Moving Again

I've been in the little hobbit hole (my daylight basement apartment) for almost a year now. There are things that are problematic, but overall I've been happy here. And it's hard to beat the rent, which is 1) low and 2) includes all utilities except phone.

However.

Yesterday I walked into the holiday bazaar put on by my former church (I'm still on good terms, I just don't go any more) and fell into conversation with a man I know pretty well. He, along with about 8 other guys, painted my house before I sold it. He's an awesome artist/sculptor/potter, and his wife does gorgeous fabric art. A few years ago they purchased 10 acres south of 10 and built a beautiful home on it. But first, they built a small house to live in. Now they're in the big house, and for a while they tried having the little one as a vacation rental, but that didn't fly. She really wanted to have someone living in the house, and both of them agreed that it was "perfect for a writer." So they had gotten to the point of wondering how to advertise it to writers, but hadn't done anything about it.

Until yesterday.

I don't even know how it came up, but I said something about living the constraints of living in 600 SF, and Dennis said "I have a 900 square-foot house for rent." He mentioned the rent - same as I'm paying now, and all utilities included - including cable TV and a washer and dryer, which I don't have now. He told me it was private and quiet (which I also don't really have now, unless the landlords are gone or on the third floor).

And then he said I could have a dog there.

Today I went over there to look at it, and was sold pretty much as soon as I turned in the driveway. Have I mentioned they are both artists? The whole property is an art gallery, both inside and out. Plus, it's got the most welcoming and mellow vibe.

The little house is great. It's basically two rooms like I have now, with a kitchen and bath, but the rooms are much larger. It's got a solar envelope design, so the entire south wall is windows and that room can be shut off or opened up to warm the rest of the house. My "office" would be there. It was cloudy today, but True told me that I will be able to see from the Cascades to the Olympics, including Mount Rainier. I'll get both sunsets and sunrises. I have my own private patio on the far side, with nothing but forest beyond it. I can see a neighbor's barn and that's it.

And my cell phone works there, so I can lose the landline, which more than compensates for the extra gas I'll probably burn going to town. Especially if I ride my bike - I can do backroads and a bike trail for most of the trip, with just a mile-and-a-half along the highway.

This guy was sitting on the wall when I got there:

Entrance, with Annie (Dennis & True's Hovhaness)

View from "office"

Patio in back

View from parking area:

I said yes.