I have wonderful news to share with the DU Community.
As many of you know, my family and I went through a number of really rough times in the last few years. We were homeless and living in transitional housing for 8 months of 2009, primarily due to either my wife or I being out of work from March of 2008 until October of 2009. I was out of work again from June of 2011 until April of this year and was laid off after 4 months but, fortunately, started my new job the week before Labor day.
However, with all of these catastrophes, we were able to at least keep my wife's credit from being hit TOO hard.
Last Friday, we made closing on a lovely little home in Winthrop, Maine. While we were happy in many of the apartments we've lived in since moving to Maine 10 years ago, and while my home is wherever my wife and son are, we have always been HOUSE people. We have now moved into a lovely little ranch with 3 bedrooms, a bath, a BIG kitchen and livingroom on just under 1/2 acre of land. All of our things are in and waiting to find their place and I am feeling every minute of my 57 years.
This is our final move. We buy the house, but our son will sell it. I am only moving out of this house when the Undertaker is taking me to be cremated.
The funny thing is that now, at age 57, I am DONE! I am never moving again. I am also finished with job hunting. I will work at my new job until I retire. If I haven't advanced within this agency five years from now, I'm going to hit the silk, apply for early Social Security and drop down to part time and paul ryan can go fuck himself with his Medicare vouchers. Maybe I'll make it 6 years so that I won't retire before my son gets out of high school. My only thought is that as far as moving and job hunting go, I AM DONE!
I realize that some of what I'm saying may be motivated by my tiredness from the move. I also realize that 20 years from now, when we're watching our grandchildren play in the yard, not one damn thing about the difficulty of the move or the process of getting there will matter for a freaking thing. My wife and I are in the exact house that we've always wanted in the town that we've wanted to live in since we moved here to Maine. I am now, at this moment, watching "How I Met Your Mother" on Netflix with my son who just got an A+ on his 7th grade Social Studies report today while my wife is sleeping like a baby in our bedroom in our home.
On Friday, September 21, 2012, all is well and good with our family and I'm a happy and contented man.
Thank you for reading, thank you for your support during the hard times and thank you for allowing me to share our good news with you!
BTW, where are the taxes, Mitt?
PEACE!
= new reply since forum marked as read
Enjoy! 
And congratulations!
the absolute best news I've read all day!!!! Week!!! Month!!! I'm so happy for you and your family, and thank you for sharing your trying times, and coming out at the best end!
You are a dear. 
happy I am for you. My own house is like my friend, my brother. It is something beyond expression having roots, having a place for family to come to for occasions, to see the grandparents. You have your space and I hear you. You youngster, you. 
I hug you long distance from Alaska. Mazel Tov for you, your wife and your smart son.
I can't even imagine how you made it through.
Congratulations! I feel the same way about having a place of my own. 
and thanks for sharing. I'm 57 as well 
and purchased my first home when I was 44 (I'm still in it). I'd been homeless as a child and had always wanted a place of my own. Finally, in 1999, I purchased my first home all on my own -- at the time, no espoused one. The first night I moved in I sat down on the living room floor and cried. When you've never had a home being able to call a place "home" is something that is difficult to describe to those who have always had a home. Knowing that, as you say, they'll have to carry me out of here. I truly do know what you're feeling and I offer my sincerest congratulations to you and your family. 
I lost my house in 2009, and am embarking on a come-back tour of sorts, that will find me living in rented rooms, for a while, but my goal is to own a home again --- it's just the best feeling. I'm truly so happy for you. Enjoy! And be sure to paint the walls and adopt a few pets, all the things you miss as a renter! 
This calls for
FORWARD
So glad to hear all of this! I just know it's uplifted everyone here!
This is just terrific! And well-deserved. You guys have been through so much.
A good way to greet the new season - good news for Autumn 2012! May your 2013 be even BETTER!
Just a side note of chuckledom...when I rented (most of my 57 yrs) I had animals & became the expert in how to find places that would accept a pet. (I usually had a dog & or a cat). This is my first home buying experience. We bought it in 2001. Went from 1 to 4 dogs since moving here. That is how I know that this is OUR place. "La Casa de Lobo" pop. 6 est. 2001.
Happy dancin' for you all! Good job on Social Studies test also!
Now, get a dog...or 4. Hahaha
"Our house, is a very very very fine house, with two cats in the yard, life used to be so hard; now everything is easy cause of you and our house"
Peace & Love right back atcha, Taz
PEACE!
You have been through a lot, but your perserverance paid off. You deserve all the security and happiness that a home can bring, and Mainers will make great neighbors. My folks lived in Portland for some years, and accumulated lots of friends very quickly.
Congratulations on your new adventure, and to your son for the A+ - awesome!
Thanks for sharing. It's nice to hear good news.
Nice post.
May your troubles be less, your blessings be more, nothing but happiness come through your door.
Proud of you
That's how life should be. I'm happy for you and your family.
x 10!
of finding THE house in THE town you wanted to live in.
Tis a marvelous feeling, made all the more so because of the hardships you had to endure to be where you are now.
Congratulations!
Last edited Wed Oct 3, 2012, 11:05 PM - Edit history (2)
'How I Met your Mother?'
sounds wonderful!
May every moment in your forever home be filled with peace, love and joy!
I'm very happy for you. You certainly deserve to feel the way you do. Hugs to you and your wife and son. 
am glad to read about your story. Good for you. Good luck!
That is what I thought but YOU are not done..you have kids and grandkids and you will never be DONE..
But now you will be worried about the kids moving and job hunting..
doesn't have your back. Keep going.
Seriously, After all you've gone thru, those tasks will be a joy.
Congratulations on your new abode, in a great state (GOTV for King!)
Congratulations on your son doing well in school
Congratulations to your understanding wife, and
Congratulations on having the good sense, with all you've been through, to still wonder
WHERE ARE Mitts TAXES??!!??
Very happy for you and your family and can relate to 'I'm Done'. Best of everything to you and yours.
Last edited Sat Sep 29, 2012, 08:13 PM - Edit history (1)
...my motto was "Make Mine Marvel"!
The words are those of the great Stan Lee. I have an isue of "the Avengers" # 16, when the Avengers started their "Cap's Kookie Quartet" ;ine-up of Cap, Hawkeye, Quicksilve and the Scarlet Witch, with his autograph. The comis is from around 1965, the autograph from around 1978.
PEACE!
PEACE!
PEACE!
