*Takes her pen and taps it on the desk as she looks at her laptop, wondering how to document our new adventures. Tapping away on the keyboard, the words seem to flow easily again*
Oh, it has been a while...2 years to be precise! Writing has been difficult due to all of the changes that have occurred over the years but nonetheless here I am, writing again! Let's do a quick update of the past month!
Well, starting with the closure of Oceanside Elementary. Closing the school was incredibly difficult yet it was the right decision. Sometimes you can lose focus of yourself and the life around you when you are so zeroed in to something that is much bigger than yourself. So, as soon as we closed the school, we chose to move out of Colorado (OSE/Cedar Creek). It was much too cold, snowy for us and it never became home. So we chose to take all of the family and move back to the suburbs of New York City! Home sweet home, or so we thought. We moved into a community that had us in the same cul-de-sac with our fancy new homes that the builder had built a week prior.
We unpacked all of our items, painted all of the rooms, started to work on the backyard and then I received a phone call. "Hello, Mrs. Gilman, this is Samantha Halliston at Dazzle Realty. I am calling because I have an amazing offer for you." So of course, I almost hung up as it was just another scam call but because I did, she said "...tropical". So, I did what any person would do who just got back from living in Colorado for a year, I inquired more about it. Possibly just to dream a bit but the more she spoke, the more validity her words had. She explained she knew my husband who is an architect. She said there is a resort in Tahiti that mimics the looks of Bora Bora. The owner had moved away to Greenland (Brr!) and had some dept on the property. I asked her to send me a photo and a text of all the details that would be involved. She did...and....it was love at first sight!
Gattz and I spoke about this before presenting it to the rest of the family, as it would be a large investment and we would need help with the finances. Gattz was on board as well as the rest of the adults in our extended family. So on we went to meet with the realty company and sign the paperwork. This was a big gamble as we had no clue what we were going to find once we arrive! We already knew they would need my husband to repair some of the buildings on the island. So from there, we had to tell the kids. "So there is this tropical resor...." was merely spoken before they all screamed "YES!". Who could deny that!
Over the next week, we packed up and headed to the airport, in hopes of an amazing adventure when we landed.
Oh, it has been a while...2 years to be precise! Writing has been difficult due to all of the changes that have occurred over the years but nonetheless here I am, writing again! Let's do a quick update of the past month!
Well, starting with the closure of Oceanside Elementary. Closing the school was incredibly difficult yet it was the right decision. Sometimes you can lose focus of yourself and the life around you when you are so zeroed in to something that is much bigger than yourself. So, as soon as we closed the school, we chose to move out of Colorado (OSE/Cedar Creek). It was much too cold, snowy for us and it never became home. So we chose to take all of the family and move back to the suburbs of New York City! Home sweet home, or so we thought. We moved into a community that had us in the same cul-de-sac with our fancy new homes that the builder had built a week prior.
We unpacked all of our items, painted all of the rooms, started to work on the backyard and then I received a phone call. "Hello, Mrs. Gilman, this is Samantha Halliston at Dazzle Realty. I am calling because I have an amazing offer for you." So of course, I almost hung up as it was just another scam call but because I did, she said "...tropical". So, I did what any person would do who just got back from living in Colorado for a year, I inquired more about it. Possibly just to dream a bit but the more she spoke, the more validity her words had. She explained she knew my husband who is an architect. She said there is a resort in Tahiti that mimics the looks of Bora Bora. The owner had moved away to Greenland (Brr!) and had some dept on the property. I asked her to send me a photo and a text of all the details that would be involved. She did...and....it was love at first sight!
Gattz and I spoke about this before presenting it to the rest of the family, as it would be a large investment and we would need help with the finances. Gattz was on board as well as the rest of the adults in our extended family. So on we went to meet with the realty company and sign the paperwork. This was a big gamble as we had no clue what we were going to find once we arrive! We already knew they would need my husband to repair some of the buildings on the island. So from there, we had to tell the kids. "So there is this tropical resor...." was merely spoken before they all screamed "YES!". Who could deny that!
Over the next week, we packed up and headed to the airport, in hopes of an amazing adventure when we landed.
As we approached the island, all we could see is purple skies, big white fluffy clouds and turquoise water!
Then we landed. Nothing but beauty. Before we could even say a word, the kids ran towards the beach and into the bungalow to unpack. We proceeded to check over the island and only documented two roofs damaged that would take less than a week to fix. Gattz got right to work and me, I went right to swimming in the ocean!
Over the week, the repairs were done and we were having an amazing vacation as a family. We were set to go home on Easter Sunday but the kids begged us for one more day - they didn't have to convince me! We called the travel agent and extended our stay for just 24 more hours.
The day came when we had to fly home. Dazzle Realty came to see the location in person and they were pleased with all the changes we made to the island and offered to buy it back from us. We were shocked as the price to purchase was double what we paid! They gave us 24 hours to decide, so as we flew home, that was the only thing on my mind. Gattz slept most of the way and the kids were glued to their SLipads! As we landed, the kids smiles dropped and us adults were exhausted.
We went into our respective homes and started to unpack before realizing that we really were ready to make a huge change. Gattz and I had a quick discussion and let our landlord know we would be moving out. Leaving the last months rent with him, we packed up and in 2 days we were right back to the island, ready to deny the banks offer and purchase it to make it officially ours!
Over the week, the repairs were done and we were having an amazing vacation as a family. We were set to go home on Easter Sunday but the kids begged us for one more day - they didn't have to convince me! We called the travel agent and extended our stay for just 24 more hours.
The day came when we had to fly home. Dazzle Realty came to see the location in person and they were pleased with all the changes we made to the island and offered to buy it back from us. We were shocked as the price to purchase was double what we paid! They gave us 24 hours to decide, so as we flew home, that was the only thing on my mind. Gattz slept most of the way and the kids were glued to their SLipads! As we landed, the kids smiles dropped and us adults were exhausted.
We went into our respective homes and started to unpack before realizing that we really were ready to make a huge change. Gattz and I had a quick discussion and let our landlord know we would be moving out. Leaving the last months rent with him, we packed up and in 2 days we were right back to the island, ready to deny the banks offer and purchase it to make it officially ours!
I signed the papers and handed it off to the real estate agent. It is ours but we have to decide on what we want to do with it. As much as we would love to stay year round here, it really does not work as the kids needs a school, a community, access to medicine etc. This island is pretty remote and is subject to a lot of hurricane type storms. So, while it is beautiful, the kids love it as do we - the investment in this property is very scary, especially if we are not able to rent it out.
In the meantime, for the summer - we are getting ready to travel all over the SLworld and see where we end up each week. All we do know is we will be together!
*Taps Save on her blog*
In the meantime, for the summer - we are getting ready to travel all over the SLworld and see where we end up each week. All we do know is we will be together!
*Taps Save on her blog*