I bought the house! Again! This Friday,
I've signed the actual contract, with the selling agent, in the lawyer's office, and with my agent present. It was very official, but not too formal. They did wear suits...
Wow! I was quite excited, a bit nervous, but not scared. Only now, when I think about it, I realize how important and significant this event was: I just bought my first house! In my life! The real place that I can call "my own"! And on my own - not with my husband, partner, boyfriend; neither with the help from my parents -- all by myself! For me and my children! How grown-up :-)
Or, in other words, I became capitalist; I've sold my soul to the Devil - or to Mammon; I've locked myself in for the next 30 years; I became part of the problem, directly and personally responsible for the next "credit crisis" ;-)
But this is still not "it" -- this is just yet another step, yet another reason to celebrate; the next step is finding the mortgage. Just like with the previous tasks, I am getting help with this: I saw the financial advisor also today, and maybe as early as next Friday I'll be getting some offers from the banks! I have 4 weeks to get / choose the best offer. After that, I will have to sign the "delivery deed" and only after that I will "get the keys". This should happen mid-December.
One more reason to celebrate: yesterday
I received the Dutch / EU permanent residence permit! Now I can legally stay in this country, or any EU country, forever! This is also a big thing, equivalent to buying a house -- it's also a sign of security for the future; not only a sign, but the instrument of safety. And maybe even a necessity for getting a mortgage. Maybe it will also make other things easier. All in all, A Good Thing (tm). Thank you, Antony, for persuading me to ask for this one, now, and thank you, Angela from RIPE NCC, for getting the first one for me, almost 10 years ago: in less then two months I'll have 10 years anniversary of moving to Holland!
So, big parties will still have to wait -- but for now every week I am making many mini-ceremonies, private and intimate...
Cestitke! Congratulations! Ziveli! Cheers! Proost! Felicidades! Uzdravlje!