So now we're even

The other day I was signing up for some info in our new area and realized I didn't know our zip code. I did a quick zip code search on the USPS website and turns out it is 02468.

I don't know if numbers mean anything, but these numbers have to be the best zip code ever.

Simple, straightforward and even, there is something so balanced and right about them.

Let's hope it's a sign.

Modern

Last night I met a girlfriend at Modern Steak. It's a gorgeously girlie steak house next to Barney's in Scottsdale. We were there to celebrate her upcoming birthday, but also to raise a glass to our modern problems.

Hubs and I have managed to survive the recent mortgage crisis. We sold our house, and though we had to wire enough money to the closing that it felt like a down payment, the opening of a loan and not the close of one, we're out. The worst of it is over and we still have a little money left.

My friend and her partner have survived the employment crisis. Last week, her guy had not one, but two offers after being unemployed for quite awhile. He is making money again and they'll start to rebuild what they lost.

So we ordered a pricey bottle of wine and toasted the times. We talked about how things had changed, but how we both still felt a little gun shy about spending money. As I looked around the room, I spotted a table of botoxed lifted nipped snipped and tucked old ladies. The Joan Riversesque group didn't look any worse for the wear. Or maybe they were.

Maybe that is the modern way to survive it all - aging, the financial ups and downs, the personal losses. You freeze it, pretend it doesn't exist.

You gussy yourself up and head to a fancy restaurant.

No sweat-er

Yesterday I was poking around a local consignment shop. Little Guy's highchair was packed, so we needed some kind of booster seat for our temporary apartment. I hit the jackpot and found a new one for just $3. After finding it, I had some time to kill before picking up Little Guy from preschool, so I started wandering around the store.

Then I stumbled on the sweaters.

Since we've been living in Phoenix for two years, and I spent the previous winter in Georgia pregnant, my winter clothes supply is pretty non-existent. I certainly don't have snow ready gear like parkas and snow boots, and I don't even have very many sweaters. But because it's Phoenix, the consignment store had all kinds of barely used sweaters, in mint condition, for $5 or less. I managed to pick up two before I had to go, one was a full length wrap dress for $3.50.

So along with the boxes of the kids toys and my spices, we'll be shipping a giant box of $5 sweaters when we leave. And with the money I'll save, I can set my sights on some really rockin' boots to go with them.

Big boxes

The movers arrive today to pack our things. We have a small pile of stuff going to temp housing and we won't see the rest of it for three months. This of course, makes me wonder how much of it we really need.

But when I look around, I'm thinking ALL of it.

House, I'll miss you.

Little boxes

So there is a little problem with the real estate situation in Boston. Little, as in someone shrunk the houses. Little, as in our smallish stash of available cash for the down payment.

We looked at a lovely 1400 square foot mini-ranch with 80's bathrooms (wow, really with the brass wavy light thing over the sink), for $519,000. On the plus side, it had a beautiful back yard. Except for the fact that I-95 ran right behind it, on two sides, if you count the access ramp. The agent actually said that once the trees fill in, we'd hardly notice it. Nothing says you only have a little bit of money like big whiff of diesel. There were a few other fixer uppers without the "great highway access," but nothing that stuck.

So we're going to rent for a bit, and give ourselves some time to recuperate from the Phoenix market. We found a great rental house, in an ideal location, without the backyard bumper to bumper. Now, the little dog is the only small thing holding us up. Fingers crossed that we can convince the landlord to take pets. He is mostly on the yes side, and we should hear something in a few days.

With a little luck, of course.