preparations

Our trips to the Smoky Mountains in September and October have given us an idea of just how much stuff we can pack into our Elantra if we really need to do so. And "loading up day" is approaching rapidly.

There is a local real estate agent stopping in today. Lisa got his name and number from one of the many "For Sale" signs in our neighborhood, and she has asked him to give this house and property a look and discuss our options. The house needs minor repairs in a number of places, but I have also put a bit of money and effort into infrastructure since last year's refinancing.

A year or so ago, we were considering the idea of simply walking away from this house; but President Obama's Home Affordable Mortgage Program (HAMP) slashed our monthly payments and made it possible to remain. Being blessed with a new car last December made it possible for me to earn more money and therefore help with the other bills.

The long-dead garbage disposal in the kitchen sink - frozen up since a houseguest dropped broken glass into the drain in February 2010, jamming it and allowing it to rust - started leaking badly in September. I replaced it with an Insinkerator Badger 1. We also had leaking hot- and cold-water valves in both bathroom showers. I replaced all of them.

And yet more repairs remain. We have neither time nor money to cover all of them. Lisa's son is cleaning out the swimming pool, but he owes us money and will therefore be doing the work to pay off his debt.

Meanwhile, I am changing the zip code and updating saved resumes on my job-search assistance websites. The first listing of job openings in the Asheville area showed up in my email this morning.

It would be nice if we could rent a small U-Haul trailer, but we have no trailer hitch. Lisa says that they will rent you an easily attachable hitch and associated mount so you can pull the trailer. Something to think about.

Oh well. Back to work.