It's like the locusts. Every
few years The Moving To San Diego Idea surfaces and I begin
plotting when I'm going to quit CVS, how much I can sell my house
for, and how I'm going to be able to dismantle my 30-ton
desk/bookcase/workstation/oil rig. Yet, as always, the
locusts go away and I fall back into my set life of 10-4
workdays and wasting away the nights with softball and
television. I'm too settled here.
The
closest I've come to actually following through on my attempt to
move was just recently. As a matter of fact, it was just a
few days ago. Well, actually, the idea died just a
few days ago. But it was an amazing and record-setting
3-month run. The Moving To San Diego Idea was never as
serious as it had been in those 3 months. Beth and I even
went as far as going out to sunny San Diego for a week to scout out a few
housing prospects. The plan was for me to quit my job,
sell the house, move into a rental home out there, and then live
off the proceeds from the house sale while I tried to become a
writer (Beth's company is based out there, so she basically has
a free pass). The thought of not having a regular job and
living in my hometown was intoxicating. Actually,
"intoxicated" is the appropriate word because that's
what I would be. No
job, no snow, no sober.
When we
arrived back in Virginia after our week-long trip, I spent quite
a few late nights on the deck, staring off into the darkness
trying to decide what I really wanted to do. The Idea
scared the crap of me, but at the same time I had sort of a
what-the-hell attitude. Maybe this was my last chance to
take a big leap before marriage and kids planted me
firmly. Then again, I really enjoy living here and I like
my home and maybe this is where I want to raise kids.
Finally, after torturing myself for a few days, I realized
something. The most appealing part of The Idea had nothing
to do with the nice California weather, my love for shitty San
Diego sports teams, or my dream of becoming a writer. The one aspect of The Idea that--above everything
else--got me
really excited was this: I could quit my job as a retail
manager. I'm 35 with an English degree from a good school
and I stock Tide for a living. Enough said.
Suddenly, the questions
began shifting. How could I quit my
job and still live here? Sell my house, rent instead of
buy,
and live off the profits? Or better yet, could I refinance
and get a chunk of cash back at settlement? If so, how
much cash could I get? I'd have to hope my yearly house
appraisal
comes back quite a bit higher than last year in order for me to get
money back at settlement......
Magic
Mail Day. My house was assessed at $46,000 more than
last year.
Giddyup.
