To move or not to move

I had a specific idea for a blog, but I couldn't go through with it. It was going to be about my cat, Devotion, who I lost recently, and I was going to share what a great story she was, but I just can't do it yet...still too hard.

So, now I'm torn on what to write about. It's been so long since I blogged and soooo much has happened...I really don't know where to start. So, you know what....I'll start with what's going on right now in my life.

Bathrooms.

Yes, you read that right, bathrooms.

We have been considering moving for over a year now. Don't get me wrong, we love our present house, but we've decided that coming from New York, we really aren't cut out for the country stuff. We aren't comfortable with well and septic, and living on an acre of land...well, let's just say yard work is NOT my husbands forte'.

So, we decided were going to build the "affordable" version of our dream home. We were super excited to be able to pick out our house plan, cabinets, floors, lights, counter top....I'd give the boys their own bedrooms and I'd get a master suite with a jacuzzi tub and finally a deck off the kitchen. We toured builders model home and had our favorites. We dreamed BIG, but reasonably.

I work in a real estate office....I see the market every day and I went home several weeks ago and said, "We can't sell now. The market sucks and we'd never get what the house is worth and what we need to build the home we want."

Now comes the dilema. If we weren't selling, do we just remodel our home KNOWING that we won't get our money back? Years ago, when the market was normal, if you remodeled your kitchen or bathroom, you'd get your money back when you went to sell it. It's not like that now. If you spend $15,000 to remodel your kitchen, you spent $15,000 to make your house more saleable, but it won't increase your value of your home like it should.

We thought about the kids....Nick is out of high school in 2 years. If he goes away to college that would give Chris his own room anyway, and chances are, when Nick gets out of high school, if he goes to a local college, he'll just move into the spare bedroom downstairs, or according to him, get an apartment with his best friend.

We thought about us....we see what has happened with my father in law. He is in a home and my mother in law is not financially prepared for that. We definetely don't want to put our kids through all that. We thought maybe upgrading isn't a good idea. Maybe we should just stay where we are and downsize several years from now...

We talked about it in great length and decided we were going to stay and do some updating. We decided the first thing to do was to update the bathrooms. Michael wanted to update the main bathroom first; I wanted to update the lower level guest bathroom.

Changing the subject for a moment...I am a Josh Groban fan. Have been since the beginning of his career, and for all of you non-Josh fans, I am NOT NOT NOT referring to the "You raise me up" beginning. I'm talking about Ally McBeal time. Waaaaay back then.

After seeing him the 2nd time in concert,during his Awake tour, I decided to join his fan club. Not to make friends or anything, hell, I wasn't even going to post; I just wanted to learn more about him. Turns out my plan completely backfired, and after being on it several weeks, I started to post. Not only that, I made friends! GOOD friends. TRUE friends. Didn't matter what our ages were, they are truly wonderful people, and I am blessed to have each and every one of them in my life.

So, began our little annual convention that I hold at my house. Every July, the 5 or 6 of us get together and just have a blast. Granted, we TRY to get together other times during the year, but if that doesn't happen, we always know we'll see each other at the convention. And in case some people are thinking we just sit around giggling like teenagers over Josh Groban, you might be surprised to hear that we hardly EVER talk about him at all. He may have brought us together, but we are friends beyond his music.

This July marks the 3rd annual convention. And let me tell you...having you guys use that bathroom downstairs for the last 2 years had bothered me IMMENSELY!!! But, the upstairs bathroom wasn't much better. Hence, my argument for the guest bathroom to be remodeled FIRST.

We called a plumber in...got an estimate and when he said, "If you let me do both bathrooms, I'll cut off $2,000." DONE!

So, the downstairs bathroom was completed first. Ceramic tiled floor to ceiling, new euro sink, AWESOME shower (we've had to use it while the upstairs bathroom was being done), and I have to say, I LOVED it!!! So, this year ladies, you get to shower in an actual S-H-O-W-E-R. (Which some of you may need after we see the concert together) LOL

The upstairs bathroom was completely gutted. Tile was torn out down off the lower half of the walls and replaced with wainscotting. The blue, jacuzzi, cast iron tub was torn out and replaced with an acrylic tub and ceramic tiles. The 1970's poles that divided the sink from the toilet - GONE. The 61" vanity with single sink - ripped out and replaced with double undermount sinks, granite top, with 2 mirrors. The disgusting floor, is now heated ceramic tile floor that I can program when I want it to go on. I. LOVE. IT! All that is left is the shower doors that are special order, painting, and window treatments that I have to be satisfied with (I've gone through 3 already), but all in all I am very, very pleased.

I considered posting pictures, but decided to surprise you guys instead...

I guess this just proves that sometimes dreams can change, but you know what? Sometimes the alternative isn't that bad.