Changes...And Random Pics

"The only constant is change," so it's said.

My adjoining neighbours (my quiet, unobtrusive neighbours of 7 or 8 years) sent me a text on Friday letting me know they have a conditional offer in on a larger house and are listing their unit. This isn't a surprise, other than that it took this long. They have an almost 2-year old daughter and the wife might be pregnant again (not that I can or would ask).

So while this isn't unexpected, it IS unwelcome. Long-time followers of my blog will (perhaps dimly) recall the previous absolutely ghastly, screaming, abusive people that owned the unit before this lovely family. I cannot and will not go back to living that way. Of course I could have wonderful new neighbours too! Most likely it will be somewhere in-between fabulous and horrendous...hopefully closer to the former than the latter. 🤞

A recent "selfie" with George.

Yesterday, spurred on by this, I went to a local flooring place to talk options for redoing the entire unit. The upstairs bedrooms need to be redone before I would be comfortable putting my own unit up for sale (when the opportunity arises). Next Saturday I'll pop in to another flooring store to see what they have to say, get another estimate. I would need a lot (or all) of the subfloor fixed as well, because it's terrible, as are the stairs. (Never have I lived in a house, apartment, or flat where EVERY spot you place your foot squeaks horribly. Drives me batty.) And as much as I prefer having carpet in bedrooms, I will go with luxury vinyl plank throughout (except the stairs, I will have them recarpeted for safety). People looking to buy don't want carpet anymore, at least not in our area.

When I proceed, I will buy enough product to do the entire house (minus the kitchen, bathroom, and entryway), but I think I will have only the upstairs and stairs installed first. I can't face having to take everything out of the main level again so soon, coming on the heels of the kitchen reno. The upper level will be challenging enough, with its small rooms.

I will need baseboard trim in three of the four bedrooms too, which is another thing to add to the list and (I hope) have the flooring people do, either as part of the contract or in a separate, private arrangement with the installer(s). 

I really hadn't wanted to take on another reno again this year, had intended to do the flooring next year, but such is life. In any case, I want to get it done while I'm still working full-time, because once I'm not, I won't have the financial flexibility.

Otherwise, all is okay at the moment (as I always would answer Mom when she asked how things were). 

I'm in my busy work time, hope to finish two projects this week. Last week was one of those crazy ones where you're trying to juggle too many things at once. Projects, meetings, training....I won't miss it after retirement or lay-off, whichever comes first! I'm putting in for a couple of days' vacation around our upcoming August long holiday weekend, though, for an extra long weekend. The spreadsheets can wait.

George doing a bit of extra grooming after a good comb-out from me.

Take care, all, and have a good week!