It was meant to be. Dawn said it was an impulse purchase, but man, it was really meant to be.

I saw it listed on Craig’s List yesterday evening. Just looking at the posting made me think it was perfect. Perfect location, perfect price, perfect view. So I called the number listed-deciding not to waste time with email on this one. This will turn out to be my saving grace. I talked to the landlord. She seemed really nice. I told her about the grays, got a little more info and we made plans to meet today at 1:00. The kicker: she told me the exact address and I suddenly realized why I knew it.

When Ed was here, we had a lot of conversations about apartments. Ed, in his never ending quest to move here, had picked up a few Apartment Guides and had memorized all my picky requirements (had to be in this zip code and no more than this amount, etc. . .). We were driving home from work one day, when we had driven by some condominiums-I pointed them out to Ed

“See, Ed. That’s where I want to live. They look nice, within my price range, and they are soclose to everything.”

Ed grabbed a pen and scrap and paper, looked for a number, but couldn’t find one. He ended up just writing down the name of the place, figuring I could google the name and find a number. I never did it.

As it turns out, it wouldn’t have helped anyway. They are all individually owned and rented out condos. BUT this-this listing-felt like fate.

I spent all morning trying not to get too excited. I mean, it seemed like the perfect place, but I hadn’t actually seen the place. Tom-best boss ever-offered to go with me.

Meant to be.

The place, is not really any bigger than my tiny place now. The set-up, however, is so much better. The kitchen, has all new appliances. IT IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE MALL. Everything, and I do mean everything (including work) is within walking distance.

Did I mention this was destiny? While I was checking out the bathroom, Tom started talking to the current tenant (who was there), asking her where she was moving to. Santa Fe, New Mexico. Un-fucking-believable. She and I started chatting. She is renting an apartment (until she finds a house) in the same complex that Ms. Mary Jane lived in before she bought her house. Meant. To. Be. (by the way-MJ, Bob, Dawn, etc. . .-if you know any good jobs in the PR, HR, fundraising type fields-pass it along. I told my new friend I would have you on the look out for her).

As I was talking about Santa Fe, Tom was talking to the land lady. She told Tom how she had posted the add on Craig’s List that morning and had 30 responses a few hours later. All emails. She was in the process of replying to them. 1) THANK GOD I CALLED AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT ASAP. 2) FUCK ME. How was I going to get this place? Once others heard of the competition, they could possibly step-up the rent. I really couldn’t afford to pay more than she was asking. This is where Tom earned his boss of the year award (for the 15th month in a run)-since he is the salesman that he is-he totally sold the lady on getting us into this apartment. And like I said-this was clearly meant to be. We signed the paperwork. I can start moving my stuff in August 22nd. This gives me a week and a half to get it all in there before I leave to come home. It works out well, actually, because I can spend that week, bringing my stuff over a little bit at a time and that weekend, bring the last of it. Then I will have 2 1/2 days in the new place with the Grays, before I head off to Home.

Today has been a whirlwind. In a good way.

Quote of the day:

“You are going to take Landon out of the only world he has ever known? Let’s hope he doesn’t turn out like the Gray. Although, he could stand to lose a few pounds.”