Friday, May 15, 2009

We're No Longer Homeless!

Johnny and I just returned yesterday from a quick trip to the Tampa area. We've spent weeks "shopping" for a home online and had some ideas. We left Tuesday and spent two nights up there. We made an appointment with a realtor for Wednesday before we left, and he took us to look at homes: re-sales as well as new construction. It was a looong day. We have decided to purchase a new home. The builder tells me that it'll take four months, so this means we'll need to find a place to rent. The closing on our current home is June 18th.

Yesterday (Thursday) morning, before we left to drive home, we picked colors, kitchen cabinets, counters, hardware, floors, electrical, toilets, tubs, sinks, faucets, tile, roof, appliances, and even the front door! (It'll be red!) The design specialist told me that usually six hours are scheduled for these appointments and that I was the fastest appointment she ever had. It took me a little under three hours. (I had no choice but to make quick decisions; we had a four-hour road trip ahead of us. We had to GO!) 

Here's the floor plan. It's waaay too big for us, but I got my (tiny) lake, and this model had the best views of it. It's by far the largest home we've ever owned.


It's wonderfully exciting, and it's totally exhausting. Johnny and I are on a young person's adventure and having a blast!

I came home and answered all the wonderful comments you guys have left, along with my emails. Of course, we've gone through the mail pile-up too.  


However, I have not started packing. Would you please come help? I'm swamped.

44 comments:

Patti VZ said...

What fun! I'm sure there are going to be some frustrating and frazzled moments, but enjoy the excitement of a new place AND closer to the kids!

Becky K. said...

Enjoy the process! It is so special to make a house a home!

I am envious...can you tell???

Wish I could pop right down there.

tea said...

Hi Sally,

All of this sounds like an exciting summer adventure. How does it feel to you?

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

Sally, I am soooo happy for you! How exciting! I wish I lived a little closer so I could come help you pack! Try to pace yourself with the packing...don't overdo it! Susan

sara said...

wow! I am impressed. You got a lot done in a short amount of time!!!

the layout looks wonderful! I can't wait to see pictures of it.

imjacobsmom said...

Sally, I am amazed. I bet you had a blast choosing all of those new things (As overwhelming as that can be - but we're bloggers - we can do it!) I'll help you pack if you help me chose new living room furniture. Think of all of the fun you'll have decorating all of those rooms. It looks like a wonderful layout. ~ Robyn

Anonymous said...

oh Sally~that is fun but exhausting! We are from Tampa and my whole family still lives there!!
Love the floor plan--my Dad was a contractor for years, so I love looking at floor plans~lol!

Hugs,
Lynn

Knitty said...

I am glad you told us on Tuesday what would be taking up some of your time as it was very odd not to see a new post on your blog yesterday.

You accomplished so much in a short time! The floor plan looks great and I hope every aspect of this change is wonderful for you. This will surely give you lots of material for blogging!

ellen b. said...

Oh the floorplan is fabulous. I love all the openness in the main areas and how it flows. Blessings on your new home Sally. Sorry I'm not closer to help you pack :0)

Barbara H. said...

What an adventure!! It would be so much fun to choose all of that in one setting. Fun, but exhausting, I'm sure.

April said...

Yay for finding a house...love the floor plan! Hope you'll share some pictures of the actual house when you can! It is an exhausting process, but it can be lots of fun, too...minus the packing part!

Darlene said...

I know you are excited over getting a new home!! I have never had a brand new one and would LOVE to one day! I can't wait to see it in progress...what fun!

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

How exciting for you and Johnny to start anew...love the floor plan Sally..of course I love having every thing on a single floor..I wished I was closer my friend I would be there to help you pack..May you have a great weekend my friend...hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

Salmagundi said...

What fun!! I love to move, and would come help you pack - send me a plane ticket. I probably would be of little use, however; as I would spend my time enjoying your current view. Good luck on your adventure. Sally

Neabear said...

If I lived closer, I would love to come and help you pack. We have flown into Tampa several times when visiting my son who lives in Fort Myers. It is cheaper to fly into Tampa, then we went a car for the drive to Fort Myers/Naples area. Have not been there for over 2 years. I so want to be able to go there and visit again. Good Luck with all the packing and moving. So exciting!

raxx a day in the life said...

Sally I love the layout! Congratulations on your new home, imagine making all those decisions in one day! Exiting and exhausting!

Pace yourself with the packing, I know you'll be moving into a furnished rental, imagine packing and unpacking twice!

Baba said...

Wow... how excited you and Johnny must be selling and buying a home so fast!! It will be great to live closer to your family...my daughter has friends that live in Tampa and says how beautiful the beaches are on that side of Florida..Good Luck with everything!!! Hugs, Baba

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

I love the floorplan of your new home. How wonderful. I know you must be excited. Hate the packing though, so good luck. Hugs, Marty

jlshall said...

That's great, Sally! But I'm exhausted just thinking about all that packing. We're gonna be going through the same sort of thing either later this year or early next, when the hubby retires and we move back to Texas. I have very mixed emotions. But congrats on the new abode.

Anonymous said...

This is so exciting. I remember when we moved here we bought a new house. It was about half finished in June when we bought it. It was fun to walk through it at that stage and pick all the colors, etc. It was finished by the end of August when we moved in. I can't believe it has been almost 20 years. Wow, where did the time go? We looked with a realtor for a couple of days and even put a down payment on a house, then we found this one on our own and knew it was perfect for us. So we went back and got our down payment back from the other house.
Have fun - don't work too hard.
Charlotte

Judi said...

Congratulations Sally
that looks like a really nice house...now you have room for guests (like all of your blogging friends for a weekend).
Thats so exciting!!!!
have a lovely weekend
Judi

artis1111 said...

I have two words for you! YARD SALE!!! Get rid of a lot of things that you no longer need or want. When we moved down here, I was still working and hubby would come inside and sell things I had not put out. In the end we had less to move and I had to store stuff for a while anyway. Kathy

Dixie said...

Sally... what a wonderful adventure to undertake! I have fond memories of a summer spent in Tampa... we went to the beach every morning and cooked in the "outdoor" kitchen every evening... My Aunt bought a new album for me that summer... "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"... now you know... it was mid-1960's... and she had an outdoor kitchen! only people in Florida were that cool!


I can't wait to see you beautiful new home!

Libby's Library said...

You're moving into my old stomping grounds - How exciting. Can't wait to hear more!

Four Paws and Co said...

Congratulations Sally! I'm so thrilled for the 2 of you! I'm eagerly awaiting all the stories too, you know the - oh my gosh I had no idea we had this much stuff & why didn't we sort this out before - kind of stories!

(I'd help if I lived closer to you!) ☺ Diane

Cindy said...

the plans look great! How exciting! A new adventure for you both.
Cindy

Dawn said...

That was quick! THe blueprints for you house look great. I'll trade you my three bedroom ranch!

take care,
Dawn

Mevely317 said...

Congrats young lady!!! Having enjoyed 15 years at 'n around Tampa Bay (prior to wandering west)I've a hunch you two will really enjoy getting to know the gulf coast.

Cathy said...

Oh, Sally, that is so exciting. I would love to have a new house! But building one is not for me. I'm so happy for you. I know you are just too busy!

Oh, my heart cath came out NORMAL! Isn't that wonderful. But my heart went into a-fib again the night before it. So now there is new medicine!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

How exciting! The floor plan looks fabulous. I love the master suite being separated from the other bedrooms. And how wonderful to have a lake view! Packing to move is so stressful, but at least you have a wonderful new home to look forward to! Good luck with the packing. laurie

tammy said...

Looks fabulous! Good job picking out all the options so fast. It took me forever! And then I second guessed myself for weeks until I saw it done. What an exciting time for you.

Bridget said...

Wow, this has been quite a whirlwind hasn't it?
I love the new floorplan, it is very similar to my house I had in FL except my extra bedrooms were all upstairs. I love the single level living though, That's a must for my next home!

xinex said...

Beautiful home, beautiful layout! Congrats, Sally! I did not know you were moving to Tampa. I am here in the Tampa Bay right now. We could have met!...Christine

Unknown said...

How awesome! I am so excited for you! I'm glad you've got room for me.
I got a fun new comment blinkie: http://www.shabbyblogs.com/button.html

The Bliss Journey said...

Boy, you guys don't waste any time. Good thing I didn't blink. How exciting to think about a new home. Hey, looks like you're going to be in my neck of the woods. What city in the Tampa bay area will you be in?
Kathleen

Lorrie said...

What great news Sally--it looks wonderful. I don't envy you the packing, but it will be totally worth it in the end!

Susie Jefferson said...

BIG congratulations! What wonderful news, and all the major decisions done & dusted. I'd start packing now (stuff like Christmas ornaments, most of your book collection etc) and maybe even consider sending them on ahead if there's a storage depot or something in the area. Then you'll have your stuff THERE, and needn't even worry about finding somewhere to put it when you first move up there - in fact, you could leave it all for the first month or so till you get yourselves settled in. It really helps!

Just remember to label everything and pack the kettle and some mugs last of all (last in, first out). Ditto toothbrushes.

Joy said...

I saw you comment on another blog that you are moving to Tampa. I grew up there and my family still lives there. I'm in Texas now.
I grew up in South Hillsborough county, (Brandon, Riverview area)
If you have any questions let me know. I hope you enjoy it there. Your floor plan looks great. How exciting.

Joy

Ms.Daisy said...

Sally,
How I would dearly love to come down to help you out! 33 years ago we left St. Pete to come back North and I was so very sad.:(
Have fun on you new adventure!


Blessings,
Jean

nikkicrumpet said...

HOW EXCITING! It looks like a great layout..I like how open the kitchen is to the family room and breakfast area. And the master and master bath look awesome. You know we're all going to be dying to see pictures. What a thrilling and busy time this must be!

Anonymous said...

How exciting! What a beautiful floor plan. I can only imagine how excited you and your hubby are. My gosh Sally, you are going to have to hire two house keepers to take care of that house. It's huge LOL I'm so happy for you :>) Congratulations ♥

The Quintessential Magpie said...

I'm so excited for you, Sally! Which room is going to be your office? Where will Smiling Sally Central be???

XO,

Sheila :-)

Heidi Pocketbook said...

Wow, that is one spacious home. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of it once it's built and you have your personal touches on it. Congrats--you must be so very excited☺

Susie Q said...

I feel just so awful that I am so very behind. I know I am late but I do wish you years of happiness in your new home! I know that moving can be quite taxing but when you are settled, wow! What a joy it will be for you!
One thing i learned from 17 moves is how to unpack so I wish I could be there to help you!!



I am reading and reading and looking and looking at all your posts and catching up with you...

Again, I apologze for being so behind!!

Love,
Sue