Closure

The sale of our house in New York was finalized today. Of course I'm relieved--we certainly didn't want to pay the mortgage any more, but it makes the move to Norway seem that much more final. We don't have any idea yet of how long we'll be in Norway, and even if we repatriate to the U.S. in the next couple of years, it will most likely not be back to the dismal job market/floundering economy of central New York, but still.... I love that house and it is hard to say good bye!
We bought the 1880 Victorian in 2002 and then spent the next 3 1/2 years renovating it. The house had been a Catholic rectory for its first 110 years, and then a private family home for the next 10. It was in rather sorry shape when we first laid eyes on it, but I immediately fell in love. (Poor Kevin wasn't as convinced, I think he had a more realistic grasp on how expensive and time consuming home repair can be!) I learned how to swing a sledge hammer and the art of painting hundreds of little gingerbread mouldings, and Kevin perfected his plumbing, drywalling, carpentry and tiling skills. By the time the house was finally picture perfect, Kevin had received the promotion that would require us to relocate to Norway. The house went on the market, sold mercifully quickly and easily, and last week we signed and shipped all the papers and the keys so that the new buyers could close today.
Oh well, the new buyers seem lovely and I believe that they will cherish and care for the house as we did. And we are now living in another big, old house in need of some TLC, at the edge of the forest in Norway. More about that later...