Renter's Remorse

Friday I finished Institute.

Saturday I packed my life again and moved to the Valley. Again.

Sunday I signed a lease on a house and moved into an unfurnished 3,000 sq foot orchard ranch.

Too quick? Maybe. 

In the light of day, my two roommates and I drove through the Texas countryside with stars in our eyes. The hot son felt nice on our skin and breeze in our hair felt extremely refreshing. 

Pulling into the driveway of our Orchard House an old man in a straw hat and pressed iron shirt greeted us with warm wishes. We walked through the old house with glass door knobs on every bathroom and closet door, awed at the 'hard wood floors,' marveled at the crown molding, and gushed over the beautiful kitchen. The backyard's assortment of comquat trees, pecan, orange, avocado, limes, magnolias, and grapefruits left us breathless and we with less than $300 a person for rent..we asked- where do we sign?

Within 24 hours we were moved in.

Last night, after a full day of errand running, Alyssa, Anne and I returned home at 10pm. As we drove down the long dark country road, we realized it was very very dark out in the country. No street lights lit our way and when we pulled into our long driveway we suddenly felt terrified of getting out of our car to spend the time to lock up our garage with 2 locks, and get into our house with 4 different locks. We created a plan for how to do it efficiently, said ready set go and were off. With in 10 minutes we had unloaded my entire car and were inside. Alarm system was deactivated and we fumbled around in the dark to put things away. 

We were in the dark because when we turned on the lights we realized we have no curtains and we felt extremely exposed with the lights on and full length windows through our whole house. 

Next was the alarm. Let's set it before bed. Fumble Fumble Fumble...set. Okay its set...45 seconds later ALARM ALARM ALARM ...we run through the house to try and turn it off and call the security company to make sure they aren't dispatching anyone. We ask the lady how to arm the alarm without motion detectors, she had no idea.

We weren't sure what to do now, and not sure if we should call our landlord at 1030 at night to ask how to arm the alarm when we were still in the house. We sat on the floor in the dark as we discussed what we should do. 

We discussed how we are 5 miles from the border and how our neighbors have two huge painted signs that say TRESPASSERS WILL BE SHOT out front. 

What the HECK were we thinking getting this house? WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. We are basically IN mexico. WE HAVE NEIGHBORS WHO WILL SHOOT US if we walk on their property. 

Working our selves up into a panic we discussed strategies for staying safe (buying glasses with the fake nose and mustache and wearing them around the house so people watching us in the windows think we were men?) and realized we should call our landlord to figure out how to set the alarm.

After a confusing conversation on the phone, we finally figured it out and got it all set up. We all decided not to sleep in our separate bedrooms and pulled our blankets (since we don't have money for beds until we get paid) and slept within 5 feet of each other in our 3,000 sq foot house. 

I woke up this morning thinking 'I'M ALIVE!' "WE MADE IT!"

Then i walked around my house, and outside. 

It's beautiful. everything about it.

We laughed at each other for how big of a fuss we made last night and can't believe we actually were considering buying fake noses and mustaches to wear around the house.

I felt like I was 11 years old staying home alone for the first time, last night.

What an experience...one day at a time.