"So, you ready to
go look at houses?" my coworker asked me, unlocking his motorcycle after
our meeting last Friday. House hunting I was sure about, riding a
motorcycle not quite as much so, but I clambered on the back and off we
went. As we reached the road along
the lake I caught my breath. The
volcanoes were rising up on the far side of the lake, their triangular peaks
cutting the sky. I hadn’t gotten a
chance to see them when I arrived the day before since clouds and mist obscured
the view. I wished I had my camera
with me, but taking photos while riding on the back of a motorcycle probably
isn’t recommended anyway.
Things didn’t look so
great at first- a phone call to confirm a place to look at that we found out
was no longer available, a decent studio apartment but they wouldn’t let me
have my cat, 3 real estate offices with nothing worth looking at. . . I was
beginning to think this might be impossible.
That same evening
though, after giving up for the night, I was talking to a friend. She was also house-hunting and had
found the perfect place her first try on a tip from a friend. There happened to be a 2nd
house available in the same complex, so she gave me the contact info.
The next morning,
sitting over breakfast, I made a couple phone calls and set up 2 more apartment
visits. Then, in the afternoon, I
walked around until I found “for rent” signs and made a couple more spontaneous
visits. Three of the places were a
bit bleak and depressing- cement block walls, dark, claustrophobic. Not really options in my book. But the first one I looked at, the one
my friend recommended, had potential.
So, I decided to move in. I just took it for a month for now, in
case I find something I love in the next few weeks. But if I don’t this is fine. It’s furnished, centrally located, decent rent, a good size
for just me, bright and sunny, seems safe, and has a patio and yard. It’s also
rather noisy at night, I miss having kitchen cupboards, the internet has been
really bad, they’re doing construction next door so I hear hammers and saws all
afternoon, and I have trouble getting the hot water heater for the shower
started, so I might still keep looking.
But at least for now, here’s my house in Pana.
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| My tiny house, porch and yard. The rainy season is just now starting, so the grass will be green soon. |
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| My bedroom- on the small side, but then, I'm a small person. |
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| My favorite room in the house- the living room is quite cozy |
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| My very non-US kitchen |
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