stranded

[anotheranon]

I've been trying to stay unemotional about the whole house buying process, and while I've convinced my forebrain, my nervous system isn't on board yet.

Yesterday we made our first house tours with the realtor. We're finding that in order to find something we like but stay in our price range, we're having to look a little further from the town center than we'd hoped.

Which isn't awful, as we told the agent we wanted to stay close to major roads and metro stops, and her selections do that, but there's still something about inner residential roads that pinches like a cross between claustrophobia and cabin fever.

I know where this is coming from: my teenage years in the exurbs with no nearby parks, shops, or public space of any kind, no sidewalks, and no car has left me determined to never live anywhere that makes me feel so isolated and helpless EVER EVER AGAIN.

I know it's illogical. I have a car so my childhood hinderance is moot. I have been a bit spoiled by living the past 10+ years within walking distance of a grocery store and a bus stop. But I still get tetchy if I can't see sidewalks and at least a 7-Eleven.

D. and I have both agreed we don't want to move to East Jesus for a McMansion-style "dream house", but I'm surprised at how short a distance it takes to trigger all my old anxieties.

Comments

[hrj.livejournal.com]

I know there are a lot of factors to balance out, but be very cautious about settling for a house that is likely to make you unhappy. The home-buying process is stressful enough without that. Maybe there's a different trade-off you can make?

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Oh, there are always tradeoffs, and we're just at the beginning of the process so I'm not giving up on getting something closer in yet!

Everyone is telling me that when we see it, we'll just KNOW, and I'm open to the idea that I'll just KNOW somewhere far away from where I intended.

[sealwhiskers.livejournal.com]

I hope you find a little house that makes you feel all good inside and forget all the anxiety.

[ladyaelfwynn.livejournal.com]

Is Flower Hill in your price range? It's got everything from condos and townhouses, to single family homes. It's got lots of sidewalks and it's walking distance to multiple restaurants and a good sized Giant. Plus, the neighborhood is on multiple bus lines.

I love it even though I refer to it as the armpit of suburbia because it really is a middle-class suburb where all the houses look pretty much alike and every thing is shades of beige.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I think it is, and we may start checking out Gaithersburg communities. If it's walkable and has non-residential stuff nearby, I can deal with being further away from a Metro stop. The question will be whether that's ok with D. - he has to either take Metro or face a long haul every morning :(