I wanted to share part one of the latest leg of my journey. Much has happened in a short time so bare with me if I ramble; I’ll circle back around, I hope!
I think the last time I posted something personal was in May, in my “In Spite of Fear” post. If you’re curious what set this current train in motion, read that post. I’ll try to pick up where that post leaves off.
We did, in fact, get our house on the market. It took us until September but it looks really good! I also mentioned that there was no solid plan in place to guide us through this move. I’m actually grateful about that now, since I could not have possibly imagined how things have played out to this point.
Around Labor Day, we listed our house with an agent. The following week, I was let go from my part time job. On my very last day at work, I got a phone call from a potential employer in Wilmington, NC, to whom I’d sent my resume when I learned my job was ending. I scheduled an interview and flew down the following week.
It was a wretched week to be in Wilmington! While the summer had drought like conditions, much of the area saw wide spread flooding that week. I had a falling out with the sister who was supposed to drive me from my family’s home to Wilmington. It was the weekend of my nephew’s first camping trip with Boy Scouts so my other sister was away. I tried to rent a car but couldn’t because I don’t have a credit card. I finally borrowed a car to make it to my interview and drove in torrential downpours the entire way. In four days, the sun never shined. The sky was dark and the rain poured; it felt like a bad omen.
The interview itself went very well, I felt. They asked questions that made sense to me and I had good answers. The position was advertised as temporary, though, an open continuous type posting. I asked when they thought they would make a decision on hiring and was told it would probably be several weeks.
I flew home and started looking for positions in Cincinnati.
About two weeks later and no closer to finding a job, I got a call offering me the temporary position. We discussed when I would start. At first we talked about two weeks, then three, then decided two would be sufficient. The next day, I drove to North Carolina with the intention of finding a house to rent that would accomodate my dogs and cats. I had no idea just how difficult that would be.
My husband and I had discussed what we could afford to pay for a rental house. It was entirely unrealistic. We agreed we wouldn’t live in a mobile home, that we’d need 3 to 4 bedrooms, and a number of other criteria. For three days solid, I drove from rental agency to rental agency. No one seemed interested in renting to someone with THREE dogs and THREE cats. Except for some mobile home owners. At night, in the hotel, I searched craigslist, called people who never called back, and emailed people who never replied. I looked at a number of houses that would accept one dog and one cat. All wanted 12 month leases. All wanted massive pet deposits as well as rental deposits. I left one rental office abruptly when I burst into tears. I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders and my knees were buckling. I called home in tears, sometimes 3 or 4 times a day. I returned to Cincinnati feeling deflated.
I called the HR officer to request that additional week to get myself moved. It was not to be; another person was also starting with me and we’d need to begin training together. My ten days to move melted to three.
I continued to search for a rental in Wilmington via the internet. I emailed a prospective landlord and was brutally honest. I have three dogs and three cats. I need a fenced yard and I need it THIS weekend. Much to my surprise, he said he had a couple places that might suit me. And he only wanted $100 total for a pet deposit. I sent him a partial deposit by paypal and emailed that I’d see him Saturday.
I rented a moving truck. I booked my husband’s flight back to Cincinnati. I reserved a hotel room that would allow pets. I packed and packed and packed. Then I packed some more.
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