standing still

So it did in fact turn out to be a case of Bad Gas... not the microwave burrito kind, but the sludgy, murky bottom of the tank kind that destroys perfectly good fuel pumps. The bad news is it's a $600 repair job. The good news is, Phillips 66 took full responsibility, and is paying for it, along with a refund for the 2 gallons of gas that caused all the ruckus. Problem solved. On to the next challenge...

We took our house off the market yesterday. There's a bit of a sad sense of surrender. But we have to be realistic. The only people even looking at houses right now are affectionately know in the Real Estate Industry as "bottom feeders". They're out there assuming that all sellers are desperately willing to take insultingly low offers. That's not the case with us, and we don't want to waste any more energy on casual lookers. There's also the fact that we'll be gone for most of November. We have house sitters, but it's a lot to expect them to show the house too, should that come up. And, on the off chance that we might get an offer while we're in Ethiopia, there's probably nothing we could do about it anyway.

So we're admitting to ourselves that now is not the time to move. Sigh..... And we'll ride out yet another winter in Taos, trying to make the best of it. We're only a month away from our trip to Africa, so that's our focus right now. When we get back it will be December and Christmas time. January is what scares me. I see it off there in the distance, mocking me, blowing frozen breath down my neck, challenging me to stay positive and creative and grateful and in-the-moment.

I'm already working on plans to save my sanity. Maybe we'll host a regular weekly Soup Night at our house. Maybe I'll join a knitting group, or take violin lessons or a painting class. Maybe we'll dust off the snow shoes and tromp around in the frozen, blinding sunlight for some vitamin D therapy. Or maybe we'll even get brave and try skiing again for the first time in 27 years. And at some point, we'll put the house back on the market, when the timing feels right. Or, another maybe, maybe we'll find a good renter and just keep the place for a couple more years while we travel and wait for the market to improve. Maybe we can make some real money on this house. Maybe that's what it's trying to tell us.

Obviously, I have no idea what's what right now. I'm still waiting for Further Instructions. And meanwhile, the house is still for sale, but unofficially. If you know someone who wants a beautiful place in Taos, send them our way. Anyone who's lived in Taos for a while knows that it doesn't matter a hoot if a house is "on the market" or not. When it's time for it to change hands, it will find a way.



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Welcome to the Group Gratitude Journal!
(What's this about? Read the Gratitude Alert post!)

Please make your entries in the "comments" area below.






Today I am grateful for...

Toast and avocado.

Clean sheets.

Getting together with friends.


Your turn!