An Ode to Orchard Ridge

6-7-12: Pretty much everything is packed, just the last bedroom and kitchen "stuff" to go.  I'm not sure that it's even quite hit me that we're moving in just a few days.  We've been so busy packing that I've not taken a lot of time to just reflect on what a big deal this is.

We've been in our house for nearly eight years now.  When we bought it, we were so excited to have such a beautiful "starter" home.  We knew we wouldn't live here forever, but it was such a fabulous house and neighborhood for a couple of recent college grads living on love.  We had little to fill our house those first couple of years - a futon, we bought a bed, a hand-me-down dining room table and chairs, a 19 inch TV, and some dressers that we got on sale at Target.  Brad was substitute teaching, waiting for a full time position to come his way, and I had just graduated from pharmacy school, still had to take my boards and was starting my residency program.  That was a very busy fall.  (I passed my boards fortunately).

Over the years, we've transitioned to people who have 401k's and Roth IRAs, and a college fund for Gavin.  We've accumulated a considerable amount of "stuff".  No more futon or hand-me-down table.  The TV is much larger now.  We have a living room full of cars and trains and kids books.  And all of that baby stuff that should also be cluttering our living room, but alludes me instead, is packed away in our mechanical room.

We're "graduating" from Orchard Ridge, moving to the next phase of housing.  When we bought our house, we were so thrilled to have more than most for a starter home.  A brand new house in a neighborhood that we grew to love over the years it was developed.  Brad's parents, as I've said in previous posts, lived just up the street.  Brad and I would walk through Orchard Ridge when we were dating, thinking how cool it would be to live there one day...never realizing it was more within reach than we would have thought.  We grew to love the neighborhood more and more as the years passed, building our little "estate" and meeting our neighbors - all fantastic, grounded people who moved to the Ridge seeking much the same that we sought. It has been a great family community nestled between the city and country living, something we've always liked and are glad we are feeling in our new place.

6-23-12: So, I started this post over a week ago - but am finishing it now, one week into living in our new home.  My apologies for finishing late...it's been a busy week or so!  We've not quite closed on our Orchard Ridge home, a delay on the underwriting side for the buyer - unfortunately, given we moved out so quickly to accommodate him, and he is very busy with starting a new job...living out of a U-haul.  It sounds like everything should be wrapped up early next week.  Phew!

We've been in the new house, like I said, for just over a week.  Surprisingly, the move went very well with a reputable and highly recommended moving company.  Packing was not so fun, unpacking as well...but we're down to the last few boxes so that feels great. 

Our first night, Gavin woke up three or four times, got out of bed, and turned his bedroom lights on.  We went in to turn them off only to find him sleeping in his bed.  I imagine he awoke and was a bit scared of the new place.  But after the first night, his transition has been going well.  The dog, well, that's another story.  He's not acclimating well to the hardwood floors.  And I'll be darned if I'm doing to cover the beautiful new floors with rugs for him!  Poor Stuart!

The one major hurdle with the new place is our lack of landscaping.  Without a curious toddler, no problem.  With a curious toddler, it's an issue.  Gavin could care less that we have no landscaping.  He loves playing in the sand (it's sandy here as opposed to the hard clay at Orchard Ridge), getting dirty, collecting rocks in his play dump truck, scaling our 45 degree sand hill in the back.  No biggie, it's fun mom!  Yes, it is just loads of laughs dumping your shoes of sand and cleaning up after the mess, let alone the worrying about falls from said backyard hill.  Just a blast!  Well, I suppose it is a bit of an adventure, but we're ready for some grass!  Landscaping quotes are on their way!

Gavin is loving the house - a play room and a bedroom, how cool to have two rooms!  We're loving it to - it is feeling more like home each day.  The first couple of days were weird, it didn't feel like home.  I think it will take some time to get to that point of true comfort.  Little by little.  We're certainly enjoying the surroundings and all that nature and the parks have to offer.  We love the location of our new place - it's close proximity to the city and all things that we love, but with a rural and intimate feel. 

To all of our friends in Orchard Ridge - we will so very much miss you!  We've come to love the comfort that having you near has brought.  You are all such lovely people with lovely children.  Please keep in touch!  You've seen us through the good times and bad, and for that we are very grateful!  If you're looking to relocate, I bet we can find a place for you in our new neighborhood...how cool would that be :)

This move is a big deal.  We have been very blessed to invest in this.  We always said our Orchard Ridge home was much more than we ever would have imagined for a started home, and that we'd likely be there for 5-10 years.  We're smack in the middle of that, 8 years lived there.  So, I suppose we held true to our intentions.  But we never would have expected to fall so in love with that place and all that surrounded us there.  We started our family, grew our family, and now have flown from the nest.

I'll always love that nest...