The Waiting Game
Posted on 20. Jan, 2008 by Laura-Jane - Whimfield in House, Life Dream
Once we arrived on Prince Edward Island, we looked at a number of properties that were for sale. We continued living in our car for a few more days, but living in your car in a small town is not quite the same as driving across country and putting hundreds of kilometres behind you every day. People start to look at you funny and wonder why you keep asking to use the washroom at Robin’s Donuts. “Weren’t you here yesterday?” They’d ask.
Plus, it was still early January, and it was bitingly cold. Our heater set-up worked amazingly well while we were driving a lot, but if we didn’t drive for long-distances our car batteries would get drained overnight and they wouldn’t get recharged unless we drove for long distances the next day.
I wrote this next post after having seen the house of our dreams. And then buying the house of our dreams here on Prince Edward Island.
So, here we are in our motel in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island–waiting.
We’ve fallen in love with an Island, a town, and a climate. We’ve fallen in love with an acreage and a farm-house that are about to be ours once the paperwork is complete. Yes, that very acreage that drew us here in the first place…
This large swath of land I speak of is comprised of 63 glorious acres of field, woods, and stream, and includes a 100-year-old house. I have taken to describing the house as an abandoned museum, which is a stretch but paints an appropriate picture. The house has no insulation (yet) and is heated only by wood-stove; there is a cook-stove in the kitchen and a good, old-fashioned pantry under the staircase. No updating has been done since the 1950s. And, really, the whole house makes me weak in the knees just to think about it; I sit here with my chin on my hand and a glazey-eyed grin.
The house is located five minutes outside of the town of Montague, which itself is an ideal town. Montague is quaint, but boasts just about every amenity one could hope for: a pool and fitness center, a curling rink, the “Down East Mall”, and all the services one could need–including a hardware store and an Atlantic Superstore.
As far as employment, we are looking forward to earning medium sums of money creatively, rather than earning large sums of money at the expense of our free time and energy. Please know that we fully enjoyed our careers, but found that our busy lives left little to no room for anything else: wake, transport, work, transport, eat, sit on the couch, sleep. Yes, our jobs were enjoyable enough, but we just couldn’t leave the rest of our whims unheeded.
Our plan hinges on reducing our monthly costs drastically. When one has very little money going out the door, one needs very little money coming in. The details have yet to be inked out, but we plan on plunging our fingers into numerous proverbial pies that will be enough to replenish our coffers.
Ahh, the sweet sound of idealism and/or naivety… I recognize them in my words, too. However, we believe that our dream is worth giving a chance, and we are going to give it our all.
And so, here in our dank motel (the cheapest kitchenette in all of Charlottetown), we wait for our possession date and the next stage of our journey!
To read the next post, just hit “next post” below.
LJ
Mar 11th, 2008
What a beautiful house! Knowing our market here you seriously scored there!!!
Nicole Linkletter Pictures
Mar 22nd, 2008
Nicole Linkletter Pictures…
Man i love reading your blog, interesting posts !…
Wade
Mar 23rd, 2008
Congratulations! My family is originally from Hunter River PEI, if you have any questions maybe we can help. Currently my family (parents) spend six months a year in PEI the remainder in this funnel we call Ontario…..too fast for me!
Madeleine Nattrass
Apr 1st, 2008
Hi Laura Jane,
Congrats – it looks wonderful and I applaud your idealism. I would like your snail mail address as I would like to send you a little book that I wrote which was inspired by your grandma L’Heureux’s indomitable spirit which seems to be coming out in one of her granddaughters, namely you.
Take care and good luck
Madeleine
Jonsd
Apr 11th, 2008
This post is awesome. I’m impressed by your style – experienced blogger, huh? Added your blog to my favs.
Petard L'Eclat
May 13th, 2008
Eldge,
That’s really impressive writing. I love your style. And speaking of earning moeny in a variety of ways, maybe you could charge admission to your blog. I’d pay for the pleasure!
I hope things are going well and that you’re making satisfactory progress. It’s funny that you’re out there because my best friend Sean, who lives in Charlottetown, has started his slow trek cross-country to visit me on Vancouver Island. He’ll be here in September and we’re planning to record a cd of our original music (we both write separately and together).
Hope this finds you in good spirits.
~ Petard
Start sorting treasures » TubaOrNotTuba
Jul 1st, 2008
[...] we (as in both of us at the table busily reading random blogs) came across a tale that inspires. Two other people have undertaken what we’ve been dreaming about; buy an old house in rural [...]
Lisa
Jul 9th, 2008
I am so envious that you have done this and I look forward to reading the rest of your blog and found out where you have gotten to so far! I am also linking to your blog if that is okay.
*sigh*
so jealous!
Lisa
Walter Zarins
Oct 3rd, 2009
What a great read. Looked up your site after reading about your blog in The Guardian and can barely stop. We ourselves have just moved to the Island to escape the insanity of the Greater Toronto Area. Like you, we bought our dream property, also just outside of Montague) and are living each day like it was a dreamlike adventure.
Sal
Oct 10th, 2009
I LOVE READING THIS!!!! Thank you for blogging!