Our lease on this little house ends at the start of September and soon we are going to have to start the arduous task of looking for a new place. We have decided we are not going to stay on here. There are a lot of things we love about this old cottage, but there are many, many things that make it a difficult house to live in. The tiny, awkward, old kitchen that turns cooking into a seriously unpleasant experience. The small, shady yard where almost nothing will grow (We have admitted defeat on the veggie patch here. It just isn’t going to happen.) The freezing cold bathroom and bedroom, where the heater won’t reach. The old floors that are permanently grubby, even after being mopped. The horrible laundry that leaks when it rains. The lack of storage (and the resulting piles of clothes on every available surface)…
Of course finding a nicer house is going to mean paying more rent, which will likely be challenging. And moving is never fun. But I’m hoping we can finally find a house that is a really good fit for us. We have moved many times but we’ve never had a home that was really right. This time around we will be able to take our time searching so we can wait until we find a place where we will be happy to stay long term. It would be really, really great to find somewhere we could settle for a while. I am so tired of moving every 6-12 months!
Of course, the thought of moving to our millionth rental home raises the question in my mind, will we ever have enough money to buy a house of our own? I sure hope so. But that just isn’t on the cards right now. I have to tell myself that getting all impatient isn’t going to make it happen any faster. There is no point wishing away the next few years until we can afford to buy a home. It is what it is. And at the end of the day, the house we are in doesn’t really matter. Home is wherever our little family is.
In the meantime, I trying not to get too frustrated with the space we are in now and reminding myself that I will be sad to leave this little house. It was our first home in Bendigo and the setting for a new chapter in our lives. I know when we leave I will miss these lovely old floor boards, that exposed brick wall and the giant lavender bush in the garden…
I hope you’ve all had a nice week. After a few days of grey skies and rain, today the sky is clear and blue! We plan to make the most of it. Wishing you a happy, sunshiney weekend!
Katie x
PS Our camera has been sent away for repair, so you’ll have to excuse the iphone photos for a little while. We miss Mr Nikon so badly!
PPS Thank you SO much for all your kind wishes about little Honey. It means so much. You guys are awesome x
I hope you find somewhere that’s more in line with yourselves
We’re really pushing for another year lease on our apartment because it’s in a pink building that’s over 100 years old in a beautiful, quiet town! Are you looking at a place still in Bendigo or changing location completely?
Staying in Bendigo! Just looking for a new house
Your home sounds amazing! x
Good luck house hunting. There is some adventure in looking for a new home!
I kind of enjoy renting, it’s fun being able to shop for a new house every now and then! Buying a house is so daunting, especially with how expensive they are in Australia. We’re tentatively planning to buy a house in the next few years, but for now I like renting our funny little row cottage
Yes, there definitely are some good things about renting – not having to worry about insurance, maintenance and Council rates for one! And I do like being able to pick up and move on, virtually whenever we grow sick of a place. I love change. The idea of buying a house where we would have to stay for a least a few years is a little bit scary… It’s a big commitment!
Well Katie, I can appreciate the challenge ahead of you, and hope that you will find some joy in the process of looking for your next place. In my 61 years I have moved over 20 times when I factor in the rentals we had for a few months while waiting to get into houses we were purchasing. But I affirm what you so well stated; home is not so much one perfect location as it is a loving attitude and appreciation for wherever your family is living together. While you mourn the absence of Honey may you continue to beautifully celebrate her life as you did in your last post.
Happy weekend and happy house shopping in the months ahead!
Gracie <3
Good luck with finding your new home and I hope it has everything you dream of.
Great shot of your fur-kids.
Hehe, aren’t they cute?! I tried really hard to get them both to look at the same time but it was impossible!
Good luck with the house hunt Katie. Old homes certainly have character but with that can come challenges…especially when it comes to heating and cooling! Happy weekend
Yes, bad heating and cooling is the worst. Well, that and run down old kitchens! The sad thing is this old house could be really, really lovely if the owner was prepared to spend just a little money on it. It has so much potential! x
Such lovely pictures of your home. If you can get such fab results in a space that’s not quite right for you, imagine what you could do in a more perfect place!!
Good luck!
Sarah
http://www.acatlikecuriosity.blogspot.co.uk
i really hope you fins a house of your drewams and then you buy it eventually!
I so get the feeling. We have out grown our home and there are so many problems that the landlord refuses to fix. One example is a roof so bad tradesmen refuse to fix it anymore!!! As much as we will be heartbroken to leave my husband and I keep finding more problems and reasons to leave. It makes me so sad but so excited for the next adventure.
Happy hunting.
I know your bittersweet feelings well. For nearly 20 years I lived in the foothills of Mt. Hood (in Oregon). It was beautiful there, and there was something very romantic about life in the mountains (just as there is in the idea of living in a rustic cottage). But the reality wasn’t so romantic, especially in winter. It was manageable when I was married, but felt unmanageable when my marriage ended and I was dealing with all kinds of things on my own. I’m now living somewhere I never thought I would–somewhere I never thought I could love–and life is so much better. I miss some things, for sure, but I’ve discovered all kinds of new pleasures. I hope it will be the same for you in the next chapter of your home life.
It took my husband and I four years to buy a house of our own. We even had a complete cheap DIY wedding in hopes we’d get a home quicker. We both work from home on freelance and it was rough. One thing that helped me live in the tiny apartment was not putting up pretty curtains or art work. Seems dramatic but it was my way of saying this isn’t permanent. I know every couple is different, but just a suggestion that helped ease the insanity a bit
Best of luck with the house hunt! It can be a long and tiring process but it usually ends up okay with you in a fabulous new abode. And you’re right. It’s not the house itself that matters. It’s the family you make inside it.
Hi Katie,
Funny you bring this subject up…
I am an avid thrifty shopper… no, no joke…it can get a little ridiculous! So I was contemplating my shopping habits and our mortgage this week. Although thrifting shopping is significantly cheaper than retail shopping, every little bit counts, I hate to say it but in both our situations, in order to save we need to spend less. Our situations might be very different but the end goal is the same, to own our own house!
Good Luck with finding a new home, I hope you find one you both love!
Elle x
Yep, lots of little thrifted purchases certainly do add up! I am trying to be more conscious of that and restrict my thrift trips. I do really struggle to resist cute things at the op-shop! Good luck with the saving – it is hard! x
Katie, well said! I have been living in a place for a few years, and keep excusing the faults. But I just can’t anymore! I want to live somewhere I can be relaxed and happy, so I think I will have to start looking too. I guess it’s good to be looking without a great hurry, as that’s how I got into this place in the beginning!
Good luck to you and Reuben, and the fur babies. I hope you find a great place xo
It IS hard to relax and be happy when the place you live isn’t right! We don’t want anything fancy – just a cozy little place we can be comfortable in. I hope you find a lovely new home too
I love your floors, your home always looks so cozy!
I hope all goes well with the move Katie and I love your pics especially the ones of your fur babies. I’m just new to your blog but really love it. I hope all goes really well with the new move for you both and your little babies
Good luck on your new home searching adventures, Katie and Reuben! I know how awfully annoying moving again and again can be. I’m patiently waiting the day when I have a home that I can settle into for a long while.
But, I think that’s all part of being the age that we are…moving here, seeing there. More than likely, another opportunity to spend our lives as tiny nomads won’t happen again until we’re old and retired.
So, although it’s frustrating, here’s to the memories all those moves create!
xo, Allie
You should look at Castlemaine as well – such a great place to live. Good luck.
ah! your home looks comfy. good luck with the search. xo!
i’m sure you’ll find the perfect place! sending positive vibes your way <3