The Renegade Writer Blog

So it’s the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, and I’m sitting in my office, which is an absolute mess. Magazines are strewn across the floor, notebooks and books in disarray on the shelves, and paper is just…everywhere. But there’s a good reason for all this mess: I’m packing. Why? Because I bought a house.

One of my goals in this RW makeover was to buy a home. In previous posts, I’ve written about how I cut costs and how I added extra money to my savings account. Doing both of these things saved me a good chunk of change. The financial guru who advised me said it might be worth asking my parents for a little bit of help. I was hesitant at first — my first attempts at doing as much was rebuffed by my father, who hinted that I would only get the money if I was officially, um, attached to a man. I didn’t even want to go there again, but at the financial guru’s advice, I spoke to my dad. He didn’t seem too opposed to the idea, so I started looking. Why not? I thought it would take me a while to find something that worked for me, and I figured that looking would help me find the type of home I’d want.

At first, I only had three criteria: price, location and the house had to either have central air or forced hot air heat (meaning adding central AC isn’t as difficult as a house with radiators). I live in a lovely suburb of Philadelphia and wanted to stay here, but to be closer to the downtown area so I could walk to the health food store; the library; the weekly farmer’s market; restaurants and Wawa (if you don’t know what Wawa is, you’re really missing out on the finer things in life). I looked at big houses that needed some TLC (okay, a LOT of TLC) and some smaller houses with nice yards. But after two sessions of house hunting, I knew that I didn’t want to heat a big house, and that I didn’t want to pay taxes on a big yard. That brought me to a quaint two-story brick row home two blocks from the center of town and one block from the train that takes me into Philadelphia. It was in my price range and in good shape (though the bathroom will need a reno — who thought a pink sink was a good idea?). No central AC, but it could be easily added. I brought my parents and brother to look at the house, and dad agreed that it was a solid investment and that he would give me money earmarked for my wedding now — a house vs. a party? Easy decision for me.

So I put in the bid and within two days, it was accepted, and I go to settlement on Wednesday. I spent most of last night searching craigslist adds to see what furniture people were selling, and tomorrow me and mom will go to Home Depot to buy paint for my new office and library — yes, I said library. I am a book dork, after all.

It’s a bit scary thinking that I’ll be the owner of my own house now, but I’m very excited and ready to get going.

As for the book stuff, I’m still working on it and sold a book-related essay to a magazine — that essay will appear in the fall. I’m still reviewing for the Philadelphia Inquirer (check it out here and here and here), and was even assigned their “summer beach reads” article.

Next weekend is also Book Expo America, which is one of the biggest book publishing events in the world. I’ll be reporting for Poets & Writers, but I’ll also be schmoozing the heck out of everyone and checking out new books. It’s where I made a lot of contacts last year, and I’ve spent part of last week setting up meetings and get togethers (see you Friday, Cambridge University Press!). Do I wish that maybe BEA didn’t coincide with my moving into the new house? Sure. But it’ll be worth it in the end. I might not sleep for the next week, but at least when I finally do, it’ll be under a roof that I can now call my own.

Jen

P.S. I also joking put into my makeover application that I’d like to find a boyfriend, and I did. Even though Diana and Linda have helped in many ways through this website, I think I can at least stake claim to that victory

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