Category: Dreaming

2014 Resolutions

I’m probably the last blogger that has gotten around to writing about New Year’s Resolutions… and to post it on a Friday Afternoon? It’s like I don’t know anything about blogging at all! Oh well. I am trying to get back into the swing of things and to post twice weekly, so an 11th hour post is what you get, readers.

Resolution #1: Go for a long walk twice weekly… more if possible

Mission Bay

After an eight hour shift standing/walking/hustling all day, the last thing my feet are in the mood for is a long walk. Sometimes I’ll take Mosey to the dog park and throw the ball for him, but in that scenario Mosey does all the work and I just stand around. San Diego’s slogan is America’s Finest City, and what’s the point in living here if I don’t take advantage of the year-round good weather, the amazing beaches, and plentiful parks? This week, while the rest of the country was covered in snow and ice we went for a really nice walk at Mission Bay. We just live a stone’s throw from the beautiful bay and I don’t know why we don’t make it out here more often.

Resolution #2: Make 2014 the year of home ownership… or at least head in that direction

Point Loma and Coronado

It’s scary to think about spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a new home. It’s scarier to think of flushing all that money down the drain every month forever and ever and ever. Now that we’re spending an absurd amount on rent, this reality is clearer than ever. Homeownership isn’t for everyone, and it depends on your situation–use this handy tool for some perspective. The truth of the matter is that San Diego rent prices are crazy and we might be able to scoop up a dilapidated condo or townhouse that will reach the “buying is better than renting” line after 3-5 years. Seeing how we have lived here for 16 months already, time certainly is flying. Now to get down to brass tacks and really think about money.

One of these resolutions is going to be easy and enjoyable, and one I can tell is going to be very hard and emotional. Here’s to 2014!

Did you make any resolutions?

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New Apartment Wishlist

Here I am again dreaming of all the modern conveniences one could have if they lived in a brand-new, loaded with amenities apartment.

I could spend several paragraphs here talking about history, and how I have loved living in old (like, approaching 100 years old) buildings since 2010, wondering, who lived here before? what kind of shop was underneath (in the case of my old loft) and what were they thinking?! (in regards to some decor choices). However, this kind of nostalgia has worn thin as I’ve had to deal with crumbling plaster leaving the floor coated in dust, wonky doors that sometimes latch and sometimes don’t, windows that have been painted shut (in this place) or that let the wind in (at our old loft).

I find myself wishing, simply, for drywall and modern double pane windows.

So, without further ado, here is my wishlist for our new place. I know that within our price range, our next place be an apartment unit as opposed to a rental house, and it will NOT have all of these things… but it is nice to dream sometimes, isn’t it?

  • Lower level (to make taking the dog out easier)
  • Drywall walls! (building newer than 1960s, 1970s)
  • Wood or tile floors (for cleanliness)
  • Dishwasher (we are SICK of doing dishes by hand!)
  • Hot tub! (Tons of places in San Diego offer a hot tub, so this makes the list!)
  • More than 6 sq. ft. of kitchen counter space
  • Large-ish windows in each room
  • Gas stove (definitely not a deal breaker, but it’d be nice)

I’ll be taking a copy of this list me when I go apartment hunting, too. It’s so easy to forget stuff like this in the heat of the moment, when touring an older unit with lots of “character.” However, if it doesn’t have at least a couple of things from this list I’m gonna rule it out!!

What’s on your wish list for your next place? If you don’t plan on moving, what would you update in your current place, if you were able?

An Alternate Universe

To be honest, when I leave my apartment on a quiet morning and admire the bright pink flowers in front of the house complementing the rich teal shutters, I know that this is really a lovely place to live. I love the size and the layout. I love the size of the yard and I can see LOTS of potential.

If we could transplant this whole house and yard to California, we would do it in a second (minus the basement, which isn’t appropriate for a state that gets lots of earthquakes… Also, unfinished basements are super creepy).

However, I know that transplanting the house is not economical nor possible, so we have come to terms with the fact that we’ve got just about 1 month left in our current adobe abode. I’ve been smiling at the exterior color that was an “oops” color–it has grown on me a lot, and the green lawn and bushes in front of the house have really helped me come to terms with it.

We still talk about what we would do with the house if we owned it and were planning on living here long-term. Here’s our brainstorming list! It’s presented in relative order of priority. And dollar signs on a scale of $ to $$$ …just for fun, I guess.

  • Update the weird 80s track lighting in the bathroom $
  • Quadruple the size of our usable backyard by fencing it in properly $$$
  • Build a 16 x 16 wood deck in the back of the house $$$
  • (Click here for a mock-up of my dream backyard)… 
  • Remodel the kitchen with new cabinets $$$
  • Update wiring in the whole house; relocate some plugs $$$
  • Create an additional flagstone patio further back in the yard, with a chiminea $$
  • Finish at least half of the basement with wiring, drywall, and carpet $$$
  • Finish the laundry room with updated plumbing, relocate washer and dryer to south side of house, install cabinet system $$$

Needless to say, it would be easy to put $20k or more into the house. I love it but I am ready for some modern convenience, like, say a dishwasher or drywall, for that matter! But… I’ll touch on that in another post…