Big News!

A cold, rainy, wonderful walk through Point Pleasant Park

This post is, I fully admit, a day late.  It is also woefully devoid of photos.  But this is all with good reason.  You see, Clark and I only just got back from one completely ridiculous extended weekend in Halifax, where we were - wait for it - HOUSE HUNTING.  That's right, folks - for those who have not yet heard, this little family is packing up shop, and officially settling (for good this time), out east.

Clark accepted a position as a Research Scientist at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography (BIO), which is a branch of the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).  Going East was always something we wanted to do in the future, but it came much sooner than we had even hoped for.  You may have heard the big announcement a month or so ago that DFO has pledged to hire 135 new people (including a very wide range of different jobs) - I believe Clark will end up being the first of those hires.

From atop the Halifax Seaport Market

Not only will we be moving - we will be moving SOON. Clark negotiated a start date of Sept. 1st, which means leaving in a little over a month.  So.  We found a real estate agent, booked some plane tickets, secured Clark's mom and stepdad (wonderful people that they are) to come stay with the kids, and off we went, to buy a house.  Sound ridiculous?  It absolutely was.  Not only have we never bought a house before, we gave ourselves only two full days to find something we liked, make an offer, and set up everything that needs to be set up.  And you know what?  We actually did it!  I won't give details yet (as I suppose things can always fall through until the last line is signed and sealed), but the house is a little 1970s split entry on a quiet cul-de-sac in Dartmouth, and if all goes well, we'll take possession the first week of August. I'm still reeling.  You have no idea the whirlwind that was the last few days.  But we had a superb agent, who was able not only to help us find and get a great bargain on a house, but also to hook us up with all the other people we needed (inspectors, contractors, lawyer, mortgage broker....).  

And so there you have it.  We are home now, trying to get our feet under us, and starting to switch into moving gear.  There is packing to be done, moving truck to be booked, logistics to figure out, financing to secure, and - likely somewhere in the middle of it all - a thesis for me to defend.  But I choose not to think about that for now.

As a side note, I'd like to give a little PSA to avoid renting from Dollar/Thrifty car rentals, who ended an otherwise wildly successful trip on a very sour note.  They completely scammed us, and now we're sorting out the aftermath of a claim they are trying to get us to pay for "tire damage".  I would love to tell you the story in person if you ask me one day, but suffice it to say that it is a ridiculous story, and outright premeditated sleazery on their part.  So even if they are offering the best deal, it isn't worth it.  Trust me.  They make that extra money by scamming you out of it when you bring the car back.

Whew!  That's all for now!  I bought this blogging time with new books for the kids, and I imagine my beautiful window of peace and quiet is about to expire.  But it was nice while it lasted!