On 19 February (two weeks hence), Peter and I will drive to Albuquerque to bring a mattress, some boxes, and cleaning equipment to get the house ready for occupation. Peter bid on the house in late November, and we received news from our Realtor that our bid had been accepted. Closing took some time, and there were items that we wanted credit for in order to fix them, but the sellers weren’t budging on the price. I was of the opinion of just letting the house go, but Peter wanted the house badly enough to concede the credits, which would have added up to over twelve thousand dollars. However, because no single item would cost more than the fifteen hundred dollar minimum the seller had set (and our agent accepted on Peter’s behalf, though he did not remember, I remembered the number), they weren’t budging. So it goes. The real estate market in Albuquerque is nothing like in San Diego in general, but for good houses, the prices were nothing short of extraordinary. Lots of people leaving California to move elsewhere to find more affordable accommodations and lower cost of living. When we looked in the local co-op supermarket, prices were not far below San Diego prices, especially for the freshest produce that we would have wanted. We had been spoiled by living in San Diego, a place so conveniently reached by growers and suppliers alike. Now, produce will have to travel to get to where we are.
We did manage to find an Asian grocery store online, as their website was remarkably similar to the markets here in San Diego, with many of the same offerings, primarily in Asian groceries. I also found a local gym with a swimming pool, which I will join as soon as we arrive permanently.
We will still be returning to San Diego so that I can drive up to Santa Barbara for Kat’s graduation, if the administration will allow an in-person graduation ceremony. If not, then I will fly back to San Diego and drive my car up to fetch Kat with all of her kitchen equipment, clothes, books, and other affects to return her to San Diego. I may sign her up for driving lessons through AAA of Southern California, which will set me back six hundred dollars or so, but Peter insists it’ll be worth it, because she’ll get the driving practice she needs with an instructor who can teach her, probably better than either Dad or I can…
On that thought, I’m not opposed to staying in San Diego this summer until Kat gets her driver’s license. I would just be nervous with her behind the wheel, esp. in traffic. But, I suppose as she becomes more accustomed to the mechanics of driving, she’ll become more confident, allowing me to become more confident, as well.
At any rate, Kat will graduate from UCSB in June and start her next adventure, as well…
nkpyallinone 