ketchup

Recall Mia Wallace's joke in Pulp Fiction: Three tomatoes are walking down the street - a papa tomato, a mama tomato, and a little baby tomato. Baby tomato starts lagging behind. Papa tomato gets angry, goes over to the baby tomato, and smooshes him...and says, catch up.

So "ketchup", or catch up. Ha. Really, this blog is all about catching up on my craftsman since I haven't posted since 2016. I am in a writing kind of mood I suppose, considering my vacation this week just got smooshed, like the baby tomato.

Where to begin. I do not plan to go into much detail because some of it is both painful and embarrassing, and trust me it takes a lot to embarrass me. Guess I'll start with, I am currently living in West Seattle. I ended up buying another house, a super cute Tudor, in the High Point neighborhood. It's a nice house, well maintained by the prior owner (also named Gina) who lived here for 20 years before me. The house has a sweeping view of the Cascades and city, so that alone was likely the reason for 24 bids on the house back in May 2017. Not kidding, TWENTY FOUR OFFERS. Seattle real estate is just as insane as you've likely heard, and I dare not mention how much over asking I paid (hint: embarrassing). But it's been a great house with good neighbors and an incredibly convenient location to the city (well, it technically is in the city) without having to live in the thick of it. And I see why Californians love WS so much. It feels like a beach town, probably because it has beaches, and the main thoroughfare is called "California Ave", and it's just slower over here on "the island" as I like to call it. So yes, I am happy here. Now why did I move here in the first place, you ask? That is the part I will leave out of the story (hint: painful and embarrassing). If you really care to know, call me and I'll tell you.

Meanwhile, I rented out my craftsman. That was a rough decision. Initially, I decided to sell. Then the guy who posts the 'for sale' signs in the yard showed up a day early and I literally flipped my lid, as in lost my shit, as in had a meltdown. I immediately called my realtor in an hysterical fit and told her to TAKE IT DOWN! I could not let my house go. I had too much invested emotionally given all the work I'd done to it, all the challenges I faced and the growing I did in the process. Fortunately, I was referred to a good property manager and she was able to rent it to a nice couple from...California! Their rent covered my mortgage. I felt set for the year, at least.

WS has been fun. The people at Bakery Nouveau know my drink and name. The neighbors are nice and chatty, and they look out for me, the "single gal". Biking and running and hiking routes are plentiful and safe. I am near many of my friends and the city attractions, so convenience is tops. However, my renters are moving (ironically to WS) and so I am back at a crossroads. I do not want to own two homes. I do not like being at the mercy of renters and the market and PNW plate tectonics. I also want to feel "settled" and be able to focus on house projects without thinking, well, what if I don't stay here? Having that second home is distracting. I also want to simplify. Who the hell needs two houses?! Thus, I have decided to offload one of the homes, and that is my current dilemma. But which one?

Emotionally, I cannot decide. I have formed attachments to both houses. My gut is being vague. The decision has to be logical. I have therefore worked on a pros/cons list, and so far, Tacoma is leading. What is holding me back from making the decision? Which factors are weighted higher? Well, that view for one. My WS view is just stunning. I think the second reason I am hesitating is the social aspect. Getting together with people is just easier when living in WS. I know more people in Seattle than Tacoma. But there are so many pros to Tacoma...including the fact that my mortgage is less than half the amount in Seattle so I can probably pay it off in five years and not have to work a job that makes my life hell but rather do something that brings me joy. Such a concept. Perhaps I should weigh that factor highest?