A Temporary Home

     Over a week ago I moved into Stacy's mom's condo as a temporary place to stay before I leave for France next month.  Tomorrow I will head up in the mountains to Cindy and Aunt Mary Ann's cabin to stay for a little over a week.  So that will be our second temporary home.  Then we (that is CoCo and I) will be back at the condo for the month of August until we leave on August 29 for our next temporary home in SW France.
     So, what makes a house a home?  I think I wrote about this in an earlier blog, but I feel the need to address this question again.  Having CoCo with me makes it feel like a home.  And she has been so good about being flexible and not causing any problems in the move out of our permanent home.  I was worried that she would be uncomfortable with me leaving her alone in the condo when I need to be out.  She goes upstairs to the bedroom and stays in her bed.  That's what she used to do at the house.  She knows the suitcases are upstairs and associates those with my being gone longer than just a few hours.  So if she's upstairs she can keep an eye on the suitcases!  She's a smart little girl :-)
     Things have been moving so quickly for me the past few weeks that I really haven't had time to think about no longer having a house.  Cindy was here the last week that I was in the house and we stayed pretty busy with moving boxes and bags of things to the storage unit and to the condo.  We found some time to play also - an evening at the zoo, a movie, some dinners and lunches out.  It was great having her here.
     Then she went back to the cabin in Cripple Creek with her mom and I started staying at the condo full time.  Andy and I picked up a UHaul truck on the Saturday before the house closed and got everything moved out of the house so I could spend the rest of the weekend cleaning.
     At this point I've been at the condo for two weeks and CoCo is starting to feel comfortable with out new routine.  There is no yard here so she has to be walked.  Yesterday morning she saw her first deer!  And wanted to chase it!  I think there's a bit of a wild dog in her.  She gets walked three or four times a day and enjoys it, but I'm sure she misses her yard with the squirrels and the birds and the dirt that she loved to dig in.  There won't be a fenced in yard in France either, but the cottage is out in the country so she'll have lots to explore.
     Speaking of animals, I went to the zoo today.  I've been twice in the past few weeks, once with Cindy and once with Beth, but those were both evening events and the animals are not as active at night.  Today was wonderful!  I spent lots of time watching the cubs - I know, big surprise there!  Aslan and Elsa were enjoying the pond.  They were playing and wrestling and having a grand ol' time!  Boma, was watching from a safe and dry distance.  Elsa loves to play and she can get pretty aggressive.
     When I went back after my visit to the rest of the animals, Elsa was eating a ground squirrel that she had caught!  She is still the "party girl" and not afraid of anything.  I love her!!!  And will miss those babies so much.  The zoo always feels like a part of home to me.  I guess because I've been going there my entire life and especially frequently since the cubs were born over a year ago.
     So, I'll close today with some photos from my zoo visit.  I'll try to get back into my Sunday blog day on the 31st of this month when I get back from Cripple Creek.  I'm so looking forward to being up there for 8 days because it has been so hot in the Springs!  The mountain air will be wonderful in our next temporary home.

Elsa at the pond

Boma keeping his distance

Elsa is looking so grown up now

Aslan wanted to play with the barrel

JuJu was posing

My Life in Two Suitcases, Five Bags, and a Storage Unit

     Well, it's done!  House is sold, furniture and boxes moved to the 10' x 10' storage unit, numerous trips to GoodWill, suitcases and bags moved to the condo and CoCo and I are getting settled in our temporary "home".   And no tears shed!
     I am surprised that I have not been emotional through all of this, but I think I understand why.  Right now, when I think about my house, I can only think of all the work I've put into it over the past year and a half - all the back pain and hip pain and shoulder pain and blisters and bruises from the constant effort put into remodeling the house and the yard.  I'm sure once those memories become a blur I will begin to feel the emotion of giving up my house of 40 years.
     Another thing that helped keep my emotions in check is that I never saw the buyers.  The closing was set for 1:00 Monday afternoon.  My realtor called me on Friday and said that the buyers could not do the final walk through until 1 on Monday which would mean they would not be at closing until between 2 and 2:30.  Did I want to wait around that long to hand over the keys and get the check or was I ok with leaving them the info to wire the money to my account and then I just needed to sign papers and hand over keys and could leave in about 20 minutes?  I liked that plan!  So, I really think that since it was all about the paperwork and no face to face with the buyers I had no problem handing over the keys and the garage door opener and being on my way.
     So, I am officially homeless!  And I feel a huge relief in no longer being a home owner with all the cost and responsibilities that go along with it.  I put the majority of the money I received into a 6 month CD and will decide after the first of the year whether or not I want to buy a house in France.  At this point I'm pretty sure that I do.  It's always been a part of my dream of living in France.  It's all a matter of whether or not I find that "perfect" place that sings to me!
     In the meantime, I feel very fortunate to have a place to live while still in the States.  It's a cute little two bedroom townhouse with a view of the mountains and a tiny little back patio that I have set up with some of my plants and a small water fountain.  I set more of my plants out front which has been a shock to them as it faces West and that afternoon sun is brutal!  So that means more watering.
     I am feeding Andy's fish while he is building mountain trails near Snowmass so I've been over to his place a couple of times this week.  I also water for him.  Working for a landscape company he has realized the beauty of having flowers and shrubs in his yard so it needs water while he's gone.  And since his cottage is just across the alley from where I lived I can peek over his fence and see what's happening at the "old place."  So far, nothing.  Maybe they are planning to move this weekend.
     I was hoping my life would slow down now that I have sold the house and have most everything done for my move to France, but my day planner still has lists of things on it that I want to get done.  Next weekend CoCo and I will be heading to Cripple Creek to spend a week with Cindy and Mary Ann as the condo will host Stacy's family.  Then when I get back from the mountains, my friend Jane, is coming to spend the first week in August with me.  And then there will be only three weeks left before I (and CoCo) will be on our way to our new life in France.
     I need to visit my zoo babies numerous times and have lunch and dinner with friends and finalize all the packing before the end of August.  I still have to get CoCo's International Health Certificate and take it to the USDA office in Denver to have it officially stamped.  And I'm sure other things will appear as the time gets even closer.
     I am so thankful that you all have stayed with me on this journey.  Your words of love and encouragement have been such a blessing for me.  And I hope you will continue to join me on my adventures as I know I will have lots to share with you once I have moved.  And you can help me pick out my new house!
     Here are some photos of my new views and temporary home.

The front walkway and CoCo peeking out the door

My view from the balcony - that's the Peak behind the smoke from the Hayden Pass fire

A view of the foothills

My little flower and herb garden in the back