Murphy's Law

Of course, the university's faculty housing office came through with an offer of housing today. At $450/month less than the place we're moving. In a place much nicer than any of the faculty apartments I listed on my preference form back in April: Smack in downtown Princeton, a two-story townhouse just off Nassau Street a block from Tom's church job, a block from the history department, and half a block from Edith's beloved fountain. In fact, when you put the address into Google maps, the pictures of the neighborhood it shows include the fountain. I know we couldn't have waited until this late date to make plans, and we love the place we're moving. Still...

Help me not to have renter's remorse. Please convince me that the downtown location and the $450/month are legitimately offset by the following:

-Earliest available move-in date would have been September 15, after classes start. We would have had to store all our stuff and find a place for us all to live for six weeks. And figure out where to get our mail and make all those change of address arrangements for a temporary period during which I would be defending my dissertation and starting a new job. Plus pay movers twice. Considering we only plan to be living in our next home for one year, all that would have eaten up a good chunk of the year's savings on rent--and been a huge pain in the patootie, right?

-No on-site parking. We could apply for a parking spot in a lot four blocks away. Please remind me how big a pain that would have been with a preschooler, a newborn, and groceries. (If you are from Boston, please don't remind me that in that neck of the woods, a guaranteed parking space four blocks from one's house is considered good luck and more than one might reasonably ask for.)

Those are the main two. The other considerations are lesser:

-Washer/dryer hookup available versus brand-new washer/dryer already in place. So we'd have had to pay to have our own washer/dryer, currently in storage in Tom's grandfather's barn in Delaware, shipped up here. As it is, we don't have to worry about anything.

-Sharing an unfenced backyard with another family versus have a fenced backyard to ourselves. I'm primarily thinking dog-advantage here.

I'm sure there are other things I'll think of, like the absence of playgrounds downtown and the street noise off Nassau. And the added trouble (and expense) of moving into a two-story townhouse instead of a one-story ranch.

Still, we probably won't tell Edith about the house next door to the fountain.

***

In other news, the dissertation is in. Hurrah! Defense in four weeks. Edith isn't entirely sure she has her mommy back yet, judging by the number of unprompted hugs, kisses, and declarations of affection I've been receiving, as well as the fact that she seems unable to fall asleep unless she has her arms around my neck. (Note: When your kid is still in a toddler bed and you are five months pregnant, holding this precarious position on the edge of the little mattress is something of a work-out.)

We celebrated this past weekend by enjoying a weekend in Delaware with two of Edith's closest friends and their families, courtesy of Tom's obliging parents. More pictures and details to come when there aren't packing boxes to fill. Tom is teaching vacation Bible school this week, so Grindy, Bismarck, and I are on our own with the packing-up for now.