The Search

Well the search for a new place to live is in full swing. It better be, we have to be out of our current place by the end of the month. Am I feeling the crunch?  Just slightly! Okay, maybe more than slightly. If we can't find a place to meet everyone's needs, there is a plan B.

I think I would definitely consider myself to be organized. I love making lists. And I can't make a big decision without a pros & cons list. Therefore I of course made a short list of needs, focusing some on the needs of the fur babies. True story...While living in Seattle I actually rented an apartment completely sight unseen simply because it had a couple features I knew would be perfect for the boys. Usually I'm not into sight unseen but sometimes it's necessary. Luckily that particular apartment worked out for the boys and myself.

As for the new list of wants/needs for us and the furries:
Brad: 2 car garage, at least 3 bedrooms, and carpet
Cody: open floor plan, he's going blind
Simon: carpet and a grassy backyard because he won't avoid mud like his big brother will
Piper: a low window to bird watch

It's plain to see Piper has likely the easiest need to meet. Almost all homes have at least one low window unless someone has taken out the low windows, the case with my mom's home in Phx. As for carpet, it's rather surprising how many homes are not with carpet nowadays. I would say about half of the ones available are tile or wood flooring as opposed to carpet. I suppose most people think it's easier to keep clean. I can see that. I can see good and bad about tile/wood flooring. But it's not what Brad wants and it's not what would be best for Simon or even Cody as he's even older than Simon. The last thing either pug needs is a broken hip or leg after falling on the hard flooring.

I had to convince Brad we are open to 1 or 2 levels. He was worried about the pugs dealing with stairs. But the main living space would be on the bottom floor and we don't allow the pets in the bedrooms, therefore it's a non issue in my opinion. We don't want them upstairs in the bedrooms anyway.

I looked at one home last week that caused me to immediately pick up my phone to text Brad this response: "NO WAY, NOT IN A MILLION YEARS!" Yes the home I looked at was that bad! Or at least for us it was. After telling Brad my 2 big issues with the place he was quick to agree it wouldn't work for us. Whew! In agreement on that one!