We arrived at Town B at around 1:00. Town B was our first choice of towns. For Bergen County, it is quite big and has an extremely diverse population from contractors to Hollywood celebrities. The schools are top notch. We have friends in the town already. Steve's commute into the city would stay the same. We had tried to move to Town B when we first were looking for a home seven years ago, but couldn't afford it. 

We looked at a short sale with an underground oil tank, a charming tudor that was too small, and then ended up at another split level.

This split level was quite large. It had been expanded twice and, because the woman was an artist, there were sky lights everywhere. One of the family rooms was her art studio. Yeah, one of the family rooms. The house has a living room and two family rooms. We presently own one sofa and one arm chair. Three bathrooms! A walk-in closet! This is way too much luxury for me. I used to live an apartment with cockroaches in the kitchen and an illegal washing machine that vibrated across the floor. 

The house was in pristine condition for the most part. The kitchen was dated, but had high end, new appliances and was solidly built. Lots of built in bookcases. The place had good karma. The backyard wasn't huge, but it was big enough for us. 

The owners were retiring and moving to their second home. They could be out of the house at any time. The house had been on the market for three months, and the price had come down by a huge number.

At 9:00 that night, we signed a contract with a bid. As the agent left our house, I confessed that I was freaking out. I don't usually make life altering decisions in one afternoon. Before I buy a sweater, I go to three stores to compare prices. This happened way too fast for me. 

Between nursing Ian who was still puking, but with better aim now, and the demons of doubt, I couldn't sleep that night. Were we making the right decision? This decision would have a huge impact on my children. Would they make friends? Would they adjust? Would this afternoon decision put them on an entirely different path in life? Would it be a better path? Jonah is now Top Banana in his school. All the teachers know him. He's the captain of the Lego League and a starting player on his travel soccer team. Would he hate us for making him start all over again? 

Well, the die has been cast. Our bid was accepted. A new mortgage was approved. Next comes the home inspection step. Three families' lives are in the balance for the next six weeks: our hotel living buyers, us, and the 80-year old retired couple. 

Steve and I have taken turns freaking out. Right now, it's his turn. I'm calming down and picking out paint colors. (I'm thinking neutrals with cool colors. Furniture will be modern. Like this.)