumed to make the house look unlived in for the afternoon showing), the wife part of the sellers/divorcing duo (quick recap of Monday's post: the selling couple decided they didn't want to sell me their house after all because they preferred to get a divorce and have Mr. keep the family homestead) came by my house to apologize for any inconvenience and say that they're going through with the sale of the Maple Bluff house. She ended up chatting for about 30 minutes, breast-fed her baby in my kitchen, and by the time she left was offering to introduce me to the MB neighbors and give me flexibility on the closing date. She also indicated that her soon-to-be-ex-husband might not be a bad catch.

She didn't just say, "Take my husband... please." She was referring to his sterling qualities, and I jumped in to add, "And SOON newly single!" implying personal opportunity. I waved my hands in that "I'm kidding" way, to which she responded not to count it out since he felt a bond with me when we met as I was first viewing their house. Later she marketed him further with, "And he's a very handy guy." So handing him off like a baton in some relay wasn't explicit, but more implied. I think it could have some major benefits—he gets to maintain an interest in the family homestead. And I get... well... who knows? I'm sure I could make a list.

Does he really need to have a say in it, or is it enough that his almost ex- and I think it's a good idea? I suppose it would be the decent thing to do to let them actually transact the divorce before making my to-do list for him. Plus right now I'm seeing Andy the Cutest Boy in the Whole World—39, new Hasher, fun to run, bike & swim, etc with.

The offer finally made on my house was written by a realtor who's an idiot, but the main points were $168K, close 7/1, contingency on the buyers selling their mobile home (oh, don't you know). We countered w/$173K, close 6/15. No response yet, and they were supposed to respond by last night. Sigh...

After a new drama introducing each of the past two days, today seems so pale. But maybe that's okay. I woke up at about 4:00 this morning barraged by the sights and sounds of lightning, thunder, and heavy rains. I love thunderstorms, but felt compelled to send up a prayer of, "God, I know you've been having your twisted fun with me up to now on this house thing. But please don't be a total Jerk and have lightning hit 4606 Dakota. I know it would make a good story, but I simply don't want to deal with it." So far, so good.