Monday, January 14, 2008

emotional rollercoaster



I'm feeling really bummed. I just found out we missed out on the place we liked. Only one party put in an offer higher than ours. I didn't realise how much I'd pinned my hopes on it till now that I'm feeling really really crappy. It didn't feel like this the last time we missed out on a place because we knew it really wasn't right - that time we felt relief.

I should look on the bright side - that we're actually in a position to be looking. But I just want that
home, a place I can do things to, paint, change light fittings, nail things to walls. And floorboards. How much I desperately want a space with floorboards.

Okay, time to go gather some perspective. This zeitgeist movie/documentary is good for that. You definitely must watch it (trust me, once you get past the intro it gets very good - in fact you really need to watch the whole thing to get their point).

19 comments:

metremade said...

lara - totally understand your pain. i hate how homebuying is in no way related to personal talent, dedication, hard work or good will. only how much cash you can cough up! ironically, the sleepless nights provide more time to be working & earning that cash... ugh. cheers! tess.

Unknown said...

That is a shame about the house. We just found a rental place, but there was another one I really really wanted and I was a little disapointed we didn't get it. However I am sure you will find a place that is perfect. I might have to come to you for some advise near the end of the year when Gareth and I will start looking.

Danielle said...

so sorry to hear you missed out! how disappointing... hopefully your new home is not far away... and it'll be even better than that one anyway ;-)
i've got my fingers crossed for you!

and your new shop sounds like a great idea - look forward to seeing it!

Anonymous said...

shoot. my fingers were crossed.i hope the next place you find is more amazing than the last. yep.

kristy said...

yeah it's so bad when you just miss out. i have bought recently and missed out on a couple of houses that i thought were the best ever. but it is true what people say, things happen for a reason. a new house will suddenly appear and you will love it and you will get it and think it's so much better than the last one!

good luck xx

Hyena In Petticoats said...

I'm so sorry sweetheart.....

That picture just breaks my heart.....

* sob*

Leah xxxx

Kristine said...

Yuk, the highs and lows of house hunting. Doesn't it just suck. I'm sorry you missed out on the house you'd set your heart on. I do that too when we go house hunting. I have all the furniture placed, I've chosen the curtain fabric in my mind. It's such a bummer when you miss out. Hopefully a better one will be just around the corner.

paperseed said...

Oh Lara, I'm so sorry you didn't get that house you wanted. I know what you mean about pinning your hopes – we've been trying for a baby for almost two years and a few months ago I really thought I had gotten pregnant, so many tell-tale signs, but it turns out I was wrong. I felt pretty heart-broken for a while afterwards. I know my comparison may sound weird, but I have a feeling you'll find another house you like, and that you will build many, many happy memories there. It is worth the wait.

ed said...

I hear ya girlfriend... we've been looking for a while and are ready to just buy somewhere goddamit!! The biggest bummer for me was realising that our budget can only afford us either a tiny space in a good location or lots of space in a crappy location. We've settled for the latter and are trying to detach ourselves from our convenient inner-city lifestyle in preparation... not easy I tell you. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

i share your pain!
totally understand about needing a place to put the nails in etc ...
you will find it eventually...

yeah! agree about etsy especially if you are doing it full time. good luck with that! am sure it will be great!

Anonymous said...

Oh Lara, house hunting is such a pain in the ass. I totally understand your disappointment and the only thing I can say is that something better will come along...it will. You'll see.

Anonymous said...

oh Lara :( that sucks. disappointment is a horrible feeling.

i will be renting for quite a while yet, but i do have that yearning for space to paint and arrange and do things to and make my own (and floorboards, oh my i would kill for floorboards)!

some good things: you're looking in Melbourne not Sydney, and you have plenty of time ahead of you. you'll get there!

Anonymous said...

same thing happened to me a few years ago. I was depressed for about two months, seriously. we kept looking at houses and ended up finding one that has a free-standing garage on a property zoned for residential as well as commercial- which means I can turn it into a shop. I was really disappointed about the other house and wasn't that thrilled with this one to begin with, but the fact that I can have my own shop right at home is such a treasure. I wouldn't have believed that missing out on that other house would have lead to something just as good or better, but it did. Takes a while to get over though. Give yourself time.I kind of had to grieve for the fantasy of what life would have been like in that house.

Annie said...

keep looking - your house will come

Florence Knapp (Flossie Teacakes) said...

So sorry to hear you missed out - we had the same thing happen to us, and even though it was our dream house and so many things were perfect about it, nearly two years later I'm so pleased we did miss out on it as I love the house where we are now and think it is even more perfect for us...just in a different way.

I love your illustration that you've done to go with this post.

Good luck with finding something. x

Shirley said...

hi lara,

i'm sorry you didn't get the house you wanted. but i'm glad you recognize that at least you can afford to do so. many in this world are left without a home to call their own. but hey, cheer up. this house just wasn't meant to be. you'll find another one that you'll like and i'm sure it'll be one that gives you a feeling of belonging.

meanwhile, enjoy that movie of yours.
shirley

Drewzel said...

Sorry to hear you missed out, I can relate, it's happened to me too. (Although you've taken it much better than me, I remember throwing a tantrum, and sitting on the lounge room floor crying, with shredded pieces of the Property Age scattered around me.)

As everyone else has said, not getting this house must mean that your perfect home is still waiting for you in real estate land.

Retro Age Vintage Fabrics said...

Hi Lara - I feel you, we went though this last year until we finally found the house of our dreams. We had previously thought the other houses were special...until we knew instantly this one was it when we stepped over the thresh-hold. I believe everything happens for a reason. You weren't meant to get that house - for a reason. Something better will come over the horizon, you'll see :)

Take care!
Vanessa

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry you didn't get the home you so wanted. It won't make it any better for you, but I'm renovating the first place I can really call a home, ever, and after weeks of scratching off wallpaper (little bears and motorcycles and underneath those dinosaurs !)and repainting I'm starting to tire of the whole thing. ... no, definitely, that won't make it better. Sorry. But sending kind thoughts your way.